Roulette is by far and away the most popular wheel game played in casinos today, however even the keenest players have probably given very little thought to one of the most important aspects of the game – the roulette wheel itself.
Roulette wheels have been around for hundreds of years and, while modern wheels may be more consistent and reliable than their older counterparts, the basics of the way they function and operate are the same as they were in 18th Century France.
#78749920 - isolated wheel and layout of american roulette. Add to Likebox #43870499 - Vector layout of european and american roulette table wheel. Add to Likebox #56411994 - illustration of american roulette wheel isolated on white background. American Roulette Wheel and Table. The American version of the game features an extra slot but the payouts remain the same, pushing the house edge up to 5.26% from the 2.7% you get with the European game. When it comes to real casinos, you’ll only find this table in the USA, Canada and high end casinos in places like London. The roulette wheel is the central element to any roulette game, be that in a brick and mortar casino or online. New players to the game are often unsure as to how many numbers on a roulette wheel there actually are or even how the wheel layout looks from one game to another. So, American roulette has 38 sectors on the wheel. And in American roulette players have chips of their own colors: every player gets a set of certain color chips to differ from other players. It is convenient. The American Roulette rules are quite simple and almost the same as in European Roulette. American Wheel Sequence. The American version of roulette is known for having the highest casino advantage of them all, peaking at 5.26%. This is all because of the extra green slot, labelled ‘double zero’. With its addition, the total number of pockets on the American roulette wheel become 38.
History of the Roulette Wheel
While roulette wheels have always contained numbered pockets that represented the numbers players could bet on during a game, the exact layout of the wheel has changed several times throughout history.
The first wheels that definitely used something similar to modern rules were found in Paris in 1796. The early version of the roulette wheel was similar to the modern American wheel and featured 36 numbers along with a zero and double zero. Early on, one of the zeroes was colored red, while the other was colored black. This was to make it clear that these spots would not win on even money bets. The zeroes were changed to green, a change that has remained to this day.
In 1843 a casino in Hamburg decided they wanted to attract players by offering a better roulette game than their competitors. They realized that even if they made changes that favored the player, roulette could still have enough of an edge for the casino to make the game profitable. This lead to the roulette table adopting a single zero wheel – a game that remains known as European roulette today.
Meanwhile, roulette was also gaining popularity in the United States, albeit with a rather different style. The roulette wheel in America in the 19th century featured only 28 numbers, as well as a zero, a double zero, and the iconic American eagle symbol (which essentially acted as a third zero). This may be the version of roulette with the highest house edge in history, as single number bets paid 27-1 and there were 31 spots on the wheel. The house held a 9.68% advantage over players! Not surprisingly, this wheel would eventually fall out of fashion and the eagle was removed from the roulette wheel.
Eventually, the traditional French wheel – the one with two zeroes – made its way through New Orleans and into the United States, becoming the de facto standard there. Meanwhile, the German wheel became the one used in European casinos, leading to the situation today where both American roulette and European roulette have been allowed to flourish in different parts of the world. Both of these wheels now feature 36 numbered pockets divided evenly between red and black colors, while the zeroes – one in European roulette, and two in American roulette – are colored green.
Modern technology and the broadening of player tastes means we can expect to see some different styles of roulette wheels, be it online, digital or in a live casino. Recently Al Moe wrote about the ç, which features two sets of numbers on different rings, yet on the same wheel. It offers a whole world of new and exciting odds. We can expect to see more of these innovative designs in the future.
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Roulette Wheel and Table Layouts
Although it may be difficult to discern a pattern when you look at the numbers on a roulette table, it should be noted that they are not randomly distributed. Instead, a specific order of numbers is used at most casinos, beginning with the single zero and moving from there. However, the pattern is (necessarily) different between the single-zero and double-zero wheels.
In European single-zero games, the pattern of numbers is especially important, as certain bets (known as French bets) are commonly made that cover portions of the wheel. For instance, Voisins du zéro (neighbors of zero) covers the 17 numbers that surround the zero on the wheel, including the zero itself. Other French bets cover thirds of the wheel, such as the 12 numbers between 27 and 33 on the layout (including those two numbers).
The colors associated with each number are not random either and follow a fairly simply pattern. For the number ranges 1-10 and 19-28, odd numbers are red, while even numbers are black. Conversely, in the number ranges 11-18 and 29-36, odd numbers are black and even numbers are red.
European Roulette
European roulette is the form of roulette most commonly encountered in casinos in Asia, Europe and Africa. Online casinos do tend to offer both American and European roulette; however players who have the choice should virtually always choose an European roulette table as it offers far better odds to the players.
All European roulette games feature a single zero wheel, without the double-zero (00) found on American wheels. This is immediately beneficial for the player, as it lowers the house edge on most bets to just 2.7%.
