Wheels are among mankind’s greatest inventions, but they aren’t just good for transport. In gaming, the wheel has been prevalent in the mainstream for centuries in various ways, such as in game shows. Many people think that this all dates back to roulette, but the origins of the lucky wheel go back much further than that.
Gambling wheels date back hundreds of years, with records of wheels of chance being used in ancient mythology. Indeed, this may be one of the earliest forms of inspiration for this type of entertainment.
Many People Think Gambling Wheels Started with Roulette
Roulette is often thought of as the earliest form of gambling wheel, and it’s certainly the most famous. The game has been around for over 200 years, having first emerged in France in the 18th Century.
Now, the game is popular around the world, with many people discovering it online. There are now countless roulette games to choose from, with a range of live and virtual games. There are also fresh variants, such as Pinball Roulette and Speed Roulette.
The popularity of roulette in the gambling industry has led to other offerings that clearly drew inspiration from it, and many of these can be found in live casino lists. They include lucky wheel games like Crazy Time, where there are different segments representing various prizes.
Wheels have also been prominent in television game shows, with Wheel of Fortune being the most famous example of this in action. Many people think that roulette literally set this wheel in motion, but the concept can be traced hundreds of years prior to the invention of the iconic red and black wheel.
Early Inspiration for Gambling Wheels in Medieval Europe
The idea of a lucky wheel originated in medieval Europe, with the Rota Fortunae appearing in manuscripts, church carvings, and artwork across the continent. This was mainly used as a symbol to represent the random nature of fate. The Romans believed that the wheel belonged to the goddess Fortuna, who would spin it at random to decide what would happen to people positioned on the wheel. Some would experience great fortune, while others would suffer. It was a way to explain certain events such as droughts and victories in battle.
There are some sources that suggest wheels of fortune were later used as gambling games at fairs in the Middle Ages, with Thames Frost Fairs having various types of gaming available. Wheels were also shown on tarot cards, highlighting how there has always been a strong belief in the way that they can often decide people’s fates.
The wheel has endured for centuries thanks to its deep roots in history, but also because it’s a recognisable symbol. Even people who have never seen a lucky wheel game before can understand that there’s no way of knowing where it will end up once it’s finished spinning.
It’s no surprise that games like roulette and the Wheel of Fortune game show are so popular around the world, as civilisations have believed in lucky wheels for millennia. It’s likely that this will continue, with today’s wheels perhaps inspiring futuristic offerings in another few hundred years.