The History of Online Roulette: From Old School Parlours to Your Pocket

If there’s one game that rules the casino floor, it’s roulette. Centred around a simple wheel and tiny white ball, roulette tables are the ones that draw the crowds.  

And who can blame them? One of the most popular casino games worldwide, roulette is a casino classic that’s been thrilling players since the 18th century. That’s over 300 years of entertainment. 

Want to know what’s changed in that time? We’ve got the answers. This guide will take you on a deep dive through the ages. We’re talking the complete evolution of roulette games from felt tables to fibre optics. 

We’ll break down the origins, the tech behind online roulette, the strategies and the reason why, centuries later, we’re all still fans of the spinning wheel. Just kick back and let us bring you up to speed. 

18th Century: The origins of roulette 

Let’s get one thing straight: great things often come from unexpected places. The origins of roulette take us back to France in 1655, where the game started making waves in private gambling houses. The name itself is French for “little wheel,” but there’s nothing small about the impact it’s had on the world of casino gaming. 

Here’s the inside track on how it started. Most historians agree that we have Blaise Pascal to thank for inventing traditional roulette. Except, Pascal wasn’t trying to build a casino empire; he was a maths and physics whizz trying to invent a perpetual motion machine. He didn’t quite crack the code on infinite energy, but his failed experiment gave us the roulette wheel. Talk about a pivot. 

Early roulette went through several makeovers, blending elements of existing European games, such as Italy’s Biribi, Britain’s Roly Poly and Even Odd, and France’s Hoca, with Pascal’s wheel to entertain players. Fast forward 100 years to the late 1700s, and folks finally landed on a winning version. 

Boasting all the features we know and love today, like the roulette wheel numbers, banker’s pocket and betting options, this version of roulette was reported to be a hit in all the best casinos in Paris.  

Why? Because it was simple! You didn’t need to be a maths whizz like Pascal to understand red or black. And even though the rules were simple to pick up, roulette still offered chances for players to score big prizes. It’s no wonder French aristocracy were such big fans. 

19th Century: European vs. American roulette 

As the game spread its wings across Europe in the 19th century, the roulette wheel evolved again. If you want to know your roulette odds, you need to know your history. 

Enter François and Louis Blanc. Like Bally’s own Mr Raymond Maloney, these two brothers were the gamechangers of their time. They introduced a single innovation that shook up the gambling world: the single-zero wheel.  

By removing the double zero pocket, the Blanc brothers slashed the house edge. Suddenly, roulette was fairer, the players were happier, and the Blanc brothers became legends. This version, known as European Roulette, became the gold standard across the continent. To this day, if you’re looking for better odds, you’re looking for that single zero. 

Not everyone was happy that the roulette business was booming. In fact, some went so far to call the roulette wheel the “Devil’s Wheel”, since the sum of all the numbers 1-36 equalled 666 (a number long associated with the King of Hell himself). But folks saw through the superstition and continued to flock to European Roulette tables for a slice of the action. 

Across the Atlantic, though, American casinos decided to put their own spin on things. They added the double zero (00) pocket back onto the wheel. This created American Roulette. Sure, the house edge was higher, but the American gambling industry was still young, so players made the best of it.  

20th Century: Say hello to online roulette 

Fast forward to the 1990s. The internet was waking up, dial-up modems were screeching, and the gambling industry was about to change forever. The mid-90s marked the launch of the very first online casinos. It was a brave new world, and roulette was right at the front of the queue. 

Forget travelling to the neon lights of your nearest land-based casino hall to play roulette. With the invention of online casino sites and Random Number Generators (RNGs), the thrill of roulette was available at your fingertips. 

Sure, the graphics back then were a little blocky. The animations were basic. But the soul of the game was there. For the first time in history, you didn’t even need to enter a casino to get in on the action. You could play from your desktop. This accessibility was a gamechanger.  

It opened the doors to players who wanted privacy, convenience, and the ability to play at their own pace. Plus, online casinos introduced lower minimum bets, meaning you didn’t need a high-roller casino bankroll to pull up a seat at the table.  

But what if you’re a fan of the live casino experience? That’s where live dealer roulette comes in. 

21st Century: The rise of live dealer roulette 

RNG roulette games were great, but for some players, something was missing. The atmosphere. The show business of it all. The sound of the ball hitting the frets. 

The industry listened, and in the late 2000s, live dealer roulette landed on our screens. Thanks to faster internet speeds and better streaming tech, online casinos could beam a real dealer, at a real table, directly to your screen.  

