Classic types of Roulette
The game of roulette boasts a colorful history, and it’s available too in different variants. Some of the popular roulette versions to play are European Roulette, American Roulette, and French Roulette. They may be different, but all these variants share the same general rules and game objectives.
European Roulette
In many casinos outside the United States, European Roulette is considered the most popular. This variant features a wheel with 37 positions where you can place your bet. On the wheel, you will find numbers from 1 to 36, presented in alternating red and black colors. The last slot is for ‘0’, which is shown in green.
American Roulette
A popular variant widely played in US casinos, American Roulette, offers 38 segments on its wheel. Again, you will find the numbers from 1 to 36 in alternating colors of red and black and a slot for a single ‘0’. Its main difference with the European version is the addition of another slot for ’00’. Because of this change in layout, the house edge is higher.
French Roulette
French Roulette shares the same layout and betting rules with the European version but with one slight difference – the rules on ‘En Prison’ and ‘La Partage.’ These rules apply to even-money bets that pay 1:1, such as a bet on odd/even or red/black.
Roulette variants for online players
There are different types of roulette games that are available to casino players. The classic options are European Roulette, American Roulette, and French Roulette. On top of these popular variants, you’ll also find other equally entertaining online roulette games. Some of these variants are offered with striking visuals, fast gameplay, and additional bets. You’ll even find roulette games that you can play in real-time against a human dealer.
Live Roulette
Live roulette serves as the best option for players looking for a more entertaining and engaging way to bet on roulette. In live roulette, you’ll play the game in front of a human dealer in real-time. That means you can follow and watch the spinning of the wheel and the roll of the roulette ball as it happens. This authentic casino action is made possible thanks to dedicated tables, a bespoke studio, and multiple cameras that capture the action from different angles.
Mini Roulette
Mini Roulette offers a fun and exciting way to play the game. Instead of 37 or 38 pockets on the wheel, this variant uses 13 pockets. Although it provides a fun way to play, this game favors the house with a house edge of 7.89%.
Multi-Wheel Roulette
If betting on a single wheel is not enough, then consider checking out Multi-Wheel Roulette. In this game developed by Playtech, players get the chance to bet on six wheels simultaneously. All wheels spin at once, so you don’t have to wait that long for the results.
Double Ball Roulette
This is a variant of the European Roulette that uses two balls instead of one. Double Ball uses the European Roulette layout and offers the same types of bets. However, the payouts here are lower compared to the standard payouts in classic roulette games.
Triple Bonus Spin Roulette
This is another variant of the triple-wheel roulette game from IGT. What makes this different is that it offers a bonus game that boosts the player’s win potential. Speaking of bonus, players can win up to 1:12,000 for its straight bonus win.
Lightning Roulette
Lightning Roulette is a premium live dealer game from Evolution Gaming. This game combines the elements of French Roulette, impressive production, and a game show attitude. Each betting round is quick, where players can collect multipliers of up to 500x the bet.
Roulette Royale
Roulette Royale is a roulette variant that is perfect for players looking for a progressive jackpot. This game retains the rules, layout, and types of bets playable in European Roulette. Aside from a progressive jackpot, the game also comes with an ‘Expert’ Mode.
Astro Roulette
Astro Roulette offers a unique twist to the game by providing players a chance to put their money on bets other than numbers. Aside from the standard bets like straight numbers, color or odd or even, this game lets you bet on zodiac signs. Since it retains the layout of European Roulette, this game also boasts a house edge of 2.70%.
Double Action Roulette
For more action on the betting table, you can’t go wrong with Double Action Roulette. With its Mark VII roulette wheel designed by TCSJOHNHUXLEY, this game features two concentric rings, an inner and out ring. Each ring boasts its own set of numbers. This means that when the game starts, the wheels turn and will offer you two winning numbers.
Age of the Gods Roulette
For a themed roulette game infused with some slot elements, check out Age of the Gods Roulette by Playtech. Although it boasts the same layout in European Roulette, it adds an extra field for bets that deliver huge payouts. With its extra set of bets, the house edge stands at 5.26%.
Pinball Roulette
A production of Playtech, Pinball Roulette is a traditional European Roulette game that combines the element of pinball into its gameplay. Instead of a wheel, you will find a pinball machine where the roulette ball is launched and land on the lucky slot.
Key Bet Roulette
Key Bet Roulette boasts the same gameplay and layout used in the European variant but with a big difference. This game comes with a section full of multipliers that range from x20 up to x50! In this roulette game, you can win up to 25,000x your bet.
Slingshot Roulette
Slingshot Roulette is a fun and fast-paced game that is available in many premium casinos. This is a live dealer production that does not use the services of a human dealer. Instead, this game uses an automated table that plays out 100 rounds each hour.
Which roulette variation should you choose?
As a popular casino game, roulette is offered by dozens of game designers and presented in different variants. Some roulette variations retain the classic gameplay, others incorporate additional bets and rules, and some are presented with visually impressive features. Although it’s fun to know that there are dozens of options available, choosing which game to play can be challenging. If you’re new to the game or exploring games, it’s best to check its basic features, gameplay, and types of bets to play.
Also, it’s best to review the game’s odds, bets, and payouts. You can easily compare the different roulette variants by learning about their odds and payouts. A tested roulette strategy is to play the variants with a lower house edge, for example, European Roulette and other games based on its layout.
Roulette variants with the lowest house edge
As mentioned, learning about the house edge of each roulette game can help you choose the right game to play. Here’s a shortlist of the roulette games with the lowest house edge:
- European Roulette. This popular roulette variant boasts numbers from 1 to 36 and a slot for single zero. In this game, the house edge stands at 2.7%.
- Astro Roulette. A game based on the European rules, this game also boasts a house edge of 2.7%.
- French Roulette. This roulette game retains the rules of the European version with the addition of two rules- ‘En prison’ and ‘La Partage’. Again, the house edge for this variant sits at 2.7%.
Roulette variants that payout the most
Another strategy that you can use is to find the games that offer the best payouts. Check out the list below for games that deliver the biggest payouts.
- Lighting Roulette. This production from Evolution Gaming relies on multipliers of up to 500x your bet.
- Triple Bonus Spin Roulette. This game from IGT offers a bonus game where you can collect a payout of 1:12,000 for your straight bonus win.
The best variants to try when you’re new to casino
If you’re new to the game, you can try the roulette variants that use the classic layout and standard betting rules. Here’s a list of the highly recommended games for new players:
- European Roulette. This traditional roulette game features a wheel with 37 segments and a house edge of 2.7%.
- French Roulette. Based on the rules of the European variant, this game offers the same types of bets with the addition of two exciting new rules.
Roulette types to play if you’re a pro
For players looking for more challenges on the betting table, look for roulette variations that offer a long list of bets with bigger jackpots. Some of the best games for pros are listed below:
- Live Roulette. In this game variant, you get to play against a professional dealer in real time. It provides you with an authentic casino experience while playing for big wins.
- Lightning Roulette. This is an example of a live roulette produced by Evolution Gaming. Aside from its exciting theme, it comes with huge Multipliers of up to 500x your bet.
Roulette variations you should avoid
Online roulette is a fun game to play with simple rules. Almost all games are worth your time as they offer straightforward rules and fair outcomes. However, if there are roulette variations you should avoid, then these are the ones with a higher house edge. For example, you may want to skip American Roulette if you’re a beginner since the house advantage exceeds 5%.