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Roulette is one of the easiest and most exciting casino games you can play, and you can find several roulette varieties in most land-based and all online casinos. There are three main types of roulette, and all of these are well-known and highly popular: these are European roulette, American roulette, and French roulette. In the following guide, we will explain all of these roulette types; we’ll explain the differences and similarities between the wheel and table layout of European, French, and American roulette.
- American roulette is played with double zero slots, and European and French roulette have a single zero wheel
- The main bet types and table layout are almost the same with all roulette types
- French roulette comes with extra betting rules and has the lowest house edge for outside bets
- The first roulette variant to become commonly widespread is the French roulette
Short Roulette History
Roulette is believed to have been invented by the famous mathematician Pascal in the 1700s, based on the Italian game Biribi and Pascal’s invention of the roulette wheel. The game was played as EO or Even/Odd and was played with double zeros on the wheel. After some perfecting, the roulette game took up a prime place in the Parisian salons. Sometime later, the single zero roulette became a staple in Monte Carlo and became known as French roulette.
However, roulette spread into the New World; the double zero roulette wheel evolved from New Orleans to the West and, after some changes, was established as American Roulette. As you can see, the single zero wheel and the double zero wheel are not new inventions, so the distinct roulette variants were established and spread all over the world with the emergence of online casinos. Now, let’s delve into the specifics of the types that we believe will help you learn how to play roulette.
Credit: 20Bet
Roulette Types Compared
There are three dominant roulette variants found at all land-based and online casinos: European, French, and American roulette types. These are based on two separate wheel formats – a wheel with a single zero and a wheel with double zero slots.
European roulette is the most famous roulette variant; the game features a wheel with the numbers 1 to 36 and a single zero slot. You can play this game at most online casinos, and the bets you can place are pretty straightforward and come with reasonably good roulette odds and payouts.
French roulette uses the same single zero wheel as European roulette and basically has the same rules and bets. However, French roulette allows players to place extra roulette bets that give them an edge over the house. It also allows the players to reclaim half of their bet if the ball lands on the 0 slot on the wheel.
American roulette differs from European roulette because it uses a wheel with 38 slots – the numbers 1 to 36, but it has two zero slots, one with a single 0 and one with a 00. When you compare it with the roulette odds European roulette provides, American roulette has odds that favor the house.
Roulette Wheel & Table Layout Explained
As you can note from our explanation above, the roulette wheel differs between European/French and American roulette. The wheel is the deciding factor for the outcome of your bets, as the dealer spins the wheel in one direction and drops the ball in the opposite direction; the slot where the ball will land is the winning number.
The roulette table is adjacent to the roulette wheel, and this is where you place your bets. The table layout has a grid pattern that shows the possible types of roulette bets you can place, and these are split into two general sections: inside bets and outside bets. The inside bets section is where you can place the specific bets, and the outside bets section is where you can place the more general bets.
European Roulette
European roulette is the most famous roulette variant, and it features a wheel with 37 slots: 0 and the numbers 1-36. These are arranged in the following sequence on the roulette wheel:
| European roulette wheel number sequence |
|---|
| 0-32-15-19-4-21-2-25-17-34-6-27-13-36-11-30-8-23-10-5-24-16-33-1-20-14-31-9-22-18-29-7-28-12-35-3-26 |
Half the numbers are red, and half are black and are arranged in an alternating pattern on the wheel. The 0 slot is green, and then are the red and black numbers arranged in the pattern below:
French Roulette
French roulette uses the exact wheel as European roulette and has an identical table layout and number sequence on the roulette wheel. This roulette variant also has the same basic roulette bets you can place on the inside and outside of the table.
However, the key difference between French and European roulette is the extra bets you can place. The main ones are the En Prison and La Partage, but there are also several called or announced bets you can place in French roulette:
- En Prison: if the roulette ball lands on the zero slot, your even-money bet can stay on the table for the next spin
- La Partage – if the ball lands on the zero slot, you get half of your even-money bet stake back
| French roulette called bets | Description | Odds | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neighbors of Zero or Voisins du Zero | Bet that the ball will land on one of 17 numbers around to zero on the roulette wheel: 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25 | 45.9% | Variable |
| Zero Game or Jeu Zero | Bet that the ball will land on one of 7 numbers closest to zero on the roulette wheel: 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15 | 18.9% | 26:1 |
| Thirds of the Wheel or Tiers du Cylindre | Bet that the ball will land on one of 12 numbers opposite of the Neighbors of Zero: 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33 | 32.4% | 17:1 |
| The Orphans or Orphelins | Bet that the ball will land on one of 8 numbers not covered with the Neighbors of Zero and the Thirds of the Wheel: 7, 34, 6, 1, 20, 14, 31, 9 | 26.1% | 35:1 or 17:1 |
American Roulette
American Roulette is not as popular as European roulette because of its double zero wheel, which puts the odds in favor of the house. The roulette wheel in American roulette has a clockwise pattern on the number sequence on the wheel, and it balances the red /black and even/odd numbers better than the number sequence on the European/French wheel. The single and double zeros are opposite each other on the wheel, and the high and low numbers also alternate.
