Roulette has been around for centuries and has only been growing in popularity, so it’s hard to determine which roulette game is the most popular one – because they all are. However, it’s safe to conclude that European Roulette – the most standard variant – is also the most widely available and most played roulette type out there.
There are several reasons behind its popularity, and the simplicity and straightforwardness are surely one of main ones, but there’s more to it. That’s why we will explain exactly how the European version of roulette works, why it is the hottest type out there, what makes it good, and what to watch out for when playing this game.
How European Roulette Works
The European, or single zero roulette variant, is the easiest to understand and play because it doesn’t involve any ‘special’ rules that deviate from the standard game. This straightforwardness is a major reason behind its popularity among players and software developer companies.
The gameplay here revolves around a 37-pocket wheel where there’s just a single zero (green pocket) besides the 36 red and black pockets, numbered from 1 to 36. The bets are the standard inside and outside bet options, and to place a bet, players move their chips to the designated place for each bet on the betting table where they believe the ball will land.
European Wheel & Table Layout Explained
The betting table layout involves all the bets you can play in this game (except for some called bets that are available in some games), so if you’re wondering ‘how to play European Roulette’, all you need to do is choose your bet and wager as much as you want. The bets are divided between inside and outside bets.
- Inside Bets: These bets cover specific numbers or small groups of numbers. They offer higher payouts but come with lower odds of winning.
- Outside Bets: These bets cover larger groups of numbers, like all the red numbers, or all the odd numbers, or the numbers from 24 to 36, for example. The chances of winning are higher, but the payouts are lower.
The wheel itself is built from wood and metal (in live dealer and land-based variants) and has been fully standardised so there’s no place for any foul play by the operators. All roulette wheels at reputable and licensed casinos are tested for fairness and randomness to ensure this.
It includes 37 pockets in total, with only one zero, which is why it’s considered the best roulette version. The numbers follow a specific sequence to ensure that they alternate between red and black pockets, odds and evens, and high and low numbers.
All The Bet Types & Payouts in European Roulette
The bet types in European roulette are divided into inside and outside bets, and the payouts are pre-determined for each of them. So, depending on your wager size, you will win exactly as much as the payout ratio is for the specific bet.
Mind that in the list below, the payouts only show the profit you will make. So, if you wager £10 on a straight up bet, you will win £360 in total. £350 of this money is your profit, and £10 is your wager, which is returned to you. Check out all the other bet types and their payouts.
- Single Number (Straight-Up) Bet – With this bet, you pick any one number on the board, from 0 to 36. If the ball lands on your chosen number, you win 35 to 1. This is the riskiest bet with your odds of winning being just 2.70%, but offers the biggest payout.
- Two-Number (Split) Bet – Place your chip on the line between two adjacent numbers on the grid. If either number wins, you get paid 17 to 1. Your odds of hitting one of the two numbers are relatively low at 5.41%.
- Three-Number (Street) Bet – This bet covers a row of three consecutive numbers, and the popular name is ‘street’. You place your chip on the outer edge of the row, and if the ball lands on any of these numbers, you win 11 to 1. Your chances of winning are 8.11%.
- Four-Number (Corner) Bet – Also called a ‘square’ bet, this wager covers four numbers that meet at a corner. A winning bet pays 8 to 1, and your odds of winning are 10.81%.
- Six-Number (Six Line) Bet – It covers two adjacent rows, or two streets, meaning six numbers in total. It’s played by placing your chip at the intersection of the two rows. If the ball lands on any of these numbers, you win 5 to 1. Your odds of success with it are 16.22%.
- Column Bet – The roulette table has three vertical columns, each containing 12 numbers. With this bet, you bet on an entire column, and if the ball lands on any number in your chosen column, you get 2 to 1. Your winning odds here are 32.43%, or almost a 1 in 3.
- Dozen Bet – Similar to the column bet, but instead of a vertical selection, you’re betting on one of three groups of 12 numbers (1–12, 13–24, or 25–36). A win pays 2 to 1, and your chances of winning are also 32.43%.
- Even Money Bets – These are the safest bets, and the most popular ones, covering nearly half the table. You can wager on red or black, odd or even, or high (19–36) or low (1–18). A winning bet pays 1 to 1, or even money (hence the name), and the odds of winning are 48.65% due to the presence of the single zero.
Why is European the Most Popular Version?
Besides the simplicity and ease of play, the European roulette variant is the most popular one because of the high odds of winning it offers. Since it only has one zero, the Return to Player ratio is among the highest at 97.30%, which also makes it perfect for using roulette strategies.
It’s also available at almost every online and land-based casino, and you can find all types of tables with bet sizes ranging from £0.1 to £10,000, ready to accommodate all types of players.
