The name roulette originates from the French term for “little wheel”, the latter which is a key component of this online casino game and which has a significant impact on gameplay.
Where to play the best European roulette online?
Roulette is a very popular table game at UK casinos online. In fact, players can try out a wide range of roulette variants at different websites. We’ve gathered a handy list of our top online UK casino that you can try out European Roulette:
Master the rules & odds of European roulette
A lot of casino players are aware that roulette involves a colourful wheel and a small ball, but the actual game can be quite complicated game to learn. Basic rules are very straightforward, but the key to mastering roulette lies in understanding different types of bets and odds, and to also employ an effective roulette strategy.
The objective
The game’s main objective is to correctly predict which number slot on the wheel the ball will land on at the end of a spin. There are several types of predictions for the outcome of a roulette spin, which include the colour of the slot, whether it will be odd or even, which column of numbers it will land on, or the exact number itself.
Types of bets In European roulette
You can break up the bets in roulette into three distinct categories: inside bets, outside bets and other bets. Outside bets are better suited to inexperienced players, as they generally carry less risk and offer them a better chance of winning. Inside bets and call bets are recommended for more experienced players who are more familiar with game strategies, and the risk that these types of bets carry.
Inside bets for European roulette
There are five types of inside bets you can place in a game of European Roulette:
- Straight bet
This bet is what it sounds like. A straight-up bet played on the number which you think the ball will land on. Your choice is any individual number on the table from 1-36, and the green number “0”. This bet is risky but has a great payoff if it lands. - Split bet
Slightly less risky than a straight-up bet but also carrying half the rewards, a split bet is a shared bet placed on the line between two adjacent numbers. This bet can also include zero and one, zero and two, or zero and three. - Street bet
A street bet is placed on the line at the end of a row of numbers; it covers each of those three numbers at lower odds. There are alternative placements for this bet that will allow you to cover zero, one and two, or zero, two and three. - Corner bet
With a corner bet, you can cover four adjacent numbers at a time by placing your bet on the corner where the numbers touch. Offering a lower reward than the previous three inside bets, you can adjust the placement of a corner bet to cover zero, one, two, and three together. - Line bet
A line bet is the least risky of the inside bets but also comes with the lowest payout. This bet covers six numbers and is placed at the end of two rows of numbers on the border where the two meet.
Outside bets in European roulette
Similar to inside bets, there are also five outside bets featured in a game of European Roulette:
- Column bet
A column bet covers an entire column of 12 numbers and is placed in the 2:1 block at the end of the column you want to back. - Dozen bet
Like a column bet, a dozen bet also covers 12 numbers, but the formation of the grouping means that these numbers run concurrently. You place this bet on any of the “1st 12”, “2nd 12”, or “3rd 12” boxes. - Red or Black
A colour bet is a 50/50 or even money bet on whether the ball will land in a red or black coloured number slot. - Odd or Even
Also a 50/50 bet, but here you choose to bet whether the number the ball lands on will be odd or even. - Low or High
The last of the outside bets, this even money bet is placed on whether the ball will fall on the lower numbers 1-18 or the higher numbers 19-36.
Other types of bets
There are four other types of bets classified as call bets that the dealer can place on behalf of the player:
- Voisin Du Zero
This type of bet is placed on the numbers on the same half of the wheel as the zero; these numbers start at 22 and end at 25. - Tiers du Cylindre
This bet backs the numbers on the opposite side of the numbers chosen for a Voisin Du Zero bet; this side incorporates the numbers from 27 to 33 on the roulette wheel. - Orphelin
An Orphelin bet covers the remaining eight numbers on the roulette wheel that the two other call bets don’t cover. - Zero Game
A reduced version of the neighbours of zero, this bet covers the seven numbers closest to zero on the wheel.
RTP, payouts and House Edge in European roulette
Roulette is an intriguing and exciting game to play. This is mainly due to the betting options available, which allow players to make safer bets and riskier bets during the course of one game. In fact, European Roulette UK comes with a variety of potential payouts that start at 1:1 and go up to 35:1. When compared to other online UK casino games, this game offers a good RTP with a reasonably standard house edge.
| Bet Type | Bet Payout | Bet Probability | House Edge | RTP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Bet | 35:1 | 2.7% | 2.7% | 97.30% |
| Split Bet | 17:1 | 5.4% | 2.7% | 97.30% |
| Street Bet | 11:1 | 8.1% | 2.7% | 97.30% |
| Corner Bet | 8:1 | 10.8% | 2.7% | 97.30% |
| Line Bet | 5:1 | 13.5% | 2.7% | 97.30% |
| Column | 2:1 | 32.4% | 2.7% | 97.30% |
| Dozen | 2:1 | 32.4% | 2.7% | 97.30% |
| Red or Black | 1:1 | 48.6% | 2.7% | 97.30% |
| Odd or Even | 1:1 | 48.6% | 2.7% | 97.30% |
| Low or High | 1:1 | 48.6% | 2.7% | 97.30% |
| Voisin Du Zero | Up to 24:1 | 45.9% | 2.7% | 97.30% |
| Tiers Du Cylindre | 17:1 | 32.4% | 2.7% | 97.30% |
| Zero Game | 26:1 | 18.9% | 2.7% | 97.30% |
| Orphelin | 35:1 or 17:1 | 21.6% | 2.7% | 97.30% |
RTP in European roulette
RTP, or return to player, is displayed as a percentage of the bets that will return to the player over a while. European Roulette has a decent RTP set at 97.30%, meaning that for every £1.00 wagered, there is a probable return of around £0.97.