| American roulette wheel number sequence |
|---|
| 0-28-9-26-30-11-7-20-32-17-5-22-34-15-3-24-36-13-1-00-27-10-25-29-12-8-19-31-18-6-21-33-16-4-23-35-14-2 |
The red and black numbers on the American roulette table layout are the same, with half the numbers being red and half black. These are arranged in the pattern below, with the 0 and 00 slots in green:
The bets in American roulette vary very slightly than European roulette, meaning you can place the same inside and outside bets and also place a specialty 5-number bet called the Basket bet, where you can expect a payout of 6 to 1 if the ball lands on one of the numbers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3.
American Vs. European Vs. French Roulette
Now that we have outlined all the crucial aspects of the most famous roulette types, we share this table where you can see our comparison of the main features of European, French, and American roulette:
| Roulette type | Numbers | Zeros | RTP | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European roulette | 37 | 1 | 97.3% | 2.7% |
| French roulette | 37 | 1 | 98.65% | 1.35% (for outside bets) |
| American roulette | 38 | 2 | 94.74% | 5.26% |
How to Choose a Roulette Type?
We hope our guide on the different roulette types was helpful in explaining the differences between European, French, and American roulette and that you’ve found explanations for the key points. To aid further, here are the key points to note when choosing a roulette type to play:
- European and French roulette use the same wheel layout and have the same general bet options
- American roulette uses a double zero wheel that increases the house edge
- The main bets in roulette are the same for all types, the differences are for specialty bets
- The red and black numbers are the same in all these roulette variants
Credit: Wazamba
Tips to Help You Win at Roulette!
Before we let you go, here are some roulette tips we found to be helpful when playing roulette online:
- Prefer to place outside bets to get the best winning chances, especially when playing European and French roulette
- Be wise when selecting a roulette type and ensure you understand the differences between each type
- Learn the rules, odds, payouts, and other vital aspects of your chosen online roulette type
FAQs
Which Roulette Type Has the Most Favorable Odds?
You can find the most favorable odds when you play French roulette and place outside bets, as then you get a house edge of only 1.35%. However, this is not a popular variant, so if you are looking for favorable odds, we suggest you prefer to play European roulette, as this roulette variant comes with a 2.7% house edge.
Can I Apply a Betting Strategy When Playing Roulette?
You can’t apply a numbers strategy when playing roulette, as this is a game of chance, but you can check out our best roulette bet strategies. Still, you can try using the Andrucci roulette strategy to try to guess the frequently picked numbers. Also, you can apply a roulette betting strategy that focuses on optimizing your bankroll and taking advantage of a winning streak while minimizing losses when you are on a losing streak.
Is American Roulette Better to Play Than European Roulette?
American roulette uses a double zero wheel that increases the house edge, which makes it less favorable for the player. However, many find the increased risk a thrilling option and may prefer to play this casino game.
What Other Types of Roulette Can I Find?
Apart from the main roulette types, European, French, and American roulette we have outlined above, you can also find Mini roulette, Triple Zero roulette, 3D roulette, Double Ball roulette, Lightning roulette, and Slingshot roulette.
How Can I Play Roulette and Win?
To win at roulette, you have to be really lucky, as this is a game of chance. To get the best winning chances, we suggest you choose European roulette and place outside bets like the red/black, even/odd, or high/low bets, as these come with a good winning chance and straight payout.
Where Can I Play Roulette Online for Real Money?
Almost all online casinos have one or more roulette variants in their offer, and you can also find some that have free roulette to try out. However, after testing and reviewing the different online casinos, we found that 22Bet, 20Bet, Betway, William Hill, Wazamba, and Karamba have excellent casino terms and bonuses for playing online roulette for real money.
Can I Place a Bet on Every Roulette Number?
It is possible to place a roulette bet on every number, and this is known as the cover-the-table strategy. It will require you to place bets on all 37 numbers on the table (38 for American roulette). However, this is not a viable strategy, as even though you will win your bet, you only get a 35 to 1 payout, which means you’ll always be at a loss.
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