Roulette variants range from the familiar single-zero wheel to jackpot games, two-ball tables and setups with eight wheels turning at once, and each version changes the odds, the pace or the size of the possible win. Roulette is among the best-loved table games in the UK, so casino sites have every reason to stock more than one take on online roulette. Below, we split the field into the classic wheels, the newer games designed for screens, and the house edge figures that separate a fair game from an expensive one.
If table games are new to you, our beginner’s guide explains the basics, and the casino glossary decodes terms such as inside bet, croupier and RTP.
The three classic types of roulette
The three classic types of roulette are European, American and French, and almost every modern game borrows its wheel or its betting rules from one of them.
The wheel turns up in films and novels often enough that most people could sketch it from memory, yet far fewer know how many versions descend from the original French game. The differences can look cosmetic at first glance. In practice, a single extra pocket or one change to how zero is treated shifts the amount of each stake that the casino expects to keep.
European roulette
European roulette uses a wheel with 37 pockets, and only one of them is a zero. It is the version UK players meet most often, and the reason is easy to see: with just one green pocket, the house edge sits at 2.70%, a fair price for a game this quick.
Stake limits are set by each casino rather than by the game itself. Some tables suit small, steady bets while others are built for bigger players, so whatever your budget, you can almost always find a European table with a minimum and maximum that fit.
American roulette
American roulette adds a second green pocket marked 00, which takes the wheel to 38 slots. That one addition lifts the house edge to 5.26%, close to double the European figure, and it is the main reason careful players walk past these tables.
Seasoned players tend to worry less about it. The layout and the flow of the game feel familiar, and the extra zero becomes something they simply factor in. Still, the higher cost per spin is built into every round, however much experience you bring.
French roulette
French roulette runs on the same single-zero wheel as the European game; what sets it apart is the table layout, the French terminology and one very valuable rule.
On the felt, Odd and Even become Impair and Pair, and the three dozens carry the labels P12, M12 and D12. The French layout also adds bets you will not see on a standard European table, including Orphelins and Tiers du Zero.
The real attraction is La Partage, a rule offered at certain French tables. When the ball settles on zero, you get half of your stake back instead of losing all of it. That single change cuts the house edge to 1.35%, which makes French roulette with La Partage the cheapest classic wheel you can play and an obvious choice for anyone chasing better odds.
Roulette house edge compared
The roulette house edge runs from 1.35% on French tables with La Partage to 12.27% on Double Action Roulette.
House edge is the casino’s built-in advantage: the slice of every stake it expects to keep across a long run of spins. Two factors move it more than anything else. The first is how many zero pockets the wheel carries. The second is whether a rule such as La Partage returns part of your bet when zero comes up. These percentages describe long-term averages, so a single session can still swing well above or below them.
The table gathers the figures for the games where a house edge is quoted.
| Variant | Pockets on the wheel | Standard house edge | House edge with La Partage |
|---|---|---|---|
| French roulette | 37 | 2.70% | 1.35% |
| European roulette | 37 | 2.70% | — |
| Astro Roulette | — | 2.70% | — |
| American roulette | 38 | 5.26% | — |
| Mini Roulette | 13 | 7.89% | 3.85% |
| Double Action Roulette | — | 12.27% | — |
Triple Bonus Spin Roulette is missing from the table because its figure is published as a return to player rather than a house edge: 98.11%. If you want to compare payout rates across other games as well, our page on best payout casinos explains how RTP works.
How roulette variants evolved at online casinos
Roulette variants multiplied as casino traffic moved online, pushing studios such as Evolution Gaming, Pragmatic Play and Ezugi to build new versions.
Some of these games stay close to the classic wheels and only change the way you play. Others add multipliers, progressive jackpots, extra balls or entirely new wheels. Below are sixteen versions you are likely to come across, grouped by what makes each one different. You can read more about the studios behind them in our game providers section.
Live dealer roulette
Live dealer roulette brings the land-based casino to your screen, and it is a gentle way for newcomers to settle into a game that can feel intimidating at first. A real croupier spins the wheel on camera, normally on a European or American layout, while the betting area on your screen splits into inside bets and outside bets.
Taking part is straightforward. You choose a chip value, click the spots you want to back and wait for the dealer to spin. Winning bets are credited to your balance straight away, and losing stakes are deducted from it.
Mini Roulette
Mini roulette shrinks the wheel to 13 pockets, compared with 37 or 38 on a full-size wheel, and plenty of players write it off as a novelty. Their caution has a basis: the standard house edge is a hefty 7.89%.
