Offering better odds and gameplay than its American cousin, European roulette rightly earns its reputation as the premier version of this classic casino game. With a single zero wheel creating higher win chances for players, European roulette brings all the fun without as much house edge standing in the way of those 36:1 payouts. Read on to learn everything about the rules, bets, odds, strategy, and top tips for success!
How European Roulette Works
Fundamentally, the goal stays the same as all roulette variants – predict which pocket the ivory ball will land in once the wheel stops spinning. But a few key differences in European roulette impact winning probabilities:
- 37 total pockets (1-36, plus a single 0)
- Lower house edge (2.7% vs 5.26% in American)
- “La Partage” and “En Prison” rules that refund part or all of even money bets when 0 hits
- Higher payouts on winning inside and outside bets
With the odds tipped more in the player’s favor, these factors combine to make European roulette a preferred game for many advantage play bettors.
Inside and Outside Bets
Roulette earns its reputation for flexibility by allowing players to bet on outcomes across the table in multiple ways:
Inside Bets:
- Straight Up – Single number – 35:1 payout
- Split – On line between two adjoining numbers – 17:1 payout
- Street – Row of three numbers – 11:1 payout
- Corner – Square of four numbers – 8:1 payout
- Line – Six numbers comprising two street rows – 5:1 payout
Outside Bets:
- Column – 12 numbers in a column – 2:1 payout
- Dozen – 12 numbers (1st/2nd/3rd dozens) – 2:1 payout
- Red/Black – Color outcome – 1:1 payout
- Odd/Even – Odd or even number result – 1:1 payout
- High/Low – High or low set of numbers – 1:1 payout
Balancinginside and outside bets lets players align risk versus reward.
Probability and House Edge by Bet
Understanding the probability of each bet winning and built-in house edge is vital for players looking to use optimal European roulette strategy:
| Bet | Win Probability | House Edge |
| Straight Up | 2.70% | 2.70% |
| Split | 5.41% | 2.70% |
As shown above, while certain inside bets like Straight Up have bigger 36:1 payout potential, they only win 1 in 37 spins on average. Contrast that with column and dozens bets that win 32% of the time but have lower 2:1 ratio payouts.
Top 5 Tips and Strategies to Win at European Roulette
- Manage your bankroll properly and set loss limits
- Balance inside and outside bet types to diversify risk
- Take advantage of the favorable “La Partage Rule” on even bets
- Consistently bet smaller amounts rather than sporadically betting big
- Stop playing when ahead to protect winnings from house edge over long run
While still a game of chance, following these tips can help players reduce risk and capitalize on winning European roulette spins when luck strikes!