European Roulette Online
One of the easiest and best online casino games to learn is the classic European Roulette game. It is undeniably one of the least challenging yet most exciting casino games. With its rich history that stems back to the 17th century, the game has been played by European kings and queens and it has become a popular roulette variation due to a number of factors.
Basic Strategies for European Roulette
Since European roulette has been played for hundreds of years, a lot of people have devised strategies for the game. It is worth noting that the game relies on chance alone. This means that the best you can do is use some strategies to maximise your bankroll so you can earn bigger profits in the long run. Let’s take a look at some of the premium European roulette strategies that you can use in online and mobile casinos apps.
Choose to Play European Roulette Online
Apply a good roulette strategy by always choosing European roulette over the American counterpart. When you play online European roulette, the house edge for it is just 2.70% while in American roulette, the house edge is 5.26%. The reason behind the big difference in house edge is the fact that American roulette is played with a single zero as well as a double zero. Having 0 and a 00 increases the house edge since there is another number to choose from, but the payout to be given to a winning single number bet still remains the same.
Aside from the better odds, another benefit you can get from playing online European roulette is the easier management of funds. When playing the game in brick-and-mortar casinos, a number of people can be placing bets at the same time. Since the bets and payouts are managed by a croupier, the transactions are subject to human error. When you play European roulette online, the wagers and payouts are managed by a software that has been tested to be foolproof and secure. So, you can rest easy knowing that you are getting paid accurately when you win. Moreover, you can go to your online casino account and see how much you’ve been spending and winning which enables you to manage your bankroll more efficiently.
And they’re just some of the benefits of playing European Roulette online. There are plenty more! If playing the game online is new to you, then read through our HitYah page on all the advantages of playing roulette online.
Place More Outside Bets
When you’re playing European roulette online or in a brick and mortar casino, it is important to remember that betting on outside bets will bring lower payouts but higher chances of winning. Focusing on outside bets is a great strategy to use especially when you are just beginning to play European roulette. If you are willing to take higher risks that offer bigger rewards, it is best to place wagers on small groups of numbers.
Place inside bets on adjacent numbers. Place a Split bet on two numbers that offer a 17 to 1 payout or a Line bet on three numbers in a row that offer an 11 to 1 payout. You can also choose to place a Corner bet on four numbers that offer an 8 to 1 payout as well as a six Line bet on six numbers that offer a 5 to 1 payout.
Spreading Bets is Good but Avoid Overdoing it
Most European roulette newbies commit the mistake of overspreading their bets. They focus more on placing several types of bets for the same chances of winning as making fewer bets for less money would give.
Let’s say you are placing £1 chips on each of the eighteen low numbers along with £2 chips on each of the high eighteen numbers. This means that you are wagering a total of £54. Given that the ball settles on a low number, you would win £1 x 35 = £35. On the other hand, if the ball settles on a high number, you would win £2 x 35 = £70. If the ball lands on a zero, you will lose the entire £54 that you wagered.
Now, think of placing a single bet of £35 on the low eighteen numbers (aka an Outside Low Bet) which will potentially give you a 1 to 1 payout. Let’s say the ball settles on one of the low 18 numbers. This means that you will win £70. On the other hand, if the ball lands on one of the 18 high numbers, you would lose your initial £35. From this example, you will see that over spreading your bets with a total of £54 will have the same potential win ratio as placing a single even-money bet of £35. So, why should you risk the extra £19 when you do not have to?
Try Playing Free European Roulette First
Before you start placing real money bets, try playing European roulette free online first. You can easily get confused with all the betting strategies we presented here. So, it is best if you practice with fake money before you use your actual money in playing European roulette online. That is why it is good to know that you can easily find online casino bonuses which will give you free credits that you can use to try the game. Practice and once you have gotten the hang of it, deposit funds and start playing at online casino real money sites.
Why European Roulette is so Popular
Among all the roulette variations in both brick-and-mortar and online casinos, European roulette suits the preferences of a wide range of players. There are several reasons behind this. First is the fact that the game is easy to teach and learn. Another factor is the wide range of bets it offers, allowing players with varied bankroll – from conservative punters to high rollers – to enjoy the game. The other aspect of the game that makes it so popular is how it offers punters a greater chance to earn since the house edge is just 2.63%.
Basic Details about European Roulette
The wheel of a European roulette has 37 divisions where players can find numbers 1 to 36 along with a single 0. The single zero is coloured green while numbers 1 to 36 are alternately coloured in red and black. It is the player’s objective to accurately predict which numbered pocket the roulette ball is going to land into. In order to accomplish that, the player should place wagers on a particular number/s. Once that has been done, the dealer will then spin the roulette wheel and spin the ball to the opposite direction. Once the ball settles into a pocket, the respective players receive their payout.
Around one to eight participants usually join a round of European roulette. The game starts when the croupier announces “Place your bets” or “Faites vos jeux.” This is the time when players will be allowed to place roulette bets. The croupier will then spin the wheel and the ball. Once the ball has about two revolutions more to go, he announces “No more bets” or “Rien ne va plus.” From this point on, no additional bets will be accepted. When the ball settles into one of the 37 numbered pockets, the winning number is announced. Losing bets will be surrendered to the house and the winning bets will be paid out.
