European Roulette Wheel
There are several types of roulette games available for you to spin for the win, but which one is right for you? Oui, you can choose French roulette, with its many types of complicated side bets (all with complicated French names), or American Roulette, with its extra double zero.
Or you can play European roulette for a change of pace. The little wheel (roulette in French) still spins around the same smooth circular motion and the ball bounces, but there are definite advantages to playing European roulette over the other variants.
A Brief History of Roulette
It is true, there is the only zero on its wheel (while the American roulette variation has two zero sectors — 0 and 00). There are 37 sectors on the European roulette wheel — numbered from 0 and up to 36 — and they are scattered in random order: 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. Differences between European and American Roulette. What is roulette without a wheel?! So, let’s start with the emblem of the game. As mentioned above, American roulette is modified in order to increase the casino profit and decrease the players’ chances of winning. Thus, European roulette is preferred all over the world, because it gives.
Historians credit Blaise Pascal for giving us the game of roulette. Pascal’s early roulette wheel was his attempt at inventing a perpetual motion machine. Sadly, we still do not have a perpetual motion machine, but we now have the hypnotic spinning roulette wheel as a consolation prize. The lives and labs of inventors are full of hits and misses, and many of the best inventions in history are accidents. The basic rules of invention: if you invent something nobody has seen before, patent it. If you have an accident during the invention process, all is not lost. If the accident burns down your lab, the military will weaponize it. If you can paint numbers on it, a casino will monetize it.
A 1796 French novel describes a roulette wheel in the Palais Royal in Paris. It described the wheel and the betting table in detail, including the pockets and fields reserved for the bank, which makes up the house advantage. Various versions of roulette wheels started rolling around Europe. The French family Blanc brought roulette to the German spa casino town of Bad Homburg, which saw plenty of roulette action—until the German government banned gambling in the 1860s. Undaunted, les Blancs packed up their little wheels and moved to Monte Carlo, the last bastion of legalized gambling in Europe at the time.
The double zero now present mainly on the American roulette wheel was dropped in Monte Carlo. Early French roulette wheels featured both single and double zeros. The double zero was dropped as a way to entice gamblers looking for an edge. The single zero roulette wheel remained a European standard, while the double zero roulette wheel made its way to America via the fine French city of New Orleans.
Fans of numbers might be interested to learn that there is slightly sinister sum imbedded in all roulette wheels. The sum of all numbers on a roulette wheel totals 666, the “Number of the Beast.” Legends say Francois Blanc made a deal with the devil to exploit the secrets of roulette and profit from them. This is a prime example of a contract where the devil is in the details.
The House Edge
All casino games have a house edge, aka house advantage. This percentage figures into every casino game to ensure the profits of the casino. The house edge varies from game to game, and smart gamblers tend to choose games with a lower house edge, thus increasing their chances of winning. Everyone knows that the odds favor the casino, but that same risk is half of the joy of gambling. We prize things that are hard-won.
European Roulette Wheel Layout
The house edge varies among casino games from 0.1 – 27%. Keno has the highest house edge, while blackjack games, when played using proper blackjack strategy, come out closer to the zero end. While the house always has an edge, you can choose your game based on the percentages to increase your odds of winning.
Casinos calculate their house edge based on probability and the numbers on the wheel. Because of the extra number on the American roulette wheel (double zero), the house edge increases to 5.26 %. European roulette does not have the double zero, and with one less number in the equation, the house edge decreases to 2.70%. For this reason, many people prefer European roulette over other variants. Americans can always play European roulette online to take advantage of the lower house edge.
Roulette Game Play Basics
A roulette table features a spinning wheel and a betting table printed with numbers and betting fields. A croupier (casino employee with a fancy French name) spins the wheel in one direction, then spins a ball in the opposite direction around a circular track on the outer edge of the wheel. Eventually the ball loses momentum, bounces around a bit off the edges of the number pockets, and finally falls into to one them. A single or double zero result cancels out all table bets, unless you have specifically bet on a zero field. The croupier pays out the winning bets, and rakes the rest over to the banker area.
