Fun Facts about online roulette: surprising stories from a legendary casino game

It makes everyone’s heart race — even those who aren’t regular casino players. Popularized through movies and known for its simple rules, accessible even to beginners, roulette continues to fascinate.

Because it can mean jackpots. Who hasn’t dreamed of multiplying a bet by 36 by landing on the winning number? Who hasn’t imitated the croupier saying, “Place your bets, no more bets”?

On your new Belgian online casino site, Loco Casino, we quickly understood that online roulette is one of the most popular forms of gambling among players. The perfect opportunity to share some surprising stories about this legendary game.

Italy and France both claim its origins

As you might expect, its history goes much further back than the rise of online casinos. The game is believed to have emerged in the 17th century when Blaise Pascal, while attempting to create a perpetual motion machine, unintentionally designed what would become the world’s most famous table game — based on the simple concept of a wheel and a ball. A historical accident perfectly aligned with the very essence of the game.

However, early-18th-century Italy also claims its creation, under the name Biribi. One thing is certain: the French word “roulette” was used for the first time in 1716 in Paris, at the Hôtel de Soissons. It would take until 1768 before blackjack made its first appearance.

The arrival of digital technology brought the game into a new era, making roulette accessible everywhere, 24/7 via mobile versions, and allowing players to feel the same adrenaline rush as at a real table thanks to Live Casino.

The "Devil’s" game

As regular readers of our blog know, at Loco Casino we love great stories — and roulette is full of urban legends linked to its numbers.

Number 17, often called the “glamour number”, gained worldwide fame after rewarding several famous players with spectacular wins, making it one of the most frequently chosen numbers. Try it now for free on Evolution’s First Person Roulette thanks to the demo mode.

Just as surprising, the total sum of all roulette numbers — from 0 to 36 — reaches exactly 666, a detail that has fueled amusing legends over time about the so-called “devil’s game”. A theory that definitely doesn’t apply to baccarat.

Martingale: the ultimate solution?

Contrary to what some players believe, no strategy can influence the outcome of roulette, as each spin is completely independent. Just like in dice games, it’s luck that determines whether you end up among the winners or the losers.

Yet famous methods such as the Martingale, the Fibonacci system or the reverse strategy have become part of the game’s folklore and continue to fascinate players chasing big wins. Do they truly belong to the basic rules?

These strategies don’t increase the real odds of winning, but they give structure and add a psychological dimension that enhances the experience. A bit like in dice slots or slots in land-based casinos, where perception can sometimes work wonders even though the Random Number Generator (RNG) ultimately decides the outcome.

Follow in Ashley Revell’s footsteps

What could we wish you for the New Year? Health, of course — but also the boldness of Ashley Revell, even if he didn’t quite grasp the idea of responsible gaming. Ashley who? In 2004, British gambler Ashley Revell sold absolutely everything he owned, even his clothes, to wager his entire fortune — $135,300 — on red in a Las Vegas casino.

The ball landed on red, and he walked away with $270,600. It wasn’t the biggest win in history, but it was certainly one of the craziest bets ever placed at a roulette table. On the other hand, Charles Wells was one of the first to “break the bank”.

In 1891, he went to the Monte-Carlo casino and managed to “break the bank” multiple times in a single evening, meaning he emptied the table’s entire reserve. His winnings were estimated at over one million francs at the time — the equivalent of several million euros today.

Want to try it yourself? Make a quick and free deposit via Bancontact or Paysafecard and see if your lucky number can help you break the bank.