Roulette is one of the most traditional and beloved casino table games. This charming wheel-based game has captivated people for centuries with its simple yet exhilarating gameplay.
While the basic rules of roulette remain largely consistent across all variants, subtle differences exist between European, American and French roulette. Each of these offers their own unique experiences.
Within this article, we’ll explore the distinctions between the variations, as well as the pros and cons of each game type to help you decide which one suits your preferences best.
Exploring European Roulette
European roulette is comfortably the most played variant of the game and is typically offered in casinos around the world and online. It is known as a “single-zero” game of roulette, as there’s only one green zero pocket on the wheel.
The advantages of European roulette are that single-zero games offer a better house edge than those which offer both single and double-zero pockets. European roulette’s accessibility also makes it a more appealing version than the likes of French roulette which are rarely offered online. The betting table layout is another nod to European roulette’s accessibility. The betting layout is simplified compared with the French roulette, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the rules are any better. In fact, French roulette has more favourable betting rules overall – more on this shortly.
Exploring American Roulette
American roulette is one of the fastest-growing roulette variants. It was developed in the US after roulette arrived stateside in the 19th century. American gambling houses opted to give themselves an even bigger house edge by introducing a green double zero to the roulette wheel. In effect, this doubled the house edge of European roulette to 5.26%.
The original version of roulette had been flourishing in France for several years before it arrived in the US. It was French immigrants escaping the French revolution who brought the game to the shores of Louisiana, with the casino proprietors of New Orleans quickly acknowledging the game’s appeal among locals and immigrants alike.
This explains why so many brick-and-mortar and online casino operators like to offer the American version as a roulette variant, as it can actually improve their bottom lines. The beauty of American roulette is that it still offers the simplicity of gameplay like European roulette, making it easy for first-time players to pick up and play from the word go.
Exploring French Roulette
For anyone seeking the most original and authentic format of roulette, look no further than French roulette. The origins of French roulette date back to the 18th century, where the country’s casinos – including those in Monte-Carlo – would operate sessions of this quintessential wheel-based game.
The beauty of French roulette is its exceptionally low house edge. It doesn’t just have a single zero on the wheel – like European roulette – but it also has two additional rules which are more favourable to players:
· La Partage
This is a beneficial rule in French roulette where, if the ball lands on zero, players retrieve half of their wagers placed on even-money bets. An even-money bet covers red/black and odd/even bets. This reduces the house edge and provides an additional opportunity for players to limit their losses.
La Partage is one of the distinctive aspects of French roulette, attracting savvy players seeking to manage their betting bankrolls.
· En Prison
This is a rule which applies whenever the ball lands on zero. With this rule, even-money bets remain “in prison”. This means they carry over to the next spin, effectively giving you a second chance at winning.
If the subsequent spin results in a win the player receives their original wager back without any additional winnings. En Prison effectively reduces the house edge by half on even-money bets.
Ultimately, the game of roulette is alive and well thanks to the rich variety of games available today. The choice is yours – if you prefer simple game rules and accessibility, European and American roulette tables will be more your bag. If you want favourable rules and are prepared to dive deeper into the betting strategy of roulette, it’s worth seeing if the land-based casinos of Manchester, like the event-centric venue of Manchester235 run French roulette tables too.
