The lethal suicidal gun game did indeed originate during the Tsarist Russia era in the 19th century and does bear itself into reality with numerous real life accounts of this game taken place with sometimes often high profile famous cases. The name “Russian Roulette" was coined by French-Swiss Brooklyn based writer named Georges Surdez, for the title of a 1937 story in Collier's magazine. The game “Russian Roulette” largely remained nameless prior to this.

The first account of this is credited in the story “A Hero of Our Time” by Mikhail Lermontov where the protagonist pours 20 pieces of gold on to the table, a Lieutenant with an eye for gambling randomly takes his various-Caliber pistols out, completely unaware if they are loaded or not, decides to put the muzzle to his forehead. Then asks another protagonist named Gregory to throw a card in the air and when this card touches the ground he shoots, fortunately nothing happens because the blow fails but when he cocks the pistol again, and aims it at the service cap hanging over the window, a shot rings out and smoke fills the room.

The game began to spread among Russian garrison officials, becoming a foolish courage challenge. As a way to alleviate the boredom of the long hours in distant garrisons or even to gamble, it also became an undertaking that, in the eyes of its players, superseded the duel.

Noticeable high profile figures throughout recent history have suspected to have died in relation to the game of Russian Roulette such as American blues musician Johnny Ace in December 25th 1954. Aswell as the infamous murder of Santos Rodriguez. The murder case named Commonwealth v. Malone that made its way all the way to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania are all examples of the game Russian Roulette being played in real life.