The Complete Guide to European Roulette

As a Brit living in England, it’s no surprise that over 95% of my lifetime roulette play has been at European roulette tables, either in a casino or online. There’s so much choice of European, French and American tables at PlayOJO, yet most players seem to choose the Euro version too.

Let’s take a spin around this classic variant to find out why, and the best way to play!

“European roulette has everything most players need – a great selection of bets and a good value house edge”

European roulette rules

I’ve spent many more pixels explaining rules of roulette and how to play in my main roulette explainer, so I’ll give you the potted version here.

Aim of the game

Roulette works the same way, whatever flavour you play. This famous random numbers game uses a European roulette wheel and ball to select one of 37 numbers, coloured red, black or green. Bet on individual numbers, groups of numbers or a colour, then get paid out at nice odds if you get it right.

Wheel and table layout

European roulette is also known as ‘single zero’ roulette with numbers 0 to 36 arranged around the wheel, though not in sequence. European roulette wheels have a very specific order of numbers around the wheel which is different to the American version.

The European roulette table itself is the definitive layout for all roulette tables. The grid of inside and outside bets is identical to French and American versions. The grid isn’t where all the action is however, as more ‘Special’ bets are available via the racetrack, an oval recreation of the main wheel located close by on the table.

House edge

The house edge in European roulette is the same for every single bet type. At 2.70%, European roulette bets cost half as much as the corresponding American versions which come in at over 5%.

The only things missing from European roulette, that you will find in French roulette rules, are the Partage and En Prison rules, which cut the house edge of even money bet types to 1.35%.

How it works

There are 7 steps to a single spin of European roulette, and if you’re playing online, they’ll all whizz by in well under a minute. In my experience, it pays to stay focused and have your bets in mind, or you’ll miss your chance to get them all on.

“You only get 20 seconds to place your bets, so stay focused or you’ll miss out”

1. Betting opens: Once the dealer has paid out bets from the last spin, it’s game on
2. Place bets: Get cracking, coz you have only a few seconds to pick your numbers
3. Ball is launched: The croupier or auto roulette table launches the ball
4. Betting closes: Once you hear “no more bets”, the round is closed
5. Number selected: When the ball comes to rest, you’ll find out your fate
6. Bets settled: The dealer removes losing bets from the table and pays winning bets in turn
7. Betting reopens: The dealer removes the dolly and announces “place your bets”

Bets and payouts

European roulette has 5 types of inside bet and 5 types of outside bet, named after their position, inside or outside the grid on the table.

Inside bets

Inside bets at European roulette tables are easily the most popular bets at any casino, and because they have bigger payout odds, they will generally have lower minimum bets. A typical European roulette table at PlayOJO will have a minimum bet of 10p or 20p for insight bets.

Outside bets

If you prefer sure things to long shots, you’ll probably be drawn to the outside bets. Most famous of all is the red/black pairing, but high/low has the same probability and payout too. In both cases, if zero comes in, both sides of these bets lose. Same goes for the 2 to 1 shots, the columns and thirds that cover 33% of the wheel. Be aware that the minimum stake for outside bets is often higher, at least £1 and sometimes even £5.

Special bets

Ever placed a neighbours bet in roulette? My guess is probably not! Most roulette players spend their lives either completely unaware of the many special bets available in European roulette, or are put off by their strange names and complicated rules.

One massive benefit of playing European roulette online is that you never need to learn the rules for each special bet. Open the specials menu, hover or tap a bet and the software will tell you exactly how much it costs, and which numbers is covers.

“Specials are the hidden gem in European roulette, there’s much fun to be had if you’re willing to give them a spin”

I’ve explained the detail of each special bet in my main article, so let’s leave them for now. Just be aware that there is nothing ‘special’ about specials, nor are they that complicated. They are simply suggestions for different ways to cover sections of the roulette wheel without having to spread your chips across the table.

