ROULETTE -- glamorous game of kings and queens, a tradition of the finest gaming palaces throughout the world, has long been a symbol of casino entertainment – everywhere but California!

For much of the Sunshine State’s history, roulette has been prohibited. Only house-banked card games and machines are legal. However, among the favorite games of casino patrons everywhere, there’s been an increasing demand for roulette, especially in large casinos.

The new, young generation of casino visitors grew up playing virtual games on computers. They’ve discovered by watching poker on TV that table gaming offered a level of REAL drama, thrills and excitement unmatched in cyberspace. What’s more, victory means chips, not credits.

The fact that table games are poised for a huge comeback can also be seen in the popularity of “reality” shows on television. Reality! Real Adventure! That is what people are looking for.

For these reasons, there’s been an increased interest and significant growth in table game play throughout the country. According to Nevada gaming revenue statistics, the popularity of slot machines peaked in 2003. Since then, table play has been on the increase.

At a seminar on table games during the recent Global Gaming Expo, the worldwide annual gaming industry trade show in Las Vegas, everyone on the dais noted an increased interest in table games. One speaker, Bart Pestrichello, Director of Table Games at the Hard Rock Hotel/Casino, told the audience that “tables out perform slots” at his property.

Likewise, California casinos have been feeling an increased demand for roulette. In a little more than a few years, there have been several creative efforts to bring roulette to California casinos.

In all versions of roulette in California, cards determine winning and losing bets, not a ball-bearing wheel. In 2004 the California Division of Gambling Control approved card versions of roulette, declaring such games “to be house-banked card games which may be offered….” Some casinos tried a version of roulette called “Single Ball Bingo”, in which balls representing the numbers on a roulette wheel circulated in a blower. But patrons complain that “it feels more like bingo than roulette”.

The Cache Creek Casino Resort, just north of Sacramento, featured a roulette game with a real wheel. However, instead of numbers it simply alternates black & red squares. The numbers appear on cards placed in black & red rectangles on the layout. The ball on the wheel only determines the color of the “action” card. Nevertheless, “players get the same enjoyment and anticipation watching the roulette wheel,” explains VP of Table Games, Tom Brundige.

“Barona Roulette” is offered at the Barona Casino, near San Diego. It, too, employs a wheel and cards. A 37-card deck numbered 0-36 is shuffled. From the deck cards 3 random cards are placed face-down on the layout. One of these 3 cards indicates the winning number. When the ball drops, it determines which card will be revealed.

The most promising roulette game being offered to California casinos may be “NoBall Card Roulette”. The creation of professional casino game designer Fernando Terminel, (president@fair-trade-gaming.com) it is simple, easy to play, and captures the true roulette experience.

Like roulette, NoBall offers players a real roulette experience. The game features a wide variety of bets much like the traditional wheel game. The house advantage for NoBall (4 %) on every bet on the table.

NoBall is played on a handsome, roulette-like layout that’s divided into wide variety of bets. The single and double zeroes are represented by the red and black jokers. Players can bet chips on single cards, combinations of cards, columns, suits, red or black (A-6 or 7-K).

In addition to offering all the wagers and excitement of the traditional game, It also offers an exciting seven card stud Poker side bet.

Roulette is coming to California. And, NoBall Card Roulette looks like it reinvented the wheel!