Roulette Variations

The American version has an extra double zero pocket which gives the casino an even bigger advantage over the player. European roulette is the more popular version and this is mostly due to the fact that it has a lower house edge.

Nevertheless, roulette is highly popular and thanks to the countless variations in online casinos, we don’t really think it’ll go out of style anytime soon.

Main Roulette Variations

> European Roulette ; European roulette is the most standard variation in casinos and online casinos. It is the oldest version of roulette and the most popular as well, thanks to the 2.70% house edge.

The European roulette wheel has the numbers 1-36 printed on it, along with a single zero (house) pocket. This means there’s a total of 37 numbers in play. The roulette layout features more than a few main and side bets with many of the main ones paying even money. The inside and outside bets differ greatly in probability, with the outside bets paying less.

> American Roulette ; The biggest difference between European and American roulette is the addition of the double zero pocket in the American version. This extra pocket doesn’t just add to the total numbers on the wheel – it also impacts how the game is played. Although the bets are essentially the same, the house edge of the American roulette wheel is 5.26%, which is much higher than the European version. Due to higher house edge, American roulette is not much popular outside the USA. If you have the option to pick between them, always go European.

> French Roulette ; Although not technically a separate roulette variant, French roulette is popular in French casinos and adds a few exciting features such as the En Prison and La Partage rule. This variation uses the European roulette wheel, but the even money bets pay back half to the player. Getting 50% of your stake back is not exactly a win, but hey, it’s better than losing it all, right?

French roulette is a bit harder to learn unless you can speak French and the two extra rules can take a bit of time getting used to. Still, it’s a great variation that offers you the option to control your losses.