However, true European roulette games also feature what is known as the “en prison” rule. Under this rule, players at the roulette table will have a chance to recover their bets should they make a wager on any of the even money bets (such as odd/even or red/black) and see the ball land on the zero.
What exactly happens to bets in this case can vary depending on the rules at your casino. In some casinos, the player will immediately get half of their bet back, cutting the house edge to 1.35%. However, the player may also choose to keep the bet “imprisoned”, hoping to win on the next spin.
Should the next spin result in a win for that bet the player will receive their entire bet back, while a loss will result in the loss of the entire bet. If the ball should land on zero again, the bet may be lost, held over again for the next spin, or become “double-imprisoned” – depending on the rules at that casino. From the player’s perspective, however, simply surrendering half of their bet at the start is a slightly better bet than going through the imprisonment process.
European roulette games are also known for the “French bets” that are sometimes associated with them. On some European roulette table layouts you will see added betting areas that allow you to bet on specific regions of the wheel. These bets are particularly popular in high-stakes games.
American Roulette
American roulette is the version of the game that is most often found in the Americas, particularly in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and South American casinos. In this version, the roulette wheel traditionally contains 38 numbers. It has the numbers 1-36, as well as both a zero (0) and double zero (00).
With an American roulette table, nearly all bets pay out at odds that would be fair if it were not for the presence of the two zeroes. For instance, a single number bet pays 35-1 with the house edge being added by the zero and double zero spaces. Thus, on almost all bets, the house edge is 5.26%.
In some casinos that spread American roulette, single-zero wheels are also available at higher limits. These games carry a house edge of 2.7%, similar to most European roulette bets.
In Atlantic City casinos American roulette table rules are followed (including double-zero wheels), but players receive half of their money back if they have made an even money bet such as red/black and the ball lands on a zero. This changes the house edge on only those bets to 2.63%.
French Roulette Online
We should also take a moment to talk about a special version of European roulette that is known as French roulette. In almost all ways related to the rules of the game, French roulette is identical to European roulette. However, there are a couple of visual differences you’ll find while playing.
On a true French roulette table the table layout will typically have all of the numbers labelled in red. The red/black bet still exists, as the wheel itself still has half of the pocket numbers colored in black. This gives the table itself a very striking and elegant design.
A French casino roulette table layout will also typically include the “French bets” – wagers that can be made in order to cover portions of the roulette wheel. These bets include the popular Voisins du Zero wager (Neighbors of Zero), which covers all of the numbers closest to the zero on the wheel.
French roulette will also use the standard en prison rule. In most French casinos (and many online French roulette games) the rule is referred to specifically as la partage, which refers to the version in which the player immediately receives half of their even money wagers back if a zero is spun.
Other Roulette Variants
There are numerous variations of roulette found around the world, but a couple stand out as being particularly notable.
The first is known as California Roulette. This game is played exclusively at casinos in California, where state laws do not allow the use of a roulette wheel to directly determine the results of wagers. Instead, a combination of wheels and cards are used to pick numbers. This has absolutely no impact on the odds offered by the game, but it definitely gives the game a different feel.
One popular online roulette game is Mini-Roulette. In this simplified version of roulette, the wheel contains just 13 slots: the numbers 1-12 along with a single zero.
Much like in more traditional roulette games, the bets generally offer odds that would be fair if not for the zero. For example, a bet on a single number will normally pay out at 11-1. In addition, if the result of a spin is a zero, many Mini-Roulette games give players half of all losing bets back (except, of course, for bets on the zero itself).
Difference Between Zero and Double Zero Table Layout
With double zero roulette, the house edge increases slightly. As a result, when given a choice between both games, shrewd players will naturally gravitate to zero roulette. The reason for this is that because zero and double zero roulette both introduce additional numbers, the house has additional chances to win, while the player’s payout remains at 35/1. In a game of zero roulette, the house edge sits at 2.63% versus 5.26% for double zero roulette due to the presence of an additional number the ball can fall on.
Biased Roulette Tables
One of the most interesting aspects of playing at the roulette wheel and table is the idea that sometimes a roulette wheel may not be perfectly balanced. Whether because of a flaw in the creation of the wheel or due to damage accumulated from usage, some wheels may gradually begin to favor some numbers over others. If this bias is in any way significant, it is then possible for players to take advantage of this and hold an edge over the casino.
Players have been defeating biased wheels for well over a century, with famous instances of this occurring in 1873 and more recently in the 1990s. However, recent developments in wheel technology have made it far less likely for wheels to show significant bias. Apps with real prizes.
Manufacturing standards have been improved to the point where wheels rarely show bias. Casinos are also able to constantly monitor their roulette wheels for signs that they might be developing any sort of bias. In addition, just in case bias appears that the casino fails to detect, many casinos rotate wheels from table to table, making it difficult (if not impossible) for players to keep accurate records of the result on any given roulette wheel.
