European Roulette

European Roulette Game Rules

European Roulette is far more than just an old wheel, some tick-tock nostalgia, mint-flavored cocktails, and feel-good brandy sipping in Monte Carlo. It sits at the front and centre of every respectable casino, both online and in person, and is probably the only place on Earth where a small white ball has ruined more weekends than the weather. Spectacular, deceptively simple, and completely cold-blooded when it chooses to be, it is one of the few true games that combine pure luck, logic, and a touch of madness.

There’s a ton of stuff to go through here, and we’re not just covering the whole lot—from powdered wigs to the cold, reasoned consideration of RTP percentages. Oh, and yes—everything here has been as of May 2025, so there won’t be any dusty, unwanted old rubbish.

When Did the Wheel Start Rolling?

Legend has it that in 1655, a French mathematician named Blaise Pascal was so determined to create a perpetual motion machine that he ended up inventing gambling addiction instead. Lovely.

Roulette arrived in French casinos by the 18th century, and by the 1800s, as obvious as maple syrup on Sunday pancakes, it dominated Monte Carlo. Then along came the Blanc brothers, François and Louis, who simply dropped one zero and created European Roulette. Why? Because one zero is not quite as evil as two... the house edge dropped even further, and players flocked to the tables like seagulls to a chip truck.

Wheel, Ball, Table, Drama

This game doesn’t need fancy animations or bonus rounds with laser beams—it just needs a wheel, a ball, a betting layout, and a bunch of people nervously clutching their chips like they’re sacred heirlooms.

Wheel Setup

• 37 numbered pockets (0–36)
• Zero’s green, the rest are either red or black, because life’s a coin toss
• Number order isn’t sequential, just chaotic enough to mess with your head

Table Layout

• Numbers 1 to 36 split into thirds and halves
• Special zones for outside bets (red/black, even/odd, etc.)
• Enough boxes to make your first spin feel like a multiple-choice exam

The Ball

• Small, usually white, and the biggest cause of joy or regret per square centimetre
• Spun opposite the wheel’s direction
• Ends up deciding your mood for the next 15 minutes

The Dealer (Croupier)

• Spins the wheel, tosses the ball, announces the number, and scoops up your hopes—or pays out, if the universe likes you that day

The Basics of the Game

You place bets on numbers or regions, the wheel spins, the ball drops, and that is your fate! There is no bluffing, no reading of shoulders, this is just you, gravity, and the lack of a need for strategy which is the cold, hard math of percentages.

1. Place your bets anywhere on the table grid
2. Dealer spins the wheel and launches the ball
3. Ball drops into a numbered slot
4. Winners get paid, losers get philosophical

Then it all starts again, round after round, until you either hit a hot streak or your budget taps out.

Types of Bets (and Why They All Hurt Eventually)

Let’s get down to where the real choices lie—how you bet. It all splits into inside bets (fewer numbers, bigger pay) and outside bets (more numbers, smaller pay, less heartbreak... in theory).

Inside Bets (High Risk, High Payouts)

• Straight Up – One number. Pays 35:1. Most folks pick birthdays, lucky numbers, or just what feels right. Spoiler: feelings lie.
• Split – Bet on two neighbouring numbers (like 8 and 11). Pays 17:1.
• Street – A row of three numbers. Pays 11:1.
• Corner – Four numbers forming a square. Pays 8:1.
• Six Line – Two rows, six numbers total. Pays 5:1.

Outside Bets (Lower Risk, More Survival)

• Red or Black – Pays 1:1. It’s roulette’s version of flipping a coin, except the coin is occasionally rigged.
• Even or Odd – Same odds, same payout.
• Low or High – Bet 1–18 or 19–36. Pays 1:1, unless 0 shows up to ruin everything.
• Dozens – Choose 1–12, 13–24, or 25–36. Pays 2:1.
• Columns – Vertical stacks of 12 numbers. Also pays 2:1.

Called Bets (For the Stylish Crowd)

Used mostly in French or high-roller circles. You shout your bet to the dealer like you’re ordering oysters at a fancy restaurant. Popular types:

• Voisins du Zéro – 17 numbers surrounding 0
• Tiers du Cylindre – 12 numbers opposite the zero side
• Orphelins – Eight lonely numbers not in the above two groups
• Jeu Zéro – A close-knit group of 7 near-zero numbers

As my second cousin Rémy from Montreal says: “If you can pronounce the bet, maybe you deserve to win it.”

“En Prison” & “La Partage”: Rules That Actually Help

European Roulette throws players a rare bone in the form of these rules:

• La Partage – You lose only half your bet if 0 lands while betting even-money options. Merci beaucoup.
• En Prison – Your even-money bet gets ‘locked’ if 0 lands. If your next spin wins, you get it back. If not... well, that’s roulette.

With these rules in play, the house edge for even-money bets drops to 1.35%. That’s practically generous, by casino standards. And yes, still accurate as of May 2025.

The Maths (Because Someone Has to Talk About It)

• 37 numbers = 1/37 chance for any single number = 2.7%
• Straight-up bets pay as if there were only 36 numbers = house edge built right in
• RTP (Return to Player) = 97.3%
• With La Partage or En Prison, RTP for even bets jumps to 98.65%

Now, don’t act like you’ll remember all that mid-spin—but just know the house always has the edge. No exceptions.

Betting Strategies (a.k.a. Your Excuses)

Since the roulette wheel first started spinning, people have been trying to beat it. Spoiler alert: no one has. But hey, if you’re going down, at least go down in style.

• Martingale – Double your bet after every loss. Eventually win back everything. Until you hit the table limit or your wallet cries uncle.
• Reverse Martingale – Double after wins, drop back after losses. Great until a single loss wipes out the whole party.
• D’Alembert – Increase by one after a loss, decrease after a win. Slower burn.
• Fibonacci – Follow the famous sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5…). Lose slowly and mathematically.
• Flat Betting – Bet the same each round. The safest option, which is like being the designated driver at a vodka tasting.

Roulette in Pop Culture and Casino Lore

Roulette has been glorified to (and from) the moon. From Dostoevsky’s tortured gamblers to Bond stroll winning six figures without a care, the wheel is legendary. Walk into an respectable casino in Canada, and the roulette table shows the action.

It’s about glam, strategy, and, just sheer luck. And now, it is also...on your phone.

Online Roulette and the New Era

Thanks to the digital revolution, you don’t need to be in Monte Carlo—or even pants—to enjoy a roulette game. Online casinos have taken roulette and turbo-charged it with accessibility.

• Virtual RNG Roulette – Spins faster than you can regret it
• Live Dealer Roulette – Real wheels, real dealers, real-time HD drama
• Mobile Roulette – Works on phones, tablets, possibly your smart fridge

Some casinos worth spinning with? Try River Belle, Fresh Casino, and Gunsbet. All safe online casinos with strong online casino ratings and a love for roulette as deep as yours.

Play Smart or Don’t Play at All

Here’s the truth: roulette is addictive, beautiful, and completely random. That combo is dangerous. Set a budget, stick to it, and never chase losses. The ball doesn’t care if you need rent money.

Use casino tools—like deposit limits and self-exclusion. If it stops being fun, stop playing.

As my neighbour Trevor from Calgary always says: “If you’ve got tears in your eyes and a max bet on red, maybe it’s time for a sandwich instead.”

Final Spin from Star Gambling

European Roulette is the kind of game that invites you in with charm and kicks you out with a lesson. It’s sharp, thrilling, and full of deceptive hope. Thanks to its lower house edge and rules like La Partage, it remains one of the fairest games in the casino world.

Whether you’re clicking chips at home or whispering bets in a velvet-coated lounge, roulette delivers every time. Just remember: the wheel never lies, but it sure knows how to joke.

Looking for more table classics or the hottest slots and crash games? Star Gambling’s got your back.

So... red or black?