Roulette is one of the most popular games in the gambling world. It has been around for centuries, and has won over many people. The reason why roulette is such a huge success is because it is simple to understand, and easy to play. Furthermore, there isn’t any skill involved, which means the playing field is even.
With the rising popularity of iGaming, roulette has become even more popular. Now that people can access online roulette from the comfort of their own home, the game has gained a lot more attention. Which means many people are exposed to different roulette types. So, in this article, we are going to explain the different versions of roulette.
European Roulette
The classic version of the game is most often referred to as European roulette. The reason is because of the game’s origins. The game first appeared in Europe, particularly in France, where it is still a staple of casinos to this day.
In European roulette, there are 18 red and 18 black pockets. There is an additional green pocket marked by a “0.” This totals 37 pockets, and the croupier throws a single ball on the spinning wheel. To this day, European roulette remains the most popular.
French Roulette
Quickly after European roulette came to prominence, French roulette formed as an alternative. The game remains much the same, except there are some extra rules that did not exist in French roulette. The two main rules that most people are aware of are “La Partage” and “En Prison.”
- La Partage: placing an even-money wager when the ball lands on zero results in half of the stake being lost, instead of the whole amount
- En Prison: If the ball lands on zero when you’ve made an even money wager, your wager becomes “imprisoned,” and you must keep it for the next round.
American Roulette
In the early 20th century, the Americans came up with their own version of roulette. At first glance, it is similar to the original, having 18 red and 18 black pockets. However, there are two extra green pockets, one of them “0” and the other “00.”
While it may not seem like a huge change, it actually greatly decreases the player’s odds. For that reason, most players prefer the French or European version, with more favorable player odds. However, there are still many who like the risk involved in American roulette.
Multi-ball Roulette
Finally, there is multi-ball roulette. As you can probably guess based on the name, multi-ball roulette is a roulette game in which the croupier throws multiple balls. Usually, multi-ball roulette is based on the European version, and follows the classic rules of the game. The multiple balls ensure better odds as well.
Another option is to go for multi-wheel roulette, in which case there are multiple, smaller wheels along with the main wheel. This allows players to wager simultaneously on multiple outcomes, which could be quite a risky bet. It is excellent for fans of high-risk/high-reward gambling.