Written by: Stefano Rossi | The review was last updated: 03 July 2024 | Fact-check by: Kim Birch
Roulette's a real crowd-pleaser at casinos worldwide. The name comes from French, meaning 'little wheel'. You'll find this popular table game in pretty much every casino, always drawing a good crowd.
Most of the game-changing tweaks came from Monte Carlo Casino, and they've stuck around for yonks, giving famous roulette punters something to get their teeth into. We're talking about everyone from pro gambler Phil Ivey to movie icons like James Bond, seen having a punt in their films.
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While most people hit the casino for a bit of fun, there are always those keen punters who are there to try and beat the house. Along with other casino games, some roulette players have made a name for themselves in the media as the best of the bunch. Here are some yarns about roulette players who've gone down in history for their professional play and casino-beating antics.
Joseph Jagger: The Roulette Ace Kiwi Players Admire
Ask any punter about their top pick for table games, and chances are roulette will come up often. This classic has been a favourite in casinos for yonks. Invented back in the 1600s, it's barely changed since. It's pretty much the same game it was 300 years ago. The only tweaks have been to the colours and zero placements in some versions.
Roulette's got that perfect mix of simplicity and excitement. There's nothing quite like watching that little ball spin round the wheel, bouncing through the numbers. It's a real nail-biter.
What's great about roulette is it's all down to luck. No skill involved, no way to influence the outcome. That's part of its charm. Over the years, some famous gamblers have made their mark on the game. Let's take a look at some of these legendary players and their historic bets.
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In the world of pokies, a few punters have made their mark, but Joseph Jagger stands out as one of the most famous roulette players. Known as "The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo", Jagger's story is legendary.
Back in 1873, Jagger cottoned on to the fact that not all roulette wheels are perfect. Some have flaws that can be exploited for a tidy profit if you spot them before the casino does.
After days of watching different wheels, Jagger found one biased towards 9 specific numbers. He hired a few mates to scope out the casinos and check the wheels. Then he hit the tables, winning about $120,000 NZD - that's over $5.5 million in today's money.
Fast forward to 1891, and Charles Wells tried a similar trick. This small-time crook rocked up to a casino in July with a few grand of dodgy money. Wells cleaned out the roulette table, then kept winning for 11 hours straight. He came back in November and won about a million Francs. Unlike Jagger though, Wells was just riding a lucky streak, not exploiting any wheel quirks.
Another big name in roulette is Gonzalo Garcia-Pelayo. Like Jagger, he found a wonky wheel that favoured certain numbers. This one was in a Madrid casino, and Garcia-Pelayo pocketed over a million Euros from it. He kept betting on that wheel, milking it for all it was worth.
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Some punters have made their mark in gambling history with massive wins. A few have even become famous for single bets rather than long sessions at the tables. Take Ashley Revell from London in 2004, who took a risk that many would call utterly bonkers; this bloke flogged everything he owned and decided to bet the lot on a single spin of the roulette wheel. Revell raised $135,300 from his garage sale and then gambled it all at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, putting his money on red. He won! Revell pocketed $270,600 and left a $600 tip for good measure.
In 2009, punters watched another famous roulette spin live on telly. Derren Brown, a well-known illusionist and TV personality, tried to predict where the roulette ball would land after a spin. Brown borrowed 5000 quid from someone to add some drama to the show. He reckoned he knew where the ball would end up, claiming he'd used maths and physics to figure it out. As the wheel started spinning, Brown took about 3 seconds to pick his spot and bet the lot on number 8. Unfortunately, the ball landed one space over on 30. It was a daft idea, but it got loads of attention and is now one of the most talked-about roulette spins ever.
Another famous spin in casino history came from Chris Boyd, a regular 40-year-old computer programmer. He suddenly decided to bet his entire life savings on a single roulette spin in Vegas. Most casinos turned him away because his $220,000 bet was too risky. Finally, Binion's Horseshoe Club gave him a go. While most people would call him a nutter, Boyd got lucky and doubled his money.
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Kiwi films feature iconic casino moments with Roulette action
Roulette and films go way back, and it's a pretty exciting combo. For yonks, filmmakers have been using Roulette wheels to create dramatic moments in their flicks. You've probably seen a movie where the main character's skint, heads to the casino, chucks some money on the Roulette table, and bam - walks out loaded.
