When writing down which video games are best for punks, the casino game of roulette probably isn't going to be on there. The game may be enjoyed by popular musicians and it may have red and black two popular punk colours, but it's a game with rules and dealers who dress in suits. Punks will probably play music games such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band.

Type ‘martingale’ into any search engine and you’ll find a rich labyrinth of roulette systems, gambling strategies and a deep vein of ways in which it is possible to spend money on games of chance all supported by mathematical proof. But who was the man behind this pariah of all betting systems and how has roulette remained so popular?