Types of European Roulette Bets
In online live casinos and brick and mortar casinos, the roulette table’s betting layout is composed of two sections – individual number bets and group bets. Punters playing European roulette can take advantage of two main betting categories – inside and outside bets. Inside bets are place on a single number, small group of numbers or adjacent numbers. On the other hand, outside bets cover larger groups of numbers. Almost all the types of bets offer odds of winning and payouts that are different from each other. Sometimes, you will find UK online casino sites that do not specifically list the payouts and odds on the roulette table. So, before you enter a round of European roulette, it is best that you make yourself aware of the odds and payouts related to each bet. Let us discuss European roulette’s inside and outside bets.
European Roulette Inside Bets
- Straight-up bet – this bet is placed on any single number, including the single 0. Payout for this bet is 35 to 1.
- Split bet – a bet placed on two adjacent numbers with a payout of 17 to 1.
- Street bet – betting on three numbers in a row. It is placed on the line at the end of the row. Other options for the bet’s placement are also available, including 0, 1, 2; 0, 2, 3. Payout for this bet is 11 to 1.
- Corner bet – a bet that is placed at the crossroads of four numbers. Payout for this bet is 8 to 1.
- Line bet – featuring six numbers (or two rows with three numbers), this bet is placed on the border between the end of two rows. Payout for this bet is 5 to 1.
European Roulette Outside Bets
- Column bet – featuring an entire column, this bet is placed at the end of the column, on the “2-1” box. Payout for this bet is 2 to 1.
- Dozen bet – betting on a group of 12 numbers. It can be placed on the box labelled “1st 12” (1 to 12), “2nd 12” (13 to 24) or “3rd 12” (25 to 36). Payout for this bet is 2 to 1.
- Colour bet – betting on the red numbers or the black numbers on the wheel. Payout for this bet is 1 to 1.
- Odd/Even bet – bets placed on the “Odd” box (for all odd numbers) and the “Even” box (for all even numbers). Payout for this bet is 1 to 1.
- High/low bet – bets placed on the low numbers (1 to 18) or the high numbers (19 to 36). Payout for this bet is 1 to 1.
Variations of the “In Prison” Rule
If the ball lands on the single 0 and a player placed an even money outside bet (Red/Black, Even/Odd, Low/High), they are able to take advantage of the “imprisonment” rule. The player will either get 50% of their bet, or the entire bet will be imprisoned. If the bet turns out to win on the next round, it will be given back to the player without any earnings.
If the ball lands on zero on the following wheel spin, the results now depend on the rules set out by a casino in a particular location in Europe. If you are in Europe, you will find that there are four variations of the “in prison” rule, depending on the location where the game is played.
Hamburg European Roulette “En Prison” Rule
If you are playing European roulette in Hamburg and the ball drops into the 0 pocket, you will recover 50% of your even-money outside bets.
Berlin European Roulette Imprisonment Rule
If the ball settles into the 0 slot, the even-money outside bets will be imprisoned. If the initial bet turns out to be a winner, the player gets to recover the initial bet. On the other hand, if the ball once again settles on the 0, the imprisoned bet will be surrendered to the house. In Berlin, players are typically permitted to request the imprisoned bet to be removed from one even-money bet to another.
France European Roulette “In Prison” Rule
Some casinos in France allow bets to be placed on an “even chances line.” Let’s say a player places a colour bet on black and the ball settles in the 0 pocket. The bet will then be placed on the line below the black diamond. If the ball settles into a black coloured pocket, the player gets to recover the bet. On the other hand, if the ball settles into a red coloured pocket, the house gets to take the bet. If the next winner is still a 0, the bet will stay on the line until a black or red number wins. In this case, the player will either choose to let the bet remain on the line or to surrender 50% of the bet.
Netherlands Imprisonment Rule in European Roulette
In the Netherlands, if the ball settles on 0 for two consecutive times, the bet will be under “double imprisonment.” In this case, the player has to win the next two bets in order to recover the initial bet. If the player loses the next bet or if the ball settles in the zero pocket for the third time, the house gets to take the initial bet. However, players still have the option to surrender 50% of the initial bet if they do not want to undergo “double imprisonment.”
In Prison Rule in Online European Roulette
What’s great about online casino gaming is that you can play European roulette no matter where you are located. So the question is, “What are the imprisonment rules for online European roulette?” When you play European roulette at the best online casinos and the ball settles into the 0 pocket, you get the chance to recover your initial bet. It will be imprisoned for another spin. While other places in Europe offer different variations on how you can win your initial bet back, in most online casinos, they only have one condition. You can recover your initial bet if you win on the next spin. If you lose, the house gets to take your bet.
Difference Between a Roulette System and Roulette
When learning about an effective European roulette strategy, it is worth noting that this topic is different from a roulette system. There are a lot of people who claim to have developed a foolproof and guaranteed roulette system. Try to avoid these because the truth still remains that even after hundreds of years of having the game, no one has managed to use a roulette system that will help them gain consistent wins.