European Roulette Online

European Roulette originated in the 18^th century and remained unchanged since then. This type of Roulette is a classic variety of this gambling game. It's highly popular in Monte Carlo and other gambling centers of Europe as an entertainment for European aristocracy. Interestingly enough, in the US, where the gambling industry has a larger turnover than in Europe, neither this game, nor its American variant is particularly widespread, and so it may be viewed as a purely European entertainment product. Interestingly enough, in the US, where the gambling industry has a larger turnover than in Europe, neither this game, nor its American variant is particularly widespread, and so it may be viewed as a purely European entertainment product. Needless to say that in almost every European online casino there is two possible ways of playing European Roulette: free play or playing with real money.

History

The credit for being the ‘great grandfather’ of European Roulette should be given to Blaise Pascal, a 17^th century French scientist that invented the concept of Roulette wheel. It is unlikely, however, that Pascal saw himself as a creator of gambling games. This would have been understandable: after all, it was not until after the 18^th century that the commercial application for the Roulette wheel was found.

Ever since then, the popularity of European Roulette has been growing at a very fast pace. The game rapidly gained recognition of the European aristocracy. It was not until after Roulette had been outlawed and then legalized in many European countries including the United Kingdom and Germany, that it finally received its unofficial title, ‘the King of Casino Games.’ While at the very outset of Roulette history, the wheel had no zero pocket – only pockets with numbers 1-36 on them – the game has undergone no other modifications since the 18^th century. Yet the introduction of a zero immediately proved beneficially to the casinos, increasing the house edge to solid 2.7%.

European Roulette table layout

A player can bet either on a single number or a combination of numbers (for example, a Low Number Bet covers 18 numbers). The winning odds and the payout depend on how many numbers are covered by the bet. For example, a bet on a single number results in a payout of 35 to 1, while conservative bets on red / black have a payout of 1 to 1. Most popular European Roulette betting strategies require even bets. In other words, bets on red / black, high / low, etc.

European Roulette has the following betting

1. Red or Black. Payout: 1 to 1. A player bets that the ball will drop in one of the red or black pockets. If a player bets on Red, the winning numbers are 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 32, 34, and 36. If Black is chosen, numbers 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 31, 33, and 35 win.
2. Odd or Even. Payout: 1 to 1.  A player bets that the ball will land on an odd or even number. If a player bets on Odd, the following numbers win: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, and 35. Where a player bets on Even, the winning numbers are 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, and 36. 
3. Low or High Number. Payout: 1 to 1. A player bets that the ball will drop in a pocket with a number ranging from 1 to 18 or 19 to 36. If a player bets on Low, the winning numbers are 1 through 18. If a player bets on High, numbers 19 through 36 win.
4. Dozen. A player bets that the ball will land on a number from the first dozen (1 through 12), second dozen (13-24) or third dozen (25-36). Payout: 2 to 1
5. Column. A player bets that the ball will land on a number from one of the columns on the table layout.  Payout: 2 to 1. If a player bets on Column One, the winning numbers are 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34. If a player bets on Column Two, numbers 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, 35 win. Betting on Column Three, a player wins if the ball lands on one of the following numbers:  3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36.
6. Six Line. Payout: 5 to 1. A player bets on a number from two adjacent three-number rows – for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33.
7. Corner. Payout: 8 to 1. A player bets on four adjacent numbers in a square layout – for example, 1, 2, 4, 5 or 17, 18, 20, 21
8. Street. Payout: 11 to 1. This bet is the same as a Six Line Bet except it is made on three consecutive numbers in a horizontal line – for example, 1, 2, 3 or 4, 5, 6.
9. Split. Payout: 17 to 1. A player bets on two adjacent numbers.
10. Straight Up (Single).  Payout: 35 to 1.

European Roulette rules

Despite its seemingly convoluted system of betting options, European Roulette is arguably the simplest and most liberal of all the gambling games played at online casinos. Since players may make no moves or decisions after the bet has been made, playing Roulette is not really associated with a complex system of rules as it is the case with playing card games.

Two rules, however, are followed by some European casinos, significantly facilitating the task of beating the croupier or the house. The first rule, known as En Prison, provides that if in ‘even money’ bets (odd / even, red / black or high / low) the ball lands on a zero, the player dose not lose the bet, and it remains on the table. If in the next round, the player wins, the stake is returned to the player although no payout is due. In a sense the En Prison rule extends a credit for one round to a player, giving a substantial advantage to him or her since it reduces the house edge to modest 1.35%, nearly by half.

The other rule frequently used in the European Roulette game is called La Partage. Under this rule, if in ‘even money’ bets the ball drops in the zero pocket, a player loses 50% of the bet, while the rest remains in play for the next round.

European Roulette — video review