What is European Roulette and how is it different?

The game of roulette is about as simple as it gets and it is by far one of the easiest casino games that you can play. We have already mentioned that the European variant is the most popular. Now we need to clear up why and how this game is different from the other variants. The central feature of the European roulette casino is the single zero on the wheel. This small variation on the roulette wheel gives it an attractive house edge of 2.70%. This is preferable to the double zero on the American roulette game and its higher house edge of 5.26%. 

French roulette also offers a 2.70% house edge but has a slightly different table layout and you can distinguish the two games by recognizing that French roulette most notably provides various bets in French. You will find that the betting is otherwise quite similar across all variants, apart from one or two options. However, as with most casino games, only one or two small changes can result in major advantages or disadvantages for the player. Now we have outlined the major differences, let's discuss how to win at European roulette online.

How to play – European Roulette rules

Playing the European Roulette casino game is simple. Nevertheless, each betting round comes around quickly. So, it's useful to understand how the rules work and what you need to do to get your bets on the table. For online versions, you are required to choose your chip value and then place them on the betting area of the roulette table – you physically place the chips in real-life versions. The roulette wheel is spun and the ball is released slightly after that. Betting can continue until the croupier calls time. Then, after that point, all you have to do is sit and wait to see which pocket the ball lands in – a red number, black number, or on the single green zero.

To confirm, the European game has 37 pockets in total. This is made up of the numbers 1-36 on alternate red and black colors, as well as that solitary yet all-important single green zero. The additional racetrack bets all coincide with groups of numbers around the wheel – don’t worry, we will explain these in the payout section below. Any winning bets will be paid out once the ball has landed in a pocket and then the next betting round will begin. Roulette players tend to stick to the same bets over the course of a single session and so the Rebet button gets a lot of use. The Clear Bets button is also available if you want to start again with a clean slate of bets.

Payouts

The multiple betting options in the game result in all sorts of payouts. Thankfully, these are easy to follow. The majority of wagers that players make are based on the inner and outer bets that can be found on the main betting area of the roulette table. The extra racetrack bets are found above the main area. However, first, we will talk you through the main bet names and their most commonly-found payouts. These are as follows:

Inside Bets

  • Straight – 35:1
  • Split – 17:1
  • Three Line – 11:1
  • Corner/Square – 8:1
  • Six Line – 5:1

Outside Bets

  • Red/Black – 1:1
  • Odd/Even – 1:1
  • High/Low – 1:1
  • Column – 2:1
  • Dozen – 2:1

Now, for the racetrack bets that are often displayed in French as Voisins du Zéro, Tiers du Cylindre, Orphelins, and Jeu Zéro. These offer varying payouts which are all listed below:

  • Voisins du Zéro – maximum of 17:1
  • Tiers du Cylindre – maximum of 17:1
  • Orphelins – maximum of 35:1
  • Jeu Zéro – maximum of 35:1

European Roulette strategies and other helpful tips

Winning on the roulette table is all about luck and there is no guaranteed way that you can pick out winning bets. However, we do have some European roulette strategy tips for you that will help extend your playing sessions and may even help you find a few winners along the way.

GoodLuckMate’s best tips for playing European Roulette:

  • Spread out your bets and don’t always pick the inside bets
  • Study the Martingale or Parolli strategies
  • Keep a budget in mind and don’t overspend
  • Stick to the European game for the best house edge
  • Bet consistently and don’t follow any “guaranteed roulette winner” guides

House edge – what are your chances of winning?

We have briefly touched on the house edge of roulette and how the single zero and double zero wheels play a major role in the resulting house edge percentages. The double zero on the American game sends the house edge right up to 5.26%, and because we are all looking to play the lowest house edge casino games (low house edge results in better chances of winning), then playing the European roulette game with its 2.70% house edge really is a no-brainer. 

We have mentioned before that the slightest change in the rules can have a significant effect on the game and here we have a perfect example. Betting on a single number on the European table gives you a 2.70% chance. The same bet on the American table gives you a 2.60% chance. A bet on any of the 1:1 options shows a whole 1% difference – with European roulette offering 48.60% and American roulette 47.4%. So, you can clearly see the winning boost that this lower house edge provides across various European roulette bets.

Play European Roulette at online casinos

Roulette has always been a popular game and online casino lobbies always have at least one or two variants of the game to play. We mentioned that there are various types of roulette available and, hopefully, you can now see that sensible bets are always placed on the European roulette casino game. The low house edge makes it a clear choice for those players who want the best value and the best chances of winning. 

Furthermore, roulette is such a big game in the online casino world that you can often find bonuses and free chips to use on the game. Table games are often included in welcome bonuses and other promotions although you should always check the terms and conditions just to be on the safe side. The main takeaway point here is that roulette is such a huge hit in the online casino environment that you will always be able to find a free European roulette online game to play on, either as a traditional RNG game or via the modern live dealer experiences. 

Live dealer games vs RNG games

The choice between playing along with professional dealers or playing alone on the random number generator (RNG) games is a conversation that many casino players are having. Which one is better? Which one offers the best experience and the biggest wins? The debate goes on but the answer always depends on your personal preferences and your budget. There is no right or wrong here. So, we will explain the main reasons behind why you might want to play through live HD streams or why you might feel more confident playing solo via the digital game. 

Live dealer roulette certainly gives you an experience that is as close to the real thing without actually traveling to a casino. You will have to pay slightly more for the experience though and so expect some higher minimum limits. However, if your budget allows, then there will be VIP tables with premium limits where you can win some huge prizes if you’re lucky. On the other hand, you have the RNG digital games. Many online players started their journey with these automatic roulette titles. These RNG games also provide much lower limits and suit the lower-budget players. They also suit those who don’t wish to be rushed into placing their bets.

Steven Ford
Steven Ford
Last Update: 13 Mar 2023
Steven is GoodLuckMate’s casino veteran, having started in the industry in 2007! Although he knows everything about online gambling, it’s sports betting that is his true passion. Additionally, he’s not only our go-to writer for casino reviews, but he’s also the one keeping the closest eye on iGaming companies, so he always knows what they are going to do next.
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