Look for a table that applies the La Partage rule, though, and the picture changes. Half your stake comes back whenever zero lands, which brings the edge down to 3.85%, lower than on the standard American wheel. Most people play mini roulette for a change of pace or as a low-pressure way to learn how the bets work.
Multi-Wheel Roulette
Multi-wheel roulette is a standard European game with European betting, except that up to eight wheels can spin at the same time.
The twist is that your bet covers every wheel in play. One round can therefore pay out several times over, and some rounds produce eye-catching results, but the same stake is also lost several times over when the wheels go against you. Set a budget before you start and keep an eye on it the whole way through, because a bankroll can disappear here faster than at a single-wheel table.
Double Ball Roulette
Double Ball Roulette is Evolution Gaming’s take on the European wheel, with two balls released in the same spin, and it is aimed at high rollers and anyone after extra excitement.
Outside bets pay double when both balls land on your selection. Inside bets pay half the usual amount when only one ball hits your number and the full amount when both do. With two results in every round, each bet gets twice as many chances to land. If you play at higher stakes, our list of high roller casinos is a good place to look for suitable tables.
Triple Bonus Spin Roulette
Triple Bonus Spin Roulette from IGT has a published RTP of 98.11%, and it does not follow either the European or the American template. The developer built a fresh design around a yellow bonus pocket that awards Bonus Spins, and the game advertises wins of up to 12,000x your stake.
Game show multipliers from Evolution
Lightning Roulette from Evolution Gaming pairs the elegance of French roulette with the presentation of a TV game show. Rounds move quickly, as the name hints, and random multipliers can lift a winning bet to as much as 500x.
Jackpot and bonus-round games
Roulette Royale, a Playtech game, keeps the standard European wheel but adds a progressive jackpot, so you follow a growing prize as well as the ball. Part of the appeal is watching that jackpot climb between spins.
Age of the Gods Roulette, also from Playtech, goes further. It combines a 3D wheel with a progressive prize pool and several bonus rounds, and its top payout reaches 100x your stake. It suits players who want something clearly different from a standard table.
Side bets and extra rings
Key Bet Roulette from Barcrest adds a new section to the wheel along with a side bet, letting you place an extra wager next to your main one. Wins can reach 100x the stake, and the combination of features keeps each round busy.
Double Action Roulette keeps the usual wheel shape but prints two rings of numbers on it, one on the inner rim and one on the outer. That lets you double your action by betting on both rings in the same spin. The cost is steep: a 12.27% house edge, the highest of any game covered here, so most players hold on to their bankroll a little tighter at these tables.
Graphics-led and automated tables
3D Roulette is another Playtech release built on the European wheel, and its strengths are detailed graphics and rich sound. It is one of the most immersive versions available, and you can even adjust the wheel to suit your preferences. iSoftBet offers its own version of 3D Roulette too.
Pinball Roulette, again from Playtech, swaps the classic wheel for a fast pinball machine, mixing two well-known games and adding a different kind of suspense to every round. Slingshot Roulette, meanwhile, is fully automated: it keeps the traditional game intact and uses technology to deliver a smooth, immersive session.
Themed roulette games
Astro Roulette from the developer 1X2 links roulette with astrology, so it is worth a look if star signs appeal to you. It is billed as a high-stakes game, yet its wheel holds only 12 numbers in a format close to Mini Roulette, its payouts are slightly higher, and its house edge is 2.70%.
Lucky Star Roulette is rooted in Chinese culture and is easy to recognise by its star-shaped wheel. The numbers run only from 0 to 8 and repeat in random order around the star. Clicking the Chinese symbols beside the star opens special bets on groups of numbers.
Ra Roulette is aimed squarely at keen roulette fans. You can customise the sound and graphics, check information and statistics on the table, and use seven extra betting features on top of the standard options. Choosing the right icon among those features can lead to rewarding payouts.
Online variants side by side
The quick-reference table below lists the developer, base wheel and top advertised payout for the games where those details are published.
| Game | Developer | Base game | Top payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning Roulette | Evolution Gaming | French roulette | 500x |
| Double Ball Roulette | Evolution Gaming | European roulette | — |
| Triple Bonus Spin Roulette | IGT | Own design | 12,000x |
| Roulette Royale | Playtech | European roulette | — |
| Age of the Gods Roulette | Playtech | — | 100x |
| Key Bet Roulette | Barcrest | — | 100x |
| 3D Roulette | Playtech | European roulette | — |
| Pinball Roulette | Playtech | Pinball machine | — |
| Astro Roulette | 1X2 | — | — |
Matching a roulette variant to your style
Beginners do best on European or Mini Roulette, value hunters on French tables with La Partage, and experienced players on multi-wheel or feature-heavy games.
