European Roulette Guide

Over the years, the roulette wheel has evolved giving us several versions of Roulette, one of which is the European Roulette, which is the main focus on this page. Don’t get sidetracked by its name, there aren’t any major differences. However, in the long run, even minor deviations can affect the overall RTP.

To find out what sets this variation apart we're going to compare it to its American counterpart. The rules and the betting options in the two variants are roughly the same with a few minor adjustments, on the wheel and on the betting layout:

Compared to the American wheel, the European wheel has 37 pockets and only one “regular” zero pocket, which is coloured in green. In fact, it is sometimes referred to as single zero roulette. 

The absence of the “double” zero pocket is primarily what makes this type of roulette more favourable to players, hence the lower house edge of 2.7%.

In general numbers on roulette wheels are spread out so as to alternate between black and red pockets and even and odd numbers. Moreover, the wheel aims to create a balance between high (19 - 36) and low numbers (1 - 18).

Whilst the addition of an extra pocket in American wheels makes it hard to create a perfect equilibrium, things are much more even in this version. It is courtesy of this balance that European Roulette has a more favourable return to player than the American version.

At first glance, a European table is almost identical to the American one. In fact, the most evident difference in the roulette table layout is the absence of a double-zero box.

In general, the table layout for this type of roulette is divided into two main sections. Inside bets are placed on the inner section and refer to the actual numbered betting boxes. Outside bets are the boxes below and refer to specific areas such as Red, Black, Odd, Even and Dozen bets.

You may know what it looks like, but now we show you how to play. First things first, the rules of the game are quite simple and often enough when players refer to roulette, they are actually referring to the European Roulette version.

In fact, this is the easiest variation to play. The main objective of the players is to predict, where the roulette ball is going to land. In order to do that, all players place wager on a particular number or numbers, after which the dealer spins the wheel, and the ball eventually settles in a pocket.

Although rare, this is a rule we need to point out. En Prison rule is a variant of the La Partage rule which is more frequently available at the French Roulette tables.

The En Prison rule is an opportunity to recover your wager, if the ball lands on zero, provided that the bet was even money (i.e. high-low, red-black, even-odd).

Whenever the ball lands on the single zero, the bet is “enprisoned” for the duration of one spin. If the player wins on the next spin, the previous losing bet is paid back in full, but if it loses, it is fortified. 

When this rule is applied, the house advantage is cut in half, from the built-in house advantage of 2.7% to 1.35%.

As we already mentioned, European Roulette players can take advantage of two main bet categories, inside and outside bets, including an additional bet category – announced bets.

We’re going to give you a breakdown of the various bet types you can make on a European Roulette wheel:

These bets bring more risk, as they have lower winning odds, but can much higher payouts. They are recommended for players with more experience. They can be made by placing bets on specific number or numbers in the inner section of the betting table:

• Straight bet - single number bet
• Split bet - placed on the line between two numbers
• Street bet - all three numbers in a row, chip placed at the end of the row
• Corner bet - group of 4 numbers, chip placed in the middle point of the numbers
• Five number bet - group of 5 numbers, chip is placed on the corner next to 0 and 1
• Six Line bet - two rows, chip placed at the end of the rows

These types of bets are recommended for new players, as they have better odds of winning. Their payouts, however, are smaller. Outside bets are made of combinations of numbers and not on a specific number:

• Column bet - entire column
• Dozen bet- box of 12 numbers
• Colour bet - red or black
• Odd/ Even bet- all odd numbers or all even numbers
• Low/ High bet - all low numbers or all high numbers

In addition to the bets above, the European version is also subject to special bets. Firstly, players at a European wheel are able to make call bets directly to the dealer instead of by means of casino chips. 

When playing online roulette, these bets can be placed in the “racetrack” submenu. This menu providers variety of pre-defined options of announced bets. 

Called bets are grouped according to roulette wheel section, rather than the betting table, as follows:

• Voisins du Zero aka Neighbours of Zero
• Jeu Zero aka Zero
• Le Tiers du Cylindre, aka Third of the Wheel
• Orphelins aka Orphans
• The Neighbours
• The Finals

If you’d like to find out more about each bet type, we suggest you to check out our dedicated page on how to play roulette.

Each bet type in European Roulette offers different odds of winning and, respectively, different payouts. This means that the payout varies depending on the bet type. 

Below we have prepared a European roulette payout chart featuring the most frequent bet types you can expect to come across:

From the table, it’s clear the outside bets provide better odds at winning, while inside bets provide the highest payouts, but have the lowest odds.

The house edge for inside and outside bets is the same, so you’ll be just as likely to win playing a straight-up bet as you’re playing an even money bet.

Keep in mind that announced bets come with their own odds and payouts, which we have highlighted in the table below:

As you can notice the Voisins offer the best winning odds from all announced bets, while the Finals, have the worst odds, but offer the highest payout as represents a single number bet on several numbers.

Now that you know all about this online roulette variant and where to play it, we'll take a look at some of the best European Roulette variants out there:

NetEnt’s European Roulette variant certainly worth your attention because of its quality graphics and simple rules, and it’s one of the most popular variants among players.

The game is very straightforward and follows the rules of the classic European roulette tables, which makes it a great option for seasoned and new players alike.

Players will also have the opportunity to activate auto-mode for spins, as well as the racetrack, and view game statistics in the submenu.

You will have the full plethora of betting options, including announced bets and you can also set favourite bets.

Besides this, you can also adjust sound and design effects and use features like quick spin and auto-adjust bet.

This game is part of the Microgaming Gold Series, with games designed to mimic the experiences of a real-world roulette table setting, rich in features, and easy playability.

What sets this game aside is its close-up of the wheel, which add on, with up to 8 different bet layouts, as well as the additional game features. 

For instance, players can choose to play the game between regular and expert mode. The expert mode will let you customize the table layout, adjust background music, as well as speed of play.

This online variant also features announced bets, which are immediately available, and do need to be brought up.

Play’n GO’s European roulette variation offers premium quality graphics and fluid animations, taking the game really close to a real-life casino setting.

You can save your favourite bets and take advantage of information such as hot and cold numbers, and also check the winning number stats.

Besides this, players can take advantage of announced bets, by bringing them up using the Special bets menu. You can opt for fast play, and for autoplay, too. 

Last but not least you can also enjoy customization features, such as changing the table colour, or choosing split over standard view.

Evolution Gaming is one of the biggest names in the live casino industry, and it’s no wonder why its live European Roulette variant is one of the most thrilling options out there.

You can expect professionally trained croupiers and top-quality video feeds, with options to view the roulette table from multiple angles. 

Players can take advantage of various setting and options. This can range from sound and graphic options, to choosing which information to be readably available on the screen.

The betting interface is easy to use and lets you select various chip denominations with each bet. You can also try the VIP European Roulette version for higher table limits.

The chat option is also a great way for players looking to interact with others, as well as the dealers.

There’s a clear reason why European Roulette is the favoured version amongst roulette players, it has a house of 2.7%, and there is a large number of different bets to be made.

The European Roulette rules and the betting process are quite easy. But, if you want to take thing further, it is essential for you to understand the types of bets that can be placed, as well as their respective payouts.

This knowledge will help you to make better betting decisions, as well as implement a betting strategy, that's suitable for your bankroll.