European Roulette Guide – How to Play and Win Real Money in April 2024
Are you interested in finding out how to play European roulette and the best European roulette strategy out there? A classic casino game that has enraptured gamblers for hundreds of years, the European roulette game is its own unique version of the game. In this guide from MySer-Gambling experts, find out the history, set-up, and basics and strategy of European roulette you won’t find elsewhere. Let’s begin!
A Brief History of European Roulette
The history of the modern European roulette wheel starts back in the 19th century with two French men, Francois and Louis Blanc. It is said that at the time, there existed various kinds of online roulette wheels, some with a double zero. The Blanc brothers removed the double zero to give players an edge. However, this is up for debate, because others say the European wheel came first with the double zero added later.
Whatever its true origins, with a house edge of 2.7%, this version of European roulette took off and spread like wildfire throughout the continent. When the famed Monte Carlo casino took on this wheel, its status was cemented as the standard in Europe. To this day, European roulette dominates this region of the world and, other than French roulette, European players do not play other variants.
Variants of Roulette – European, American, and French
As we discussed earlier, it is up for debate which came first: the roulette wheel with or without the double zero. The main difference between American roulette vs European is that the American roulette wheel has an additional zero, while the European does not. While seemingly insignificant and negligible of a difference, the existence of a double zero, or lack thereof, is quite impactful on the house edge.
The addition of a double zero means that there is a 1 in 37 chance of winning so American roulette has a house edge of about 5.26%. Its European counterpart, with no double zero, gives players a 1 in 36 chance of winning, which equates to a house edge of about 2.7%, which is nearly half of that. More experienced players know that this difference is significant during gameplay and tend to play European roulette. We encourage readers to try out the different variants and find which they prefer. There are free demo games available to practice on.
French roulette is essentially the same as the European variant. It also has 37 numbered pockets, from 0 to 36. However, the main difference is that there are additional rules that spice up the gameplay in favor of the players, namely the La Partage rule. This rule states that if the ball lands in the zero pocket, any player who has placed an outside bet (I.e. even money bet) gets half their stake returned to them. The other half goes to the house.
These are the differences between European, American, and French variants of roulette. As the most common and major forms of this classic game, it is essential to know these differences. To determine which works best for you, try out free European roulette, as well as demo versions of the others. It could be the case that one matches your style better than the rest.
Basics and How the Game is Set Up
European roulette casinos have 37 numbered pockets from 0 to 36. To be clear, there is no double zero as in the American version. The numbers are randomized around the perimeter of the wheel and are “pockets” into which the ball falls into.
The round begins with players placing their bets. There are a variety of bets that can be placed. We will review these in a later section. Once bets are placed, the wheel is spun by the croupier. In an online game, bets can be reversed or changed by clicking the “Clear” button. The player then clicks the “Spin” button to set the wheel in motion.
In a live game, bets are placed while the wheel spins but in an online game, once the wheel is spun, bets are locked in and cannot be changed. A player wins a round when the ball falls into a numbered pocket that corresponds with the bet that they placed. Whether one is playing in a land-based casino or an online casino, the rules and steps of a game remain the same. The only difference is the use of a live dealer.
While French roulette has special and unique rules that make it favorable for players, there are no specific European roulette rules. Players can expect gameplay to proceed as described above. This version of roulette is arguably the most popular and most played by gamblers around the world.
Types of Bets
One of the intimidating aspects of roulette for beginner players is all the different types of bets that could be placed. If you’re new to the game and have only a cursory understanding, make sure to understand all of the available betting options. This will elevate your gaming experience and place you in a better position to win.
The reason for this is because different types of bets have different odds of success. By knowing these odds and how to place the bets, you will be able to play more strategically than if you’re blindly placing bets. European roulette also has call bets, which are not available in the American version.
Bet types are categorized into one of two: Inside or Outside bets. Inside bets are riskier with lower odds of landing, but higher payouts if they do. Outside bets are less risky with higher odds of landing, but with lower payouts. The reason for this is because outside bets are placed on groups of numbers, which logically increases your odds. Players can place outside bets, inside bets, or both. It is recommended that beginners start with outside bets before trying out inside bets.
