European Roulette Game Basics

In another interesting article: Beginners guide to playing European-type roulette,  we gave you some tips to get you started playing this type of roulette game.
Now it's time to go a little deeper and teach you about the rules and probabilities of the game.

Please check while you playing European or American Roulette

Before we get started, it is important that you know which version of Roulette you are playing: American or European type. Both are the most popular roulette versions, played around the globe.

You can easily find out, which type you are playing, by checking how many green zero slots there are in the wheel and on the table.
A European Roulette wheel has only one (one single zero green slot), while American Roulette has two: zero and double zero.
On the left picture: We show you example of European type Roulette, which has one green zero slot, on the table (and on the wheel too - please see the picture below).

You should be aware that adding just that one extra zero, doubles the casinos advantage! If it is possible and you are given a choice, you should always play European Roulette (instead of American-type Roulette).

European roulette wheel

In fact, the so-called roulette wheel is the main part of roulette table that is moving and determines the winning number.

The European Roulette wheel has 37 slots.
It has the numbers 1 to 36, alternating between red and black, plus zero, distributed more or less randomly around the wheel.

When we take a look at the right side (right of the zero slot), the wheel has nine black numbers (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17) and nine red numbers (19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 32, 34, 36).

When we take a look at the left side (left of the zero slot), the wheel has nine black numbers ((20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 31, 33, 35) and nine red numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18).

When you play this game at the traditional brick-and-mortar casino, you will enjoy the services of croupier.
Each spin, the croupier changes the direction of the wheel and spins the ball in the opposite direction.
Whichever number the ball lands in, is deemed the winner. Losing bets will be taken and winning bets will be paid out accordingly.

If you play this game using services of online casino, the wheel movements is determined by sophisticated software that run the game. You will see the movements of the wheel on the screen, like on the real casino table.
We are going to discuss the online roulette playing in the other interesting article.

European roulette table layout

European roulette offers the possibility to make the so-called inside bets and outside bets.

You can easily see at the table layout that there are spaces for making bet on any particular number (inside bets) and few additional options (outside bets),
like: red or black, even or odd number, 1-18 numbers, 19-36 numbers.
On the left picture: The European type roulette table layout, as you can find at traditional and online casinos.

You should know that the spaces at the roulette table are colored the same way, as the slots colors on the roulette wheel. This help you easily observe, what number and what color you make a bet on.

The types of bets in European roulette

There are many different bets you can make on roulette.
They can be divided into “outside bets” and “inside bets”.

Let's first discuss the “outside bets”:

Red or Black Bet. By betting on either of these colours you will be covering 18 numbers. If you win you will get paid 1 to 1 (or even money). This means if you bet $10 and win, you will get paid an additional $10.
On the left example: We bet $1,- on red. If we win, we will receive our $1 back, plus another $1 as the winning money.

Odd or Even Bet. Like in the example above, both of these bets cover 18 numbers and pay even money (1:1). Odd numbers are 1, 3, 5, 7, and so on. Even numbers are 2, 4, 6, 8, etc.
On the left example: We bet $1,- on even. If we win, we will receive our $1 back, plus another $1 as the winning money.

High or Low Bet. Low numbers are 1 to 18. High numbers are 19 to 36. Like in the examples above, this situation also pay even money 1:1.
On the left example: We bet $1,- on low numbers (1 to 18). If we win, we will receive our $1 back, plus another $1 as the winning money.

Columns Bet. You can bet columns at the end of the table, furthest from the wheel. There are three columns, each paying 2 to 1. This means if you bet $10 and win, you are paid an additional $20.
Each column covers 12 out of the 37 possible numbers. It covers all the numbers in the row adjacent to the betting area.

On the above left example: We bet $1,- on 1st column. If we win, we will receive our $1 back, plus another $2 as the winning money. The 1st column covers 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33 and 36.

Dozens Bet. Much like the Columns above, there are three dozens, each covering 12 numbers and paying 2 to 1. The betting areas are just inside the “even chance bets”.
The first dozen covers the numbers 1 to 12. The second covers 13 to 24 and the third covers 25 to 36.

On the above left example: We bet $1,- on 1st dozen. If we win, we will receive our $1 back, plus another $2 as the winning money. The 1st dozen covers the numbers from 1 to 12.

