The Different Variations of Roulette

Roulette has been a player favourite for ages, with its many international versions and varieties captivating gamblers. It's a timeless casino classic, known for its iconic spinning wheel and the thrill of betting on where the ball will land. You'll find it at reputable casinos across Canada.

But what are the different types of roulette available, and can you play them at the best Canadian online casinos? The three most common variations you'll encounter are American, European, and French roulette. Each has its own unique rules, board layout, house edge, and specific elements that make playing at the different online casino tables so engaging.

American Roulette: The Double Zero Challenge

To play American roulette, you'll need a wheel featuring 38 slots. These are numbered 1 through 36, plus a single zero (0) and a double zero (00). The numbered slots are typically red and black, while the green slots represent the zeroes. The key feature that sets American roulette apart is this extra double zero pocket.

This second "zero" slot significantly increases the house edge compared to its European or French counterparts. This means that, generally speaking, American roulette offers a slightly tougher challenge for players. The number of available betting options also shifts depending on the configuration of the roulette wheel.

European Roulette: The Go-To for Canadian Players

The European roulette wheel is equipped with 37 slots, numbered from 1 to 36, plus a single zero. Each number is either red or black, with the zero slot coloured green. Canadian players often favour this version because it boasts a smaller house edge compared to American roulette, making for a more favourable gaming experience.

The absence of the double zero slot is the primary difference between European and American roulette. This distinction leads to a lower house edge in European roulette, making it a much better fit for implementing betting strategies and potentially improving your chances of winning.

With a house edge of approximately 2.70%, European roulette offers a better deal for players. With only one zero slot, there's less opportunity for the ball to land on a 'house' pocket, increasing your odds of a win.

French Roulette: "La Version Francaise"

The French roulette wheel has also 37 roulette numbers (1 through 36 plus a single zero) just like the European version. French roulette differs most significantly from European roulette in its rules and betting possibilities.

France's take on the roulette game has its own set of rules and betting possibilities that set it apart from other variants. French roulette has its own distinct betting possibilities like "voisins du zero," "orphelins," and "tiers du cylindre," in addition to the standard "en prison" and "en prisoner" bets.

If a person bets even money (red/black, odd/even, high/low, etc.) and the ball falls in the zero slot, he or she will only lose half of their original wager (the La Partage regulation). French roulette offers the best chances to players because of this rule, which lowers the house edge on even-money bets to 1.35%.

Other Online Roulette Game Versions

After so many years, it's quite understandable that roulette offers different versions already. Plus, the creation of live dealer roulette has launched even more variations, thus giving the game a modern twist.

Multi-Wheel Roulette, Mini Roulette, and 3D Roulette are just a few of the many roulette variants out there - all three of them are also live versions. It's common practice for online casinos to allow players to practice these variants for free before allowing them to bet real money.

Mini Roulette

Thanks to software providers like Playtech and Evolution Gaming, roulette fans are now able to play Mini Roulette, which is a smaller version of the original online game. Mini Roulette can adapt to smaller screens - despite being played on a PC or laptop. This allows players to play roulette while doing another activity, like betting during a game.

Multi-Wheel Roulette

If one roulette wheel simply doesn't make it, there's also the chance to bet on roulette with up to eight games simultaneously. Multi-Wheel Roulette follows the European Roulette rules, with all of the games happening at the same time.

Live Dealer Roulette

Live dealer games are the perfect blend between the real-life experience and online versions. In the case of roulette, the live dealer roulette games allow players to interact with the dealer, watch an actual wheel spin, while making bets that the dealer places on a real table. Plus, live dealer roulette has multiple versions in most live casinos.

Pinball Roulette

It's time to forget about the classic roulette wheel and replace it with something fresh, like a pinball machine. This is the principle of Pinball Roulette, most famously from Playtech. The game bases on European Roulette rules, with a big difference in the layout. Obviously, this makes the game more exciting and dynamic.

Conclusion

Each roulette online game offers thrilling action. However, online roulette games are all different and it's crucial to get a hang of them before starting. For example, due to the La Partage rules, players have a better chance of winning in French roulette than in American roulette. In order to make the most of your online roulette experience, it is important to not only understand the differences between the various versions of the game but also to have a solid grasp of the roulette rules and common pitfalls to avoid.

Players can use the same strategies in all versions of roulette, but it's vital to be familiar with how many numbers on a roulette wheel there are, each version's rules and house edges to optimize winnings. It's recommended that players try out various types of roulette gamble online to discover the one they enjoy playing the most.