Famous French Roulette Winners and Stories

French roulette has a long and rich history compared to most casino games. Its iconic appeal has grown due to depictions on screen and tales of legendary wins. The game, which was a feature in one of the earliest casinos, has birthed some of the most remarkable stories from gambling lore. In this blog about French roulette, Genting Casino explores some of the biggest winners the game has ever delivered.

• Disclaimer: This blog is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The stories shared do not guarantee similar outcomes and should not be seen as encouragement to gamble. Casino games are based entirely on chance, and the house always has the edge. Gambling should never be viewed as a way to achieve financial success. Please play responsibly.

Winners At Casino de Monte-Carlo

The Casino de Monte-Carlo is one of the most iconic casinos in the world, known for its extravagant and sophisticated atmosphere and its big wins. It is one of top casinos in the world if you are on the hunt for the best casino experiences, and it has produced many big French roulette wins. Let’s take a closer look.

Charles Welles in 1891

Charles Welles reportedly broke the bank at the Monte Carlo Casino in 1891. Before entering the legendary casino, the Englishman had very little experience with gambling. However, in a stunning turn of events, Wells won over one million francs after a successful streak of bets. His win led to a temporary pause in the French roulette game in the casino. The events also became inspiration for a popular British music hall song, The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo, published the same year. He later went on to conduct a Ponzi scheme in France in 1910.

William Darnborough from 1904 to 1911

This American gambler amassed a fortune of $415,000 ($11,374,844 in 2020) playing French roulette at the Casino in Monte Carlo. One such story of his success describes winning a single number bet on five, five times in a row. An impressive feat because it is brave (or arguably stupid), because the same number appearing five times in a row seems extremely unlikely.

Arthur de Courcy Bower in 1911

Before a friend of the aforementioned songwriter confirmed Welles was the inspiration for the music hall song, some urban myths suggested it was about Arthur De Courcy Bower. However, his success came 20 years after the song was published. Mr de Courcy Bower was a convicted fraudster who served six months' hard labour in 1904. However, in 1911, he allegedly won the maximum 18 times in a row and bankrupted them five times.

Kenneth Clark Sr.

The father of the head of the National Gallery and Scottish industrialist, Kenneth Clark Sr., enjoyed gambling. He frequented the Monte Carlo Casino, where he enjoyed regular good luck. In a letter to Bernard Berenson, an American art historian, Clark said that he had used the money generated from a successful evening of roulette to buy “a small, recently created golf course at Sospel, behind Mentone, and then built a hotel there.”

Roulette Scam of 1994

Most stories of massive roulette success reflect an individual making big wins. However, one roulette success story revolves around a community of gamblers. Similarly to Joseph Jagger, they realised that imperfections in casino roulette wheels could be exploited for a statistical advantage. They used hidden cameras and other technology to track a wheel’s behaviour and accurately predict where the ball would land.

In 1994, the group traveled to several European casinos, including some in France, and won large sums using their system. Their success led to a worldwide reevaluation as casinos around the world changed how they monitored and maintained equipment. 

In the modern environment of licensed UK casinos and more secure set-ups, these kinds of scams are now extremely unlikely, if not virtually impossible.

Sir Phillip Green in 2004

Less of a famous win and more of a big win by a famous person. Sir Phillip Green is a British businessman who was chairman of the Arcadia Group, which owns and runs British high street clothing shops. At some point, the group owned British Home Stores, Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Debenhams, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Topman, Topshop, Wallis, and Warehouse. He reportedly used a betting system to win £2 million in one night in December 2004 playing roulette. Some say he won a further £1 million on another night before the year-end.

Pedro Grendene Bartelle in 2017

This is one of the few famous French roulette wins documented on video. In January 2017, Pedro Grendene Bartelle, a Brazilian businessman, bet $35,000 on a single roulette spin at a hotel in Uruguay. A 35-1 return on that stake is $1.26 million, but stories tell that he hit the jackpot and won $3.5 million from Hotel Conrad in Punta del Este.

In the video, Bartelle, nephew of billionaire Alexandre Grendene Bartelle, is seen drinking wine with friends and confidently placing his chips on the number 32. Although you do not see the roulette spin, the group erupts in celebration, suggesting he has won.

Verdict

While these kinds of life-changing stories are few and far between, it is always important for players to remember that they should play roulette for fun and should never depend on the game for financial gain. 

French Roulette FAQs

Where is the best casino to win at French roulette?

There is no answer to this question. Players should always play at trusted and safe online casinos, and remember that there is never a guaranteed way in French roulette or any other major live casino game. 

How is a win determined in online French roulette?

Online French roulette games use random number generators (RNGs) to determine the outcome of each spin. These ensure that neither the casino nor the operator can have any impact on the result. 

Can I win real money playing French roulette?

Absolutely! Players can win real money when playing French Roulette online or in physical casinos.