Finding your favourite can take a few sessions, because several things matter at once: the betting combinations on offer, the size of the payouts, the table conditions and the odds. The pointers below give you a starting point for each type of player.
Lowest house edge
If cost per spin matters most to you, steer clear of the American layout, because double-zero games generally carry a higher house edge. Next, look for La Partage, which we covered in the French section; wherever it applies, it cuts the edge sharply. Good low-edge options include:
- French roulette with La Partage, at 1.35%.
- European roulette, at 2.70%.
- 3D Roulette, which runs on the European wheel and also comes in a version from iSoftBet.
- Astro Roulette, an entertaining choice with a 2.70% house edge.
Biggest payouts
Players chasing large wins should look at games with multipliers or boosted payout tables:
- Triple Bonus Spin Roulette advertises wins of up to 12,000x your stake.
- Age of the Gods Roulette can pay as much as 100x the amount staked.
- Key Bet Roulette also offers a top win of 100x the wager.
- Double Ball Roulette puts two balls in play, which doubles your chances of a winning result in each round.
Best choices for newcomers
New players usually feel most comfortable on smaller or simpler wheels:
- Mini Roulette is an easy starting point, since its compact wheel looks far less daunting.
- Astro Roulette uses a similar format, with only 12 numbers on the wheel and slightly bigger payouts.
- Classic European roulette lets you learn the game at a reasonably low house edge.
Picks for experienced players
Players who already know the game well often want more features and higher limits:
- Triple Bonus Spin Roulette, with its bonus pocket and Bonus Spins, gives seasoned players more to think about than a beginner would need.
- Key Bet Roulette suits experienced players looking for something new, with unusual betting options and a possible 100x win.
- Multi-Wheel Roulette is lively and demanding: with up to eight wheels in play, limits and potential payouts rise together.
Variants to approach with caution
If a high house edge puts you off, avoid American roulette, which is widely seen as the harder classic wheel because its double zero lifts the edge to 5.26%. The same caution applies even more strongly to Double Action Roulette and its 12.27% edge.
Final thoughts on roulette variants
Classic roulette is still exciting and simple to pick up, and the many variants online simply give you more ways to enjoy the same spinning wheel.
The best approach is to start with a wheel whose house edge you understand, then try the feature-led games once you know how the standard bets behave. Before you sign up anywhere, our guide on how to choose a casino explains what to check. If you want to explore beyond the wheel, our casino games hub covers other table classics such as blackjack and baccarat.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main types of roulette?
The main types of roulette are European, American and French. European uses 37 pockets with a single zero and a 2.70% house edge, American adds a double zero for 38 pockets and 5.26%, and French keeps the single-zero wheel but can add La Partage, cutting the edge to 1.35%. Most newer games, from Multi-Wheel to 3D Roulette, are built on one of these three.
Which roulette variant has the lowest house edge?
French roulette played with the La Partage rule has the lowest house edge among the classic wheels, at 1.35%. The rule returns half of your stake when the ball lands on zero. Without it, European and French tables both sit at 2.70%, and Astro Roulette matches that figure. Triple Bonus Spin Roulette from IGT quotes a 98.11% return to player instead of a house edge.
Is Mini Roulette worse value than American roulette?
Yes, standard Mini Roulette is worse value than American roulette, with a 7.89% house edge against 5.26%. Its wheel has only 13 pockets. The picture flips when the La Partage rule applies: half your stake comes back on zero and the edge falls to 3.85%, making that version cheaper to play than American roulette. Check the table information before you sit down.
How does Multi-Wheel Roulette work?
Multi-Wheel Roulette is a standard European game played on up to eight wheels at once. You place one set of bets, and that stake is applied to every wheel in play, so a single round can pay several times or lose several times. Because the bankroll moves quickly, it pays to fix a budget before you start and track it throughout the session.
Which roulette games offer the biggest wins?
Triple Bonus Spin Roulette from IGT offers the biggest advertised win, at up to 12,000x your stake, thanks to its yellow bonus pocket and Bonus Spins. Lightning Roulette from Evolution Gaming can lift a winning bet to 500x, while Age of the Gods Roulette from Playtech and Key Bet Roulette from Barcrest both top out at 100x the amount staked.
Does Double Ball Roulette use two balls in every spin?
Yes, Double Ball Roulette from Evolution Gaming releases two balls on a European wheel in every spin, giving each bet two chances to land. Outside bets pay double when both balls hit your selection, while inside bets pay half the usual amount if only one ball lands on your number and the full payout when both do. It mainly appeals to high rollers.