The Different Variations of Roulette

Roulette has been a firm favourite with UK players for ages, with its many international versions and varieties. It's a quintessential casino game that's instantly recognisable with its spinning wheel and the thrill of betting on where the ball will land.

But what are the different kinds of roulette, and are they available at the best online casinos in the UK? You'll typically find three main variations: American, European, and French roulette. Each version has its own set of rules, table layout, house edge, and unique quirks that make playing at different casino roulette tables so distinct.

American Roulette: The Extra '00' Slot

American roulette demands a special wheel featuring 38 slots. These are numbered 1 through 36, plus a single zero (0) and a double zero (00). The numbered slots are coloured red and black, while the zeroes are green. This double zero pocket is the primary difference compared to European and French roulette.

That extra "zero" slot is crucial. Because of this additional pocket, the house edge in American roulette is considerably higher than in its European or French counterparts. Crucially, the number of available betting options for players also changes depending on the number of zero pockets on the wheel.

European Roulette: The UK Favourite

The European roulette wheel comes with 37 slots, numbered 1 to 36, plus a single zero. Each number is coloured either red or black, with the zero slot being green. European roulette is a top choice for UK players because its house edge is smaller than the American version.

The most significant difference between European and American roulette is the absence of the double zero slot in the European version. This distinction leads to a significantly lower house edge, making the game more appealing for employing betting strategies and potentially increasing winning chances.

Compared to American roulette, European roulette offers a more favourable house edge of approximately 2.70%. With only one zero slot, players face a reduced house edge because there's a smaller chance of the ball landing in a losing pocket.

French Roulette: "La Version Francaise"

The French roulette wheel has also 37 roulette numbers (1 through 36 plus a single zero) just like the European version. French roulette differs most significantly from European roulette in its rules and betting possibilities.

France's take on the roulette game has its own set of rules and betting possibilities that set it apart from other variants. French roulette has its own distinct betting possibilities like "voisins du zero," "orphelins," and "tiers du cylindre," in addition to the standard "en prison" and "en prisoner" bets.

If a person bets even money (red/black, odd/even, high/low, etc.) and the ball falls in the zero slot, he or she will only lose half of their original wager (the La Partage regulation). French roulette offers the best chances to players because of this rule, which lowers the house edge on even-money bets to 1.35%.

Other Online Roulette Game Versions

After so many years, it's quite understandable that roulette offers different versions already. Plus, the creation of live dealer roulette has launched even more variations, thus giving the game a modern twist.

Multi-Wheel Roulette, Mini Roulette, and 3D Roulette are just a few of the many roulette variants out there - all three of them are also live versions. It's common practice for online casinos to allow players to practice these variants for free before allowing them to bet real money.

Mini Roulette

Thanks to software providers like Playtech and Evolution Gaming, roulette fans are now able to play Mini Roulette, which is a smaller version of the original online game. Mini Roulette can adapt to smaller screens - despite being played on a PC or laptop. This allows players to play roulette while doing another activity, like betting during a game.

Multi-Wheel Roulette

If one roulette wheel simply doesn't make it, there's also the chance to bet on roulette with up to eight games simultaneously. Multi-Wheel Roulette follows the European Roulette rules, with all of the games happening at the same time.

Live Dealer Roulette

Live dealer games are the perfect blend between the real-life experience and online versions. In the case of roulette, the live dealer roulette games allow players to interact with the dealer, watch an actual wheel spin, while making bets that the dealer places on a real table. Plus, live dealer roulette has multiple versions in most live casinos.

Pinball Roulette

It's time to forget about the classic roulette wheel and replace it with something fresh, like a pinball machine. This is the principle of Pinball Roulette, most famously from Playtech. The game bases on European Roulette rules, with a big difference in the layout. Obviously, this makes the game more exciting and dynamic.

Conclusion

Each roulette online game offers thrilling action. However, online roulette games are all different and it's crucial to get a hang of them before starting. For example, due to the La Partage rules, players have a better chance of winning in French roulette than in American roulette. In order to make the most of your online roulette experience, it is important to not only understand the differences between the various versions of the game but also to have a solid grasp of the roulette rules and common pitfalls to avoid.

Players can use the same strategies in all versions of roulette, but it's vital to be familiar with how many numbers on a roulette wheel there are, each version's rules and house edges to optimize winnings. It's recommended that players try out various types of roulette gamble online to discover the one they enjoy playing the most.