Different Types of Roulette Variations

For centuries, roulette has been a popular game among casino players. Roulette is an exciting game of chance. It rewards intelligent gamblers who take calculated risks and place wise strategic bets. When the game is played at land-based casinos, it draws many curious spectators.

Roulette is a popular game that can be found in every land-based casino and online casino. However, different variations of roulette have been developed over the years in different parts of the world. Online casinos have added more roulette variants in the past many years, making it easy for players to get confused about playing each type of roulette.

We aim to simplify the complex and rich world of roulette variations and provide current information about their rules and unique features. We have provided a brief overview of the most popular roulette games. However, there are many more roulette variations.

European Roulette

Easy access to European roulette variations is the most played version of the game. It is played by millions of experienced and recreational players all over the world. This variation’s name is a misnomer, as, unlike its name, the game is played widely around the globe. This variant is more prevalent on the Old Continent. However, you can find European roulette tables at high-limit casinos in the United States, though it is rare.

The European roulette variations can be played on a wheel that contains 37 pockets or divisions. One is green, while the other alternates between red and black. They contain numbers 1 through 36. European roulette tables have a wheel in the middle. There are two layouts, one on each side. European roulette tables allow for more players because a different dealer manages each layout.

Two main types of bets can be made in European Roulette: Inside bets can be made on either single numbers or whole groups of numbers in the table layout. Outside bets, you bet on the properties of the numbers. 

They offer high quality, but they are more expensive even-money return. The zero in roulette is practically void of parity. This means that it is neither odd nor even. The zero is only there to make even-money bets lose. All bets on number properties are lost when the ball settles in the green pocket giving the house an edge.

This version of the game allows for a few more bets by adjusting the sequence of numbers on the European wheel. These are called “Call” or “announced” best they can cover entire wheel sections, some with up to 17 adjacent numbers. This category’s name refers to the player announcing the call wager they wish to place, and the dealer places chips in the appropriate area of the track.

This is to make the game more enjoyable for both players and dealers and speed up the process. The dealers cannot place bets on behalf of players in American roulette. This is because American roulette variations have a different number sequence that does not allow for calls. In online roulette games, however, these rules are not mandatory for players.

As the casino has a low advantage of only 2.70% in European roulette variations, players are advised to stick with single-zero European variants. European roulette is generally more favourable for long-term players.

American Roulette

This roulette variation is most commonly found in American gambling venues, as the name suggests. The game is available in many casinos worldwide, and most online gambling sites have added it to their table games collection.

American roulette variations allow players to place additional bets since there is a second double-zero pocket. You can also use the wheel. The only thing that is not the same between European and American roulette is the double zero. The American wheel has numbers 1 through 36, which is in addition to the green pockets with zeroes. Total 38 divisions. 

If you like to play in real casinos, there may be double-zero tables of roulette where the Surrender rules apply. These games are often offered at Atlantic City casinos. The Surrender rule is not available in American roulette online.

Surrender is like the La Partage rule. French roulette variations have a common option called Surrender. You will get half of the original stake back when the ball settles in either the 0 pocket or the 00. Surrender can only be used when you place even-money wagers on the properties of the numbers. 

The best thing about the surrender rule is that it causes the house edge in American Roulette to drop from 5.26 to 2.63. Ironically, it is less than the European version of the game.

The addition of an extra inside bet is another stark difference between single and double-zero Roulette games. This is the Bet on Five Numbers. It covers five numbers, as the name implies, 0, 001, 1, 2, and 3. It is sometimes called Top-Line bet in some American versions. This bet is not recommended, regardless of its name. It is very unprofitable for the player.

The Five-Number bet has the highest house edge, at 7.89%. This European variant’s equivalent is the Basket bet, which only covers four numbers (0, 1, 2, 3, and 3 due to the missing double zero). However, the Basket bet is more favourable to players as there is no increase of the house advantage.

French Roulette

Everything is nearly the same in French roulette as European roulette regarding rules and wheel design. You can also place the same bets. Similar to the European versions, the French version uses a single-zero wheel with 37 divisions. The French roulette wheel uses the same sequence of numbers as European roulette.

There may be differences in the layouts of European and French tables. The betting grid that contains all individual numbers is the same. However, the names of outside outcomes are usually written in French.

Rouge/Noire is the most common name for betting on colours. However, in some cases, red and black diamonds can indicate where the chips are placed. The boxes for high/low, odd/even, and high/low bets are labelled Impair/Pair or Manque/Passe. On the French layout, the boxes for Dozen bets look smaller and read P12/M12 and D12, which stands for Premier, Moyenne, and Derniere Douzaine.

The chips used by the players are the main difference between European and French versions of roulette. The chips are not engraved with any denomination. They are therefore called “Chips.”Also known as “checks.”

There are eight sets of chips at European tables. Each set is a different colour. To prevent any mismatches in bets, players are given different chips when they exchange cash for the checks.

Each check’s value is calculated by multiplying the total buy-in of the player by the number received. Checks are not worth anything and cannot be traded for cash at the cashier’s cage. However, players are given actual cash chips at many French roulette tables rather than these coloured checks.

The French version of the game has additional rules that do not apply to double-zero tables. First, the La PartageIn this case, half of the player’s original stake is returned to them. 

The second French rule is called En Prison, which means “in prison.” The player gets a second chance at regaining their initial even-money stake if zero is hit. Their chips are then “imprisoned” at a table for the next spin.