Something to note: if zero comes up, ALL “outside bets” lose.

Let’s move on to the “inside bets”:

These are the bets in the area of the layout where all the numbers are.
You can cover anywhere from 1 number up to 6 numbers with one chip.

Straight or Single Bet. This is a single number bet, sometimes called “straight up” bet, and covers just one number, and pays 35 to 1.  In this kind of bet, the chip is placed entirely on the middle of a number square.
On the left example: We bet $1,- on one single number 11. If we win, we will receive our $1 back, plus another $35 as the winning money. Nice return on investment!

Split Bet. This kind of  bet cover two corresponding numbers that are bordering to each other, either vertically or horizontally. The chip is placed on the line between these numbers. This bet pays 17 to 1.
On the left example: We bet $1,- on two numbers 7 and 8. If we win, we will receive our $1 back, plus another $17 as the winning money. We love this!

Street Bet. This is a bet that covers 3 numbers on a single horizontal line. The chip is placed on the edge of the line (mean a number at the end of the line), either at the left or the at right of the horizontal line. This bet pays 11 to 1.
On the left example: We bet $1,- on the first horizontal line that cover numbers: 1, 2 and 3. If we win, we will receive our $1 back, plus another $11 as the winning money. Very good prize!

Corner or Square Bet. This is a bet that covers four numbers in a square layout. The roulette chip is placed at the vertical and horizontal crossing lines of the lines between the four corresponding numbers.  This bet pays 8 to 1.
On the left example: We bet $1,- on the square that cover numbers: 1, 2, 4 and 5. If we win, we will receive our $1 back, plus another $8 as the winning money. Still a good prize!

Six Line or Double Street Bet. This is a bet which covers 6 numbers that are placed on two bordering streets. In this bet, the chip is placed in between where two street bets would be placed. This bet pays 5 to 1.
On the left example: We bet $1,- on the six line (the two very first streets on the table) that cover numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. If we win, we will receive our $1 back, plus another $5 as the winning money. Not bad!

Trio Bet. Trio is available at one-zero layout only game and is not popular kind of bet. We place the roulette chip on the common point between 0, 1 and 2, or 0, 2 and 3. This bet pays 11 to 1.
On the left example: We bet $1,- on the trio that cover numbers: 0, 1 and 2. If we win, we will receive our $1 back, plus another $11 as the winning money.

Basket or the First Four Bet. Like Trio, Basket is also available only in game with one zero and is not popular kind of bet, as well. This is a bet that cover the very first four numbers, on the table. We mean 0, 1, 2, and 3. This bet pays 8 to 1.
On the left example: We bet $1,- on the basket that cover numbers: 0, 1, 2 and 3. If we win, we will receive our $1 back, plus another $8 as the winning money.

How about zero?

Zero is considered a number just like all the other numbers. You can bet on zero and get paid 35 to 1, just like any other straight up bet.
On the left example: We bet $1,- on zero. If we win, we will receive our $1 back, plus another $35 as the winning money. This is terrific!

Some useful information about European Roulette

When betting you can bet just one chip or as many as you like, provided you don't go over the table maximum. Every table should have a sign informing you of the minimums and maximums for all bets.
Please be aware that the outside bets quite often have a higher minimum than the inside bets. Check the table limit sign to be sure. If you play European type roulette online, please check the minimum and maximum wagering, as well. However, many online casinos allow very low stakes, starting at $0.10 on some kind of bets.

Please bear in mind that with all the pay-outs on roulette, you will not get paid the true odds. Since there are 37 slots, this means the true odds of the ball landing in one of them are 1 in 37 or 36 to 1. Unfortunately you only get paid 35 to 1.
The true odds for a split are 17.5 to 1, yet you only get paid 17 to 1.
This theme is true for the all bets, giving the casino an advantage of 2.7%, against players.

This house advantage is how the casinos make their money. They are quite happy for the players to have short-term wins because they know that over the long-term, the house advantage means that the casino will always come out on top.

So, there you have an introduction to the rules and probabilities of European Roulette. In a future article we will discuss different strategies to increase your enjoyment and give you the best possible chance to win, at least in the short-term.

Play European Roulette Online

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Please click the link below to see the full list of recommended online casinos.

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