Roulette is among the most popular casino game types across the world. One reason why so many people flock to the roulette table is its simple gameplay, which involves predicting where you think the roulette ball will land when the wheel comes to a halt. Plenty of betting options are available, meaning players have many different ways to win.

As the game of roulette has gained huge prominence in casinos around the globe, several variations have come up. However, they all boil down to three major table layouts – European, American and French. This article examines these different table layouts and how they differ in setup and payout odds.

Roulette version	Wheel details	Table layouts
European roulette	Single-zero wheel, 2.70% house edge	37 numbers
American roulette	Double-zero wheel, 5.27% house edge	38 numbers
French roulette	Single-zero wheel, 1.35% house edge on special French rules	37 numbers

Discussing the different layouts

As highlighted in the table above, the structure of the variations of roulette are different and therefore have unique attributes. At the best online casinos like Resorts Casino, you’ll find all the different variations of the game.

European roulette

The European roulette version is the most popular, and it comes with 37 pockets on the wheel. These pockets are numbered 1 – 36 in alternating colors of black and red, plus a single green zero pocket. The number sequence on the European roulette wheel is given below:

0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25, 17, 34, 6, 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33, 1, 20, 14, 31, 9, 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26.

How the numbers are arranged makes it almost impossible to predict with certainty where the ball will land in each spin. Therefore, the outcome of your bets, even group bets like the dozen bet, are driven by a heavy dose of chance.

The even and odd numbers are evenly spread, as there is no run of more than two even or odd numbers anywhere. Also, the numbers on the wheel are evenly distributed between low (1 – 18) and high (19 – 36) numbers.

The roulette table features a layout for all the betting options available. The options are divided into inside bets and outside bets. The inside bets are straight, split, street, corner and line bets. Outside bets are dozen, column, red/black, even/odd and high/low. The house edge here is 2.70%.

American roulette

This is another variation of roulette. As the name suggests, this is most popular at American casinos. Like the European version, there are 36 pockets. However, this one has a single 0 and double 00 pockets, taking the tally up to 38.

Here is the complete arrangement of numbers on American roulette:

0, 28, 9, 26, 30, 11, 7, 20, 32, 17, 5, 22, 34, 15, 3, 24, 36, 13, 1, 00, 27, 10, 25, 29, 12, 8, 19, 31, 18, 6, 21, 33, 16, 4, 23, 35, 14, 2.

Like the European roulette wheel, this sequence of numbers makes the game random without any deliberate pattern. However, the presence of the extra 00 pocket on the American version takes the house edge of American roulette to 5.27%. The gameplay and bets are the same as in the European version.

French roulette

This roulette wheel layout is similar to the European variation, as there are also 37 numbers. However, French roulette comes with unique French bets that affect the house edge in the game. Basically, the table layout for the outside bets is mostly in French. It’s given as column, douzaine (dozen), rouge/noir (red/black), pair/impair (odd/even) and manque/passe (low/high).

Where outside bets are on the left side of the table layout in American and European variants, in the French version, the outside betting field covers both sides of the table layout.

There’s an additional layout here called the racetrack, which contains unique betting options known as called or announced bets. Called bets are Voisins du Zero (cousins of zero), Le Tiers du Cylinder (thirds of the wheel), Jue Zero (zero game), Orphelins (orphans) and Finales.

French roulette also has a few extra rules that apply, notably La Partage and En Prison.

Differences in payout odds among the roulette table versions

These various roulette versions are not just different in how they look or the betting options they offer. Their variations also affect their payout odds. Considering that the French table has more distinctive bets, it’s best to compare the American and European roulette versions, then consider the French table separately.

Comparing the European and American roulette odds

Bet types	Payout	European roulette odds	American roulette odds
Straight	35:1	2.7%	2.6%
Split	17:1	5.4%	5.3%
Street	11:1	8.1%	7.9%
Corner	8:1	10.8%	10.5%
Basket	6:1	–	13.2%
Line	5:1	16.2%	15.8%
Dozen	2:1	32.4%	31.6%
Column	2:1	32.4%	31.6%
Red/Black	1:1	48.65%	47.37%
Even/Odd	1:1	48.65%	47.37%
High/Low	1:1	48.65%	47.37%

The payouts for the different bet options indicate how much you win in return for a unit of bet. For instance, putting down $10 for a straight bet will bring a payout of $360 – your $10 original bet plus $350 in winnings.

The difference in odds between the European and American versions shows your chances of winning in each one. Generally, European roulette bets allow slightly better chances.

The zero pockets are not included because when the ball lands on any of the zero pockets, all other bets are lost completely. If you were to bet on zero or double zero pockets specifically, it’ll pay out like a single number bet. Note that the basket bet – otherwise called the five line bet – is exclusive to American roulette.

Odds in the French roulette table version

The French variation of roulette is very similar to the European version because they both have 37 pockets. This means that the odds for the standard inside and outside bet types are the same as in European roulette. It all changes when the special rules and called bets come into play.

Unlike in the European variant, in the French version, when a zero number comes up when you have placed an even money bet, you don’t lose. Instead, you get a second chance thanks to the following rules that apply:

• En Prison: The literal meaning of the French word ‘En Prison’ is ‘in jail.’ This rule puts players’ bets in ‘jail,’ so to speak, until the next spin of the roulette wheel. If your even money bet comes up as a winner, you’ll be paid accordingly. You lose the stake if it lands on zero again on the second trial or on any other bets.

• La Partage: This rule gives you a second chance by not letting you lose out completely. If the outcome of an even money bet is zero, the stake is split halfway between the player and the house. You can use your half to bet on the next round and hopefully come up on a winner.

Understanding the house edge of the different roulette wheel variations

In simple terms, the house edge is a measure of the advantage the casino has over players. In most cases, the value of the house edge ranges from 1 – 17%, and therefore, roulette games are likely going to end with the house at an advantage in the long run.

American roulette has the highest house edge at 5.27%, and this is because of the double zero on the wheel. In the case of European roulette, which has just a single 0, the value is much lower at 2.70%. The French version cuts it down further to 1.35% thanks to the special rules.

Note that the lower the house edge, the less inherent advantage the casino has over gamers.

Conclusion

Although casino games like roulette are essentially based on chance, it is helpful to have the right information about them, such as bet types and house edge. In addition, understanding the structure of these roulette wheels and the table layouts of the European, American and French variations equips players with more gaming amour to pick the right strategy and choose the perfect roulette games. However, despite the variations, roulette generally follows the standard gameplay, which is quite easy to grasp. Try roulette at Resorts Casino today. 

FAQs

How many pockets are on the American roulette wheel? 

The American roulette wheel has 38 pockets, including a double zero ‘00’, the single ‘0’ and 36 others. This layout has a significant impact on the game and its house edge.

What is the difference between the American and European table layouts?

The main difference is the inclusion of the double zero ‘00’ in the American roulette wheel. This is one more chance to lose, which is why it has generally lower odds than the European version, which has only a single ‘0’ pocket.

What is the minimum bet on a roulette table?

In most cases, the minimum bet depends on the particular roulette game you are playing, as well as the roulette type. Generally, the minimum can be anywhere between $0.10 and $1. Online casino games allow players to view the bet size before starting the game.