Roulette is a casino game that truly stands out from the pack. The spin of its dazzling wheel has an almost mesmeric effect that builds anticipation in a unique way. Unlike craps or blackjack, mastering roulette is easy, and if you pick the right type, its return rates are quite high and consistent.

Here, we’ll discuss European roulette online, the version you’re most likely to find on gaming sites. After reading this article, you’ll have a grasp on the table, rules, bets, and different strategies. We’ll also recommend some excellent online casinos.

Top Roulette Casinos

[toptbl]

How to Play Online European Roulette

It’s pretty easy to understand what’s going on at the roulette table. The croupier will spin the wheel in one direction and launch the ball in the other. After rotating rapidly for a few seconds, the ball (also called “pill”) loses momentum and ends up in one of the wheel’s colored pockets.

The only thing you need to do is bet before the pill is spun. If you end up making a correct prediction, you win. Wagers in the form of playing chips are placed on the felt, which you can see in the lower half of the above image. The European roulette wheel has a total of 37 pockets — a single, green zero and the numbers 1-36 colored in red and black. You’ve probably noticed that there are more than 37 betting options on the felt. If you wish to master them all, make sure to carefully read the next section.

All Bets in the European Roulette Online

There are plenty of wagering options in this game, but they can be separated into two major categories — inside and outside bets. The former group consists of wagers that you can make inside the zone containing the numbers from 0 to 36, while the latter includes the stakes outside its perimeter. Below, we’ll list every bet type available to players in roulette European version.

Inside Bets

1. Straight-up — A fancy name for betting on a single number. In the above image, we’ve placed a straight-up bet on the number 2. The payout for a successful wager is x35 your stake.
2. Split — If you want your chip to cover two numbers, place it on the line that separates them. It grants a 17:1 reward.
3. Street — This one is a bet that covers a vertical column of three numbers and has an 11:1 payoff.
4. Corner — Use it to bet on four positions for an 8:1 payout.
5. Line — It’s like placing a double street bet on the European roulette table because a line bet covers two 3-number columns. It pays 5:1.
6. Basket/First Four — Use it to wager on the numbers 0-1-2-3 for a 9:1 reward.

Outside Bets

The outside wagers are pretty straightforward. You can put money on a horizontal column or one of the three dozens, and a correct guess will yield a 2:1 payout.
Alternatively, it’s possible to wager on a color (black/red), odd or even numbers, and low (1-18) or high (19-36) numbers. These three give you a chance to win that’s close to 50%, so the reward for a successful prediction will be equal in size to your stake.

Live Casino & RNG Roulette – European Versions Are Everywhere

You might face some difficulties when picking a European roulette game. The choice at online casinos can be overwhelming, but we’re here to help you narrow it down. Generally, you can divide these games into three groups:

• RNG products — These games use computer graphics and a Random Number Generator to determine the outcome of each spin. NetEnt’s European Roulette pictured above is a typical example of RNG games. These products aren’t all that realistic, but they’re 100% fair at reputable casinos. Generally, they’re preferred by people who play fast, as most RNG products have a turbo mode that reduces the time of each round to a few seconds. Also, demos are available, so you could try different strategies for free.
• Classic live dealer tables — If you want to see how the ball spins inside a physical wheel and interact with a croupier and other players, live dealer streams are the way to go. This is the most popular way of playing nowadays, as it’s quite authentic and introduces a social element. Those looking to play live tables for free will need to find a no-deposit bonus like the one at 888casino.
• Exotic live streams — Some live tables use the Euro rules as a base and include additional elements. This can give you access to progressive jackpots or better European roulette odds with some bets. However, other wagers grant worse payouts to balance things out, so it’s a good idea to read the rules before playing.

The European Roulette Game Has a Low House Edge

Just like in other casino games, the house has a mathematical advantage in roulette. European versions come with a house edge of 2.70%. Most games display this value as a 97.30% RTP (Return to Player) rate, which is used to indicate how much of your money you can expect to recuperate after wagering. The RTP is high for a game that’s entirely luck-based and is better than what you get with most slots and American roulette.

Now, you might be asking yourself, “If I’m expected to lose, why to bother playing European roulette online?” Well, the house edge materializes after millions of rounds, so your luck and the type of bets you prefer will play a much larger role over the short term.

For example, if you wager on single numbers, you’re expected to reach the 97.3% mark much slower than wagering with outside bets. That’s because the risk/reward factor is much higher with the first approach. The chances of correctly predicting a single number are low (37:1), but the reward is high (35:1). Getting a lucky streak going can lead to some big wins, and that’s what some players are after.

Alternatively, you can play with safer bets and increase the risk/reward factor (also known as variance or volatility) by using a European roulette strategy or system. Despite what some people claim, this approach can’t magically remove the house edge. However, it can be fun as long as you play responsibly. Learn more below.

The Risks of Using a European Roulette Strategy

Using systems is quite a common and entertaining way of playing roulette and many other casino games. However, they are not foolproof and can lead to big losses if you’re unlucky. We’ll prove this by reviewing one of the most popular strategies — Martingale.

People tend to use Martingale with outside wagers such as red/black or odd/even because the chances of winning are high. The idea is to start with a small wager like $1 and keep betting this amount as long as you win consecutively. When you eventually lose, you double your wager and keep doing so until you win. Once the win occurs, you go back to $1 bets.

The idea is that if you have a large enough bankroll, you can cover your losses and keep the small winnings from your $1 bets. Although there are no European roulette rules against this type of betting, it is still fundamentally flawed. That’s because long unlucky streaks are always possible.

For example, if you bet on black and the ball falls on red or zero five times in a row, the chances of losing the next game are still the same. After five consecutive losses, you’ll have to wager $32 for a chance to recover $1. If the streak extends to 10 losses, you’ll need to place a whopping $1,024. Even if you have nigh-limitless funds, the tables always have betting limits, so you won’t be able to keep raising your stakes indefinitely.

FAQ

What Bets Can I Place in Online European Roulette?

You can place a large variety of wagers that cover a number, a group of numbers, a color, and large portions of the table.

What’s the Best Bet in European Roulette Online?

Every bet comes with a house edge of 2.70%, so it’s all a matter of choice. Outside bets like black/red and odd/even are suitable for people who prefer to win small amounts more often. Inside wagers like straight-ups and splits are appropriate for high-risk, high-reward bettors.

Is European Roulette Better than the American and French Types?

In terms of the house edge, the Euro version sits in the middle with 2.70%. If you’re price-conscious, it’s best to stick to the French variant and avoid the American one. However, playing online casino European roulette can be quite entertaining, especially if you go for live casino variants with extra features and prizes.

Is European Roulette Luck-Based?

Yes. There’s no skill element involved, so you can think of it as a mini-lottery.

Is Blackjack Better than European Roulette?

In terms of RTP, yes. However, achieving these high returns requires you to master a blackjack approach called basic strategy, which isn’t always easy. The European roulette rules are much simpler, and the difference in the casino advantage between the two games is only around 2%.

Can a European Roulette Strategy Help Me Beat the House?

No. Betting systems can be effective at times, but they can also bust your bankroll quite easily. The casino has an advantage in every bet, and there are table limits preventing you from using progressive and regressive systems indefinitely.

[top3rlt]