The Virtual Roulette Table Explained: Layout, Symbols, and Betting Options

Key Takeaways

  • Roulette comes in three variants: European, American, and French
  • Out of the three roulette variations, American offers the highest house edge
  • Roulette wheel allows for placing outside, inside, or called bets 
  • French Roulette has the best house edge due to rules like En Prison and La Partage.

Roulette is one of our favorite categories at online casinos due to its easy rules and mechanics. The game happens on a roulette table with colored and numbered segments. All you need to do is predict where the ball falls. 

Sounds easy, right? Well, there’s more to the game than this simple explanation. This article discusses all you need to know about playing the table game.

What Is an Online Roulette Table

From experience, both online and traditional roulette use the same wheel. As I mentioned in the introduction, you need to predict where the ball falls in this interesting table game.

Roulette comes in different types at online casinos. You’ll find the American, French, and European online roulette variants. Although they have the same mechanics, these games differ slightly.

European roulette retains the standard practice of one ball and 1-37 numbers. However, some players prefer the American version with two balls and 1-38 numbers.

One reason many players choose online roulette is its convenience. Rather than going to land-based casinos to enjoy this game, you play from the comfort of your home. Roulette tables are open 24/7 at iGaming platforms.

These games come with realistic animations and high-quality graphics, making them visually appealing and engaging. Also, the user interface is fluid and intuitive. This eliminates distractions, allowing players to focus on the game. 

Features like multiplayer modes and chat options ensure you enjoy an immersive experience playing your chosen roulette title at the casino. 

Key Components of the Online Roulette Table Layout

Both online and land-based roulette tables have some key elements. These are:

  • Number Grid: These are layouts of numbers (1-36, plus 0 or 00, depending on the variation). For context, European and French roulette have one zero. However, for American roulette, the zero is double.
  • Betting Area: The roulette wheel contains a betting area where players place their chips on specific numbers or bet types. Some online casinos allow you to place as little as $0.10. You set and adjust your bet amount in this area before the game round begins.
  • Coloring: The roulette wheel comes in red and black alternating numbers, with green for 0 and 00. You wager on black sections or opt for numbers in the red pockets. The green segments contain one or two zeros depending on your chosen variation.
  • Outside Bet Area: You’ll find spaces for betting on red/black, odd/even, high/low, columns, and dozens on the roulette wheel. As expected, each comes with different payouts.

Types of Roulette Wheels and Their Table Layouts

As mentioned earlier, roulette has different variants, such as:

European Roulette

This is the standard for the classic roulette game. It comes with 37 pockets (0-36) and one zero. The single zero is responsible for its lower house edge at 2.7%. 

Most players see European Roulette as unbiased. That’s because the numbers and colors are distributed across its wheel in a symmetric and even way, eliminating any predetermination and doubt about possible outcomes. 

American Roulette

Unlike the European Roulette, the American variant has 38 pockets (0-00). The additional zero leads to a higher house edge (5.26%). 

American Roulette‘s house edge is considered the highest among the three variants. We also observed that the numbers are stacked so that high numbers are close to each other. This feature is missing in the European version.

Also called Double Zero roulette, we recommend this variant if you’re craving something unique.

French Roulette 

Like the European version, French Roulette contains special rules such as La Partage and En Prison for better odds. In our opinion, the variant has the best house edge.

As a matter of fact, the additional gameplay mechanics are the only significant difference between French and European Roulette.

The game’s house edge is supposed to be the same as the European version. However, these extra rules ensure each time you land a zero, there’s an option to withdraw half of your money or keep your wager. This reduces the house edge to 1.34%.

All these roulette types also exist as Live roulette games to be played at any casinos.

Main Betting Options on the Roulette Table

You need to place bets to play roulette at online casinos. If you’re ready to start, here are the main betting options available on roulette tables:

  • Inside Bets: These types of wager include straight, split, street, corner, and six-line. Inside bet focuses on specific numbers or combinations. Therefore, this type of stake has lower winning chances and higher payouts.
  • Outside Bets: These are wagers involving a large group of Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low, Dozens, or Columns. From these available options, the most popular are classic outside bets, such as odd or even, black or red. We recommend this stake for new players, as they offer regular wins. 
  • Call Bets: You’ll find called bets on European and French Roulette. These are specific bets based on wheel segments (Voisins du Zero and Orphelins). In simple terms, here, you wager on a group of numbers according to the position on the wheel rather than only the table. 

Call bets come in two types: fixed and variable. The latter option changes depending on the player’s preference, while the former isn’t subject to changes. 

The Odds and House Edge on the Online Roulette Table

Since roulette has three versions, expect various house edges and odds for each table. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how house edge and odds are calculated for each variant.

European Roulette

A house edge means the part of your bet you’ll lose to the casino for every spin of the wheel. For European Roulette, it’s 2.70%. Note that this doesn’t mean for every $100 you wager, you’ll lose only $2.70. 

There’s a possibility of losing all of your bets or winning a small amount. It simply means the imaginary amount your bet costs you over a period.

American Roulette

Some players avoid playing this variant as the double zero increases its house edge from 2.70% to 5.26%. Hence, it’s seen as a way to lose money. Simply put, the odds of losing your money are doubled in this variant. This leads to a higher house edge as both are interlinked.

French Roulette

Due to the La Partage and En Prison rules, the house edge on this variant was reduced from 2.70% to 1.34%.

Note that there are 37 possible outcomes in European and French roulette. Simply split the results into winning and losing to calculate the winning probabilities. 

For context, if you place a $100 stake on red, when you win, you’ll get the $100, and if you lose, you kiss the $100 goodbye. 

We need to divide the wager equality to calculate the probability for this bet. There are 1-36 numbers plus one pocket on the wheel. When you split them equally, you’ll get:

  • Probability of winning = 18/37 (red numbers)
  • The probability of losing = 19/37 (black and green numbers)

Tips for Navigating the Online Roulette Table

Playing through the roulette table is pretty easy. Simply follow these tips for the best experience:

Choose tables with single zero wheels for better odds. As we’ve repeatedly mentioned, European and French roulette have better odds and lower house edge than the American variant. Therefore, we recommend starting with them for a rewarding gambling experience.

Start with outside bets for beginners to minimize risk. While outside bets have lower payouts, they offer regular wins compared to inside stakes. Therefore, it’s best for new players as they help to minimize risks and manage the bankroll.

Understand table limits and rules before playing. It’s best to study the table rules and limits before starting gameplay. You can also play free roulette games in the demo mode to help you practice. That way, you structure your moves and place potentially winning bets.

Differences Between Land-based and Online Roulette Tables

While the online and land-based roulette tables have many features in common, there are still a few differences. For context, online roulette offers 24/7 accessibility. You play the game anytime, anywhere. 

Also, you’ll find multiple variants of the game at online casinos. While we’ve mentioned three types of roulettes, online gambling platforms often offer various variations of these roulettes, sometimes up to 100. 

Lastly, the virtual betting interface at online casinos makes placing bets easy. You even enjoy playing roulette in real-time at online casinos via the live options.

Alternatively, land-based casinos have limited betting options, and gameplay is often slower-paced. Most importantly, you’ll deal with a croupier and a physical roulette wheel.

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