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What's a
casino without a roulette wheel? Imagine Rick's Cafe in
the movie Casablanca or James Bond's savvy wagering without
a roulette wheel around. In fact, countless movies with
scenes situated in a casino will frequently show a roulette
wheel to help the viewer realize, "Yeah, we're in a
casino now." Without question, the roulette wheel has
been the dominant symbol of casino gambling. From movies
to television shows to photographs, a roulette wheel is
usually front and center in the camera's attention ... and
why not?
Roulette is the oldest of all the modern casino games, dating
back almost 300 years. Couple this long history with romantic
notions of breaking the bank, and you have an irresistible
lure. There are plenty of stories to go around of big wins
and near misses. Ask anyone of the patrons playing roulette.
They'll usually have some personal stories to share. Perhaps
they even know some of the romantic tales of past heroes
who tempted fate and were victorious.
My favorite roulette story starts off: "One of the
most spectacular and popular gamblers at Monte Carlo was
a handsome young American named William Nelson Darnborough
from Bloomington, Illinois. How he beat roulette at Monte
Carlo from 1904 to 1911 has been a wellkept secret."
Darnborough, in fact, beat the casino to the extent of $415,000.
That's a sum, no doubt, equal to 10 or 15 times that amount
in today's dollars. If you would like to read the rest of
the story, it's in Part 4. |
