Home » Blog » The Sum of All Roulette Wheel Numbers: A Devilish Mystery

The Sum of All Roulette Wheel Numbers: A Devilish Mystery

Casino Reviews and Research

Written by: Ashley Grasse , Specialist in Casino, Games, and Research

Affiliate Disclaimer Some of the links featured on our site may direct you to marketing affiliates. Meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase on that site.

July 7, 2025

7 minute read

The sum of the numbers on a roulette wheel is 666. If that fact made you raise an eyebrow, you’re not alone. This creepy bit of trivia has followed roulette around for decades, earning it nicknames like “The Devil’s Game.”

But is there something sinister behind the math, or is it just a quirky coincidence that adds flair to an already dramatic game?

Let’s break it down with some history, folklore, and a few theories from the internet’s most superstitious corners.

Is the Sum of Roulette Numbers Really 666?

Add the numbers 1 through 36 together and you get 666. In fact, 666 is what mathematicians call a triangular number. That means if you arranged 666 dots in a triangle, each side would have exactly 36 dots

This triangular number just happens to line up perfectly with the number range used in roulette.

Whether you’re playing on a European roulette wheel (with one 0) or an American one (with 0 and 00), the main number set from 1 to 36 is the same, so the spooky total holds.

A Brief History of Roulette and Its Creator – Was It on Purpose?

The game we know today emerged in 18th-century France, blending older wheel-based games with betting systems. But was the 666 total intentional or just a weird side effect of design? Here’s what we know:

Pascal’s Spinning Wheel (1600s)

Blaise Pascal, the French mathematician, l tried to invent a perpetual motion machine. The goal was to create a device that could spin forever without losing energy. He didn’t succeed, but his spinning wheel concept laid the groundwork for modern roulette mechanics.

Roulette Takes Shape (1700s)

By the early 18th century, gambling houses in France were hosting games that used a wheel numbered 1 through 36. These early versions already had the core layout we recognize today, but without any zeros.

Fun Fact: The first documented mention of roulette appears in the 1796 French novel La Roulette, ou le Jour (“Roulette, or The Day”) by Jacques Lablee. The book describes a game being played in the Palais Royal in Paris with a wheel and betting layout strikingly similar to what we know today.

The First Zero Appears (1843)

François and Louis Blanc, two French casino operators, introduced the single-zero roulette wheel in Germany. This gave the house a mathematical edge while keeping the game attractive to players. Their version quickly gained popularity across Europe.

Double Zero Enters the Scene (Mid-1800s)

As roulette spread to the United States, casinos added a second zero (00) to increase the house edge even more. This became the standard in American roulette, but the numbers 1 to 36 stayed unchanged.

The Legend of François Blanc’s Deal with the Devil

So, was 666 intentional? There’s no historical record suggesting Pascal, the Blanc brothers, or any early game designers noticed or cared that 1 through 36 adds up to 666. It’s more likely that the sum was discovered later, after the layout was already locked in.

However, there is a legend. It says that François Blanc made a pact with the Devil to learn the secrets of the game.

The story likely originated as casino gossip or sensational press during Blanc’s rise to fame. He and his brother Louis were pioneers of modern European roulette and famously introduced the single-zero wheel at the casino in Homburg, Germany, in 1843.

By reducing the house edge, their version of roulette quickly gained traction across Europe and eventually became the gold standard in Monte Carlo.

Blanc’s success, especially at the glamorous Casino de Monte-Carlo, drew attention and suspicion. Whispers began that no one could achieve such dominance in gambling without supernatural help.

However, there’s no historical documentation to support the myth. No writings, no confessions.

666 and the Devil: Where the Myths Come From

The number 666 comes from the Bible’s Book of Revelation (13:18), where it’s famously referred to as “the number of the beast.” For centuries, it’s been a symbol of evil, deception, and Satan himself in Christian tradition. So when gamblers realized that roulette’s numbers added up to 666, the connection felt almost too perfect.

