Roulette: European | What is European Roulette and How Do I Play It?

The original game was French Roulette. In the mid-19th century, gambling was banned in France, the game was taken to other parts of Europe and simplified. The Blanc brothers to move their operations to Monte Carlo, which was under the rule of Prince Charles III of Monaco. The brothers convinced the prince to establish a casino in Monaco, and European Roulette quickly became a symbol of sophistication and elegance in the gambling world.

Over the years, European Roulette spread across Europe and eventually reached the shores of the United States. However, when it arrived in America, casino operators added a double zero (00) pocket to the wheel, creating the American Roulette variant. As a result, the European version with just a single zero became known as European Roulette to distinguish it from its American counterpart and French Roulette which has additional rules.

How to play European roulette
How to Play European Roulette: Playing European roulette is straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:

Place Your Bets: Before the wheel is spun, you have time to place your bets on the table layout. You can bet on individual numbers, groups of numbers, odd/even, red/black, and other combinations.

Spin the Wheel: Once all bets are placed, the croupier (casino dealer) spins the roulette wheel in one direction while sending the ball spinning in the opposite direction.

Wait for the Outcome: As the ball loses momentum, it will eventually land in one of the numbered pockets on the wheel. The winning number and color (red, black, or green) determine the winning bets.

Collect Your Winnings: If your bet matches the outcome, you will be paid according to the odds of the specific bet type. The croupier will then clear the table for the next round.

See live roulette offerings or if live games are not your thing try electronic table roulette.

Difference Between European Roulette and French Roulette: 

European roulette and French roulette share many similarities, but there is one key distinction that sets them apart. Both versions have the single-zero pocket, giving players better odds compared to American roulette with its double-zero wheel.

European roulette is very easy to learn. In short, you are betting on which number the ball will land on in the roulette wheel. Before the ball spins, you make your bets on the roulette table, where you can choose from numbers, sections and colours. Discover more about the different bet types, from famous bets like red or black, or higher risk, higher reward inside bets like a street. Decide how much you want to wager, and remember not to bet more than you can afford to lose.

French and European Wheels are the Same

There are 37 pockets in total
Pockets are numbered 1-36, plus 0
Numbers 1-36 are red and black, while 0 is green

So Why is European and French Roulette Different

The major difference is the specific betting rules in French roulette. In French roulette, you may encounter the “La Partage” and “En Prison” rules. The “La Partage” rule states that if you make an even-money bet (e.g., red/black) and the ball lands on the zero pocket, you get half of your bet back. The “En Prison” rule allows you to keep your even-money bet “in prison” for the next spin if the ball lands on zero. If your bet wins on the subsequent spin, you get your original wager back without any winnings.

Why European and French Roulette offer Better Odds and Payouts than American Roulette

One of the biggest differences between European, French roulette and American roulette is that European and French roulette only have one 0 pocket. In American roulette, there are 0 and 00 pockets which means that the house edge is slightly higher at 5.26%. European roulette’s house edge is a smaller 2.7%. The house edge is a percentage to show you how much more likely it is for the house, or casino, to win. American’s is higher as there 38 pockets the ball could land on vs 37 on the European wheel.