Heaps of movies have showcased this famous table game. Take the German film "Run, Lola, Run" for instance. In it, Lola puts 100 Marks on number 20 twice and wins both times. She ends up with over 129,600 Marks - way more than the 100,000 she needed to sort her boyfriend's debt drama.
Casablanca's another classic that features Roulette. Humphrey Bogart's character owns a cafe with a Roulette wheel, which he uses to fleece punters. He even helps a Bulgarian couple bribe the cops by getting them to bet on a specific number.
But when it comes to iconic Roulette scenes, you can't go past the legendary James Bond series. Our favourite British spy jets around the world, hitting up casinos left, right and centre. He's mad for a punt, often having a crack at the Roulette tables and baccarat games. You'll spot this in the seventh Bond film, Diamonds are Forever.
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Turns out celebs are just like us when it comes to having a punt at the casino, and for many, roulette's the go-to game.
Take Ricky Hatton, for instance. He's a big name in boxing circles, having gone toe-to-toe with some of the best, including the undefeated Floyd Mayweather. After his loss to Mayweather, a video of Hatton made the rounds online. It showed him heading straight to the casino post-fight for a spin on the roulette wheel.
When asked about his fondness for roulette later on, Hatton admitted he's a massive fan and loves having a go with his mates. Just goes to show, even the tough guys can't resist the allure of the wheel.
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Kiwi Celebs Who Love a Spin: Roulette's Famous Fans
Lara Dutta, the 2000 Miss Universe winner, is not just a globally recognised model but also a keen Roulette enthusiast. Much like Hatton, Dutta's got a real soft spot for Roulette. She's often seen trying her luck at the tables when she pops over to Macau for swanky award dos.
Dutta reckons she caught the Roulette bug from her mate Ritesh Deshmukh, another table game fanatic. He showed her the ropes, and now she's a dab hand at it. In chats with journos, Dutta's made no bones about her growing passion for Roulette over recent years. It's fair to say she's become quite the punter when it comes to this classic casino game.
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These yarns about famous punters and bets in roulette history are pretty interesting, but let's keep it real. Roulette's all about chance, so never punt more than you can afford to lose. Most of these stories are just lucky breaks, not winning strategies. Jagger's the only one who had a proper system, and that's risky business. Don't get caught up thinking you'll make a fortune at the casino. Gambling's for fun, not for making money.
The people we've talked about aren't pros, just regular folks who struck it lucky. Apart from Jagger, none of them had any special knowledge. If you're keen on predicting roulette outcomes, you'd need to know the nitty-gritty of the game. For instance, there are three main types of roulette: American, European, and French. Each has its own quirks. European Roulette has 37 numbers and about 97% RTP, while French Roulette's RTP is around 98%. Both beat American Roulette's 95% RTP. Then you've got all the different betting patterns to consider. It's a lot to wrap your head around.
At the end of the day, there's no foolproof way to beat the roulette wheel. It's all down to luck. So have a go if you fancy, but keep it fun and within your limits.
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Common questions about legendary roulette players and their notable wagers
When it comes to the max win in Roulette, there's no set rule across the board. It varies depending on the casino and their specific guidelines. Our research turned up some pretty hefty betting limits - we're talking up to €10,000. That means punters could potentially pocket a whopping €360,000 on just one spin. Sounds like a dream, right? But get this - the record for the biggest roulette win ever still belongs to Charles Wells. Now that's a bloke who knew how to play the game.
As we've covered in the article above, there's no foolproof strategy to become a roulette champ. Roulette is all about luck, and no amount of number crunching or fancy formulas can predict where that ball will land. It's a game of pure chance, so don't be fooled by anyone claiming otherwise.
Your best shot at winning in roulette comes with odds of 35:1 on a European roulette table, while the American version offers slightly longer odds at 36:1. Keep in mind, these are still pretty steep for most punters.
Throughout history, some punters have landed mind-blowing wins at the Roulette table. But the crown for the most outrageous win goes to Charles Wells. Back in 1881, this bloke managed to pocket a whopping 2 Million Francs at a Monte Carlo casino. It's the sort of win that'd make even the most seasoned gambler's jaw drop.
James Bond, the iconic spy from Ian Fleming's novels, is a household name worldwide. This British secret agent, known for his love of high-stakes gambling, often employs a clever betting strategy in the films. Bond's approach involves placing multiple wagers to boost his chances of winning big at the casino tables.
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