Roulette - the very mention of this game conjures images of glamorous players and the ever-spinning wheel of fortune. It's a game that's been captivating gamblers for centuries. It's a true casino staple both in real life and online. Although it's a game that's been unchanged for ages, more people play roulette online today than ever before.

Roulette has a long and adventurous history. Here are a few pieces of trivia about this famous game that you probably haven't heard about.

The Accidental Invention of the Roulette Wheel

In the 17th century, the brilliant mathematician Blaise Pascal was hard at work trying to create a perpetual motion machine. This is a device that would keep moving without any external energy source - and it's impossible. As you might expect, he failed at breaking the laws of physics. But, in a twist of fate, his experiments resulted in the creation of a spinning wheel that would later become the heart of roulette.

Blaise Pascal is one of the bright minds of the 17th century whose contributions to society are remembered to this day. And so is his contribution to the world of gambling

The Number of the Beast

Here's a roulette fact that adds a touch of mystique to the game. If you add up all the numbers on the roulette wheel-from 1 to 36-the sum is a surprising 666. Now, you might recognize that number as the "Number of the Beast" - it's such a famous number that Iron Maiden wrote a song about it in the 1980s. It's a number often associated with superstitions and ominous beliefs.

This coincidence led to rumors about Francois and Louis Blanc, who played pivotal roles in popularizing roulette. Some whispered that the brothers had struck a sinister deal, selling their souls to the devil for the game's success. While these claims are purely fictional, they add an extra layer of fascination to the game's history.

Beating the System

Roulette is a game of chance, but that hasn't stopped countless players from trying to outsmart it. Throughout history, gamblers have devised various strategies and systems to gain an edge over the wheel. One of the most famous strategies is known as the "Monte Carlo Fallacy."

The idea behind it is that if a particular outcome (such as red or black) has occurred repeatedly, the opposite outcome is bound to happen in the next spin. It's a common misconception among players that the wheel has a memory, and it's "due" to produce different results.

In reality, each spin of the roulette wheel is independent of previous spins. The odds of landing on red or black remain the same, regardless of past outcomes. The Monte Carlo Fallacy is a classic example of how gamblers can fall victim to cognitive biases. And, of course, the serious misunderstanding of the principles of probability.

A Game with Endless Fascination