Types of Roulette Dealt at Live and Online Casinos
Roulette is one of the most popular table games. In most casinos, blackjack is the only game with more tables.
Casinos love roulette. Even the best version of the game holds more than almost any other table. Some types are better than others.
Best Roulette Game to Play
The best roulette game is found in Las Vegas and at online casinos. In Las Vegas, it is called European Roulette. Online casinos call it French Roulette. There is no difference between the two games except that one is live and the other is at casinos online.
European and French Roulette wheels only have one zero. These games also have racetrack bets like jeu zero, voisins du zero, le tiers du cylindre, orphelins, and neighbors.
When the pill lands in the zero pocket, la partage comes into play. This means the even money bets like red, black, odd, even, 1-18, and 19-36, only lose half. The house edge on these outside even money bets is 1.35% at French and European Roulette.
La partage does not come into play on any other bet. The straights, splits, lines, corners, streets, and others that pay more than even money lose entirely. These bets have a house edge of 2.7%.
Single Zero
Single zero roulette wheels are identical to European and French ones. There are a couple of differences. Most single zero felts do not have racetrack bets. La partage is not available. The house edge is 2.7% on all bets.
Online casinos usually call this type of game European Roulette. It is different than the Las Vegas version. In Las Vegas, European Roulette has la partage. At online casinos, it does not.
Double Zero
Double zero roulette is the most common form of the game. As the name implies, two zeros are on the wheel. The basket bet is available here. It covers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. This bet should be avoided as its house edge is 7.89%, which is higher than triple zero roulette. All other double zero bets have a 5.26% house advantage.
Atlantic City has special rules at double zero roulette tables. These games have la partage. If the pill lands in 0 or 00, even money bets receive half back. Those bets have a 2.63% house edge. That is slightly better than the Atlantic City single zero tables, which do not have la partage. Atlantic City players who only bet even money outside bets should choose double zero over single zero wheels.
Triple Zero
Triple zero roulette first appeared in 2016. Venetian and Palazzo were the first casinos to spread the game. As the same implies, the wheel has three zeros. The house edge is 7.69%.
All Las Vegas Strip casinos, except Slots A Fun and Treasure Island, have at least one triple zero roulette table. It is the only type of live roulette at Circus Circus and O’Sheas.
Triple zero roulette is also found at Binion”s, Four Queens, and Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas, as well as a few off-Strip casinos. Horseshoe and MGM National Harbor in Maryland have some triple zero roulette tables.
Roulette Variants
There are several types of roulette variants available at live and online casinos. Here are some examples.
Lightning Roulette
Lightning Roulette is an online double zero game with a twist. The game pays 30/1 on most straight bets. In each round, one to five numbers are picked. These become Lightning numbers. The payout for straight bets on these numbers can be anywhere from 50/1 to 500/1. Payouts on all other bets remain unchanged. The house edge for straight bets increases to 5.87%. All other bets remain at 5.26%, except for 7.89% on the basket.
Roulette Xtra
Roulette Xtra is dealt at Palazzo on the Las Vegas Strip. It is like Lightning Roulette in that it is normal double zero roulette, except for straight bets. The difference is that Roultte Xtra picks four special numbers on every spin. The bonus payouts range from 50/1 up to 200/1. All other straight bets pay 30/1. The house edge of Roulette Xtra straight bets is 10.03%. The hold on all other bets remains the same.
Double Ball Roulette
Double Ball Roulette is like playing two spins at the same time. Players bet all the same typical wagers on the felt. The difference is that the payouts are based on one or two balls landing in the pocket. For example, straight bets lay 17/1 if one pill drops in that number’s pocket and 34/1 if both do. A split pays 8/1 if one pill lands in the numbers and 16/1 if both do. There is also a 1200/1 bet that can be made if both pills land in the same pocket.
Outside bets play differently. Both balls must make even money bets winners. This pays 3/1. The dozens bets pay 8/1 if both pills land in winning pockets. These bets lose if only one pill lands in the winning spaces.
Video Roulette
Video roulette comes in two forms. Most online casino games use video roulette software. Brick-and-mortar casinos also have these types of games. Bets are made on digital screens as opposed to felts. Random number generators power online casino versions. In live casinos, a real wheel is typically used. Video roulette can come in single, double, and triple zero versions.
Live Dealer
Live dealer games are also available at live and online casinos. Bets are made electronically on a screen. However, there is a live dealer with a real wheel and pill. This is as close to a live game as online casino players can get. At live casinos, it is on a stadium device with many seats. Lower-limit players have the opportunity to play a real game as opposed to a video one.
