Development of American Roulette

By the time that Roulette reached the shores of New Orleans in the late 18^th Century, it was already a well-established game 'back home'.  European players had enjoyed the roulette in casinos and parlors on the Continent for many years and French immigrants were eager to share this exciting game of luck with their American brothers.  However, the roulette wheel soon had to be adapted to suit the local population's taste (as well as the capitalistic objectives of casino owners), and the game changed significantly, until it finally took on the form which we are familiar with today.

First Changes to Roulette Wheel

When Roulette first reached New Orleans, it was played in the same way that French gamblers played in Europe.  However, changes began on the wheel as a way to perhaps improve on its entertainment benefits and alter the odds.  When Roulette started spreading outside the boundaries of New Orleans, its design and rules were almost unrecognizable.

The new roulette wheel had 0, 00 and 000, which was sometimes depicted as an American Eagle (lest we forget which continent we were on), as well as 28 numbers on the wheel.  The house edge was extremely high in this form of roulette. Not only did the bank win all bets except those on winning symbols when the ball landed on any of the zeros, but it also had an advantage of nearly 13% on single number bets.

Today's American Roulette Wheel

US players, born in the land of the brave and free, refused to accept this new form of roulette and so casino operators were forced to adapt it to their demands.  Finally, changes in the American Roulette wheel had the game looking very similar to the original French Roulette wheel, except that two zeroes were reflected on the wheel (0 and 00), and the game didn't include some of the original rules, such as 'en prison'.

The Roulette Wheel Moves Up

American Roulette shifted from New Orleans, where it first landed, via the Mississippi, to other parts of the United States, eventually reaching the West Coast.  The Wild West certainly lived up to its name and operators and gamblers alike had no qualms about cheating at roulette whenever they got the chance.  It was because of this that it was decided to place the wheel on top of the table so that devices couldn't be hidden in the wheel or table which would alter the outcome.

American Roulette Flourishes

By the twentieth century, American Roulette was a staple at all casinos in Las Vegas, and its popularity continued to grow. By the second half of the century, the double zero roulette wheel could be found in casinos across the United States, in South America and in the Caribbean.

American Roulette Moves Online

Since the mid 2026's American Roulette, along with French Roulette, can be played at multiple online casinos across the board, bringing the game to players' fingertips from all around the world.  When you look back at the history of this roulette game, you can't help but be impressed on how far it's come!