Roulette is a game that has undoubtedly evolved throughout the centuries. It is thought that early versions of this game were played in France and Italy centuries ago, and the current form that is still played today was thought to have been first played late in the 18th century.
In this guide, we’re going to explain the different types of roulette. If someone visits an online casino they will notice that there are a few different varieties on offer, so what do each of them mean? We break down the popular forms of the game.
European Roulette
European Roulette is one of the most common forms of roulette, second only to American Roulette. Did you know that the word “roulette” means “little wheel” in French, showing the European origins of this game?
Of course, the basics of all forms of roulette are the same, based on the original design of the roulette wheel which has pickets in which a ball can eventually settle after the wheel is spun.
European Roulette has 37 pockets and one zero, which is different from the American roulette game. These are just the basics, but players can research rules on how to play European Roulette and the winning odds before they place any bets.
European Roulette has less of a house advantage when compared to American Roulette, so it is easy to see why people choose to play the game. On top of that, the numbers found and the sequence of the numbers are visibly different, making it easy to tell which is which. In European Roulette, there are nine low black numbers and nine higher red numbers on the right of the zero. The numbers are 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, and 17 on black and 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 32, 34 and 36 on red. On the left side, we see the higher black numbers, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 31, 33, and 35, plus the nine lower reds, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, and 18.
The European version is thought to be the very first variety of roulette, but it made its way overseas, and different cultures added their own twists as well as different layouts.
American Roulette
American Roulette is a different game in terms of its rules and how it is played. The main difference is the extra double zero pocket, which can offer a bigger jackpot win to players but also increases the house edge of the game (most people don’t bet on the zeros, and if they do, the chances of winning are slim).
On an American Roulette table with double zero, the order of the numbers is different from European Roulette. Read clockwise, the numbers are 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, and 2.
As well as differing rules, the American people embracing the game of roulette has also brought some amazing stories. Of course, roulette is extremely popular in the American city of Las Vegas, which is where Doctor Richard Jarecki eventually ended up. Jarecki claimed to be able to beat the system by “clocking” or counting the roulette wheel’s movements, being able to estimate where it would land.
Roulette is part of modern culture, too, as it is such a popular game. For example, Gran Turismo 7, a popular car racing game, has its own roulette mini-game that players can participate in to unlock new aspects of the game such as bonuses and cars.
Other Variations of Roulette
European and American Roulette are by far the most popular types, but there are some other examples:
- Mini roulette is a game that is offered by some online casinos, which simply uses a smaller wheel to play the game that has fewer numbers on it. This means lower odds when betting on a number outright, of course.
- Double-ball roulette. This was initially invented at an in-person casino in Las Vegas. It allows gamblers to bet on long-shot bets, predicting what both balls will do. This means potentially longer odds.
- French Roulette. This is the same as European roulette but has a simple betting difference. Some casinos refund half of the player’s stake if they lose on bets that pay 1:1, but this varies from one casino to the next.
Conclusion
As roulette is generally a very simple game, it makes sense that there are companies out there trying to innovate and create different ways of playing. Gamblers can find a new and interesting variety to play, or they can simply choose a game that suits the risk level they are hoping for. While European and American Roulette games are the most popular, there are often new options to try.
