Different variations of roulette

Gamblers have been fascinated by roulette and its international versions and varieties for centuries. Roulette, with its recognizable spinning wheel and the thrill of betting on where the ball will land, is an old-fashioned staple of any self-respecting casino.

But what are the different variations of roulette? Also, are they available at the best online casino? The three most common roulette variations are American, European and French. Each version has its own rules, the roulette board in each game, the house edge and what makes playing on the different casino roulette tables so unique.

American Roulette: Version 00

Players need a special wheel with 38 spaces (1 to 36 plus a single zero (0) and a double zero 00) to play American roulette. The slots on an American roulette wheel are red and black, and the zeros are green. Unlike European and French roulette, American roulette has a double zero slot.

The second "zero" slot distinguishes American roulette from other forms of the game. Thanks to this additional range, the house edge in American roulette is much higher than in the European or French versions. Depending on how many numbers there are on the roulette wheels, the number of betting options available to the player also changes.

European roulette: the most popular game

The European roulette wheel has 37 fields numbered from 1 to 36 plus one zero. Each digit is red or black, with zero represented by a green space. Since the house edge in European roulette is smaller than in American roulette, it is more common among players.

You cannot find a double zero slot machine anywhere in European roulette, which is the main difference between its European and American versions. Due to this distinction, the house edge in European roulette is smaller, making the game much more suitable for applying not only strategy, but also for greater winning opportunities.

Compared to American roulette, European roulette has a smaller house edge of 2.70%. With only one zero, players have a smaller house edge because they have less chance of the ball falling into the losing pocket.

French Roulette: "La Version Francaise"

The French roulette wheel also has 37 roulette numbers (from 1 to 36 plus one zero), just like the European version. French roulette differs most from European roulette in its rules and betting options.

The French version of roulette has its own set of rules and betting options that distinguish it from other variants. French roulette has its own betting options such as "voisins du zero", "orphelins" and "tiers du cylindre", in addition to the standard "en prison" and "en prisoner" bets.

If someone bets even money (red/black, odd/even, high/low etc.) and the ball lands in the zero box, they will only lose half of their original bet (La Partage regulation). French roulette offers players the best odds due to this rule, which lowers the house edge on even money bets to 1.35%.

Other versions of online roulette

After so many years, it is quite understandable that roulette already offers different versions. Additionally, the creation of live dealer roulette introduced even more variations, giving the game a modern feel.

Multi-Wheel Roulette, Mini Roulette and 3D Roulette are just a few of the many roulette variants available - all three are also live versions. It is common practice for online casinos to allow players to try these variants for free before allowing them to wager real money.

Mini Roulette

Thanks to software providers such as Playtech and Evolution Gaming, roulette fans can now play Mini Roulette, which is a smaller version of the original online game. Mini Roulette can adapt to smaller screens - despite playing on a desktop or laptop. This allows players to play roulette while doing another activity, such as betting while playing.

Multi-wheel roulette

If one roulette wheel simply fails, there is also the chance to bet on roulette with up to eight games at a time. Multi-wheel roulette follows the rules of European roulette, with all games taking place at the same time.

Live dealer roulette

Live dealer games are the perfect combination of real-life experience and online versions. In the case of roulette, live dealer roulette games allow players to interact with the dealer, watch the wheel actually spin, and also make bets that the dealer places on the real table. Additionally, live roulette has many versions in most live casinos.

Pinball Roulette

It's time to forget about the classic roulette wheel and replace it with something fresh like a pinball machine. This is the Pinball Roulette rule most famous from Playtech. The game is based on the rules of European Roulette, with a big difference in the layout. Of course, this makes the game more exciting and dynamic.

House edge in roulette

Here is a table showing the house edge in the most popular roulette variations: