Believed to have been partially based on an old English game called Roly-Roly, roulette has enjoyed a long history as one of the world’s most played online casino games. Instantly recognizable for most gambling fans, roulette is usually translated from the original French as “small wheel.” Relatively unchanged since 1796, European roulette is still played at casinos across Europe. While only featuring minor differences from its American counterpart, European roulette statistically favors the player more than American roulette.
Best European Roulette Sites
European roulette was once at the forefront of casino games during the 1860′s, when the famous Blanca family moved to the Monte Carlo casino, which at that time was the only legal gambling operation in Europe. During this time, it became known as the King of Casino games due to its relation to the regal and glamorous Monte Carlo. The game still enjoys success today, as it has found its way into online casinos where thousands of players across the world can enjoy its charm and exciting game play.
European Roulette Rules
Like American roulette, the goal of European roulette is to predict where a small ball will land on the roulette wheel. Players make bets on a board, with different spots correlating to one or more pocket on the wheel. If the ball lands on a player’s bet, that player receives a payout according to the nature of the bet.
European Roulette differs from American roulette in a few minor ways. The most noticeable is that the European version lacks the double zero pocket of the American game, featuring only the 0 pocket. This gives European roulette 37 pockets and board spaces while the American form has 38. While this removes a few possible bets, it slightly increases the player’s odds on nearly any bet. If a player bets on the 0 pocket and wins, he or she receives a massive payout of 35 to 1.
European Roulette also occasionally features additional rules that benefit the player. One such rule is known as “en prison.” According to this rule, a player that makes an even money bet is returned half of his or her bet if the ball lands in the zero pocket. Even money bets include odd, even, red, black, 1-18 or 19-36. Some casinos allow players to imprison this bet instead of losing half. If the player chooses this option, the bet stays on the table. If the bet wins on the second spin, the player receives his or her full bet back. Some casinos even allow a bet to be imprisoned multiple times if 0 is repeatedly spun.
Choosing Online European Roulette Casino Games
Predictably, the best place to find European roulette casino games online is at gambling sites that cater specifically to European players. One should also check if any prospective casinos include any additional features, such as the en prison rule. While these rules will rarely come into effect, they can provide players with extra benefits, decreasing the house’s advantage. As with all casino games, players looking to play European roulette online should only do so at a safe and reputable online casino.
Tips for Playing European Roulette
Many players claim to have betting systems that can beat the European roulette wheel, but this is impossible. While these systems may appear to work in the short run, they almost always fail after repeated play. This is due to simple statistics, as the house always maintains an edge in roulette. The best strategy for European roulette is simply to know when to walk away. Players should generally quit playing after winning a large bet, as probability dictates that this money will be lost with continued play.
