European Roulette

One of the fastest casino games to learn how to play is Roulette, and new players do not need to be burdened with the task of learning the intricate rules of European Roulette or detailed unfathomable terminology in order to enjoy it. The actual game can be played at a very basic level, or you can get into some very interesting variations of the game. The betting strategies involved can be as simple or as complex as you wish.

How to play European Roulette

For over 300 years, people have been playing Roulette, and the basic principles - how to bet and the basic rules - have remained constant, despite some pretty significant variations of the game that have appeared over the years, including some pretty wild "alternative" versions and the all-too-familiar online games of today.

The main components when enjoying online European Roulette are the table and the wheel. The European Roulette wheel has 37 slots and is numbered from 0 to 36. The numbers are colored in one of three ways: red, black or green (0). A ball is spun around the wheel while players feverishly bet on which number the ball will land on.

Bets are placed on the split table, which has many different sections. In addition to individual numbers, there are a number of other "outside" bets available, all with different odds; you can bet on a single number, on the first 12 numbers, on red/black, odd/even, etc.

French roulette has 37 numbers, while American roulette has 38 pockets; these consist of the numbers 1 – 36 plus the 0 and 00.

Just like in a land-based casino, online European Roulette has table layouts and betting areas that are identical to those found in a real casino. However, the game is much faster because you don't have to wait for other players to place their bets.

European roulette vs regular roulette

The online casinos that we recommend generally offer three main varieties of roulette – European, French and American.

European Roulette rules, as mentioned above, dictate that there are 37 numbers (including 0) on the wheel and table. The 0 is located closest to the wheel, at the top of the table. The other numbers are placed around the wheel in order from 1 to 36. Some of these numbers are red and some are black.

Individuals can bet on single digits, odd/even, red/black, etc. The odds reflect the probability. A bet on black pays even money; a bet on a single digit pays 35 to 1.

French Roulette is similar to European Roulette in that its wheels contain 37 pockets - numbers 1-36 and 0 - but although the tables are laid out the same way, all the numbers are the same color. The main difference is in the online version of the game. French online Roulette features the "la partage" rule, which states that if the dealer rolls a 0, all outside bets are returned half the amount bet.

European and American Roulette have some important differences. The most important is that American Roulette has a wheel and table with 38 pockets - an extra one for the number 00. This difference gives American Roulette a higher house edge. In German Roulette, the pockets are arranged so that odd and even numbers alternate. There are also only 36 numbers in German Roulette. There are some other minor differences as well.

Playing roulette online

Playing online European roulette at the casinos that we recommend has several advantages for both new and experienced players.

Across much of our network, players can enjoy games in Flash mode without having to download the casino software or, in many cases, even register for an account. This allows someone to conveniently access a free European Roulette game in demo mode to get a better understanding of the game before venturing into the various real money versions of the application.

We also recommend Internet casinos that give players generous welcome bonuses. In fact, there are very few bonuses that cater to roulette players, and roulette does not usually contribute anywhere near 100% to meeting play through requirements. Nevertheless, there are opportunities to take advantage of sign up offers that allow you to play with casino money.

Tips for playing online roulette

Even though it's a matter of luck and there is no surefire European Roulette strategy that can tell you what number will come up, there are still methods you can use to manage your bankroll and get more value out of the game.

These include the D'Alembert System, which is based on placing even money bets and requires players to increase or decrease the size of their bet depending on whether the previous spin was a winner or loser. A variation of this is the Martingale System, where you double your bet after a losing spin and then go back to your original bet size after a winning spin.

Some other popular examples of European Roulette strategy include: the Inside Bet System, where players bet only on odd/even or red/black using a type of multiple bet system; the Parlay System, where players set a target they are trying to win and bet to reach the desired win amount in as few spins as possible; AND the Adrenotrends System, which seeks to profit from runs on the same color.

No matter what system you choose to use - or if you choose to use none at all - understanding the probability and odds of any bet is crucial, especially when comparing them between European Roulette and other versions of the game.

What makes American Roulette different from European Roulette is the presence of 00 in the American game. The presence of 00 effectively doubles the house edge from 2.63% in European Roulette to 5.26% in American Roulette. If you make outside bets (i.e., red/black, odd/even, etc.), even though both versions pay even money, the probability of winning in the American version is only 46.37%, while it is a much healthier 48.6% in European Roulette. This 2.23% difference may not seem like much, but in terms of probability, it adds up to much better overall odds in European Roulette.