Find out the difference between French and American roulette, which one gives you a better chance of winning, and how to bet on them.
Roulette comparison
Comparison of roulette (source: kasinoguru-cz.com)
Roulette is often referred to as the queen of gambling games, and it must be present in any brick-and-mortar casino as well as in any online casino. For players, various versions of roulette are always available in online casinos, differing in thematic design, special effects, betting limits, or payout ratios. However, there are only three main versions that significantly differ in their design and rules.
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What are the basic types of roulette?
As mentioned above, roulette has only three basic variants, from which other specific games are derived. These variants are French roulette, American roulette, and European roulette, which differ in the number of pockets on the wheel, their arrangement, the layout of the table, and some rules that are specific to each type of game. Consequently, the probability of winning also varies for players.
American roulette
In this version of roulette, in addition to the black and red numbered pockets and one green zero, there is also another green pocket with the value 00. Its presence clearly tips the scales in favor of the casino (the game operator) and increases its advantage in winning by approximately 5.26%. All rules remain the same as players know from classic roulette, and no exceptions await them here.
European roulette
This roulette is often considered the standard form of roulette and enjoys considerable popularity among players worldwide. In this variant, there is only one green pocket with the number 0, which reduces the casino’s advantage by nearly half to 2.70% compared to American roulette. Thus, European roulette has only 37 pockets on its wheel, while American roulette has 38.
French roulette
This version of roulette essentially derives from European roulette, as both have the same number of 37 pockets. The only differences between them are the French names and the specific rules used in French roulette, La Partage and En Prison, which govern the game if the spun ball lands on the green zero. This version of roulette is even more advantageous for players, as the casino’s edge is only 1.35% in this case.
Comparison of the wheel and betting layout
In addition to the differences in the number of pockets on the moving wheel, the betting layouts where players place their bets also differ. Two zeros in American roulette are located directly opposite each other on the wheel and are positioned at the very top of the betting layout above all other numbers. In French and European roulette, there is only one 0, but these two versions differ in the arrangement of individual bets and in their names, as bets in French roulette are labeled in French.
Racetrack of different types of roulette
The racetrack is a betting layout designed and depicted to resemble a racetrack, but it visually resembles a roulette wheel. While in the racetrack of European and French roulette, players can place special bets on groups of numbers (Tiers, Orphelins, Voisins, Zero), this is not possible in American roulette, as its racetrack is arranged differently due to the presence of the green pocket with the value 00.
Special rules and bets in roulette
Players encounter special rules exclusively in French roulette, where the game follows special rules La Partage and En Prison when a zero is hit. Special bets can also be placed on the racetrack of European and French roulette due to the systematic arrangement of the individual numbers displayed on it.
- La Partage rule: If players have bet on an even-money bet and the ball lands on zero, half of their stake is paid back to them.
- En Prison rule: If players have bet on an even-money bet and the ball lands on zero, their bets are not returned but remain “imprisoned” in place, and the outcome of the next spin will determine their fate. If they win, the player wins only their stake back, and if they lose, they lose it.
- Tiers bet (Tiers du Cylindre): this bet covers a third of the wheel, meaning 12 numbers located opposite the zero. On the betting layout, this bet with six chips would cover the split numbers 5-8, 10-11, 13-16, 23-24, 27-30, and 33-36.
- Voisins bet (Voisins du Zéro): With this bet, players cover 17 numbers located around the zero on the roulette wheel. On the betting table, this bet would consist of nine chips placed on the trio of numbers 0-2-3, splits of numbers 4-7, 12-15, 18-21, 19-22, 32-35, and a quartet of numbers 25-26-28-29.
- Zero bet (Jeu Zéro): With this bet, it is possible to cover seven numbers on the roulette wheel closest to zero. On the betting table, four chips would be needed for this bet, placed on the splits of numbers 0-3, 12-15, and 32-35, and one specific number 26.
- Orphelins bet: With this bet, it is possible to cover the remaining 8 numbers that are not included in any of the previous bets. On the table, five chips would be needed to place this bet, positioned on the splits of numbers 6-9, 14-17, 17-20, 31-34, and on the number 1.
Probability of winning and payout ratios
Different variants of roulette differ in the probability of players winning based on the number of pockets on the roulette wheel and the special rules. While the probability of winning remains exactly the same for French and European roulette, in American roulette, this chance is lower due to the additional pocket with the value 00, as shown in the table below.
| Bet | Probability of winning | Payout ratio | |
| American roulette | European and French roulette | ||
| On a single number | 2.63% | 2.7% | 35:1 |
| Two numbers (Split) | 5.26% | 5.4% | 17:1 |
| Courteous bet (Split) | 5.4%/ 5.26% | x | 17:1 |
| Three numbers (Street) | 7.89% | 8.1% | 11:1 |
| Four numbers (Corner) | 10.52% | 10.8% | 8:1 |
| Five numbers (Basket) | 13.15% | 13.51% | 6:1 |
| Six numbers (Six line) | 15.72% | 16.2% | 5:1 |
| Column/Dozen | 31.58% | 32.4% | 2:1 |
| Even bets (color, small/big, even/odd numbers) | 47.37% | 48.6% | 1:1 |
Rating of roulettes
In terms of winning probability, the most popular variant of roulette is European roulette, closely followed by the French version, which deters some players with its special rules when hitting zero. American roulette tends to attract players who enjoy taking risks and placing diverse bets. Regardless, in both brick-and-mortar and online casinos, everyone can find their preference, and they can also choose from demo versions or live versions, Game Shows, and many other variants of this game.
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How to increase your chances of winning at roulette?
In roulette, there are many well-known betting strategies that help players better manage their bankroll and thus increase their chances of winning. You can click below to see the list of strategies, but none of them can directly guarantee a win, as roulette is based on chance. Some strategies are more aggressive and require a higher budget, but there are also those that are much more cautious. The choice of the right strategy depends on each player’s personal preferences.
Details of individual strategies:
Frequently asked questions
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