The origins of roulette: a journey through time

Behind the apparent simplicity of roulette, a ball, a wheel, a bet, lies a story far more eventful than you might imagine. From Italy to London, and through the salons of Paris, the game of roulette has taken many forms before becoming one of the most iconic casino games. Today, whether you play in a hall or at an online casino, roulette is everywhere.
But where exactly does this game of chance come from? Buckle up, Chip is taking you on a trip back in time that is as thrilling as a winning spin!

The distant ancestors of roulette

Hoca: first draws, first thrills

Let’s go back to Italy, around 1600. Hoca, or auca, was a simple drawing game. The player placed a bet on one of the 30 numbers shown on the board. Then, the banker would draw a number at random from a bag. If the drawn number matched the player’s choice, the payout was 28 times the bet. Straightforward, direct, and perhaps too popular in the eyes of the authorities, who eventually banned it.
When hoca arrived in France, it became a sensation. Even though it was eventually outlawed, it had already laid the foundation for a new type of game of chance: instant draws and guaranteed suspense. A kind of pre-version of online roulette? Not far off.

Biribi: Italian sophistication

Still in Italy, biribi appeared in Savoy as early as 1665. Here, numbers were hidden inside little wooden capsules, called “olives,” mixed in a bag. Less room for cheating, more tension!
Biribi then spread to France with its giant boards (up to 70 slots), varied stakes, and, above all, an immersive gaming experience ahead of its time. Sounds familiar? The mechanics of modern roulette were slowly taking shape.

The birth of the word “roulette”

A first version made in France

At the beginning of the 18th century, the word “roulette” appeared. But we were still far from today’s wheel. Imagine an inclined board, small channels, a rolling ball, and a bet on the color of the gate where it would land. Black or white, your call.
This game, known as “tivoli,” was all the rage in Versailles. It looked more like a primitive pinball machine than our modern roulette. But the foundations were clearly there.

The London turning point: roly-poly and EO

Now to London. There, the word “roulette” inspired a new game: roly-poly. The ball spun around a wheel with colored slots. The design was starting to look a lot like the version we know today.
Around 1740, EO (even/odd) also appeared. The principle was simple: you bet on even or odd. This game left a strong mark and cemented the idea of a spinning wheel in the world of gambling in England and beyond.

The rise of modern roulette

Piece by piece, the puzzle came together. By the 19th century, Parisian casinos were using a wheel with 36 numbers plus a single zero. This was the birth of European roulette, the version you can still find in our complete roulette guide.
Across the Atlantic, the logic was pushed further: an extra 00 slot was added. The result was American roulette with 38 slots, slightly increasing the house edge. If you want to compare both versions, check out our article on roulette variations.

From gaming halls to online casinos

Today, online roulette allows you to experience all these variants right from your couch. Thanks to online games, you can place your bets live at a filmed table or try out faster, more immersive versions.
Curious about all the technical terms? Take a look at our roulette glossary and become an expert.


From a simple piece of paper to a digital wheel, roulette has traveled through the centuries without losing its magic. It perfectly embodies the balance between chance, strategy, and suspense, which explains why it remains one of the most popular casino games today, both in halls and online.

And what about you, which pocket would you place your bet on?