Best Europe roulette games

Another benefit of European roulette, given it’s by far the most played version of the game in the UK, is the incredible choice of online roulette games.

As well as low, medium and high stakes tables, there’s traditional RNG roulette, live dealer games, auto roulette, double ball roulette and tables located in famous London casinos. It’s also the version of the game used in the newer and more innovative roulette games like Lightning Roulette. So take your pick!

“Most online European roulette games aren’t called ‘European’, but if it’s got a single zero, you can assume it’s European roulette”

Here are just a few of my favourites, but if you browse the roulette section at PlayOJO, you’ll find many more to try, including some European roulette free versions from GVG.

European Roulette Special Pro

Most players prefer live roulette these days, because the quality of streaming and action is so good. But for fast private play, there is no substitute for classic RNG roulette. This game from provider GVG is as clean as you like, and the racetrack and specials menu offer the easiest way to learn how exotics like ‘final cheval‘ work.

XXXTreme Roulette

Evolution Gaming are responsible for the golden era of live roulette that we live in today, and they’re pushing the boundaries of European roulette with this crazy take. Like Lightning Roulette, this version has random multipliers of up to 500x, but this time, lightning can strike the same number twice, boosting multipliers up to 2,000x.

PlayOJO Auto Roulette Live

Evolution Gaming are responsible for the golden era of live roulette that we live in today, and they’re pushing the boundaries of European roulette with this crazy take. Like Lightning Roulette, this version has random multipliers of up to 500x, but this time, lightning can strike the same number twice, boosting multipliers up to 2,000x.

European roulette tips

I’ve written plenty about how to win at roulette, my top tips and mistakes to avoid in OJO’s roulette guide, so head there for more advice on how to become an expert in this game. But if you’ve only got a minute or two to space, here’s my best advice from the thousands of hours I’ve spent at European roulette tables over the years.

#1 Make the most of the choice

Unlike American and French roulette, there are hundreds of European roulette tables and amazing bonus features to discover. Don’t just settle for a vanilla European roulette table – be adventurous.

#2 Practice for free

It’s pretty easy to play European roulette online, but if you’re even a tiny bit unsure of the rules, how to play, or the software you’re using, then find a European roulette demo first.

#3 Avoid bad strategies

The internet is full of bad advice about moneymaking roulette systems. There are lots of fun roulette strategies but don’t kid yourself. They can’t win long term, and some will quickly destroy your bankroll if you’re not careful.

#4 Play it safe

European roulette is meant to be a bit of fun, not a way to make bank. Being careful with how much you bet, and how long you play, are both good ways to keep things fun.

FAQs

Is European roulette better than American roulette?

If we’re talking purely RTP, then yes, European roulette is better value as it does have a higher RTP than American roulette. But there are many reasons people choose their favourite roulette table, from stakes and table style to dealers and software providers.

Why is European roulette the most popular type of roulette?

There are several reasons, but the most obvious is that PlayOJO is a UK casino, so European roulette is the ‘home’ version. It’s also got the lowest house edge for most bet types.

Where can I find a European roulette demo?

You can play European roulette for free at PlayOJO provided you create an account first. Then head to the roulette section and look out for the RNG roulette games from provider GVG. As live European roulette costs a bomb to run, it can only be played for real money.

Can you beat European roulette?

Because of the house edge on every bet, it’s impossible to win at European roulette over a big sample size of spins. But in the short run, anyone can have a lucky streak and beat the wheel.

What makes European roulette fair?

Although live roulette and RNG roulette use different methods of choosing random numbers, both are still tested, audited and regularly monitored by the UK Gambling Commission, PlayOJO and the software providers, to make sure numbers are truly random and players get a fair deal.

When was European roulette invented?

Roulette itself was invented in France in the 18th century, though the early versions actually had zero and double zero. The single zero version we now consider to be European roulette appeared in Germany in the mid 19th century. Then can online European roulette around the year 2000, following by Live European Roulette in 2018.