Payouts in European roulette
The payouts in a game of European Roulette vary widely depending on the risk profile of the bet. The higher the risk, the better the payout. For example, a straight bet relies on predicting which exact number the ball will land on out of 36 numbers. This means that the odds are one in 35 that you correctly predict the outcome, so the bank pays out at 35:1. An even-money bet like black or red has a fifty-fifty chance of winning, so the payout is an even 1:1.
House Edge in European roulette
The house edge is, in other words, the mathematical advantage that the casino has over you, the player. Expressed as a percentage, it represents the percentage of money that the casino will earn from your wagers over time. If you’re playing European Roulette, which has a house advantage of 2.7%, you can expect to lose around £0.27 for every £1.00 you bet.
European roulette vs. other roulette variants
Most variants of roulette are very close to the original version, with subtle differences between them. These variations can result in a higher or lower house edge, slightly different odds and bets and, in some cases, a modified table layout. We’ll take a look at the differences between a European Roulette and a few other variants below.
| European Roulette | American Roulette | French Roulette | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layout | 37 numbers (0-36) | 38 numbers (0-36 + 00) | 37 numbers (0-36) |
| Bets | Five inside, five outside and four call bets. | Six inside bets including five line bets, five outside and five call bets including final bets. | Seven inside bets with trio and four number bets added, five outside and four call bets. |
| RTP | 97.30% | 94.74% | 98.65% |
| House Edge | 2.70% | 5.26% | 2.70%(This can be lowered to just 1.35% using the La Partage rule) |
Difference between European and American roulette
The main difference between European and American Roulette is the layout of the table. The American table features an extra number, 00, lowering the players’ RTP and increasing the house edge to 5.26%.
Difference between European and French roulette
French Roulette and European Roulette are very similar to each other in most aspects. The most significant difference between them is that the French version features the La Partage and En Prison rules, which play in the players’ favour and lower the house edge.
How to play European roulette – Breakdown of a round
We’ve put together a handy step-by-step list of how to play a round of European Roulette for those of you who want to give it a try.
- Step One is to make sure that you have a good understanding of the types of bets, the rules, and the risks involved from what you’ve read above.
- Step Two centres around choosing your bets. We recommend outside bets for beginner players, and inside or call bets for more experienced players.
- Step Three involves placing your chips. If you paid attention to the types of bets above, you’d know the position they need to have on the table.
- Step Four is about patience. Watch and wait for the dealer to spin the wheel and for the ball to fall into one of the numbered pockets.
Strategies for advanced players
European Roulette is an online casino game that is mainly based on luck, but having a roulette strategy is a good tool to better understand how to place your bets more strategically and manage your bankroll during gameplay. Here are our top four strategies for advanced players:
The Martingale system
The Martingale strategy is one of the most common roulette strategies around. This system is designed to be played with any of the fifty-fifty bets. The Martingale was formulated to try to recover from a losing streak. Players using this system will double their bets following any loss and halve their bets after a win.
Reverse Martingale strategy
As the name states, players using the Reverse Martingale do the opposite of the Martingale, doubling up on their winning bets and halving the losing ones. This system is also meant to be applied to even monied bets.
Fibonacci strategy
This strategy has gained a reputation as a very safe roulette strategy. Punters follow the Fibonacci sequence of numbers to multiply their bets, moving on to the following number in the sequence with every loss. Whenever the player lands a win, he moves two numbers down the sequence and continues playing as before. The idea is to end up at the beginning of the number sequence in the black. You must use the Fibonacci Strategy with even bets.
Andrucci system
The Andrucci System is quite a nerve-racking system. It has its roots in chaos theory and mathematical probability and requires you to continue to back your position, even when you are losing. With the Andrucci System, you will have to do research first, watching up to 35 spins and choosing a number based on which number wins those spins most often. Once you have your number, you place a straight bet on it at 35:1 odds, and continue to do this for many rounds. Probability dictates that you should land on this number within the first 15-25 spins, netting a tidy profit. The threshold to profit with the Andrucci is to win within 34 spins; 35 spins is the break-even point.
Conclusion
European Roulette is the most popular version of roulette in the UK for good reason. The game is fast-paced, entertaining, offers bets for every player, and has a good RTP. The game is suited for both beginners and advanced players alike, and there is also the option to play the live casino version of roulette at the best online casinos in the UK.