Roulette is a casino game that is referred to these days as a casino classic.
We, of course, know that all casino games, including Roulette, have experienced changes throughout history – including when casino games evolved with the modern world to become available to players all over the globe, in digital form, when the internet took off in the 1990s.
However, what many players around the world don’t know is that if it wasn’t for two brothers daring to change the ‘norm,’ Roulette would look and play very differently in both on and offline real-money Roulette games.
But who are these two brothers we’re talking about? Scroll down to find out.
The Blanc Brothers
The Blanc brothers, François and Louis Blanc were influential figures in the history of Roulette. They made significant contributions to the game and played a crucial role in its development.
During the mid-19th century, Roulette wheels in Europe had two zero pockets (0 and 00) along with numbered pockets from 1 to 36.
This arrangement gave the house a significant advantage in the game. However, in 1843, François and Louis Blanc, who were French entrepreneurs, introduced a significant innovation that changed Roulette forever.
How Did the Brothers Change Roulette Forever?
The brothers decided to remove the double zero (00) pocket from the Roulette wheel, thereby reducing the house edge and making the game more favorable for players.
The resulting version of Roulette, with only a single zero (0) pocket, became known as European Roulette. The removal of the double zero (00) greatly increased the popularity of the game, as players now had better odds compared to the previous version.
The Blanc brothers’ modification had a profound impact on the game’s success and spread. Their version of Roulette gained popularity across Europe and eventually made its way to casinos worldwide.
To this day, European Roulette remains one of the most popular variations of the game. The original wheel, containing the double zero (00), is still being played; however, now known as the American variation. This is due to the single zero (0) variation not being as favored by American players, like the European players at the time.
A Lasting Impact on the Casino Industry
In summary, the Blanc brothers, François, and Louis Blanc, changed Roulette forever by removing the double zero pocket from the wheel, introducing European Roulette, and improving the odds for players.
If they hadn’t dared to do something unthinkable and daring during their lifetime – by adding another element to gameplay – would we only know the double zero (00) variation in today’s world? Or do you think someone else would have thought about removing the double zero (00) further down the line of the Roulette history books?
Of course, this is a mystery we will never know. But thanks to the Blanc brothers, Francois and Louis, it’s something we don’t have to imagine or think about.
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What do you prefer, the European or American game variant?