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Roulette is a widely beloved casino game that can be played both in physical casinos and online. The objective of the game is to correctly predict where the ball will land by placing bets on specific numbers or combinations of numbers on the roulette wheel.
While the game is enjoyed globally, there are variations of roulette such as European, American and French versions, which all offer more or less the same odds of winning.
This article will delve into the distinctions between the three versions and provide additional information on the ball that makes the game possible.
If you are interested in trying your hand at roulette, you can play on our online roulette tables here at PartyCasino.
The roulette wheel is a crucial element of the game, and it's important to note that the arrangement of numbers on the roulette wheel can vary depending on the type of roulette being played.
There are several types of roulette wheels used in modern tables, and these differences can affect the player's experience and the odds of winning.
By understanding the layout of the wheel, players can have a better understanding of the odds without using a roulette payout calculator.
For example, a single “zero” roulette wheel will have a different average return compared to other types of roulette, despite having the same number of red and black pockets.
European Roulette is a casino game that is widely popular both online and in land-based casinos. In European Roulette, the wheel has 37 pockets, which includes the numbers from 1 to 36 and a single green “zero” pocket. This is an important feature as the single green “zero” pocket reduces the house edge compared to the American version, which has two green zero pockets. The average casino advantage in European roulette is only 2.7%.
The sequence of numbers on a European roulette wheel is random, and it doesn't follow any particular pattern. The numbers are placed in an odd-even fashion, with red and black pockets alternating around the wheel.
The sequence of numbers on the roulette wheel is as follows:
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.
Additionally, the numbers are evenly divided between low (1-18) and high (19-36) numbers, with the exception of the position of 5 and 10 on the wheel. This makes it difficult to predict the outcome of the game, which adds to the excitement and thrill of the game.
In terms of the table layout and betting, players can refer to previous results to place bets, such as the most frequent numbers or the colour of the winning bet. The European roulette table displays all the numbers that can be bet on, with the green zero at the top of the table.
The European roulette table is divided into several betting sections for different types of bets, such as:
Want to learn more about European roulette? Check out our in-depth article on European roulette strategies and learn how to master the game.
American roulette is a version of the game that is less frequently found in casinos. It is played on a wheel that has 38 pockets, which includes the numbers from 1 to 36, a single green "zero" pocket, and an additional green “double zero” pocket.
The sequence of numbers on the American roulette wheel is different from the European version, with a more discernible sequence and pattern.
The numbers are ordered in a clockwise manner and the sequence is as follows:
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 sequence of numbers on the American roulette wheel is designed in a specific way to provide a balance of red and black pockets as well as even and odd numbers. The number sequence is not random, it follows a certain pattern, for example, the number 28 is followed by 9, 26 and 30, you can also notice that the numbers are alternated between low and high numbers, and between odd and even numbers.
You can also see that the numbers are not grouped together but are spread out around the roulette wheel, making it difficult to predict where the ball will land. The presence of the double zero pocket on an American roulette wheel increases the house edge and reduces the chances of winning for the players.
The American roulette table layout is similar to the European version, but it has an additional pocket for the double zero. The numbers on the layout are arranged in three columns of twelve numbers each and can be found in numerical order.
The numbers are also coloured red and black, alternating between them. On the outer edge of the layout, you can find the betting area, where players can place their chips on the numbers or the betting sections.
The American roulette table is divided into several betting sections for different types of bets similarly to European roulette, such as:
French roulette is a variation of the popular casino game that is favoured by many players. The reason for its popularity is that out of the three widespread variants, French roulette has the lowest house edge, making it a more favourable option than European or American roulette.
Similarly to the European roulette wheel, the French roulette wheel has 37 pockets, which also includes the numbers from 1 to 36 and a single green “zero” pocket.
The sequence of numbers on the French roulette wheel is as follows:
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.
The numbers on the wheel are arranged in a clockwise manner, starting with the green “zero” pocket and ending with the number 36.
Unlike the American roulette wheel, the numbers on the wheel do not follow a consecutive order. Instead, the sequence is random and does not follow a specific pattern, and the numbers are coloured red and black, similarly to the European roulette wheel.
The French roulette table layout is similar to the European and American versions, with a betting area on the outer edge of the layout. The numbers on the layout are arranged in three columns of twelve numbers each and can be found in numerical order. The numbers are coloured red and black, alternating between them.
The French roulette table is divided into several betting sections for different types of bets, such as:
French roulette follows similar rules to European and American roulette, but with a couple of exceptions. The additional La Partage and En Prison rules apply, which can further reduce the house edge.
The La Partage rule in French roulette allows players to recover half of their even-money bets if the ball lands on the “zero” pocket.
This means that if you place a wager on Red/Black, High/Low, or Odd/Even and the ball lands on zero, half of your bet will be returned to you while the other half is forfeited to the house.
It is important to note that this rule only applies to even-money bets, and not to other types of bets.
The En Prison rule in French roulette is applied when the ball lands on the zero pocket, and is typically found in land-based casinos.
This rule allows players to retain their even-money bets for the next spin of the wheel, rather than losing them entirely.
If the player's even-money bet wins on the next spin, their original wager is returned to them, but they do not win any additional payout.
This rule is less common than the La Partage rule and is not often found in online versions of French roulette.
European roulette is considered to be the best option among the three roulette variations. This is because it has a lower house edge of 2.7% compared to the 5.26% in American roulette, which is achieved through the presence of a single green “zero” pocket instead of a double “zero” pocket.
French roulette also has a similar low house edge, due to the presence of the 'La Partage' and 'En Prison' rules. However, these variations may have some other specific rules that can vary in different land-based casinos and online casinos, so it is always best to check the specific rules before playing.
We cover the different bet types and payouts in our how to play European roulette guide if you would like to find out more about the rules of European roulette. However, if you feel like playing, we have a large selection of roulette games for you to choose from at PartyCasino.