Just like the different types of roulette wheels and table layouts, the game’s origins have quite a few interesting theories. Although documented evidence suggests that the game surfaced swiftly in the 18th century, some believe that the French scientist Blaise Pascal invented roulette in the 17th century during his monastic retreat.
Whether he’s the one who invented it or not, little did he know that it would become one of the most popular games to be played not just in casinos but online, too. According to Statista, the projected market volume of online casinos is expected to reach $46.93bn by 2029. And online roulette is definitely a huge contributing factor to this figure.
Understanding the Roulette Wheel And Table Layout
The game is simple, where the roulette players have to predict and place bets on particular numbers or number combinations. Then the wheel spins, the ball lands and you win (or lose). The black and red numbers are present in sequences which can be confusing when you look at it. The sequence may look random, but it has been expertly designed to balance the roulette game, ensuring a fair experience.
If you understand the number sequences and layout, it can help bump up your odds of winning. But things are not always that easy, are they? The layout of numbers on the wheel varies based on the type of roulette that you are playing. But once you understand the layout, you will also get to know the odds even without a roulette payout calculator.
Let’s explore the most popular roulette types to improve your odds of winning!
European Roulette Wheel
European roulette is thought to be highly beneficial in the roulette world. The wheel for this game comes with 37 pockets, with 1 to 36 numbers in red and black pockets and a single zero in the green pocket. This European single zero roulette has a house edge of only 2.7%, which is comparatively lower than the American roulette.
Sequence of Numbers
If you see the wheel layout, it looks like numbers placed in a random pattern with an odd-even way in the red, black pockets. These even-odd numbers are equally distributed and they alternate between low (1 to 18) and high (19 to 36) numbers, except for 5 and 10.
The absence of a particular pattern makes it challenging to predict where the ball will end up. But that’s what makes it more exciting. This is what the clockwise sequence of numbers on a European roulette wheel looks like:
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
Table Layout and Betting
The European roulette table layout consists of all numbers that the players can bet on, while the green zero resides at the top. The table is made up of betting sections that house multiple betting types.
The inside betting section has individual numbers and lines to bet on. Street bets, split bets, corner bets, straight-up bets, five-number bets, and line bets are called inside bets. While the large sections have groupings of numbers called outside bets. These include snake bets, dozen bets, even/odd bets, column bets, red/black bets and high/low bets.
American Roulette Wheel
American roulette has a casino advantage. With 38 pockets, it includes 1 to 36 numbers in black, red pockets, and two green pockets—a single zero and a double zero. This double zero increases the house edge to 5.26%.
Sequence of Numbers
Unlike the random pattern in European roulette, American roulette has a specific design with black and red pockets and odd-even numbers. As these numbers are not grouped but rather spread all over, prediction of the ball landing becomes more challenging. This is what the clockwise sequence of numbers on an American roulette wheel looks like:
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
Table Layout and Betting
Apart from the addition of the double zero pocket, the American table layout is quite similar to the European variant. Even the inside bets and outside bets are all similar to the European version.
French Roulette Wheel
Out of all the variants, French roulette is the most advantageous. It has a house edge of only 1.35% due to additional rules like En Prison and La Partage, making it a favourite choice of many roulette players.
The French roulette wheel is exactly similar to the European version with 37 pockets consisting of 1 to 36 numbers and a single zero pocket.
Sequence of Numbers
In contrast to American roulette, French roulette wheel numbers do not follow a particular pattern. Rather, they are placed randomly just like the European variant. This is what the clockwise sequence of numbers on a French roulette wheel looks like:
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
Table Layout and Betting
The French roulette table layout is just like the European and American variants. Even the inside bets and the outside bets are similar. But the major difference is the inclusion of announced/French or call bets. Here, betting can be done on particular grouped numbers like:
- Orphelins (orphans)
- Jeu Zero (zero game)
- Voisins du Zero (neighbours of zero)
- Tiers du Cylindre (thirds of the wheel)
The Other Rules of French Roulette
The two rules that we have mentioned before are the extra rules in French roulette that help bring down the house edge. Let’s take a closer look at them.
En Prison (in prison) rule comes alive if the ball ends up in the zero pocket. Instead of losing their money, players can keep their even-money bets for the upcoming spin. And if they win this bet, they get back their initial bet, without winning anything extra.
La Partage (sharing) rule comes into action if the ball ends up in the zero pocket. The players can recover half of their original wager only on even-money bets. And the half goes to the house.
Ready to Spin and Win?
If you look at it, roulette is actually quite a simple game anyone can play and enjoy. Understanding the sequence of numbers, the table layouts and, most importantly, the roulette variant will help you know the game better and might even bring you a step closer to winning odds. No need for any complications as you indulge in the thrills that accompany the spins.
Well, now that you have read and hopefully understood this easy guide, you can roll up your sleeves and get ready to turn the wheel of confusion into the wheel of fortune!
Answers to Popular Questions About Roulette Wheel (FAQ)
What Are the Most Profitable Roulette Strategies?
Martingale, Fibonacci, D’Alembert, James Bond and Labouchere are some of the strategies that are considered to be profitable.
What Bet Pays the Most in Roulette?
The inside bets have a lower probability of winning. But, if you do win the inside bets, you can get big money out of it.
How Often Does Zero Come Up in Roulette?
The probability of zero coming up in roulette depends on the wheel. On a single zero wheel, the probability is 36-1. On a double zero wheel, it’s 37-1. While a triple zero wheel it’s 38-1.