You can improve your returns by simply picking the right roulette game. Take European vs American roulette: the European wheel only has a single zero, whereas the American wheel has a single zero and a double zero. That extra pocket increases the house edge from 2.7% to 5.26% if you play the American version.
French roulette is similar to European roulette, but extra rules cut the house edge to just 1.35% on the most popular bets. This guide compares the three most common types of roulette and helps you select the best games at crypto casinos.
The Three Roulette Types at a Glance
The best crypto casinos host dozens of roulette games. Most fall into three categories: European, American, and French roulette. There are a few outliers, such as Mini Roulette, which we’ll explore later, but first, let’s break down the main formats and explore the key roulette wheel differences.
European Roulette
This is the most common form of roulette. The European roulette wheel features 37 pockets – a single zero and the numbers 1-36. The zero is green, while 18 numbers are red and the other 18 are black.
These are the most popular bets:
- Red/black: A bet on whether the ball lands on a red or black pocket. You’ll be paid out at even money (1:1) if you guess correctly, but the green zero gives the house a 2.7% edge.
- Odd/even: A simple wager on whether the ball will land on an odd or even number. As always, the zero doesn’t count as odd or even, so it gives the casino its 2.7% edge.
- High/low: A bet on whether the ball will land on a high number (19-36) or a low number (1-18), with the zero still giving the house a mathematical advantage.
- Single number: Bet on the ball landing on a specific number. If you guess correctly, you’ll be paid out at 35:1. Your chances of getting it correct are 1-in-37, so the house retains its edge.
There are various other bets, including columns, dozens, and streets, which we’ve explained in our online roulette guide. All you need to know is that every bet has a 2.7% house edge, which is due to the single zero pocket. That means the European game has a 97.3% return to player (RTP) rate.
Crypto casinos host regular European roulette games, plus branded European roulette games like Space Invaders Roulette and Terminator 2 Roulette. Those branded games follow the same rules, just with fun graphics in the background.
American Roulette
American roulette follows the same rules as European roulette, but the wheel features an extra pocket. There’s a single zero, a double zero, and the numbers 1-36.
That extra pocket increases the house edge to 5.26%. The payouts are the same – 1:1 on red/black, 35:1 on single numbers, and so on – but the double zero reduces your chances of winning.
American roulette has a 94.74% RTP, which makes it one of the worst games to play at a crypto casino. It’s always best to avoid American roulette, as European and French roulette games have better RTP rates.
French Roulette
French roulette is similar to European roulette, as the wheel has 37 pockets – a single green zero and the numbers 1-36. However, there’s always an extra rule, which cuts the house edge to just 1.35% on even-money bets like red/black or high/low.
Some French roulette games have a rule called la partage, while others have a rule called en prison. Both of these French roulette rules slash the house edge in half when you place even-money wagers. Here’s how they work:
- La partage: You’ll get a 50% rebate if the ball lands on zero. For example, if you wagered $20 on red, you’ll get $10 back.
- En prison: If the ball lands on zero, your stake goes “in prison.” You’ll then have the chance to win it back on the next spin. For example, let’s say you bet $20 on red. If the ball lands on zero, your $20 will go in prison. If the ball lands on a red pocket on the next spin, you’ll get your money back.
These rules don’t apply to single number bets, streets, dozens, or columns, so European roulette is just as good if you place those wagers. However, French roulette is the clear winner if you prefer even-money bets like red/black and high/low.
Other Roulette Variants
You’ll find a few other roulette variants at best crypto casinos:
- Mini Roulette: This compact, fast-paced game is played on a small wheel, featuring the numbers 0-12. The single zero is green, which gives the house a 7.69% edge. To compensate, most Mini Roulette games feature the la partage rule, cutting the edge to 3.85% on even-money bets.
- European roulette with Hamburg rules: This European roulette version also features a rule that’s identical to la partage, earning you a 50% refund if the ball lands on zero. Look out for European roulette by Nucleus Gaming or Zoom Roulette from Betsoft, as both games feature Hamburg rules.
- Lightning Roulette: A popular live roulette game from Evolution, where certain numbers are struck by lightning. This gives you the chance to win supersized payouts, but you’ll only be paid 29:1 if the ball lands on a number that hasn’t been struck, instead of the standard 35:1. There are similar games from other providers, such as Quantum Roulette from Playtech and Mega Roulette from Pragmatic Play.
- Double Bonus Spin Roulette: This virtual roulette game from IGT features 39 pockets: a single zero, a double zero, the numbers 1-36, and a yellow bonus pocket. The yellow bonus pocket is 1.5x larger than the other pockets, and it triggers a free spin, where two independent rings spin on the wheel. This feature leaves an RTP of 98.06% for single number bets, but the RTP is lower (85.72% to 98.05%) for all other bets.
Which Roulette Should You Play?
You should play French roulette or European roulette with Hamburg rules if you’re sticking to even-money bets. If you like betting on single numbers, splits, streets, corners, columns, or dozens, a standard European roulette game works just as well. It’s always best to avoid American roulette, as that version carries a significantly higher house edge than the other variants.
FAQs
A European roulette wheel has 37 pockets, whereas an American roulette wheel features 38 pockets. That extra pocket increases the house edge on American roulette to 5.26%, compared to just 2.7% for European roulette. Apart from the extra pocket, both types of roulette follow the same format and have the same rules.
La partage is a rule that earns you a 50% rebate if the ball lands in the zero pocket when playing French roulette. This rule cuts the house edge to just 1.35%, but it only applies to even-money bets like red/black and odd/even. The house edge is the standard 2.7% if you bet on single numbers.
French roulette has the best odds. The RTP is 98.65% if you stick to even-money bets, compared to 97.3% for European roulette and 94.74% for American roulette. All three versions feature the same payouts, but French roulette offers the best returns.
Ilija is a CCN writer with 7 years of experience covering all things crypto. Ever since a fateful run-in with Litecoin in 2013, he's been an avid investor and writer in the space. When he's not maniacally hacking away at his keyboard, Ilija spends his time either hiking in nature or holed up in his apartment gaming.
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