European Roulette
37 numbers · single zero · 2.70% house edge
History
Roulette was born in 18th-century France. The word means "little wheel". The single-zero wheel was established in 1843 in Bad Homburg, Germany, by brothers François and Louis Blanc — they removed the double zero to attract players with better odds. This "European" wheel spread to Monte Carlo and became the continental standard.
In the late 19th century the Monte Carlo casino made the single-zero wheel a symbol of luxury, and the game spread from there across Europe. French roulette added even more player-friendly rules such as "la partage", where the player gets half of an even-money bet back when the zero hits. The European wheel without those extra rules is still one of the most player-favourable casino games.
Where it is played today
European roulette is the default version in Monte Carlo, most European casinos, and the large majority of online casinos worldwide. Whenever a wheel has only a single zero, it is this version or its close cousin French roulette.
Rules
The wheel carries the numbers 0–36. You place your chips on the table before the spin. You can bet on a single number (inside bets) or on large groups such as red/black, even/odd, or the dozens (outside bets). The croupier spins the wheel and the ball; the number the ball settles in decides the payouts.
Odds & the maths
A single number pays 35:1. Because there are 37 winning numbers, the true odds would be 36:1 — the gap is the house edge, 2.70%. Red/black and the other even-money bets pay 1:1, the dozens pay 2:1. The zero is what gives the house its edge: without it the game would be mathematically fair. Every spin is independent — the wheel has no memory.
The crucial mathematical insight is that the house edge is the same 2.70% on every bet — whether you bet a single number or red/black. The choice of bet changes only the size and frequency of wins, not the long-run expected value. No "system" that claims to beat roulette can change this: every spin is independent, and past results have no influence on future ones.
| Bet | Pays | Win chance | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single number | 35:1 | 2.70% | 2.70% |
| Red / Black | 1:1 | 48.65% | 2.70% |
| Even / Odd | 1:1 | 48.65% | 2.70% |
| 1–18 / 19–36 | 1:1 | 48.65% | 2.70% |
| Dozen (12 numbers) | 2:1 | 32.43% | 2.70% |
The zero belongs only to single-number bets — that is why even-money bets win less than 50% of the time.
Beginner’s guide
Start with outside bets: red/black or even/odd wins on nearly half of all spins, so you see how the game works without your credits vanishing fast. Pick a chip value below, click the table cells to stack bets, and press Spin. Remember: a 2.70% house edge means the house wins over the long run — which is exactly why we practise this with virtual credits.