Walk into any online casino serving UK players and you will find multiple roulette variants listed in the lobby. European, French, American — and increasingly more exotic modern variations. The differences between them are not cosmetic. The number of zero pockets and the specific rules in play directly determine the house edge, which in roulette ranges from 1.35% to 5.26% depending on which version you choose. This article maps out the key variants and explains why your choice of wheel matters.
The Roulette Wheel: What You Are Spinning
A roulette wheel is a numbered bowl divided into coloured pockets. The ball is released and settles into one pocket at random. Bets are placed on a felt layout predicting where the ball will land — a specific number, a colour, a range of numbers, or various other groupings.
The game's house edge is created by the zero pockets. They are coloured green and are not covered by any of the standard even-money bets (red/black, odd/even, high/low). When the ball lands on zero, those bets lose — or are modified by special rules in French roulette. The number of zero pockets, and whether any compensating rules apply, defines each variant's true cost.
European Roulette
European roulette uses a wheel with 37 pockets: numbers 1 through 36 plus a single zero. The numbers 1 through 36 alternate between red and black; the zero pocket is green.
House Edge
Because the wheel has 37 pockets but single-number bets pay only 35:1, there is a structural one-pocket deficit every time you bet a straight-up number. Across all bet types on the European wheel, this translates to a uniform house edge of 2.70%.
All bets on a European wheel carry the same 2.70% house edge. The bet type — straight up, split, street, corner, column, dozen, or even-money — does not change this underlying edge. The only thing that changes is the variance: outside bets win more frequently but for smaller amounts; inside bets win rarely but for larger amounts.
The Pocket Order
Numbers are not arranged in sequence around the wheel. The specific arrangement — 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25, 17, 34, 6, 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33, 1, 20, 14, 31, 9, 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26 — is designed to balance high and low numbers and alternate red and black positions around the wheel as evenly as possible. This arrangement is used for racetrack bets (called bets) that cover sections of the wheel by geographic position rather than numerical grouping.
French Roulette
French roulette uses the same single-zero wheel as European roulette. The difference is in the rules applied when the zero is hit.
La Partage
When the ball lands on zero, all even-money bets (rouge/noir, pair/impair, passe/manque) receive back half their stake. The other half is surrendered to the house. This rule reduces the house edge on even-money bets from 2.70% to exactly half: 1.35%.
En Prison
An alternative to La Partage offered at some tables. Instead of returning half the stake, the even-money bet is imprisoned — held for the next spin. If the next spin wins, the full original stake is returned (but no profit). If the next spin also hits zero, the bet is surrendered or imprisoned again depending on table rules. En Prison delivers mathematically identical long-run returns to La Partage: 1.35% house edge on even-money bets.
Which Bets Does French Roulette Improve?
Only even-money bets benefit from La Partage or En Prison. Inside bets — straight up, split, corner, and so on — carry the same 2.70% house edge as European roulette. French roulette is therefore most beneficial if you prefer to bet on red/black or odd/even.
American Roulette
American roulette uses a wheel with 38 pockets: numbers 1 through 36, a single zero (0), and a double zero (00). Both zero pockets are green and neither is covered by even-money bets.
House Edge
The additional double zero pocket increases the house edge from 2.70% to 5.26% across all standard bets. The single-number payout remains 35:1, but the true odds of hitting any specific number are now 37:1 rather than 36:1. That extra pocket goes straight to the house.
The Five-Number Bet
American roulette has one unique bet unavailable anywhere else: the five-number bet, also called the basket bet, covering 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. This bet pays 6:1. Its house edge is approximately 7.89% — the highest on the table. It should be avoided.
Is There Any Reason to Play American Roulette?
At a purely mathematical level, no. European and French roulette offer strictly superior odds. The only circumstances in which you might reasonably sit at an American table are if it is the only option available, or if a bonus or promotion specifically applies to American roulette with terms that offset the higher house edge. In practice, every UKGC-licensed online casino offers European or French roulette, so American roulette is rarely the only choice.
Other Roulette Variants
Double Ball Roulette
Uses the European single-zero wheel but launches two balls per spin. Outside bets require both balls to satisfy the condition for a full payout, or pay reduced odds if only one satisfies it. The house edge varies by bet but is comparable to European roulette.
Multi-Wheel Roulette
Players bet on one layout but up to eight wheels spin simultaneously. Bets apply to all active wheels. This multiplies exposure without changing the per-wheel house edge of 2.70%.
Mini Roulette
A simplified wheel with only 13 pockets: numbers 1 through 12 plus a zero. The La Partage rule usually applies automatically. The house edge is approximately 3.85% — worse than European but not as bad as American. Mainly found as a novelty variant.
Side Bets
Some live roulette tables offer side bets — additional wagers placed alongside the main spin. These include Lucky Dip (picking a random number on your behalf) and various pattern bets. House edges on roulette side bets are typically higher than the main game. Treat them as entertainment rather than strategy.
Choosing the Right Variant: A Summary
| Variant | Zeros | Even-Money House Edge | All Other Bets | |---|---|---|---| | French (with La Partage) | 1 | 1.35% | 2.70% | | European | 1 | 2.70% | 2.70% | | American | 2 | 5.26% | 5.26% |
The hierarchy is clear: French roulette with La Partage for even-money bets is the best value, European roulette is a solid second, and American roulette is significantly more expensive.
Practical Advice for UK Players
All UK-facing online roulette games operate under UKGC licences. RNG-based roulette uses certified random number generators. Live dealer roulette uses physical wheels in licensed studios. Both formats are equally fair in legal terms.
Before choosing a table, check:
- Is the wheel single or double zero?
- Does the table offer La Partage or En Prison on even-money bets?
- What are the minimum and maximum stakes?
Minimum bets at UK online casinos typically start at £0.50 or £1 on outside bets for standard tables, with live tables often starting at £1 to £5. Maximums on a single outside bet at standard live tables typically reach £5,000 to £10,000.
Set a session budget before you play and use the deposit limit and session timer tools that UKGC sites are required to provide. No betting system — Martingale, Fibonacci, D'Alembert — changes the underlying house edge. Managing your bankroll wisely determines how long you play, not whether you win.
Conclusion
The most important decision in roulette is choosing the right wheel. French roulette with La Partage delivers the lowest house edge in the game at 1.35% on even-money bets. European roulette is a reliable second choice at 2.70%. American roulette costs nearly twice as much as European and should be avoided when alternatives exist. Everything else — the specific bet mix, the table limit, the variant name — is secondary to getting the wheel right.