Roulette is a massively popular table game that has been around since the early 17th century. It is a great source of entertainment combining elements of chance, suspense and thrill. It’s a game that has captured the hearts of many players.

For years the only way to take part in a Roulette game would be to visit a brick and mortar casino. The tables were generally crowded as this exciting game doesn’t just captivate the players but also bystanders. This added an interestingly social aspect to Roulette, and spawned many movie scenes with players on a hot streak have a lovely socialite blowing on the dice for luck!

There are many variations of Roulette out there but chief among them being European Roulette. In fact if you take a quick peak on various tips and tricks pages you’ll notice how most professional and avid gamblers tend to recommend this variant.

Why European Roulette Is A Fan Favourite!

You might find yourself wondering why this specific variant is loved and played by the masses. In truth there are many reasons which include it being one of the first variants to surface back in the day.

Another massive bonus perk and reason for this is because the game has a much lower house edge than other variants or more specifically American roulette. With a lower house edge your chances to win are increased, not drastically but enough to make a huge difference.

European Roulette is played with a wheel of 37 slots which includes numbers 0 to 36 and a single zero slot. The number slots on the wheel are coloured black and red and the single zero slot table green.

The Aim of the game: The main objective when playing this game is to predict in which numbered slot the ball will land once the wheel comes to a stop. The challenge lies in doing so before the wheel has even begun to spin.

The game is relatively easy to play which is yet another reason players tend to flock towards it. It’s fun, easy to play and the fast paced gameplay allows you to get more games done in less time.

Rules of the game

Before you run for the hills thinking of the intricate details about to follow take a quick peak at the rules. European Roulette is actually very easy to play and the rules are straightforward and easy to follow. The game is played with 37 slots on the wheel and all you need to do is place your bets before you spin the wheel.

The steps are quick and simple. The only action you need to take is to place your chips on the bets you desire before pressing the ‘Spin’ button. Once the wheel has come to a stop the results will be revealed and if you had a win it will be credited to your account. Then you can choose to place another bet where you can either press ‘Rebet’ to keep playing the same bets you placed in the previous round or ‘Clear Bets’ to make new bets.

It’s a lot simpler and faster than playing at a land based casino because you don’t have to wait for everyone else at the table to place their bets. Normally there are up to 8 players at the table so if you’ve played at a land based casino before you know how tedious the process can be. With European Roulette available in most online casinos you’ll get to experience a speedy gameplay as it’s just you playing the virtual wheel.

Know your options

One of the key factors of any successful game is to know the betting options available and also what the pay-out odds are for these bets. This helps you to make the best decisions according to your bankroll as well as which would be the most lucrative.

In European Roulette there are a variety of different betting options that are all divided into two categories namely Inside and Outside bets. The Inside bets are those made on a single number, adjacent numbers or small groups of numbers. The outside bets have a larger focus field and includes larger groups of numbers. One thing that is clear in Roulette is that most of the bets are attached to different pay-out odds. And in most cases you’ll find that the pay-out odds are not listed on the board.

We know how valuable information is especially when it comes to pay-outs which is why we’re breaking down all the bet options available in the game and the pay-out odds attached to it.

Inside bets

Straight-Up Bet: This is when you place a bet on a single number which includes the single zero. You can do this by placing the chip directly on the number. This bet has a payout of 35:1.

Split Bet: Much like the name suggest this is when you split a bet over two adjacent numbers. You can do this by placing your chip on the line between the two numbers. This bet includes bets with single zero. So if you would want to bet on 0 and another number you’d have the option of betting on 0 and 1, 0 and 2 or 0 and 3. This bet has a 17:1 pay-out ratio.

Street Bet: You can place a Street Bet which is a bet placed on three numbers in a row, this is done by placing the chip at the end of a row. Other options you can use when making a street bet is 0, 1 and 2 or 0, 2 and 3. The pay-out for this bet is 11:1.

