Roulette is a casino game played on a spinning wheel. Two to eight players can take part in the game, which consists of six to thirty-six numbers arranged in two concentric circles with alternating black and red spaces between them. The outcome of the spin depends on whether or not the ball will land in one of the numbers, depending entirely on chance. A European Roulette table offers more number choices than its American counterpart. Players can bet on individual numbers, combinations of numbers, or colours.
The History of European Roulette
European Roulette is similar to American Roulette, but it has an extra green pocket on the wheel which makes the chances of winning slightly less than in its counterpart. European Roulette comes from France and was created during the 18th century although there are disputes over who invented it first.
It was played primarily in French casinos until other countries started adding their own twist by allowing outside bets as well as inside wagers which meant players could place bets directly on the casino table, rather than just using chips or playing pieces to make inside bets. The game became very popular thanks to these improvements and eventually spread around Europe before becoming known worldwide thanks to online casinos.
How to Play European Roulette
Players place their bets by placing chips or tokens on the number they wish to bet on or on various combinations that give them a better chance at winning than just betting on one number alone. The croupier then spins the wheel in one direction and then tosses the ball into the other wheel in the opposite direction which will determine where the ball lands.
A marker is placed over each space that has been bet upon so players know if their numbers have won before seeing what numbers appear when all 36 are uncovered. The dealer collects losing bets while paying out winning ones according to odds listed beside each possible winning combination. European roulette offers players the opportunity to place bets on a range of different numbers, colours, and even groups of numbers at once.
The Table Setup
European Roulette table set up is as follows: The dealer places a ball into the roulette wheel and spins it. When the wheel comes to a stop, the croupier notes where the ball has landed – this is known as ‘calling’ – and then announces how much each player will receive based on their bet (a commission of 5% is deducted from all the wins).
FAQ – European Roulette
What are European Roulette odds?
European Roulette has 37 pockets compared with 38 in American Roulette. The table below outlines what the odds of each bet are and the amount paid out depending on which European country you play in.
What does house edge mean?
Some people claim that using methods such as counting cards or learning techniques from mathematics experts give them an edge. Although in blackjack one can get a considerable advantage over the house by counting cards, in roulette the house always has an edge and there is no method you can devise to help you beat it.
The green zero on the roulette wheel is there for this exact reason: to give the house an edge. Otherwise, players could bet on either black or red and would have equal opportunity over the house. European roulette only has one zero as opposed to two in the American counterpart, so the house edge is lower in European roulette.
Where can I play European Roulette?
European Roulette is one of the most popular games to be played in casinos around the world because it features low house edges and fantastic odds considering how much fun it is to play. If you want an entertaining way to spend your time and potentially win some money along the way, European Roulette might be your best bet.
What does “en prison” mean?
En prison means “imprisonment” in French and gives players more chance of winning than they would otherwise get if the ball landed on zero. This rule is only used in European roulette baccarat games and must be requested by the player before any bets are placed.
The dealer will write down how much money is wagered while the game plays out so that it can be returned later. If you win while using this rule, then the dealer will return your initial bet as well as half of what you won during the round.
What are some of the most popular European Roulette bets?
European roulette offers other number groupings too such as 1-12 or 13-24 for both odd and even numbers. Players can bet on individual numbers (straight w), single column w, street (columns 2, 3 or 4), five numbers by six (5-6) or even six numbers by seven (6-7).
Bets on the first half of the wheel are commonly referred to as “inside” bets, while those on the second half are known as “outside” bets. Payout odds for each bet vary widely.