Roulette is one of the most popular gambling games in the world, and so, it shouldn’t surprise anyone to learn that the game has been depicted in media, pretty much since its inception. From books, to television, to film, and even video games, different platforms have incorporated roulette into their aesthetic for different reasons. So, let’s take a look at the different ways that roulette has been depicted in pop culture.
Online Casinos
First, we have to give props where they are due, online casinos have popped off in recent years. Gambling websites have managed to create an alternative to land-based establishments that blends the atmosphere of a casino with the gameplay of video games, all the while creating a simple and accessible experience for new players.
Of course, as roulette is one of the most popular gambling games around, online casinos would feature it prominently. So, if you want to give roulette a go you can always do so by firing up your laptop and checking out the best online casinos. Just remember to thoroughly read the terms and conditions, and learn the rules of the game before you start playing.
Film and Television
The gambling film is a pretty prominent subgenre of thrillers. Usually, these films revolve around a player who understands something about the games that they are playing that most other people do not. However, gambling movies usually revolve around poker or blackjack. Roulette tends to be an aesthetic afterthought, or a game featured in the background.
An obvious example of this would be the classic romance film, Casablanca. The main character in the movie, played by Humphrey Bogart, owns a casino in the city of Casablanca, and roulette tables feature prominently in the movie. However, they are never the focal point, nor are they relevant to the plot. Still, the game’s depiction in the film, certainly played a role in popularizing roulette.
Literature and Art
Believe it or not, roulette has also played an important role in the “finer” arts, as some might call them. Literary works on roulette are not common, but they do exist. The most notable and popular one would certainly be Dostoevsky’s The Gambler, a semi-biographical novel about a Russian man visiting Germany, who falls in love with the game of roulette.
From literature we can look over at painting and drawing. The famous French caricaturist, Sem (Georges Goursat) famously drew a caricature portrait of various people playing roulette in 1920. But, he was not the only one to depict roulette in his artworks. Edvard Munch famously painted the At the Roulette Table in Monte Carlo, painting, managing to perfectly capture the feeling of the roulette tables in the city often called “Europe’s Las Vegas.”
Closing Thoughts
It has played a pretty big role in the development of the gambling industry. From that perspective it is one of the most important games that we currently have. Not only that, but it is commonly regarded as one of the most popular, and the most fun. That is why its wheel is featured in most casinos around the world, and why it has inspired so many creatives throughout history.