Russian Roulette – What Is It All About?

12.31.2007 | 6:22 pm | gambling

While many readers who follow the gambling industry will have heard of Russian Roulette, that crazy game whereby one bullet is placed in one of the 6 chambers of a gun cylinder.  The cylinder is then spun and pointed at some ones head and fired.  It is only by chance that the participants live or die, but where did it originate from and why is it even still mentioned today?

You will not be surprised to learn that Russian Roulette originated from Russia, although the exact history behind this hideous game is a little misty.  There are two trains of thought which are :-

Legend One

In the 19th century Russia was a very different place to that of today, and there were many people locked up in prison for trumped up charges or minor offences.  As the prison population grew so did the prison guard population and legend has it that they thought up a game in which they would load one chamber of a gun with one bullet, spin it and shoot, aiming at the prisoners.  Apparently they used to gamble on the out come, and then move onto the next prisoner – the ultimate life gamble!

Legend Two

The second theory behind the game of Russian Roulette was based upon the many military wars and out posts of the USSR as it was then – and the terrible conditions which the soldiers were forced to operate in.  With many of these soldiers suicidal it is rumoured that they used to play Russian Roulette to impress each other with their bravery – often not bothered whether they lived or died.

Quite what the history is behind Russian Roulette is not certain, but it has to be one of the craziest games ever dreamt up by a living sole.  The saying “Its Like Playing Russian Roulette” is still fairly strong in many parts of the world, although thankfully the “game” has died a death!