Visualise the roulette table: the wheel occupies the left side while the right is designated for betting and the betting area, covered in green cloth, displays a white grid featuring numbered cells mirroring those on the wheel alongside additional options.
Betting is relatively easy: inside bets (higher payouts and lower odds) are for specific numbers on the grid and outside bets (greater odds and smaller payouts) are broader categories like red, black, odd, even, high, low, columns, and dozens.
Variations of Roulette
Three common variations of roulette exist: American, European, and French, each offering distinct rules, moreso with the French version, that changes the odds of winning and types of bets played. It’s especially important for online roulette players to learn more about roulette because online casinos can choose whichever variant they want, regardless of location.
American Roulette
With a total of 38 numbers on the wheel, players place their chips on their chosen table layout number to place their bets. For bets on both zero pockets (American roulette features an extra ‘00’ slot in addition to the ‘0’ of the European wheel), chips are positioned on the line separating them. Bets on individual numbers yield 35/1 (higher than European), while outside bets like red or black offer 1/1 payouts.
American Roulette’s setup is standard and straightforward, with the double ‘00’ being the primary distinction, but this extra pocket marginally increases the house edge and slightly reduces the odds of winning. But remember, chasing the odds isn’t always beneficial and you should always prioritise gambling responsibly.
European/French Roulette
European and French Roulette feature wheels with 37 slots, including numbers 1 to 36 and a single green zero pocket—absent of the double zero present in American Roulette. Also, these variations introduced many of the roulette strategies famously used today, like the James Bond and Fibonacci strategies.
European Roulette
In European Roulette, outside bets are positioned below the number grid. Adjacent to the grid are the ‘dozen’ bets, each associated with a group of 12 numbers, offering a 2/1 payout when successful. Further below are broader outside bets like red, black, even, odd, high, and low, each providing a 1/1 payout.
At the end of the number grid are the column bets, which payout at 2/1. Players can wager on the ball landing within any number in a specific column.
French Roulette
French Roulette distinguishes itself further from the European version by positioning outside bets split up and placed on both sides.
On one side, you’ll discover Manque (low), Impair (odd), and red bets, while on the opposite side, Passe (high), Pair (even), and black bets reside. This arrangement ensures that complementary bets face each other. Column bets maintain their position at the end of the number grid.
Exclusive bets available in both European and French roulette include:
- Jeu Zéro
- Voisins du Zéro
- Orphelins
- Tiers du Cylindre
These bets, known as ‘announced’ bets, are easily placed on the table and offer similar odds to regular bets. Some tables may feature an oval-shaped area separate from the main betting section for these bets. Despite their French names, these betting options are also present in European Roulette.
