Taking Chances on a Rigged Roulette Wheel

Up Close & Peculiar

More than 100 years ago, the globetrotting Robert Ripley began collecting artifacts from his journeys around the world, which today form the heart of the greatest collection of oddities ever assembled.  Up Close & Peculiar brings the curious history of these pieces to a personal level as our Exhibits Buyer, Kurtis Moellmann, explores the strange relics that lie within our Warehouse walls! Become a part of the story as we share pieces for every history buff, pop culture junkie, and oddities collector alike.

Today: A Rigged Round Table Roulette Wheel

Typically a game of chance, Roulette involves players placing bets on the number of their choice around a spinning wheel. The dealer then drops a small ball into the wheel, and the fate of the players around the table lies in its hands. This round table roulette wheel is equipped with a cheat that allows the dealer to choose which player will win or lose each game. Inside the lid placed over the wheel lies a secret tube leading from the drop point to the exit point—signified by an irregularly turned screw on the exterior. The dealer simply places the screw over the number he or she wishes to pick, and the winner is predetermined. A game of chance rigged from the inside out!