Roulette is one of the most popular casino games in the world, with its origins believed to date back to the 17th century. If you’ve ever visited a brick-and-mortar casino or a gaming site, you may have seen multiple versions of roulette available: American, European, and French.
Understanding their differences, and how they work, can help you make better decisions at the table.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the different types of roulette, the main parts of a roulette table and wheel, and more.
Main Parts of Roulette Wheels
Roulette wheels have a common layout across all versions of the game. Let’s break down the main roulette wheel parts from top to bottom.
- Turret: The rotating component at the top of the wheel.
- Turret base: This holds the turret.
- Height adjuster: Allows for turret height adjustments.
- Wheel head: Belongs to the lower and upper bearing.
- Ball pocket: The ball stops here at the end of a spin.
- Upper bearing: A component of the bowl.
- Cone: Guides the ball in the wheel’s playing area.
- Ball deflector: The ball rebounds off these while the wheel spins.
- Ball track: The ball bounces here on every spin.
- Lower ball track: The ball deflectors are housed here.
- Spindle: The rotating wheel head fits in here.
- Bowl rim: The wheel for the cone goes in this spot.
- Lower bearing: A part of the roulette wheel bowl.
- Bowl: This contains the wheel.
These roulette wheel parts are meticulously pieced together to create wheels for all versions of the game.
Roulette Table Layout
While the main roulette parts stay the same across all versions, the table layout differs slightly to reflect the number of pockets on the wheel.
Every form of roulette uses a table with a green felt surface and dozens of numbered boxes. The wheel sits in the centre or at one end.
The numbered boxes alternate between red and black, allowing players to place their bets on any pocket of the wheel. Roulette tables and wheels may also contain a green 0 and 00, depending on which version you play.
There are two main parts of a roulette table. One contains numbers 1 - 36 and 0s, and is for Inside bets. You can choose from various types of Inside bets, including Straight Up Bets, Five Bets, and Street Bets.
The other part of the table is for Outside bets. You can try a wide range of Outside bets that cover as many as 18 numbers at once, such as Dozen Bets, Column Bets, and Odd/Even Bets.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s look at the specifics for each version of roulette.
American Roulette Table Layout
An American roulette wheel contains one more pocket than in European roulette — a 00 opposite the 0. That creates a total of 38 numbers instead of 37.
On the table layout, there is a space for the 00 next to the 0. The rest of the roulette parts remain the same as in the European version.
Casino Roulette Wheels
European Roulette Table Layout
In European roulette, there are 37 pockets on the wheel, including the green 0. The red and black numbers are displayed on the table, along with the 0 at the end or top.
French Roulette Table Layout
The French version uses the same roulette wheel parts and table layout as European roulette, with 37 numbers including the green 0.
However, you may use the La Partage rule: placing an even-money bet split evenly between you and the casino. That can reduce the size of your loss on non-winning spins.
You can also place four announced bets in French roulette:
- Orphelins (“Orphans”)
- Jeu Zero (“Zero Game”)
- Voisins du Zero (“Neighbours of Zero”)
- Tiers du Cylindre (“Third of the Cylinder”)
These are “announced” bets as you announce the bet you want to place, then lay your chips. As they cover a broad range of numbers, announced bets can streamline roulette gameplay.
Mini Roulette Table
Mini roulette is around one-third the size of other versions of roulette, with just 12 numbers (6 red, 6 black) and a 0. As a result, you have fewer betting options.
Online Roulette
Here is a list of recommended online roulette betting sites.
Online Roulette VS Land-Based Tables
It’s easier than ever today to play roulette, at any time, thanks to the proliferation of online casinos hosting one or more versions of the game. However, you can also visit any number of land-based casinos to play it.
What’s the difference between these options?
Online Roulette Table
The online roulette table is virtually identical to a physical one. You can either play an RNG-based table or a live one hosted by a professional dealer in real-time.
When you play at a licensed casino recommended by Gambling Zone, you know the game is just as fair and reliable as at a brick-and-mortar venue. You can usually choose from American, European, French, and mini roulette. It’s not as social as land-based roulette, but you may still get to interact with other players and the dealer.
Land-Based Roulette Table
Playing roulette at a land-based casino is a tad more limited than at a gaming site, as you’ll probably have fewer options to choose from. However, you’ll be able to chat with fellow players at your table and soak up the casino atmosphere a little bit more, though neither of these is essential for some players.
Roulette Chips
Dealers give each player at a roulette table a specific chip colour to avoid confusion. Even couples playing together must use different colours.
Dealers ask how much you want each chip to be worth (based on the table limits), then place a chip near the wheel. Next, they put a marker on top to denote that chip’s value.
Online roulette games usually include information on chips and how they work.
