European Roulette
European Roulette is the standard form of roulette played in Macau, Europe, and most premium casino properties worldwide. The wheel contains 37 pockets numbered 0 through 36 in a non-sequential arrangement, with a single green zero. The single-zero wheel gives a house edge of just 2.70% on all even-money bets, compared to 5.26% on its American double-zero counterpart. In many European casinos, the La Partage rule further reduces the house edge to 1.35% on even-money bets when the ball lands on zero — making European Roulette one of the most player-favourable table games available.
Rules & Gameplay
Players place chips on the betting layout before the croupier spins the wheel and releases the ball. Betting options: Straight Up (single number, pays 35:1), Split (two adjacent numbers, pays 17:1), Street (three numbers in a row, pays 11:1), Corner (four numbers, pays 8:1), Line (six numbers, pays 5:1), Dozen (12 numbers, pays 2:1), Column (12 numbers, pays 2:1), Red/Black (pays 1:1), Odd/Even (pays 1:1), High/Low (1–18 or 19–36, pays 1:1). The single zero (0) is a loss for all outside bets unless La Partage or En Prison rules apply. La Partage: when zero hits, half of all even-money bets are returned. En Prison: even-money bets are 'imprisoned' for the next spin rather than lost.
Basic Strategy
European Roulette is a negative-expectation game — no betting system can overcome the house edge. However, choosing bets wisely manages your bankroll more effectively. Even-money outside bets (Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low) offer the best odds and longest playing time per unit staked. If La Partage or En Prison is available, exclusively play even-money bets to reduce the house edge to 1.35%. Avoid American Roulette wheels; the double zero nearly doubles the house edge. Column and dozen bets at 2:1 offer medium variance. Straight-up bets on single numbers pay 35:1 but carry the full 2.70% house edge and high variance. Never chase losses — each spin is independent.
At a Glance
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- Rules + Strategy