While conceptually the game of Roulette is consistent throughout all the variations that are available, this does not mean that all the games of Roulette are equal. It is important that you understand the differences among the variations of the game, to include house edge and odds. Randomly selecting a roulette variant to play without understanding the dynamics of that version could put you a distinct disadvantage and cause you to come out loosing simply by not knowing the intricate details that set the variants apart form each other. Putting all strategies and playing schemes aside, there are basic fundamentals that determine the potential of the game, such as the house edge, which differs significantly depending on which variation you are playing.
Different Variations Of Roulette
The most commonly offered Roulette variants are Mini-Roulette, American Roulette, European Roulette, and French Roulette. When judging the house edge, you are looking for the lowest percentage possible in a house edge measurement. The house edge reflects how much the house gets out of the game for themselves. Mini-Roulette would easily be considered to have the worst house edge from among the variants we are discussing. While off the cuff it appears to be a simplified version, this does not mean that the odds are any better, and in fact, with this game, they are worse. The Mini-Roulette wheel is only numbered 0-12. As in traditional Roulette, landing on the 0 causes everyone to loose their bets except for those that bet on 0. The smaller wheel ensures that 0 comes up more often than on the larger versions, hence increasing the house edge exponentially to a whopping 7.69%, not very favorable for players.
American Roulette
American Roulette is another version that is not too player friendly when it comes to the house edge. This variation includes a 0 and a 00, both of which cause all bets to loose except for those bets specifically placed on those numbers, which in essence doubles the odds for loosing your bet. The house edge for this game is 5.26%, not much better than the Mini-Roulette.
European Roulette
A more preferred game of Roulette with a much more favorable house edge is European Roulette. The wheel is number 0-36, and is therefor advantageous over Mini-Roulette because it has more numbers to bet on, and is advantageous over American Roulette because it has only one pocket that causes bets to be lost as opposed to the 0 and 00.
French Roulette
The only variation that has a better position than European Roulette, and is being offered more and more frequently in online casinos is French Roulette. The advantage to French Roulette is the La Partage rule, which in essence means if 0 is called, then half of the even money bets are returned to the players. This brings the house edge down to a friendly 1.35%, much better than the other variations being offered.
If you are looking for the Roulette version that is remarkably exciting and has the best house edge, then French Roulette is definitely the way to go. It is just as exhilarating as the other variations, but with the better odds, your chances of coming out a winner are significantly improved. If you are new to Roulette in general, then the online venue is a great place to learn the ropes as most online casinos have a practice mode in which you can play for free to become acclimated to the gaming environment and the betting schematics before you place any real money wagers. This increases the comfort level of new players and in turn increases their enjoyment once they start placing real money bets. Just about all reputable online casinos offer several variations of online Roulette, and French Roulette, the preferred game of choice for those looking for the lowest house edge, is becoming more and more popular throughout the online gaming community. So join in the fun and experience for yourself what all the excitement surrounding Roulette is all about. |