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1840s-Today
Gambler Francois Blanc, at his casino in Bad Homburg, Germany, introduced roulette in the early 1840s with only 0 and no 00 on the wheel and table layout, a choice he stuck with when he assumed control of the Monte-Carlo in Monaco two decades later. This roulette version became the European standard.
In contrast, American roulette games contained both 0 and 00, which afforded casinos about a 5.26 percent advantage.
The European version reduced the house’s edge by as much as half, and because players stood a greater chance of winning with no 00 involved, it grew much more popular.
Photos from Wikimedia Commons: by Betzaar.com, European Roulette and American Roulette