Sound awesome? That’s because it is. With online live roulette, you get the best of both worlds. The comfort of your own home - or wherever you happen to be - combined with the atmosphere of the casino floor. 

Keen to watch the dealer spin the wheel in real-time? You got it. Ability to chat with your buds at the table. You bet. You can even see the results unfold in slow-motion before your eyes.  

On live casino sites in the UK, where trust and transparency are everything to players, live dealer roulette exploded in popularity. Pull up a seat and it’s easy to see why. Playing roulette online isn’t just a game anymore; it’s a whole event - and you’re invited. 

2010s: Mobile roulette lands in your pocket 

Roulette games may have taken a while to evolve at the beginning, but as technology advances at faster than ever, so does online roulette! 2010s saw the popularity of mobile phones surge, and folks were demanding the ability to tap into online casinos while on the go.  

Say hello to mobile casino apps. Optimised to deliver all the thrills of online casino sites to mobile versions, mobile casino apps are bespoke experiences. We’re talking intuitive touch controls that make placing chips a breeze. Fast loading times so you’re never left hanging. High-definition visuals that let you watch the wheel spin in crystal clear HD on any screen size. 

Whether you’re commuting, waiting for a bud, or just chilling on the sofa, mobile casino roulette games are always ready.  

2020s: Online roulette continues to reign supreme 

Centuries have passed. Kings have fallen, empires have risen, and technology has shaken everything up. Yet roulette is still one of the best casino games online.  

Nowadays, there are hundreds of online roulette games available to play around the clock, all offering different betting options and the chance to win the big bucks from the comfort of your own home.  

From speed roulette games to live roulette tables boasting awesome bonus features, there’s a type of roulette game for every player online. Want to bet small and play for fun? You can. Want to play high stakes? You can do that too. The online casino floor accommodates every budget. 

The future of roulette: Bally Bet’s predictions 

So, where does the history of online roulette go from here? If the past is any indication, the future is going to be wild. 

We’re already seeing the next wave of innovation. Virtual Reality (VR) is knocking on the door, promising to transport players into fully realised 3D casino environments without leaving their living rooms. Augmented Reality (AR) could bring the wheel onto your coffee table. We’re also seeing casino game show-style roulette games that add multipliers, bonus rounds, and presenter-led entertainment to the classic format.  

The roulette technology behind the scenes is getting smarter, too. Faster streaming, higher definition video, and seamless integration across devices mean the gap between the online and offline experience is practically invisible. What the next century has in store? It’s sure to be epic. 

Get your game on at Bally Bet 

We’ve traced the journey from the candle-lit parlours of 18th-century France to the high-speed, high-tech platforms of today. The history of online roulette is an entertaining story full of twists and turns. Now, it’s your turn to step up. 

At Bally Bet, we’ve shipped all the thrill of our land-based casino floors in the States to your screen, with a UK online casino site that’s packed with all the best roulette games available to play. 

We’ve got the classics. We’ve got the live dealers. We’ve got the mobile-optimised tables that let you play your way. Look out for our casino promotions and you could even find free online roulette games.

Whether you’re a fan of the single-zero European roulette wheel or you prefer the challenge of the American game, there's a seat open for you at Bally Bet. All you need to do is sign up, then pull up a seat to make your move.  

Go on. Hit that ‘JOIN NOW’ button to dive in. 

History of Online Roulette FAQs 

When was online roulette invented? 

Online roulette kicked off in the mid-1990s. That’s when the first real-money online casinos launched, and roulette was front and centre from day one. 

Is online roulette fair?  

Absolutely. Licensed online casinos use Random Number Generators (RNGs) to determine where the ball will land and the winning numbers. It’s rigorous, regulated, and ensures fair play every time. 

What is the difference between European and American roulette?  

The key difference between European and American roulette comes down to the zeros. European roulette has a single zero (0). American roulette adds a double zero (00) to the mix. That extra pocket increases the house edge in the American version. 

Can I play online roulette on mobile?  

You bet. Most modern roulette games are fully optimised for smartphones and tablets. Download the Bally Bet online casino mobile app to play roulette on the go. 

What is live dealer roulette?  

Like other live casino games, live roulette is the closest thing to playing in a land-based casino. A real live dealer spins a real physical roulette wheel, streamed live to your device. You place digital bets, but the action is 100% real-world physics. 

Learn more about the world of online roulette games and roulette live over on the Bally Bet casino blog, where you'll also find tips and game recommendations from our team of top writers.