Know Which Roulette Variant You Should Play
Roulette, by essence, is a straightforward game of chance. You pick a number or range of numbers to place your wager on and wait for the result of the spin. When the ball lands on your bet, you win. Otherwise, you lose. But as roulette transcends to the online betting scene, multiple variations of the game are born, tweaking some of its simple features to a gripping gameplay.
Some roulette variants have only minor differences from each other. So if you learn the basic rules, you can easily know your way around the roulette variants and maximize your betting experience. Here are some of the popular roulette games that you can play.
1| European Roulette
One of the most well-loved roulette variants is European roulette. The game features a wheel with 37 pockets, consisting of numbers 1 to 36, and a single 0. The numbers from 1 through 36 alternate between black and red pockets and the 0-numbered pocket is green. The single-0 characteristic of European roulette makes it a fairly better game choice than American roulette, which has two 0 pockets. For instance, if you bet on a single number wager, you have a 1/37 chance of winning in European roulette and 1/38 in American roulette. Plus, the former has a 2.70% house advantage, which is significantly lower than that of other roulette variants.
Another compelling reason to play European roulette is the En Prison rule. This rule allows you to recover your original even-money wager. Instead of losing all your bets when the ball lands on 0, En Prison allows the dealer to mark your bet, putting it “in prison”. When your original bet comes out on the next spin, you get your wager back. For instance, if you place a US$1 wager on black and the 0 is spun, your bet will be locked for another spin. If the next spin results to a black, you get US$1 wager back. Otherwise, you lose all your bets.
If you want to try out this feature, then you must learn how to play European roulette. For a more detailed explanation of the game’s rules and bets, you can check out this beginner-friendly European roulette tutorial.
2| Multi-Wheel Roulette
If you prefer a gripping roulette experience, multi-wheel roulette is for you. This roulette variant allows you to bet on multiple wheels at one time. There are many versions of multi-wheel roulette online, with Microgaming and Playtech offering the most well-known choices. The rules and betting options of this game are the same with those of a standard roulette game. The glaring difference is you bet on the outcome of two to eight wheels at the same time, increasing your chances of winning. Note that you can choose how many wheels you would like to activate.
Although the game features multiple wheels, it uses only one betting table and each wheel is independent from another. So if you place a bet on Red, and four out of eight active wheels had the ball landing on Red, you will get four winnings. But on the downside, opting for multi-wheel roulette requires a huge bankroll. Remember, you are placing a bet on each of the active wheels. This makes you spend larger sums in a single bet.
3| American Roulette
Unlike its European counterpart, American roulette uses a 38-pocket wheel consisting of 36 red and black numbers plus a green 0 and a green 00. The 0 and 00 pockets are positioned opposite each other on the wheel. Similarly, consecutive numbers like 1 and 2, 3 and 4, and so on are also placed facing each other.
American roulette holds unfavorable odds of winning because of the additional 00 pocket. Plus, this pocket contributes to American roulette’s 5.26% house edge, which is significantly higher than the 2.70% house advantage of its European counterpart.
4| Mini Roulette
If you are overwhelmed by the diversity of bets in other roulette variants, you can opt for mini roulette. As the name suggests, the game is basically a toned-down version of roulette. It shares the same basic rules but features smaller scale of numbers and fewer betting options. A mini roulette wheel has 13 pockets that feature numbers 1 through 12 and a single 0.
In mini roulette, if you place a bet on any pocket between 1 and 12 and the ball lands on a zero, you will not lose your wager. Instead, you will get half of your bets back. This case is similar to the La Partage rule in most French roulette variants, except it covers all bets rather than just even-money bets. Suppose you place a US$12 bet on number 5 and the ball lands on a zero, you will get US$6 back.
5| French Roulette
French roulette is essentially the same with European roulette. It features numbers 1 through 36 and a single 0. The minor difference is the table layout. In French roulette, all betting options are indicated in French, which corresponds to the following:
- Manque – covers numbers from 1 to 18
- Passé – covers numbers from 19 to 36
- Rouge – covers all red numbers
- Noir – covers all black numbers
- Premiere Douzaine – covers the first dozen of the table (1 to 12)
- Moyenne Douzaine – covers the second dozen of the table (13 to 24)
- Derniere Douzaine – covers the third dozen of the table (25 to 36)
French roulette also features a rule that makes your game more profitable – the La Partage rule. When you place a bet on an even-money bet, and the ball lands on the zero, you will get half of your bet back. This cuts the house edge to about 1.35% on even-money bets. This rule is also applicable to some European roulette games.
With many exciting roulette variants on board, you will definitely find a title to enjoy. Each game holds similarities and differences that will suit your preferences.
Fun Fact: When you add up all the numbers in a standard roulette wheel, whether the game features a zero or a double zero, you will get a sum of 666, which is known as the “Devil’s number”.
If you do not want to drag your bankroll to hell, you might as well pick the roulette variant that holds the best odds for you. But if you are a daredevil that perceives elusive odds as thrilling ways to win, feel free to try other roulette variants. Better yet, enjoy a thrilling roulette experience by trying out all of these roulette games. For more gaming tips, guides, and tutorials like this, check out HappiStar Tips – your go-to learning hub for casino games.
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