The Different Variations of Roulette

Roulette, with its iconic spinning wheel and the thrill of predicting where the ball will land, has been a favourite for ages. It's a classic staple found at any respectable casino, loved by players in New Zealand and around the globe for its many international versions and varieties.

But what are the different types of roulette available at the best online casinos for Kiwis? The three most common variations are American, European, and French. Each offers unique rules, board layouts, house edges, and special twists that make playing at different roulette tables so engaging.

American Roulette: The Extra 00 Pocket

American roulette is played on a wheel featuring 38 slots: numbers 1 through 36, a single zero (0), and a double zero (00). The numbered slots are divided between red and black pockets, while the zero slots are always green.

That extra "00" slot is the key difference that sets American roulette apart. This additional pocket significantly increases the house edge compared to the European or French versions. The number of pockets also affects the variety of betting options available to players.

European Roulette: A Kiwi Favourite

The European roulette wheel features 37 slots, numbered 1 to 36, plus a single green zero. Each number from 1 to 36 is either on a red or black background. European roulette is incredibly popular in New Zealand and globally, largely because its house edge is smaller than American roulette.

The absence of the double zero slot is the main distinction from the American version. This smaller house edge makes European roulette a more appealing choice for players looking to employ strategies and potentially increase their winning chances.

With its single zero slot, European roulette offers a house edge of approximately 2.70%. This means players have a reduced chance of the ball landing in a losing pocket compared to American roulette, making your betting NZD go further.

French Roulette: "La Version Francaise"

The French roulette wheel has also 37 roulette numbers (1 through 36 plus a single zero) just like the European version. French roulette differs most significantly from European roulette in its rules and betting possibilities.

France's take on the roulette game has its own set of rules and betting possibilities that set it apart from other variants. French roulette has its own distinct betting possibilities like "voisins du zero," "orphelins," and "tiers du cylindre," in addition to the standard "en prison" and "en prisoner" bets.

If a person bets even money (red/black, odd/even, high/low, etc.) and the ball falls in the zero slot, he or she will only lose half of their original wager (the La Partage regulation). French roulette offers the best chances to players because of this rule, which lowers the house edge on even-money bets to 1.35%.

Other Online Roulette Game Versions

After so many years, it's quite understandable that roulette offers different versions already. Plus, the creation of live dealer roulette has launched even more variations, thus giving the game a modern twist.

Multi-Wheel Roulette, Mini Roulette, and 3D Roulette are just a few of the many roulette variants out there - all three of them are also live versions. It's common practice for online casinos to allow players to practice these variants for free before allowing them to bet real money.

Mini Roulette

Thanks to software providers like Playtech and Evolution Gaming, roulette fans are now able to play Mini Roulette, which is a smaller version of the original online game. Mini Roulette can adapt to smaller screens - despite being played on a PC or laptop. This allows players to play roulette while doing another activity, like betting during a game.

Multi-Wheel Roulette

If one roulette wheel simply doesn't make it, there's also the chance to bet on roulette with up to eight games simultaneously. Multi-Wheel Roulette follows the European Roulette rules, with all of the games happening at the same time.

Live Dealer Roulette

Live dealer games are the perfect blend between the real-life experience and online versions. In the case of roulette, the live dealer roulette games allow players to interact with the dealer, watch an actual wheel spin, while making bets that the dealer places on a real table. Plus, live dealer roulette has multiple versions in most live casinos.

Pinball Roulette

It's time to forget about the classic roulette wheel and replace it with something fresh, like a pinball machine. This is the principle of Pinball Roulette, most famously from Playtech. The game bases on European Roulette rules, with a big difference in the layout. Obviously, this makes the game more exciting and dynamic.

Conclusion

Each roulette online game offers thrilling action. However, online roulette games are all different and it's crucial to get a hang of them before starting. For example, due to the La Partage rules, players have a better chance of winning in French roulette than in American roulette. In order to make the most of your online roulette experience, it is important to not only understand the differences between the various versions of the game but also to have a solid grasp of the roulette rules and common pitfalls to avoid.

Players can use the same strategies in all versions of roulette, but it's vital to be familiar with how many numbers on a roulette wheel there are, each version's rules and house edges to optimize winnings. It's recommended that players try out various types of roulette gamble online to discover the one they enjoy playing the most.