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The Three Variants of Roulette

Each roulette variant comes with its own perks.

Given the fact that roulette is generally featured in every casino around the world, there are several variations of the game. The rules and regulations remain pretty much the same across the major variants but there are some differences which can affect the overall house edge, present additional betting options or offer a slightly different way of playing the game.

European Roulette

This is by far the most popular variant of roulette and it can be found with ease in a casino or on the internet. European roulette has 36 regular pockets on the wheel, which are either black or red, and an additional pocket which is represented by the green 0. The payout for a straight bet is 35:1 and since there are 37 possible outcomes and only one pays, the house edge is around 2.70%.

The low house edge is also the reason why this variant is so popular and all the standard bets can be found while playing the game. It can be easily recognized by looking on the wheel and seeing that there is only one green slot.

American Roulette

As the name would suggest, this variant of roulette is mostly used across North America but it is a common choice among international online casinos as well. The main difference between American roulette and the European version is that this one has an extra pocket on the wheel, represented by a green 00. The payouts remain the same despite the lower odds and this means a house edge of 5.26%.

The betting table is also slightly different in order to accommodate the extra number and players can bet on combinations between 00, 0, 1, 2 and 3. Aside from that, it looks and works pretty much the same and despite having a higher house edge, it remains a player favorite.

French Roulette

While European and American represent the two main variants of roulette, the French version appeals to a lot of players and has gained a lot of ground among online casinos.

French roulette is similar to the European one with the only difference being that it follows a “La Partage” rule. This basically means that players get half their bets back if they lose when the ball stops in the 0 slot, thus lowering the house edge to 1.32%.