Corner Bet: One of the popular bets is the Corner bet which is done by placing a chip in the connecting corner of 4 different numbers. This bet allows you to bet on four connecting numbers including 0, 1 , 2 and 3. The pay-out for this bet is 8:1

Line Bet: A line bet allows you to bet on six numbers or two connecting rows of three numbers. You can activate this bet by placing the chip at the end of the two rows on the border between them. For this bet the pay-out ratio is 5:1

Outside Bets

Column Bet

With this bet you can just go crazy and bet on an entire column by placing your chip on the 2:1 box at the end of the column. This awards a 2:1 pay-out as the box indicates.

Dozen Bet

The Dozen bet allows you to bet on a group of 12 numbers simultaneously and there are three options:

-  1st 12 – 1 to 12

-  2nd 12 – 13 - 24

-  3rd 12 – 25 – 36

This bet options has a pay-out probability of 2:1.

Bet on Colour

For those who are not in the mood to place bets on various numbers or think of lucky numbers this bet is ideal. You can simply bet on Red or Black and if the winning number’s colour is the same as the one you bet on you can receive a 1:1 pay-out. It’s not that big but considering if you bet $100 you’ll receive $200 it still makes a difference.

Bet on Odd/ Even

Another easy bet option is to either bet on all the Odds or all the Evens. If you bet for instance on Evens, you’ll be betting on all the even numbers featured on the wheel and if the ball lands in favour of your choice you’ll be awarded a 1:1 pay-out.

Bet on Low/High

Then there are the Low of High bet options where you can place a bet in the High or Low box on the wheel. The low numbers are 1 to 18 and the high numbers are 19 to 36. If the ball lands on any of the numbers in your selected bet category you will be awarded a 1:1 pay-out.

At the end of the day the highest pay-out ratio is connected to single number bets but as you know they are the most difficult to win. Whereas placing any Outside Bets award quicker and more frequent wins of a lesser value. As mentioned earlier, betting $100 on an Outside Bet and receiving a $200 pay-out is still better than nothing.

European Roulette vs American Roulette

You’ve probably seen that there are many online roulette variants available to play. The most common are European Roulette and American Roulette. Most go quite some time if not their whole life without knowing the difference between the two. Although knowing the difference can be beneficial to you.

The most obvious difference between the two tables is that European Roulette is played with a single zero and American Roulette comes with an additional double zero. Another difference is that there is a different sequence used in American Roulette that isn’t used in European Roulette. The European Roulette wheel makes use of a clockwise sequence while American Roulette is played with a counter clockwise order of numbers. Interestingly enough the change in sequence does not affect the layout as the colours and odds and evens are still distributed evenly along the wheel.

Another massive difference that is somewhat of a known fact already is that the European Roulette table comes with a 2.70% house edge whereas American Roulette has a house edge of 5.26%. Thus, if you’re looking for the best table to bet on European Roulette would be more rewarding.

When it comes to the rules the basics remain the same but there are some minor difference. European Roulette has two rules that are highly beneficial to players known as the En Prison and Call Bets. The ‘En Prison’ rule basically allows you to take another spin if you placed an even money bet but the ball landed on 0. This rule alone reduces the house edge to a minimal of 1.35%. Then there are call bets where you announce your bet to the dealer rather than placing your chips on the table. The American Roulette table comes with a Five Number Bet but if you’ve read our Real Money Roulette guide you’ll know that this bet is definitely not worth trying.

The difference aren’t many but it’s enough to affect your gameplay and your odds. Any pro or avid gambler will be able to tell you that it’s best to choose a game option that has a lower house edge as it increases the winning odds in your favour.

Most people tend to recommend European Roulette as it is closest to the French version that was first created. With a lower house edge and an additional rule to help you out the game is definitely more beneficial than American Roulette but ultimately the choice remains yours.

Ready to Roll!

If you feel the yearning inside and your aching to take part in European Roulette action be sure to head over to our GamblersPick Select Casino section. On that page you will find a list of casinos that have been vetted and reviewed to ensure they provide the best bonuses, rewards, service and a wide gaming selection to keep you satisfied. Look out for the casinos with the GamblersPick Select badge next to them as these are the once we found most favourable.

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