The idea stuck because it reinforced existing views: gambling is risky, morally questionable, and dangerously addictive. Roulette being fast-paced, flashy, and centered around chance, became an easy target for superstition.

Here’s how the meaning of 666 shifts depending on who you ask:

Biblical interpretation
Many Westerners associate 666 with the Antichrist or a sign of the Apocalypse. It’s used in everything from fire-and-brimstone sermons to horror fiction, often as a warning against temptation.
Chinese culture
In Mandarin, the pronunciation of 666 (liù liù liù) sounds like “everything is going smoothly.” It’s actually considered lucky. Gamers and livestream audiences often comment “666” to praise someone’s skill — basically saying “well played!”
Pop culture influence
The fear of 666 isn’t just religious — it’s cinematic. Movies like The Omen and bands like Iron Maiden used the number to create instant chills. It’s become visual shorthand for “something evil is about to happen.”

Mathematical Patterns That Keep the 6s Coming

Once you notice that the roulette wheel’s numbers add up to 666, it’s hard not to see sixes everywhere. And while it’s just math, the patterns are oddly satisfying and sometimes a little eerie.

Here are a few math quirks real money roulette fans have pointed out:

Rows that reduce to 6

Add up any full row of three numbers on the table, and the result often reduces to 6 when you sum the digits:

1 + 2 + 3 = 6
4 + 5 + 6 = 15 → 1 + 5 = 6
34 + 35 + 36 = 105 → 1 + 0 + 5 = 6
10 + 11 + 12 = 33 → 3 + 3 = 6

Diagonals reduce to 6, too

Some diagonals across the betting layout show the same pattern:

12 + 14 + 16 = 42 → 4 + 2 = 6
19 + 20 + 21 = 60 → 6 + 0 = 6

Multiples of 6 everywhere

With 36 total numbers, everything is divisible cleanly by 6 — six columns of six, six lines of six. Even the layout itself is a 3×12 grid, packed with groupings of sixes.

Triangular number symmetry

As mentioned earlier, 666 is the 36th triangular number. That means the number of pockets (1 to 36) isn’t just a clean layout — it mathematically forms a perfect triangle. This symmetry is part of what makes roulette feel so balanced, even if the outcomes are completely random.

So, Why Are There 36 Numbers on the Roulette Wheel?

The 1–36 range wasn’t picked at random. It’s a structured, efficient design that supports multiple betting options without overwhelming the table. Here’s why it works.

Even divisions: The number set divides cleanly into halves, thirds, quarters, and sixths — ideal for bets like 1–18 vs. 19–36, dozens (1–12, 13–24, 25–36), or columns.
Balanced odds: The layout gives near 50/50 chances for red vs. black, even vs. odd, and high vs. low — which are appealing to casual players looking for simple bets.
Payout flexibility: With 36 numbers on the wheel, roulette allows for clean, easy-to-understand payouts. A single-number bet pays 35 to 1. Not quite the true odds, but close enough to feel fair while giving the house a slight edge. It’s ideal because it sounds big, is simple to calculate (bet $10, win $350), and keeps the game fast and approachable.
Physical design: A wheel with 36 numbered pockets (plus one or two zeros) fits well within the physical limits of a gaming table. It’s large enough to feel unpredictable but not so big that it slows down the game.

Should You Be Worried About 666?

Not really. If you’re losing at roulette, blame the odds, not the Devil. The house edge comes from the zeros, not from the fact that the numbers 1 through 36 add up to 666.

Still, it’s a great example of how people find meaning in randomness. A simple number total becomes loaded with myth once you add a spinning wheel, some superstition, and a bit of drama.

At the end of the day, the sum of roulette numbers is just math — but it’s the kind of math that makes people talk. It is one of the most entertaining facts in casino trivia.

Whether you laugh, get spooked, or share it as trivia, 666 has earned its place in casino folklore. And honestly? It makes the game more fun.

Tags: Online Gambling