Outside Bets
| Bet Type | The Bet | Payout Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Columns | Placed on an entire column of twelve numbers | 2:1 |
| Dozens | Placed on group of 12 numbers | 2:1 |
| Reds/Blacks | Placed on reds or blacks | 1:1 |
| Odds/Evens | Placed on odd or even numbers | 1:1 |
| High/Low | Placed on low numbers (1 through 18) or high numbers (19 through 36) | 1:1 |
Inside bets are played with single numbers or just a few numbers at a time. Because of the limited spread, there is much less probability of this type of bet landing. However, it is worth it to play with these because of the high payout.
Inside Bets
| Bet Type | The Bet | Payout Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Straight-Up Bet | Placed on single number | 35:1 |
| Split Bet | Placed on adjacent numbers | 17:1 |
| Street Bet | Placed on row of three numbers | 11:1 |
| Corner Bet | Placed on corner of four numbers | 8:1 |
| Six Line | Placed on two adjacent lines of three numbers | 5:1 |
| Line Bet | Placed on two rows of three numbers | 5:1 |
Call bets, otherwise known as announced bets, are unique to European and French variants but not all online games offer this type of bet. American roulette does not offer call bets at all. Therefore, players should familiarize themselves with this type of bet in order to take advantage of the unique opportunity and expand their options for game strategy.
Call Bets
| Bet Type | How it is Placed | Payout Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Voisins du Zero | Placed on seventeen numbers from 22 through 25 | varies |
| Jeu Zero | Placed on 0-3 split, 12-15 split, 32-35 split, and 26 straight-up. | 36:1 or 18:1 |
| Tiers du Cylindre | Placed on numbers 27 through 33, which covers a third of the wheel | 12:37 |
| Orphelins | Placed on two small sections of the wheel: one group is numbers 1 through 9 and the other is numbers 17 through 6 | 35:1 or 17:1 |
Different Strategies to Play
New players of European roulette may find it useful to first play with a strategy or system. There are many well-known roulette strategies that have been around for a very long time. While these are not guaranteed methods for winning, they do offer a structure to maximize your efforts. Do keep in mind that all of these strategies should only be used exclusively with even money bets.
Martingale
When talking roulette strategy, it is inevitable that the Martingale strategy will be brought up. It is the most popular strategy to employ at the roulette table and is simple to follow. Basically, players will double their bet with each loss. This strategy relies on the theory that eventually any losing streak will end and when it does, the win will make up for any incurred losses.
There are a couple variations of this popular strategy, the Reverse Martingale and the Grand Martingale. As one might guess from its name, the Reverse is essentially the same as the original, except reversed. The player will instead double their bet with each win. As for the Grand, the player will double the bet with each loss, but on a larger scale and bigger stakes.
D’Alembert
Another popular betting strategy amongst gamblers is the D’Alembert Strategy. With this system, players increase their bets by one with every loss and multiply their bets by one with every win. Similar to the Martingale because they are both negative progression betting systems, The D’Alembert is a more conservative approach.
Fibonacci
The Fibonacci Strategy is even more conservate than the D’Alembert approach and one of the least risky strategies out there. Players follow the well-known Fibonnaci sequence when increasing their bets and placing their stakes. With each loss, increase your stake by the next number in the sequence. For example, if the next number in the sequence is 2, then increase your stake by 2. If you lose the round, increase your stake by 3 (the next number in the sequence). If you win the round, go back two numbers in the sequence and start over.
Ready to Play
This wraps up our guide to online European roulette! At this point, you should have a great understanding of the history of the game, the basic foundational rules, European roulette strategy, and where to play European roulette online.
If you’re ready to take on the roulette wheel but unsure of the risk, you can start off with European roulette free play, Play these no-risk games right here at MySer-Gambling. Otherwise, head on over to best online casinos and try your hand at this timeless casino game. Hopefully your newly acquired education will assist you in playing lucky rounds at the wheel.
FAQ: European Roulette
What is the house edge in European Roulette?
European roulette odds are more favorable than the American variant. It is up for debate which variation was the original. Regardless, the former has a house edge of 2.7%, which is nearly half that of the latter.
Should I play European Roulette or American?
More experienced players opt for European over American due to the more favorable odds as described in the previous FAQ question. However, an American roulette game with the surrender rule in play has a house edge less than the European.