Not all table bias is the fault of the casino or the roulette wheel and table manufacturer it should be noted; the mere act of a player leaning against the table can be enough to upset its careful balance. Diligent casinos will take special care to level their wheels, and perform regular checks to ensure that these remain level. This does not prevent cynical teams or individual players from leaning against the table, however, in the hopes of gaining a fleeting advantage.
You can read more about biased wheels here.
What we’re going to do here is take a detailed look at the roulette wheel and table for European, American and French roulette. We will start out with a brief look at the history and then get into some detailed diagrams and descriptions for each version of the game.
We will then get into various manufacturers and design differences, before rounding off with our opinion on the bold claims you read online about roulette wheels being predictable and easily beaten.
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Brief History of the Roulette Wheel
According to a French novel called “La Roulette”, the game has been played as it’s known today since 1796. These early games included both a 0 and 00.
The earliest form of a roulette wheel dates all the way back to the 1600’s from a French mathematician called Blaise Pascal, pictured right.
He inadvertently created a roulette wheel in his quest to create a perpetual motion machine. In simple terms, he wanted to create a wheel that could spin on its own indefinitely without an energy source. He failed in this endeavour.
American Roulette Wheel Layout Diagram
It was roughly in the 1860’s when the Monte Carlo casino began offering a single 0 roulette wheel and this is the version of the game that spread across the world with the exception of the USA. American roulette games still retain the original concept of 0 and 00 slots to this day which increases the house advantage. More information on the house advantage can be found lower down.
European Roulette Wheel and Table
The most popular version of the game across the world, both online and in real casinos. One of the first things that you need to understand about roulette is that the table is not representative of the wheel. If you place a bet on the first Dozen, you are betting on numbers 1 through to 12 but those numbers are evenly spread across the wheel. Here’s the order of the numbers on a European roulette wheel starting with 0:
0 – 32 – 15 – 19 – 4 – 21 – 2 – 25 – 17 – 34 – 6 – 27 – 13 – 36 – 11 – 30 – 8 – 23 – 10 – 5 – 24 – 16 – 33 – 1 – 20 – 14 – 31 – 9 – 22 – 18 – 29 – 7 – 28 – 12 – 35 – 3 – 26
The order of numbers may appear random, but they’re purposely designed to confuse the player and conform to the golden rule that black and red numbers must alternate. From there, odd/even and 1-18/19-36 are evenly distributed across the wheel with no more than two numbers of the same type adjacent to each other on the wheel. In other words, at no point are there more than two consecutive odd numbers or two consecutive 1-18 numbers and so on.
European Specific Bets
European roulette has 4 bet types that you won’t find in the American game known as Call or Announce bets. They’re named this way because in real casino conditions, the player will say the bet out loud and the dealer will place the bet for them.
The image to the right shows which numbers each of them covers. We’ve already discussed these bets in detail on our page on roulette bets but here are the descriptions again.
Jeu 0 – One chip is placed on each of the following Splits: 0-3, 12-15, 32-35 and then the number 26 with a Straight Up bet. In total, 4 chips are placed and 7 numbers are covered.
Voisins du Zero – One chip is placed on the following Splits: 4-7, 12-15, 18-21, 19-22, 32-35. Then there are 2 chips on 0-2-3 Street and 2 chips on 25-26-28-29 Corner. In total, 9 chips are placed and 17 different numbers are covered.
Orphelins Play casino games and win real money. – One chip is placed on the following Splits: 6-9, 14-17, 17-20, 31-34 and then the number 1 with a Straight Up bet. In total, 5 chips are placed that cover 8 numbers (17 is covered twice).
Tiers du Cylindre – One chip is placed on the following Splits: 5-8, 10-11, 13-16, 23-24, 27-30, 33-36. In total, 6 chips are placed and 12 numbers are covered.
American Roulette Wheel and Table
The American version of the game features an extra slot but the payouts remain the same, pushing the house edge up to 5.26% from the 2.7% you get with the European game. When it comes to real casinos, you’ll only find this table in the USA, Canada and high end casinos in places like London.
What’s curious about the design of the American roulette wheel is that the numbers are in a completely different order to the European game while following the same design principles. Here’s the order of the numbers starting with the 0:
0 – 28 – 9 – 26 – 30 – 11 – 7 – 20 – 32 – 17 – 5 – 22 – 34 – 15 – 3 – 24 – 36 – 13 – 1 – 00 – 27 – 10 – 25 – 29 – 12 – 8 – 19 – 31 – 18 – 6 – 21 – 33 – 16 – 4 – 23 – 35 – 14 – 2
![American American](https://www.888casino.com/blog/sites/newblog.888casino.com/files/inline-images/EuropeanSingleZeroWheel-Image.png)
Roulette Table Layout Diagram
French Roulette Table
It’s also worth giving a quick mention to the French roulette table which you can see to the right. The wheel is exactly the same as the European game but the table has a different layout.
