Beginner’s Guide to Playing Online European Roulette
The European Wheel
Sure, the betting table, ball and casino chips are all key elements of online European roulette, but the iconic spinning wheel is undoubtedly the main draw here.
The European wheel features 37 pockets, including the number zero. The only notable difference between the European wheel and the American wheel is the number of pockets. The American wheel is made up of 38 pockets, including a double zero.
Aside from the wheel, the rest of the European game remains largely the same as most other forms of roulette. If you’ve played any of these before, you’ll know that the aim of the game is to predict which numbered pocket the roulette ball will drop into. It’s pretty straightforward, but the great number of outcomes is what makes this game so appealing.
Odds
So, we now know that the number of pockets on a European wheel is one less than the American roulette wheel. As you can imagine, this small difference has a significant effect on the odds. Developing a solid understanding of the odds for each selection, and the consequent payout you can expect to receive for a winner is key to becoming a successful roulette player.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the payout and probability for each bet on a European roulette table:
- Even money bets (Odd, Even, Black, Red, Low, High) have a payout of 1:1 and a probability of 48.6%
- You can bet on a dozen numbers (1-12, 13-24 or 25-36) or one of three columns on the roulette table. Both bets have a payout of 2:1 and a probability of 32.4%
- Line bets (six numbers) have payouts of 5:1 and a probability of 16.2%
- A corner bet (four numbers) has a payout of 8:1 and a probability of 10.8%
- Street bets (three numbers) have a payout of 11:1 and a probability of 8.1%
- Split (two numbers) have payouts of 17:1 and a probability of 5.4%
- Straight up (single number) have payouts of 35:1 and a probability of 2.7%
House Edge
After a look at the bets above, you probably noticed that the odds of the casino paying out on a wager are always a little less than the odds of winning. This difference is called the ‘house edge’. The house edge makes sure the odds lean slightly in favour of the casino – they’re a business after all. So while you may have the ‘hot hand’ from time to time, the house edge ensures that in the long run, the casino will almost always win eventually.
Here’s an example to explain how house edge works. Let’s say you place a wager on red or black – an even money bet. You might think that you have a 50% chance of winning that bet. However, you’ve got to remember that red and black aren’t the only outcomes. The zero on the European table means that there are actually three outcomes. Red, black or zero. The presence of the zero pocket creates an additional possible outcome – so you’re no longer looking at a 50% shot at landing a winner. Let’s take a look at how your chances of winning this bet are calculated:
18/37 = 0.486
In this example, if the ball lands on the green zero, the house wins. This means the odds for the casino are:
19/37 = 0.513
The house edge is calculated by finding the difference between these two figures:
0.513 – 0.486 = 0.027
This shows that the house edge for European roulette is 2.7%. This version of the game is undoubtedly your best bet, as it provides you with the best chance of winning. In comparison, American roulette has a house edge of 5.26% due to the extra double zero wheel.
Now that you know all about European roulette, picking your preferred version of the game at your online casino should be a no-brainer! If you’re a new player or simply just looking for a different place to play, check out our list of top online casinos – it’s packed with the best games, features and bonuses. We’re sure you’ll find a favourite. Good luck!
