The Basics Of European Roulette
Before we breakdown the rules of European Roulette, let’s quickly discuss the basics. For those that have never watched the wheel spin, the aim of the game is simple: predict where the steel ball will land. Now, the great thing about European Roulette online is that you can bet in seconds and, more importantly, be as general or specific as you like. In other words, you can choose to bet on one of the 37 numbers directly or you can choose a group of numbers.
FACT ATTACK“Roulette was invented in the 17th century by French mathematician Blaise Pascal”
So, if you’re a low roller or you prefer low risk bets, you can place chips on red and cover every red number, odd (all the odd numbers), splits (cover two numbers) or whatever else you desire. This is the beauty of roulette. Because big spenders can sit alongside newbies and everyone gets to play in their own way, European Roulette is up there as one of the most accessible games in the industry.
How To Play European Roulette
OK, so the aim of the game is to predict where the ball is going to land in the most specific or general way possible. That’s a simple premise, right? Yes, but there are a few more things you need to know before you spin.
Firstly, there are 37 numbers on the wheel, starting at 0 and running up to 36. Secondly, there are multiple betting options, including:
- Outside bets: Odd/Even, Black/Red, 1-18/19-36 (each of these bets pay out at a ratio of 1:1).
- Further outside bets: 1st twelve/column, 2nd twelve/column, 3rd twelve/column (each of these bets pay out at a ratio of 2:1).
- Inside bets: single number (35:1), two number split (17:1), street/trio (11:1) four number split (8:1), five number split (6:1) and a six-number line (5:1).
FACT ATTACK“Roulette is known as the Devil’s Game because the sum of all the numbers is 666”
Prior to the start of a round, you can choose to bet on one or more of the above options. The main stipulation online casinos have is that your bet meets or exceeds the minimum takes but doesn’t go beyond the maximum. As a general rule, the top casinos online will allow you to spin the wheel from as little as £0.10. One point to note here is that the min/max bet might vary between inside and outside bets. Typically, the minimum stakes on the inside will be lower than outside because they are deemed to be higher risk and offer greater returns.
Finally, and this is important to know, European Roulette is better than American Roulette (often known as double zero roulette). This is true because the latter has 38 numbers. In addition to numbers running from 0 to 36, American Roulette has 00. This is significant because the extra number affects your chances of winning.
FACT ATTACK“James Bond’s favourite roulette number is 17, this is also said to be the most commonly bet on number”
Even though American Roulette has an extra number, the maximum payout in both games is 35/1. Because of this, the house edge in European Roulette is 2.7% and 5.2% in American Roulette. Put simply, your long-term chances of success in a single zero game are better than they would be at American Roulette table. Therefore, you should always try to find a place where you can play European Roulette.
European Roulette Betting Options
In order to unlock the above payouts, you’ll need to make one of the following roulette bets:
Inside Bets:
- Straight Up/Single Number: This is most lucrative payout on the board and requires you to place a single chip on a single number. In European roulette, the odds against this number coming in is 37:1.
- Split: Just as the name suggests, this bet splits two directly connected numbers down the middle. For example, if you wanted to bet on 2 and 5 (two numbers connected) at the same time, you would place a chip on the line in between the two.
- Street: In roulette, a street is term used to describe three numbers in a line across the board. To place a street bet and cover all three numbers, you have to place a chip at start of the street i.e. the line between the outside bets and the inside bets.
- Corner/Quarter: This bet covers four inside numbers at the same time. To place this bet, imagine a square filled with four numbers. Your chip goes in the middle of this square.
- Six-Line: A six-line bet is basically two street bets rolled into one. When you’re ready to cover six inside numbers, you simply move your chip to the same position as a street bet but shift it across a bit so that it bisects the two lines.
Outside Bets:
- Dozen/Column: These bets each cover a group of 12 numbers. If you choose the former, you can bet on the first, second or third group of 12 numbers. For the latter, you’ll look towards the bottom of the board and choose the first, second or third line of numbers in a horizontal line.
- Red/Black: As you’d expect, this is a straight 50/50 bet on whether the number that appears will be red or black. In practice, the true odds are slightly less than 50/50 because 0 is green.
- Odd/Even: Like the red/black bet, this is another 50/50 shot where you’re stating that the number hit will either be odd or even.
- High/Low: The final outside bet allows you to bet on a group of 18 numbers with a single chip. If you place a bet in the “low” box, you’re covering numbers 1 to 18. Place it in the “high” box and numbers 19 to 36 are yours.
European Roulette Strategy
The Best European Roulette Software Providers
Playing European Roulette online is great, but it’s only great if the software you’re using is up to a certain standard. At the top UK online casinos, certain developers have established themselves as leaders in the field. To give you a taste of what you can expect in terms of features and options when you play at our recommend roulette sites, here’s an overview of the leading software companies:
NetEnt European Roulette
NetEnt stands out in the European Roulette realm for its Touch games. Even though it offers some fantastic desktop games, including live roulette, it’s mobile products are the most impressive. For many players, the reason Roulette Touch has become a go to game is its simplicity. Instead of filling the screen with unnecessary features, the developers have made it easy to point, bet and spin with the minimum amount of fuss. When you’re gaming on the go, this is all you should really care about.
Playtech European Roulette
For virtual and live European Roulette, Playtech is one of the leading software providers out there. In addition to its focus on “premium” games where you can play for high stakes, the developers have utilised HTML5 coding. This basically means that you can play a full selection of games on any device. Whether it’s a mobile or desktop, the games will bend and flex to suit the screen size you’re using.
Cryptologic European Roulette
One of the original casino game developers, Cryptologic roulette has something of an old-school vibe to it. Indeed, the interface boasts a classic design, right down to the ash tray at the top of the table. One of the nicest things about Cryptologic European Roulette tables is that the race track betting option is always visible. Instead of hiding it away like some developers do, the design team at Cryptologic HQ has put the racetrack alongside the main betting board for easy access.
Evolution Gaming European Roulette
The only dedicated live casino developer in our list, Evolution Gaming offers some of the most immersive games online. Inside the company’s European Roulette tables, you’ll get full access to all the standard bets and features as well as the ability to set your own moves. Using the “favourites” option, you can input and save up to 15 betting patterns. As well as adding these with a single click, you can play live European Roulette on any desktop or mobile device. If that wasn’t enough, Immersive Roulette is a European-style game that uses multiple camera angles to make the action as up close and personal as possible.
Is European Roulette For You?
Before we leave you to explore the world of online European Roulette, here’s a few pros and cons for you to consider. Even though it’s a great game that millions of people love, that doesn’t mean it’s the casino game for you. With this in mind…
European Roulette is for you if…
- You want to play and win in a low risk way.
- You’re a fan of adrenaline pumping action.
- You enjoy playing virtual and live games via your desktop or mobile.
European Roulette isn’t for you if…
- You want to win £1 million+ jackpots.
- You like to use mathematics to guide your bets.
- You want multi-layered action involving bonus rounds and more.
European Roulette: A Game For Everyone
To sum up, European Roulette is a classic casino game that captures the true essence of betting. Unlike modern innovations that add a ton of flashy animations, special features and bonuses to the mix, European Roulette relies on three things: a spinning wheel, a small ball and some numbers. While this may be simple, it’s a recipe that’s proven successful for centuries. In fact, the game as it stands today is just as popular as it ever was. When you check out our top-rated European Roulette sites, you’ll not only get instant access to the best games around but the chance to play in a way that suits you. Regardless of whether you’re a newbie or a pro, European Roulette can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone.