The Different Variations of Roulette

American roulette, European roulette, and French roulette are the three most popular types of roulette. Even though each variation of roulette has its own rules and aesthetic quirks, they all share the basic premise of turning a wheel and placing a wager on whether or not the resulting ball will fall in a numerical spot.

The wheel's shape is the main distinction between American and European Roulette. Since American Roulette also includes a double zero (00), the total number of betting spaces is now 38. In European Roulette, there is only one zero (0) slot, for a total of 37 possible betting options. The disparity in house edge is reflected in the fact that European competitors have a slight advantage.

The French version has the same roulette wheel numbers as European Roulette. Still, it also features two additional rules called La Partage and En Prison, both of which can further reduce the house edge. La Partage refunds half of their bet if a player bets on an even-money stake and the ball falls on zero. If the ball falls on zero, players can "en prison," or hold their bet for the next spin, hoping to recoup their losses.

Even though many roulette tactics are universal, the most successful ones will vary based on the played variant. With a smaller house edge in European and French Roulette, for instance, the Martingale strategy can be more profitable. If a game has multiple variations, players should learn the rules of each one and adjust their tactics accordingly.

In European and French Roulette, a racetrack is an extra betting arrangement for players. It's a representation of the wheel's digits that lets players bet on clusters of numbers that are close together. Common examples include Voisins du Zero, Tiers du Cylindre, and Orphelins. Players who only want to wager on certain wheel segments may find these bets more practical.