Roulette Variations
This tutorial covered American roulette, since that is the most popular in North American and the Caribbean, and is often found in many online casinos. But there are other versions that are more than worth your while to learn and play. Here are the variations in rules or odds that make some versions of roulette a better bet (literally!) than others:
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European roulette- The table and object of the game are almost identical as American roulette. But the wheel has one huge difference- only a single zero instead of a single and a double, like American roulette. This wheel is also used in the French variation of roulette. The wheel looks like this:
The areas marked off on the wheel are called 'arcs' For a European roulette game, you can place bets called "called" or "announced" bets. For these bets, you literally announce that you wish to place a 'tier' bet (for example). You announce this to the table dealer, who will then place the bet for you. Be advised that there is a set amount of chips for each bet that you must place. The breakdown of each is laid out in this handy chart, which may or may not be available at the casino you are playing at. If it isn't, you can always use this one, as it is a copy of the standard call bets charts. The table is laid out the same in European as it is in American roulette, so don't confuse the image in the middle of this handy helper chart for being the European layout. It is simply a chart to help cut the confusion of called or announced bets: table and image
Of course, European roulette has inside and outside bets like its American cousin, but the main differences are the odds and the called bets, which are confusing at first but fairly easy to master once you commit them to memory (or just keep using this chart).Voisins de Zero ( series 0/2/3) 
Tier (series 5/8) Numbers Chips Numbers Chips 0/2/3 2 5/8 1 4/7 1 10/11 1 12/15 1 13/16 1 18/21 1 23/24 1 19/22 1 27/30 1 25/26/28/29 2 33/36 1 32/25 1 Total: 6 Total: 9 Orphelins (Orphans) Zero Spiel Number Chips Number Chips 1 1 0/3 1 6/9 1 12/15 1 14/17 1 26 1 17/20 1 32/35 1 31/34 1 Total: 4 Total: 5 -
French roulette- The wheel and bets are the same as in European roulette, the difference is that you have to know the bets in the native language- French! Here is yet another handy chart so that you can easily learn the names of the bets:
Bet on European French Payoff Inside bets One number Straight up En plein 35:1 Two numbers Split Bet Cheval 17:1 Three numbers Street Bet Transversale 11:1 Four numbers Corner Carre 8:1 Six numbers Line Bet Sixainne 5:1 Outside bets Twelve numbers Column Colonne 2:1 Twelve numbers Dozen Douzaine 2:1 Red or Black numbers Red or Black Rouge - Noir 1:1 Even or Odd numbers Even or Odd Pair - Impair 1:1 Low or High numbers Low or High Pair - Impair 1:1
- En prison rules- Literally translation means "in prison". This is a bet for European roulette and means that all even-money bets are kept on the table and can't be collected (by player or dealer) if the ball lands on zero. It stays on the table until the next spin. If it wins on the next spin, you are allowed to take your money, but with no extra winnings. If you lose, the bet is collected by the dealer. If another zero comes up, then the bet remains 'en prison' for yet another spin of the wheel. House advantage is down to a mere 1.35%, so it is hard to find a casino that allows these special rules at any of its tables.
- Surrender rules- In American roulette, this means that all even-money bets are only half-taken if the ball lands on 0 or 00. The taking of only half the bet in these rules is sometimes referred to as 'help'. This takes the house edge down to only 2.63%, which is the house advantage in European roulette, only you are playing American roulette still. Not all casinos or tables will offer these special rules, in fact very few do, but you should always keep a lookout for them.
