Roulette gambling started in France in the 18th century by a scientist named Blaise Pascal. Supposedly, roulette resulted during an attempt to make a perpetual motion machine. The name roulette actually means “a small wheel.” However, there are rumors that the gambling game actually goes much further back in history and started in China. Then, it was brought over to Europe through friendships between Chinese and Dominican monks. Other rumors suggest that roulette was actually first played by the Romans who would use their chariot wheels to make gambling games. Because roulette is so popular, you will find many rumors associated with it.