Types of Roulette
There are two main variations of Roulette offered at casinos, namely European and American Roulette and while they look the same there is a key difference between them that makes one so much better than the other. There are also a number of lesser known games which some casinos feature, and while most of the rules stay the same across the Roulette tables, there are distinguishing characteristics for each
American Roulette
From the name you would think that this game was invented in America, but click here to find out if it is really American Roulette.
This is the game most frequently offered by casinos. The quickest way to recognise it is by looking at the wheel which is configured with consecutive numbers across from each other and an additional section marked with double zero "00" on it which European Roulette does not have.
What difference does this make you may ask, and the answer would be quite a lot...in fact the presence of the double zero makes the odds on each number 35 to 1. Payout rates will also depend on whether the player places single bets (red, black, even, odd, passe, or manque), double bets (12's or columns), or numbers bets from 1-5. Should the ball fall into the 0 or the 00, only the winning bets on these numbers will be paid.
European Roulette
This game is very similar to American Roulette, with the exception that the wheel is configured differently and features a single zero, instead of the additional double zero.
This small point cuts the house edge from 5.26% to 2.63% on these games, making European Roulette the best of the two games to play on at a casino.
European Roulette is offered more frequently by online casinos than by their land based counterparts which is a real advantage for the online player. So if you're aiming to win your bets, play European Roulette.
French Roulette
For years you've probably heard people say "Play European Roulette" and that is sound advice. It does offer a lower house edge than its American counterpart. But French Roulette is really the game you should be playing at online casinos as its rules lower the house edge even further to a mere 1.35%.
A French Roulette game is played using a standard 37 partition European Roulette wheel (with a single zero) but it differs from the other two variants when it comes to the table layout which is unique offering a number of additional bets and French wording, but if you've played Roulette before you'll quickly catch on. It's definitely worth a try.
Live Dealer Roulette
No matter which online roulette variant you want to play, most online casinos will offer it in a Live Dealer format. In these games you'll play in a virtual casinos environment with video footage streaming live in real-time to your screen, making it feel like you're right in the room with the dealer which you can see in our Live Dealer Casino Games Gallery here. The only thing missing is the crowds that you'll usually find at a land based casino roulette table.
Live dealer games offer a whole new element of fun. They are however, not for the impatient as Roulette play cannot be speeded up like in a standard roulette game where you can set the wheel speed and play more quickly if you so desire. Live Dealer Roulette games obviously follow a standard roultte game pace and this can mean that you feel like you wait around a bit. Other than that, it's super fun to play.