The layout of the game also varies by region. The position of the numbers on the wheel are not arranged in numerical order. The sequence runs from zero to 36, with numbers placed seemingly randomly along the wheel. The numbers alternate between black and red, with green for the zero. The numerical order of each basic type of roulette wheel is clockwise as follows:
Single-zero wheel (European)
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
Double-zero wheel (American)
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 betting field, or the layout, consists of two basic areas: inside and outside. The inside portion of the layout contains all of the individual numbers from 0 to 36, arranged in columns. The outside part of the layout contains combinations of colors and numbers in groups, i.e. even/odd, black/red, dozens, high/low, and columns.
Another important distinction between European and American roulette: the American variety uses special roulette chips with a different color for each player. European roulette uses the same types of casino chips you would find in a card game. So when playing Euro-roulette, keep track of where your chips are on the table. Or play European roulette online; the computer tracks your bets for you.
Basic Roulette Betting Strategy
For every game there exists a variety of strategies to help you gain an edge. It’s important to remember that the most obvious bets are not the ones with the best odds. Examine odds charts for an exact idea of your chances of winning each type of bet. There are a wide variety of betting combinations available, broken down into two basic types: inside bets and outside bets. Place inside bets on the inside area of the layout, and outside bets on the outside area.
Outside bets (based on odds and chances) are the ‘safest’ bets to make, but they also pay out lower. The odds of hitting red or black is slightly less than 50% (remember the green zero). Other outside bets vary in probability and payout depending on which you choose. Most players hedge their bets by dividing chips among multiple fields along the layout.
Inside bets (based on probability) involve betting on a specific number (straight bet) or a combination of numbers. You may place your chips directly inside a numbered square, or on the lines and corners which separate groups of numbers. Placing a chip on the line between two numbers is a split bet, betting on three in a row is called a street bet, and a chip on the corner of four numbers is called, you guessed it: a corner bet.
Once the croupier has spun the wheel, no more bets may be placed on the table. However, in French and European roulette, a player is allowed to ‘call out’ or announce bets aloud to the croupier. These bets are related to the numbers on the wheel, not the table.
Roulette Betting System Strategies
The following roulette betting systems are about as funny as their names. Strategies get their names from certain people who probably had several good runs, sensed ‘a pattern,’ and then gave the system a name (usually theirs). The first gambler’s fallacy: there is no pattern in roulette. It is truly random. The spin you’re in bears no relation to the one before it, or any of the spins to follow. You could just as easily get 12 black numbers in a row as red. There is no rhyme or reason. Still, these guys thought they could game the system with their ‘sure-fire’ strategies.
The Martingale system is an easy one to remember. Choose one even-odds type of bet (i.e. red or black, odd or even) and stick with it. Whenever you lose, double the next bet. Even after several redoubled bets in a row, a win would repay all of your losses. In theory. This type of bet only works for certain if you have an unlimited bankroll. Otherwise, a long losing streak is sure to cripple you.
The Reverse Martingale does exactly what it says on the tin: double your bets on wins, lower them on losses. The only problem with this system is that it depends entirely on hot streaks. Once the winning streak suddenly ends, you could lose all of your money. This one is more of a hit and run type of strategy. You can only win using this strategy if you are extremely lucky, and know when to walk away with your winnings.
You can use the D’Alembert strategy even if you aren’t playing French roulette. Place a small starting wager on one of the spots mentioned before. There is no doubling involved here. Simply increase your bet by one after a loss, and decrease it by one after a win. After you have won and lost an equal number of times, walk away.
For a system with the least amount of flexibility, try the Fibonacci strategy. This is based on the Fibonacci sequence of numbers discovered in the early 1200s. Every number after the first two numbers is the sum of the two preceding numbers. It goes like this: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, etc. You would bet as before (i.e. red or black, even or odd), then increase your bet by going down two numbers in the sequence when you lose, and decrease your bet by two numbers in the sequence when you win.
James Bond had a system of his own, and it sounds just as fictional as the man himself. You just need at least $200 and some time. Place $140 on the high numbers (19-36). Bet $50 on the numbers 13 through 18. Place $10 on 0 for insurance. Repeat this betting combo until you are ahead of the game. This system favors the higher numbers, and if you keep hitting them, you’re fine. Obviously, Bond never hit a 00 or 7.
