European Roulette is one of the simplest casino games to learn and yet one of the most fun to play. You've got a ball, a spinning wheel, and a bet on where the ball will land.
What makes this game special is its simple setup combined with some unexpected depth. If you're after a real money casino game that’s easy to pick up and a lot of fun to play at the same time, European Roulette is the way to go.
At PokerStars Casino, you can dive into European Roulette right away, betting on a classic wheel with a single zero and 37 pockets.
This online version of roulette offers better odds than American Roulette, so it's a smarter pick if you're thinking about your long-term results.
What makes European Roulette stand out from other casino games is, first and foremost, the iconic setup that for many players is exactly what they picture when they think about gambling.
The red and black pockets numbered 1 to 36, the green zero, and the betting layout with all its possible bets are the perfect setup for one of the most iconic games out there.
And yet, what truly matters is the math behind it. With just one zero instead of two, European Roulette gives you a better chance of picking the right number over time.
As soon as you launch the game, you will find right on your screen the European wheel, with its 37 pockets – numbers 1 to 36 that alternate between red and black, along with the green zero (0).
You will also see that the numbers aren’t in order. They’re spread out to balance high/low, odd/even, and red/black numbers around the wheel with a layout that looks like this:
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.
Next to the wheel there is the European roulette table, which is where the betting action happens. The table layout matches the wheel but lays out the numbers in a more straightforward grid.
There, you’ll find numbers 1-36 in three columns of twelve, with the zero at the top.
Around the grid that includes all the numbers are the “outside bet” options – red/black, odd/even, 1-18/19-36, dozens, and columns.
It might seem a bit tricky at first, especially as you read these instructions, but after a few spins, you’ll get the hang of where everything is.
The house edge indicates the advantage a casino has over the players in any given casino game. In European Roulette, that edge is 2.70%, which is way better than American Roulette's 5.26%.
So, what does that 2.70% mean?
Basically, if you bet 100 units over time, you can expect to lose about 2.70 units. This edge comes from the zero pocket; when the ball lands there, most of the bets lose.
Because the house edge is pretty low, European Roulette is one of the friendlier games for players at the casino. Your bankroll tends to last longer, giving you more spins and better chances to have fun while you play.
Playing European Roulette online on PokerStars is very simple. These are the steps that will get you going:
Pick your chip size from the options at the bottom of the screen.
Place your chips on the betting table – just click once to add a chip, and click again to add more.
To take back a bet, just right-click on the chips you want to remove.
When you’re ready, hit the "Spin" button.
Watch the wheel spin and see where the ball lands!
Your winnings are automatically calculated and added to your balance.
The online setup at PokerStars makes everything smooth, with handy indicators showing your current bets, recent numbers, and how much you have left.
For a deeper dive on the mechanics of the game and a full overview of the rules, check out our guide on how to play European roulette.
No need to rush when you're betting on real money European roulette online. Always take your time and think about all your options.
To place chips, just click on the area you want. If you want to bet on a specific number, simply click on it. Or, if you’d prefer to spread your bets across a few numbers, click on the lines between them or at the intersections.
You can place multiple bets for each spin and mix inside and outside bets however you like. Just keep an eye on the minimum and maximum bet limits displayed on the table.
All bets need to be in before the spin starts. Once the wheel is spinning, you can’t add or change any bets.
Online European Roulette games offer several features that can improve your experience compared to that of a brick-and-mortar casino:
Autoplay: Set the game to automatically spin a certain number of times while repeating you bet selection
Rebet: Quickly place the same bets as your previous spin
History: View the last several winning numbers to spot patterns (or confirm the randomness of every spin)
Statistics: Some versions show hot and cold numbers based on recent results
European roulette gives you the chance to choose between a large number of different betting options. You can go for simple outside bets or more specific inside bets, each with different winning odds and payout.
Here’s a quick overview of the bets in European roulette:
Inside bets are for specific numbers or small groups of numbers on the board. They carry the biggest payouts, but they are also the hardest ones to win.
Straight Up: Bet on a single number. Pays 35:1.
Split Bet: Bet on two neighboring numbers (either side-by-side or on top of each other). Just place your chip on the line between them. Pays 17:1.
Street Bet: Bet on three numbers in a row. Put your chip at the end of that line. Pays 11:1.
Corner Bet: Bet on four numbers that form a square. Place your chip where those four numbers meet. Pays 8:1.
Line Bet: Bet on six numbers (two rows of three). Put your chip at the intersection of those two rows. Pays 5:1.
Outside bets cover bigger groups of numbers and offer better odds of winning, although they offer smaller payouts.
Red/Black: Bet that the winning number will be red or black. Pays 1:1.
Odd/Even: Bet that the winning number will be odd or even. Pays 1:1.
High/Low: Bet on either 1-18 (low) or 19-36 (high). Pays 1:1.
Dozens: Bet on one of three groups of 12 numbers (1-12, 13-24, or 25-36). Pays 2:1.
