There are few casino games quite as iconic as Roulette. This unique game was one of the early centrepieces of the famous Monte Carlo Casino and has remained a staple of casino offerings ever since.
But did you know that there’s more than just one kind of Roulette? There are actually three major formats of this classic game, all of which have some slight but notable differences between them. So, before you play a game of online Roulette, read on for an explanation of the main Roulette tables you’re likely to encounter.
European Roulette
First up is the most common and popular variety of Roulette – European. It only makes sense since the game was invented in France!
The European Roulette wheel features a total of 37 pockets, split evenly between red and black with a single green zero. This is the wheel layout that most players will recognise, even if the exact location of the numbers themselves can change a little between variants.
Alongside the wheel, the table layout sets out the various wagers available to players. The central three columns list all the numbers on the wheel, while the surrounding area is dedicated to sections laying out more broad categories of wager.
These are known as inside and outside bets, respectively, and they offer varying odds and payouts to players.
The most notable feature of European Roulette is its relative house edge of 2.7%, which is lower than the game’s next most common format.
American Roulette
Second on the list of major Roulette formats is American. This evolved from the European format, diverging as US casinos put their own mark on the game.
The major difference that sets American Roulette apart is the addition of an extra pocket to the wheel, bringing it to a total of 38. That extra pocket is the green double zero, which almost doubles the house edge in this variety to 5.26%.
Similarly, the American table layout looks pretty similar to that of a European table, except for an additional space in the central columns where the double zero sits. This addition also creates an extra wagering option, known as the five-number or top line, which covers the ball landing in the double zero, zero, one, two or three pockets.
French Roulette
Last, but not least, is French Roulette. This is very similar to European Roulette in design, with the same 37 pocket wheel and single zero that distinguishes it from the American format.
What makes French Roulette unique is the addition of some rules related to the ball landing on zero and some differences in the table layout – which is also labelled in French, rather than English!
Thanks to the rules known as La partage and En prison, the house edge in French Roulette games can be as low as 1.35% on even-money bets.
There are also some areas on the French table layout for wagers known as call or neighbour bets, which allow players to wager on specific groups of numbers that are adjacent on the wheel (such as the ‘neighbours of zero’, which covers 17 numbers around the zero pocket).
Now, you should understand your inside bet from your outside, as well as the differences between the major Roulette formats and their tables.