Follow these tips and tricks to help you win at European roulette, whether you play online roulette or stroll into a brick-and-mortar casino. Just be sure to understand the rules of the game, don’t bet all your money on a half-baked system, and most importantly: good luck and have fun!
Roulette is a game of luck, which has acquired great popularity over the years. It is played practically in every casino. The history of the exciting casino game can be traced as far back as the 17th century in France. Nowadays it is so widely-spread, that it is played even online. There are three main variations of the game – European, French and American. But the European one is the most played all over the world. Even though the basic rules are the same, there are few main differences, which every gambler should take into account.
In all three variations, there is a wheel and a ball, which the croupier tosses. The players make their bets on which numbered pocket the ball will fall. Depending on the bet they make, gamblers do not necessarily need to guess the exact number. Unlike the modified American roulette with two zero pockets, the European one has only one zero pocket on the wheel. This leads to some differences in the betting section, also known as the table layout. But it is safe to say that the European version of the game is way more advantageous to the player than the American one. It is all hidden in the zeroes, so keep on reading to learn more.
Differences between European and American Roulette
What is roulette without a wheel?! So, let’s start with the emblem of the game. As mentioned above, American roulette is modified in order to increase the casino profit and decrease the players’ chances of winning. Thus, European roulette is preferred all over the world, because it gives higher chances for the player to win. The additional zero pocket in American roulette boosts the house edge from 2.70% to 5.26%. While the American wheel has 38 pockets (1 to 36, plus zero- and double-zero), the European one has 37 numbered pockets (1 to 36, plus zero). The common feature, which both wheels share, is that the numbers alternate between black, red and green for the zero-numbered pocket(s). Odd and even numbers alternate as well.
The order of the pockets on the wheel appears to be random, but is actually arranged in a mathematical order in a specific way so that the chances of each number coming up are equal. An interesting fact is that if you sum up all the numbers on the wheel, you will get 666 in total (aka “The Devil’s Number”).
With the American wheel, numbers seem to be more structured. On it, the opposite numbers are two consecutive ones. Even though there is no discernible pattern on how the numbers are structured on the European wheel, it can be easily spotted that they are almost perfectly alternating between high (19 to 36) and low (1 to 18). The only exception is where 5 is neighbouring 10. There is also one more subtle difference between the arrangement of the numbers on the two wheels. On the American wheel, the numbers face outside, while on the European one – the numbers are facing towards the center of the wheel.
When it comes to colors, both wheels have 18 red and 18 black numbered pockets. Odd numbers from 1 to 10 and from 19 to 28 are colored in red, while even numbers are colored in black. Then, from 11 to 18 and from 29 to 36 the pattern is just the other way around – odd numbers are in black and even numbers – in red.
The table betting section is also different, because the position of the croupier is different in the American and the European versions of the game. In the American version the outside bets are placed alongside the table, while on the European one, the outside bets are made on the two sides of the betting layout.
Even though both games are played in accordance with similar rules, it is impossible to miss the fact that there is still one great difference. In American roulette, when the ball lands on a zero-pocket, then all outside bets are lost. But in accordance with the European rules, when the ball falls in a zero-pocket, then the cause is not entirely lost. The player has the chance to get back the money, or at least half of them.
The other significant difference comes from the chips. The European Roulette uses regular casino chips, instead of the special roulette chips in the American variant. This makes keeping track of your bets a bit more difficult, so each player should pay attention where his wagers were placed. All bets are handled by the croupier with the aid of a special stick.
Possible Bets in European Roulette
The game starts with placing your chips on the different betting section of the table. Bets are allowed till the croupier tosses the ball and couple of seconds after that for last wagers. Once the winning number has been announced, the croupier starts to pay out the winning bets, while all the lost ones will be taken off the table. After that, gamblers may start to bet again. Players have various options when it comes to the bets. Each table has a different minimum and maximum limits and players can make as many bets as they want, but only if complied with the limits. The betting layout is not much different than those of other roulette variations and the bets fall into two major groups – “inside” and “outside” bets.
