European roulette is considered to be a rather favorable classical roulette variation compared to its American counterpart, even although both roulette games share basically the same features. Get acquainted with the basic European roulette rules and try your best at this variant of roulette game.
European roulette wheel
The main feature that distinguishes European roulette from American roulette variation is a single-zero wheel. The number of different color numbered pockets on the European wheel is 36, which is the same as in American roulette. Nevertheless, European roulette wheel has a single pocket for zero, which makes the total number of pockets 37. This reduces the European roulette house edge to approximately 2.7%.
The numbered pockets on the European roulette wheel are arranged in certain sequences:
- First of all, black and red color pockets on the wheel change each other.
- The numbers of the pockets face the inner part of the wheel.
- 9 low numbers in black color pockets (2-4-6-8-10-11-13-15-17) and 9 high numbers in red pockets (19-21-23-25-27-30-32-34-36) are situated in an arc on the right from zero.
- In an arc on the left from zero 9 black high numbers (20-22-24-26-28-29-31-33-35) and 9 low red numbers (1-3-5-7-9-12-14-16-18) are situated.
European roulette table layout
The table layout in European roulette is actually no different from that of the American roulette. The only difference defining the European roulette rules is the absence of a second zero ("00"). The numbers on the inside layout section are arranged in order from 1 to 36 and correspond to those on the wheel. The outside section displays groups of numbers:
- Black/Red,
- Odd/Even,
- 1-18/19-36
- Columns - three vertical rows of numbers and
- Dozens - 1st 12, 2nd 12 and 3rd 12.
Types of bets
According to the European roulette rules, there are two basic types of bets that correspond to the sections on the layout - inside and outside bets.
Inside bets are bets on a certain number or on a group of numbers situated next to each other on the layout, e.g. split bet on two numbers, 7 and 8.
Outside bets are made on larger groups of numbers as shown on the table layout - Black or Red, Even or Odd, Low or High (1-18 and 19-36), three Columns and three Dozens.
NB: Due to the European roulette rules, no further bets can be made as soon as the spinning slows down.
Game process
The game starts as the players place their bets on the layout. The croupier then spins the wheel and launches the ball. With the stop of the wheel the winning number is made known.
Unlike American roulette, European roulette variant introduces special additional La Partage and En Prison rule. These are highly favorable rules as they significantly reduce the casino advantage over the players.
- According to the La Partage rule, the player is able to get back half his or her bet in case the outcome of the spin is zero and the player's bet was made on even money. The house edge is thus reduced to about 1.35%.
- The En Prison rule allows the player to delay his or her bet for the next spin in case zero is the outcome. If the next bet wins, the player gets his or her initial bet back. Otherwise all money will be lost.
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