Published on March 5th, 2019 | by Sunit Nandi

Different Types of Roulette Games

The game of roulette is an inevitable part of any casino room. Ever since it was invented by Blaise Pascal in the mid-17th century, the roulette wheel became the trademark of gambling entertainment. Over the years, this game of chance has spread across every corner of the globe, and today, you can play it in almost every country in the world.

Not only is this game present in land-based casinos, but it can also be played on internet slot machines for real money online. That’s right, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of online operators where you can try your luck on roulette. You can even wager using cryptocurrencies and play Bitcoin roulette if you want.

While most of you probably know how a game of roulette looks like and how it’s played, did you know that there are more than a few variations of it? In this article, we will talk about the most common roulette game types out there. Read on!

European Roulette

This is the most standard version of the game. European roulette is also known as single zero roulette. The wheel includes red and black numbers going from 1 to 36, with one green pocket with the number 0 on it. The rules are quite simple.

You can bet on the exact number or guess whether a number will be odd or even. You can also bet on whether the ball will end up in a red or a black pocket, take high (19-36) or low (1-18) bets, bet on first, second, or third dozen of numbers, and make a street bet by choosing between the three rows of numbers on the table. The house edge in this version is roughly 2.7%.

French Roulette

Naturally, since the game was invented in France, this is considered to be the original roulette version. Only after the game spread across the continent, and later the world, have people started to come up with different rules for the game.

French roulette is very similar to the European one. Apart from the layout of the table looking a bit different and the fact that the bet types are written in French, there are a couple of rules that distinguish the two variations. As a matter of fact, these extra rules go in favor of the player and decrease the house edge. These are called En Prison and La Partage.

En Prison – This rule only applies if you bet even-odd, red-black, or high-low. If the number turns out to be zero, your bet will be locked (in prison) for the next round, so you get a second chance to win. If the next spin is a losing one or it turns out to be zero again, the player loses.
La Partage – Just like the en prison, the la partage rule only works for even-odd, red-black, and high-low bets. If a ball lands on zero, you will lose half of your stake, while the other half will be returned to you.

American Roulette

American roulette is mostly played in casinos across North America. The major difference between this type and the versions that we mentioned before is that the American wheel has one extra slot – a double zero. The order of the numbers on the wheel is also a bit different than that on European and French versions. Naturally, a double zero produces a higher house edge – 5.26%. As far as the bets go, American roulette follows the same rules as the European one.

Mini Roulette

Mini roulette is a version exclusively made for online casinos. There are only 13 pockets on the wheel – numbers going from 1 to 12, and a single zero. Outside bets are the same, although they include less numbers. Single number bets also have a much smaller house edge.

Double Ball Roulette

This version is pretty much self-explanatory. There are two balls that simultaneously get released onto the wheel. That way, the player has a double chance to win with each spin. The game was first played in Las Vegas in 2013 and it has gained a lot of popularity in recent years. It is usually played with a double zero and it can often be found in online casinos.

Conclusion

There are a few other variations of roulette out there, but these are the most common ones you will find in any casino, land-based or online. We hope that you now know the differences between different roulette versions and that you are ready to play. Good luck!

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About the Author

Sunit Nandi I'm the leader of Techno FAQ. Also an engineering college student with immense interest in science and technology. Other interests include literature, coin collecting, gardening and photography. Always wish to live life like there's no tomorrow.