Placing Bets on the Inside
Inside bets have a smaller chance to win, but the payout is way higher. There are six subtypes of the inside bets:
European Roulette Wheel Layout
Straight Bet
It is placed on one number. You put your money only on one particular number and you win if the ball lands namely on the particular numbered pocket. The payout is 35:1.
Split Bet
It is placed on two adjoining numbers on the betting area by setting the chips on the line in-between the numbers. For example, you bet on 17 and 18 and you win only if the ball lands on one of these two. The payout is 17:1.
Street Bet
It is placed on three numbers positioned in a row on the betting area by setting the chips on the edge line at the end of the row. This means that you are betting on all the three numbers, which are in a single horizontal line. The payout is 11:1.
Corner Bet
It is placed on four adjoining numbers on the betting area by setting the chips on the intersection part of the four numbers. Visually, the four numbers form a square such as the numbers 1, 2, 4 and 5. The payout is 8:1.
Sixline Bet
It is placed on two “streets” (six numbers) on the betting area by setting the chips on the intersection of the edge lines at the end of the both rows. For example, you bet on the numbers 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18. The payout is 5:1.
Straight Bet
Split Bet
Street Bet
Corner Bet
Sixline Bet
Placing Bets on the Outside
With the outside bets, it is just the opposite – you have better chances to win, but this offers you a lower payout. These type of bets include also six subtypes:
Column Bet
It is placed on all numbers included in one of the three columns on the betting area by setting the chips on the box at the end of the column. For example you bet on the numbers 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34. The payout is 2:1.
Dozen/ Group Bet
It is placed on all numbers included in the first (1-12), second (13-24) or third (25-36) group by setting the chip on the dozen bet box. The payout is 2:1.
Black/ Red Bet
It is placed on black or red color to win by setting the chips on the color bet box. The payout is 1:1, also known as even money.
Odd/ Even Bet
It is placed on the winning number to be odd or even by setting the chips on the odd or even box. The payout is even money.
High/ Low Bet
It is placed on the winning number to be low (1-18) or high (19-36) by setting the chips on the low or high box. The payout is again even money.
European Roulette Table
Column Bet
Dozen Bet
Black/Red Bet
Odd/Even Bet
High/Low Bet
The Exotic Call Bets
Every gambler knows that the European betting section provides one more additional option, which represents the wheel. It is called a racetrack, also known as call bets. Here, only the croupier is allowed to place the bet upon the player’s request. There are three major types, which are included in this type of bets:
Voisins du Zero
It is placed on numbers, which are neighbours of zero. You place your bet on 17 numbers, which are in proximity to zero. On the European wheel, this is namely the section between the number pockets of 22 and 25. The section comprises all the following numbers: 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2 and 25. It is a 9 chip bet, where you place 2 chips on the 0, 2 and 3 trio, 2 chips on the 25, 26, 28, 29 corner and all the rest is a split bet with only one chip.
Tiers du Cylindre
It is placed on the numbers, which are exactly the opposite of the numbers covered by Voisins du Zero. It is a split 6 chip bet, which covers the 27 to 33 section of the wheel. In other words, it includes the following numbers: 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33.
Orphelins
It is a bet, placed on the remaining 8 numbers of the wheel. On the two sides of the wheel, there are 2 sets of numbers, which are included in this type: 17, 34, 6 and 1, 20, 14, 31, 9. The bet is usually with 5 chips.
The importance of the zero(es)
The reason for the American wheel to have a second double-zero pocket is that it increases the chances for the casino to profit. Mathematically, zero is neither even nor odd, neither high, nor low and it is neither red or black on the wheel. That is why it represents the casino’s play. In the American variation of the game, the zero pockets eliminate all the bets and you lose. Even though European roulette also has the zero-pocket, it is way more soothing to play with a smaller chance to lose. Moreover, the rules are more favorable to the player, who has the chance to get back the wagered money, even if the ball lands on the zero-pocket.
No matter if you play roulette online or in a real casino, you may either win or lose. To enhance your chances, just follow the rules of the game and apply some strategies. Don’t get disheartened if you lose, because that’s how real experience comes. And don’t forget: if there is no risk, there is no gain!