Last updated: 04 October 2026
Roulette has been played for more than two centuries, evolving from early French gambling houses into one of the world's most recognisable casino games. Its history includes the development of the single-zero wheel, the split between European and American roulette and the eventual move from land-based casinos to RNG and live dealer games online.
This guide traces roulette from its 18th-century origins through the rise of Monte Carlo, famous betting systems and wheel exploits to the modern online era.
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| Casino | Roulette Providers | USA? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas USA | SpinLogic, Visionary iGaming | ✅ | Players in most countries |
| Lucky Elf | Evolution, Lucky Streak | ❌ | Live roulette fans |
| Decode | Arrow's Edge, Pragmatic Play | ✅ | Players seeking more choice |
| Luxury | Games Global, Pragmatic Play | ❌ | Premium roulette collection |
Looking for current roulette casinos, game advice and strategy? See our Real Money Roulette main guide.
Roulette has changed considerably since its early French origins, but the basic game has survived largely intact. The most important historical development for players was the introduction of the single-zero wheel, which created the lower house edge still associated with European and French roulette today.
These casinos cover different roulette priorities, including international access, live dealer games, game variety and faster withdrawals.
Las Vegas USA
Best for: International roulette players seeking a reliable all-round casino.
Las Vegas USA accepts players from a wide range of countries and combines 24/7 live dealer roulette from Visionary iGaming with RNG tables from SpinLogic.
Lucky Elf
Best for: Live dealer roulette fans who want near-instant withdrawals.
Exclusive to players in Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland, Lucky Elf offers live roulette from Evolution and Lucky Streak alongside its wider RNG roulette selection.
Decode
Best for: Players wanting huge roulette choice across all stake levels.
Decode offers one of the widest selections of roulette games, from classic RNG tables to live dealer favourites. It also accepts players from most countries, including the USA, giving roulette players plenty of choice across both formats.
Luxury
Best for: Premium roulette selection with classic and modern variants.
Luxury combines Games Global and Pragmatic Play roulette with everything from classic European and French roulette to branded titles like Immortal Romance Roulette and Multifire Roulette.Roulette developed in France during the 18th century, drawing on earlier wheel and board games played elsewhere in Europe. By the late 1700s, versions recognisable as early roulette were being played in Paris, with numbered wheels and betting layouts forming the basis of the modern game.
Blaise Pascal is frequently linked to roulette's history because of experiments with a spinning wheel during his 17th-century attempts to create a perpetual motion machine. He did not invent roulette as a casino game, but his work is often cited as part of the wheel's earlier development.
Early French roulette wheels included both a single zero (0) and double zero (00). The single-zero version that later became associated with European roulette did not become established until the 19th century.
Roulette spread beyond France during the 19th century. François and Louis Blanc introduced a single-zero wheel at Bad Homburg in Germany, giving the casino a version of roulette with a lower house edge than the earlier double-zero game.
The Blanc brothers later became closely associated with Monte Carlo, where single-zero roulette became established. In the United States, double-zero roulette remained common, creating the main distinction between European and American roulette that still exists today.
During the 20th century, roulette became a standard casino table game across much of the world. The arrival of online casinos later introduced RNG versions, followed by live dealer roulette using real wheels streamed from casino studios.
Blaise Pascal experiments with a spinning wheel while attempting to create a perpetual motion machine. Although it was not designed for gambling, his work later became associated with roulette's early history.
Paris gambling houses introduce the combined spinning-wheel and betting table system we now call roulette. Early wheels have both zero (0) and double-zero (00) pockets.
François and Louis Blanc introduce a single-zero roulette wheel at Bad Homburg, reducing the house edge compared with the earlier double-zero version.
The game flourishes in American gambling halls, but the double-zero wheel remains most popular, raising the house edge and creating "American roulette".
Roulette becomes a staple of European and American casinos, appearing in countless classic films (Casablanca, Diamonds are Forever), and building lore around legendary wins and loss streaks.
