Roulette Wheel & Table

The roulette wheel includes numbers 1 through 36 in alternating red and black segments. The European version features a single green '0' slot, whereas the American variant introduces an additional green '00' slot. These green segments denote the house advantage. Grasping this configuration aids players in making strategic bets and understanding the mechanics of the game.

The world of roulette features distinct versions like American, European, and French, each offering a unique gaming experience. The chart below delineates the principal distinctions in wheel and table configurations among these variants:

The American roulette wheel stands out from all of its popular counterparts, particularly the European and French roulette wheels. It features a unique layout and has one additional pocket - the double zero (00). This is a key distinction that has several implications regarding the betting options, RTP and house edge, and overall gameplay.

Even though the roulette table rules are largely the same, there are some differences, such as the added basket bet. "How many numbers in roulette" is a common question asked by players who are curious about the layout and mechanics of the wheel, so we are here to inform you that this variant has 38 numbers.

The total number of pockets is 38, and the house edge is 5.26%. This means that the Return to Player ratio for American roulette is 94.74%, which is slightly lower when compared to European roulette.

Another key difference is the roulette layout of the numbers. The two zeroes - the 0 and 00 pockets - are arranged opposite from one another on the roulette table wheel, while the roulette board layout of the numbers follows this sequence, starting from the single zero (0) and moving clockwise:

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

As you can see, the high roulette table numbers are often stacked one to another, which is slightly different than the European roulette wheel. Although this difference doesn’t affect the overall gameplay, it’s a notable difference for players who want to bet on specific advanced bets such as the Voisins, Cylinders, and similar announced bets. That’s why, in most cases, announced bets are not allowed in American roulette games.

While there may be some differences in the design and layout of American and European roulette wheels, however, particularly regarding the number of pockets and the presence of the double zero pocket, there are generally no significant disparities in build quality between the two versions. Both American and European roulette wheels are subject to stringent quality control measures to ensure fairness, accuracy, and durability in gameplay. Casinos and live casino roulette providers invest in high-quality roulette wheels from reputable manufacturers to provide players with a reliable and fair gaming experience regardless of the version of the game being played.

The European roulette wheel is the most common one in modern casinos - both online and land-based. It’s preferred by most players due to the higher RTP and the lower house edge it has when compared to the American roulette wheel. This is due to the fact that the European wheel has 37 pockets in total, with only one zero (0). The Return to Player ratio is 97.30%, which is higher when compared to American roulette, and the house edge is 2.70%. Notably, though, the payouts are the same for all the different bet types as with American roulette.

Notably, this wheel is preferred by most software providers of live dealer games as well, and most live casino roulette games use the European roulette wheel and the classic European roulette rules.

Another difference when compared to the American roulette wheel is the numbers on roulette wheel are arranged. Namely, this is the sequence of how the numbers are arranged, starting from the zero and moving clockwise:

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

In comparison to the American roulette wheel, the numbers are distributed across the wheel in a predictable and symmetric way, and the high numbers are not very close to each other. This, and the fact that there’s a single zero, opens up several betting opportunities that are popularly known as announced or called bets. These are some of the announced bets you can make when playing European roulette:

• Neighbors bet (Voisins du Zero): With the Neighbors bet, you’re betting on almost half of the roulette wheel. Namely, you will bet on the 8 numbers of each side of the Zero, including the green pocket, so the total number of numbers covered is 17.
• Tiers (Tiers du Cylindre): The Tiers bet covers one-third of the wheel, specifically the numbers opposite the zero - which is how it got its name.
• Orphans (Orphelins): This bet covers the remaining numbers on the wheel that are not included in the Neighbors and Tiers bets. It includes the numbers 1, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 31, and 34.
• Zero Game (Jeu Zero): The Zero Game bet focuses on the 0 pocket, so it’s similar to the Neighbors bet. However, here, you’re covering just 7 numbers in total, so the potential payout is much higher.

These advanced bets are typically facilitated by the presence of a racetrack betting area on the roulette table layout, which allows players to bet on specific groups of numbers, including announced bets that are usually called out when playing in a land-based casino venue.

Although many considered it a separate roulette variant, French roulette is actually very similar to European roulette. They use the same single-zero wheel with 37 pockets, and the roulette wheel numbers follow the same sequence. The payout ratios are the same for every bet type, and you can place all the same bets as with European roulette. The most significant difference between the two is the implementation of two unique rules that are only available with this variant: the En Prison and La Partage rule.

When active, both of these rules apply to even-money bets only, including Odds/Evens, High/Low, and Red/Black. Due to these rules, the house edge of French roulette drops to just 1.35%, and with an RTP of 98.65%, this is the roulette variant with the highest Return to Player ratio. This is how both of these rules work:

• En Prison: This literally translates to ‘imprisoned’. But what does it mean? Well, if you make an even-money bet and the ball lands on the zero, you don’t immediately lose your bet like with all other roulette variants. Instead, it’s ‘imprisoned’ for the next round. You effectively place the same bet without placing a stake, but if your bet loses a second time in a row, you lose your stake.
• La Partage: La Partage means ‘to share’ in French, and that’s exactly how this rule works. It also applies to even money bets, and if the ball lands on zero, instead of losing your wager, you split it with the house.

Although the European wheel is the more popular choice, you can find all variants of roulette at casino venues, manufactured by the best in the business. There are several roulette wheel manufacturers that are renowned for producing luxurious and high-quality roulette wheels, each one with its own years-long reputation for craftsmanship and reliability. Check out some of the most respected manufacturers in the roulette world:

We have examined the essential elements of the roulette wheel and table, focusing on the importance of numbers, colors, and the different versions of the game such as American, European, and French roulette. Visitors of Roulette77 are now better prepared to improve their play and make well-informed betting choices. As you advance in your roulette journey, we encourage you to explore deeper into the intricacies of the game, discovering new tactics and insights. Wishing you good luck as you spin!