The biggest difference is that the Dozens are no longer marked as 1st 12, 2nd 12 and 3rd 12. Instead, they’re marked as P12, M12 and D12 which you will see in the bottom left and right corners of the table.
La partage rule – In terms of actual game play, the French game has the most advantageous rules because when the 0 hits, losing bets on Red/Black, Odd/Even and Low/High pay back half. So a £10 bet on Red would pay back £5 if the 0 hits.
En prison rule – In real casinos, they may opt to use the en prison rule instead of la partage. Every online game we’ve ever played has used la partage so you will only find en prison in real casinos. When the 0 hits, losing bets on Red/Black, Odd/Even and Low/High are marked as “en prison” by the croupier and neither win nor lose. Instead, they’re left on the table for the following spin and treated as any other bet.
Manufacturers and Design Differences
There are numerous manufactures of roulette wheels, each of which offer various designs and we aren’t talking about mere colours and textures. The major design difference between different wheels are the pockets. Each number has a pocket where the ball will eventually fall and the design around the pocket affects the bounce and scatter of the ball which impacts on the final result. Here are three different designs, click on them to see a larger version.
Huxley Stardust
The low fret design to the left is the most common design of wheel in real casinos. The low pockets allow the ball to bounce around from one pocket to another before finally losing momentum and coming to rest, resulting in unpredictability which is what the casinos obviously want.
The scalloped design has deeper pockets, resulting in less bounce and a slightly more predictable result so they are much rarer. The scalloped design could be described as “old and outdated” because most manufacturers have ceased making them. You aren’t likely to see one in a real casino.
The Huxley stardust design uses triangular pockets which can deflect the ball in either direction, creating even more unpredictability. For example, the ball can go from spinning anti clockwise around the track to going clockwise once it hits the rotor. Such movement is much less common on low fret and scalloped designs.
While there are many manufacturers of wheels, here are the two largest that we’re aware of: Chain link games.
TCS John Huxley – Their head office is based in London and they have offices around the world. They’ve won numerous industry awards for their craftsmanship of casino equipment and they supply casinos across the globe. Designing a new roulette wheel on their website is like designing a new car with multiple design and colour options available. Their website is www.tcsjohnhuxley.com
Cammegh – Another company based in the UK, Cammegh are a huge supplier to casinos across Europe and the USA. They have supplied roulette wheels to numerous huge casino brands including Caesars, Grosvenor, Gala and Ladbrokes. Their website is www.cammegh.com
Neither of these manufacturers have a “buy now” button on their website. Instead, you need to request a quote and the wheel will be built for you. You can expect the price of a new roulette wheel to be well over £1000. You can also buy them second hand on ebay which will cost roughly £400-£700 for a clean, undamaged, second hand model.
Roulette Wheels Can Be Beaten?
The majority of roulette systems are based on the table. This includes all of the mathematical strategies that we’ve written about. What this means is that they don’t influence the odds which stay at 2.7% and 5.26% respectively. They are based on progressions and in many cases, betting big to win small.
However, there are other systems, based on the wheel, that we haven’t written about. The aim of these systems, often called “visual ballistics” or “visual roulette system” is to forget about the table and focus entirely on the wheel by increasing the accuracy of predictions to get an edge over the casino.
Think of it this way: the house edge is 2.7% on European roulette. If you can increase the accuracy of your predictions enough to overcome this edge, the odds will be in your favour. The cheating (and in many cases illegal) way to do this is via a roulette computer which measures the speed of the wheel and ball to give a prediction. Visual systems work in much the same way, only they’re much less effective because you’re using your mind to make predictions.
The reason we haven’t written about them is simple; we don’t know anywhere near enough about them to give an accurate description. They involve monitoring the diamonds (8 of them around the outside of the wheel) and then studying the wheel, learning its tendencies and being able to make a prediction accurate enough to overcome the edge. From there, you would bet on approximately half of the wheel via Straight Up bets to accommodate your prediction.
Real information about visual roulette systems is hard to come by which is why we’ve been unable to learn about them. We haven’t found a single website that’s written about visual roulette systems for free with simple instructions on how it all works with step by step instructions. It always comes with an asking price that we aren’t prepared to pay.
Do we think it’s actually possible to predict the wheel without a computer? Yes, but we don’t believe its anywhere near as easy or practical as the websites that sell this information make out. It’s our belief that you would need to be very experienced in real casino conditions and well versed in the deceleration of the ball to even have a chance of making this work.
We also believe that a lot of the information sold online will be outdated and some of it will be nothing more than a scam. We aren’t prepared to buy all the rubbish information about visual systems to find the good one and that’s assuming a good one even exists. For all we know, they’re all scams.
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