Ever wonder what the total of all the numbers on a roulette is? It is an intriguing, curious bit of information that has won over casino fans as well as trivia enthusiasts. On a roulette, the number range runs from 0 to 36, with the total of those numbers being 666, famously known as "The Number of the Beast."
The French word meaning "little wheel" is roulette, a casino game of chance. At the point in the game, the spinning wheel has some numbers along its pockets, and players bet on which pocket the ball from the small end released to spin around the rim would fall into once the wheel has stopped.
A single number-for example, 7 or 18.
A group of numbers-for example, 1-12
Whether the number is odd or even.
Whether the number is red or black
Whether the number is high (19-36) or low (1-18)
The numbers on a standard European roulette wheel range from 0 to 36. When you add them all up, the total is 666. Here are the math calculations for you:
0+1+2+3+...+36=666
This calculation has also brought the nickname of the wheel being called "The Devil's Wheel" because 666 is most commonly associated with the biblical "Number of the Beast." The number first appears in Chapter 13 of the Book of Revelation in the New Testament, where it has been associated with a symbol that has been hung over superstition and fear within countless cultures. In fact, this association gives the game of roulette itself a mystery and intrigue.
From a Christian eschatology, 666 is considered the number of the Beast, representing a symbolic figure associated with the apocalypse and end times. The essence of the Beast may differ depending on individual views or ideas, but most believe that the term means evil beings that will soon be brought into the world at the time of the end. This idea became popularized in Revelation 13:18 when it is written: "This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666."
666 has been a legendary figure throughout history and pop culture, appearing in almost every single book, movie, and even music to denote darkness or evil. However, when it shows up on the roulette wheel, it is just a coincidence and a mathematical probability.
The game like we know today was first invented by Blaise Pascal in France back in the 18th century; however, there the original European roulette was invented, which is got numbers 0 through 36. The double zero slot that is added in the American roulette gave it a reason for popularity to grow crazily in casinos in France and soon spread over the world.
Perhaps it is the affinity to fortune and luck that the game carries, and hence many gamblers associate it with superstition. This makes the mystique of the game even more influential, especially for those who believe in lucky and unlucky numbers because the sum of the numbers amounts to 666.
Though the total of all the numbers in European roulette is 666, American roulette has an extra pocket for 00. Even with this difference, both variants were equally played by bettors around the globe. Interestingly, European roulette has been said to be more friendly to players because the variant only has one 0, while its American counterpart's 00 makes the house edge substantially higher.
Although it is merely chance which decides the outcome, most players still try to come up with strategies just to win. Strategies, such as the martingale system, feature doubling after each lost spin so that the player might eventually recover some of his or her losses. Yet, over the long term, the house edge ensures the casino will be profitable at its end. For European roulette, it contains a house edge of approximately 2.7%, whereas in American roulette, it is higher due to the inclusion of the 00 pocket.
Whether you consider it a marvelous coincidence or simply a fantastic trivia, that the sum of all numbers on the roulette wheel is equal to 666 only adds mystery to the game by its own excitement. The next time you visit a casino or watch a game of roulette, you will have a great anecdote to share about the "Devil's Wheel."
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