Which Roulette Variation is the Right One for You?

Roulette is the most popular table game in casinos around the world. The secret behind its popularity is the wide range of betting options and the suspense of watching the ball rolling on the roulette wheel.

It’s a very old game with many variations, but three are considered the most popular: European roulette, French roulette, and American roulette. Let’s make a quick overview of each to see which one is the best for you.

European Roulette

European roulette got its name because it’s played in Europe. There are a total of 36 numbers you can bet on and a variety of outside bets. A player needs to place chips on the betting option they want and wait for the betting round to end. After that, a dealer will insert the ball into the wheel, and you need to wait for it to land on a number to see if you made a winning wager. If you did, you’d be paid out according to the payout for your bet.

It’s important to mention that the European roulette has one zero pocket in addition to 36 standard numbers.

French Roulette

French roulette is identical to the European one in terms of structure. In other words, the wheel and betting options are the same, as the French version also has 36 numbers in addition to a zero pocket. So, what’s the difference between French and European roulette games?

As it turns out, the French version features two additional rules that can help players get some of their lost money back. These rules are called en prison and la partage.

La partage is simple. You get half of your lost bet back if you make an even-money bet and the ball lands on 0. In the European and American versions, you’d lose your entire bet.

En prison is a variation la partage. You can put your even-money bet in “prison.” If the ball lands on 0, you can wait for another round and return your entire betting amount to your bankroll if you win.

American Roulette

American roulette is also a very popular variation of the game. What makes it different is that there are two zeros in the wheel. One is marked with 0 and the other with 00. Therefore, in addition to the 36 standard numbers, there are two additional packers, making it a total of 38 possibilities. This gives you an option to make more interesting inside bets. Unfortunately, the two zeroes mean twice as much chance to lose even-money bets. Because of that, American roulette is the version with the largest house edge — 5-26%.

Final Thoughts

The version of roulette with the lowest house edge is French, so if you’re aiming to play the game that’s statistically the best, the French version is the best option. However, you shouldn’t forget that roulette is a game of chance, so we advise trying all three versions if possible and deciding on which one is the best for you.

Play The Variation of Your Choice on Our Top Casinos