Roulette moves online, initially through RNG games and later through live dealer tables streamed from casino studios. Online casinos also introduce more variants and a wider range of table limits.
Smartphones and mobile apps put the wheel at everyone's fingertips. New side bets and lightning-fast features enter the game, but the classic suspense of the ball remains unchanged.
Live dealer studios expand their roulette ranges with multiple languages, faster tables and new formats. Multiplier games and roulette-based game shows also become more common alongside traditional European and American tables.
Roulette's signature feature is the wheel layout and the presence of zero. The number of zero pockets is what most directly changes the house edge, which is why the development of single-zero roulette was so important to the game's history.
Roulette's popularity created a wave of betting systems and legends. Many systems focus on changing bet size (like doubling after a loss), but they do not remove the house edge in fair roulette.
For a modern explanation of strategy vs probability, visit our roulette strategy page.
The main traditional variants are European and French roulette, which use a single zero, and American roulette, which adds a double zero. A standard single-zero game has a house edge of 2.70%, compared with 5.26% for standard double-zero American roulette.
European roulette uses 37 pockets numbered 0-36. French roulette uses the same wheel but may include rules such as La Partage or En Prison, which can reduce the house edge on even-money bets when zero lands.
American roulette uses 38 pockets, adding 00 alongside the single zero. The extra pocket increases the house edge and changes the odds across the betting table.
Online casinos have introduced numerous variations, including speed roulette, multi-wheel games and multiplier versions such as Lightning Roulette. Some also add side bets or bonus features with different payouts and probabilities.
Tip: If house edge is your priority, single-zero roulette is generally preferable to standard double-zero American roulette. See our roulette strategy guide for more on bet selection and betting systems.
Online casinos introduced a new way to play roulette. RNG games recreated the wheel digitally, while live dealer roulette later brought real wheels and presenters to streamed casino tables.
RNG and live dealer roulette now sit alongside traditional casino tables, giving players several ways to play the same underlying game online.
Roulette has produced plenty of famous stories. Charles Wells became known for "breaking the bank" at Monte Carlo in 1891, while Ashley Revell attracted worldwide attention in 2004 by staking his money on a single roulette spin.
The game also became closely associated with betting systems such as the Martingale, along with attempts to identify and exploit biased wheels. These approaches became part of roulette folklore even though betting systems cannot remove the house edge from a fair game.
Roulette has remained prominent in popular culture, appearing in films including Casablanca and Diamonds Are Forever. Its distinctive numbered wheel, red and black pockets and simple betting layout have made it one of the most recognisable casino games.
For deeper dives into roulette's fascinating story, explore these resources:
Roulette developed in France during the 18th century, drawing on earlier wheel and board games. Recognisable early versions were being played in Paris by the late 1700s.
Roulette does not have a single confirmed inventor. Blaise Pascal is often linked to its early history because of his experiments with a spinning wheel, while François and Louis Blanc later introduced the single-zero wheel at Bad Homburg.
Roulette became established in European casinos during the 19th century. Single-zero roulette became closely associated with Monte Carlo, while double-zero roulette remained common in the United States.
European roulette uses a single zero and has 37 pockets. American roulette adds a double zero, giving it 38 pockets and a higher house edge.
Removing the double-zero pocket reduced the house edge compared with earlier double-zero roulette. The single-zero wheel went on to become the standard format associated with European roulette.
The numbers from 1 to 36 on a roulette wheel add up to 666, a number traditionally associated with the "number of the beast". This coincidence led to roulette being nicknamed the "devil's game".
Online casinos first introduced software-based RNG roulette. Live dealer roulette followed, using real wheels and presenters streamed from casino studios.
Roulette developed from earlier wheel and table games before becoming established in European casinos during the 19th century. The modern game evolved gradually rather than appearing in its current form at a single point in history.
Interested in more gambling and casino history? See our History Of Baccarat, History Of Blackjack and History Of Video Poker guides, plus How Online Gambling Has Changed.
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