Columns: Bet on one of the three vertical columns of 12 numbers. Pays 2:1.
These outside bets are usually the best choice for beginners or anyone who likes to minimize risks.
Please note that the zero doesn't count for outside bets. If the ball lands on zero, all outside bets lose (unless you play a game with the "la partage" or "en prison" rules, which aren’t common in most European Roulette games online).
When it comes to online European Roulette, there are some additional betting options beyond the usual ones that can make the game even more interesting.
You won’t always find these at brick-and-mortar casinos, which is what makes playing online pretty fun.
The racetrack is the oval betting area that shows the numbers in the order they come up on the wheel instead of how they’re laid out on the table. This is particularly useful for the following bets:
Voisins du Zero (Neighbors of Zero): This is a 9-chip bet that covers the 17 numbers closest to zero on the wheel (22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25). You place chips like this: 2 on the 0,2,3 street, 1 on each of the splits: 4/7, 12/15, 18/21, 19/22, 32/35, and 2 on the 25/26/28/29 corner.
Tiers du Cylindre: This is a 6-chip bet that covers the 12 numbers on the opposite side of the wheel from the voisins du zero (27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33). You place chips on splits: 5/8, 10/11, 13/16, 23/24, 27/30, and 33/36.
Orphelins (Orphans): This one’s a 5-chip bet covering the 8 numbers not in the voisins or tiers (17, 34, 6, 1, 20, 14, 31, 9). You put one chip straight-up on 1 and one chip each on the splits: 6/9, 14/17, 17/20, and 31/34.
Jeu Zero (Zero Game): A simpler version of voisins, this 4-chip bet covers 7 numbers close to zero (12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15). You place one chip on the splits 0/3, 12/15, 26/32, and 32/35.
With neighbor bets, you can pick any number and bet on it plus the numbers right next to it on the wheel. You usually get to cover 1-5 neighbors on either side.
So, if you made a "5 neighbors" bet on 17, you’d cover 17 plus two numbers on each side (2, 25, 17, 34, 6). You’d need 5 chips total, one on each number.
A lot of online roulette games keep track of which numbers have been hitting lately (hot numbers) and which ones haven’t shown up in a while (cold numbers). You can check these stats and place bets based on them if you want.
Although European roulette is a game of chance, there are some ways to help you play smarter.
While no roulette strategy can help you win because no strategy can beat the house in the long run, there are some approaches to betting on roulette that could help you manage your money better and have more fun.
Martingale Strategy: Double your bet after each loss, and go back to your original bet after you win. The idea is to make back your losses with one win, but you need a solid bankroll to implement this strategy and it can hit table limits fast.
Paroli Strategy: This is the opposite of the Martingale. You double your bet after each win and go back to your base bet after a loss. It’s a way to take advantage of winning streaks without risking too much.
James Bond Strategy: This is a flat betting method that covers more than half the table with a specific betting pattern. You bet $140 total: $100 on the high numbers (19-36), $50 on the six-line bet 13-18, and $10 on zero for a bit of insurance.
Fibonacci Strategy: Follow the Fibonacci sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13...) by increasing your bet according to the sequence after a loss, and moving back two steps after a win.
Like all casino games, playing roulette should be fun, not stressful.
When you play European roulette online, set a budget before you start and stick to it. Decide in advance how much you're willing to lose, and close the game when you hit that limit.
It's also smart to set a win target. If you're up 50% from your starting bankroll, consider securing those profits by walking away.
Remember that no betting system can overcome the house edge completely. You should never play to chase losses or believe you're "due" for a win after a losing streak. Each spin is independent of the last, regardless of what's happened before.
Understanding the odds helps you know what to expect.
| Bet Type | Payout | Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Up | 35:1 | 2.70% | 2.70% |
| Split | 17:1 | 5.41% | 2.70% |
| Street | 11:1 | 8.11% | 2.70% |
| Corner | 8:1 | 10.81% | 2.70% |
| Line | 5:1 | 16.22% | 2.70% |
| Dozen/Column | 2:1 | 32.43% | 2.70% |
| Red/Black | 1:1 | 48.65% | 2.70% |
| Odd/Even | 1:1 | 48.65% | 2.70% |
| High/Low | 1:1 | 48.65% | 2.70% |
The house edge is always 2.70% no matter what you bet. So, there’s really no “best bet” since they all give the house the same advantage. It’s all about what you’re comfortable with and how you like to play.
That 2.70% edge comes from the zero. If the roulette wheel only had the numbers 1-36, it would be totally fair. But that zero is what gives the house the upper hand.
The key difference between these two games is simple: European Roulette has one zero, while American Roulette has both a zero (0) and a double zero (00). This impacts the house edge as follows:
French Roulette shares the single-zero wheel with European Roulette but adds two player-friendly rules:
These rules lower the house edge on even-money bets to just 1.35%, which makes French Roulette the best option for players. But you'll find it’s not as common online and usually comes with higher minimum bets when it is available.
No, predicting the right numbers on European roulette is not possible. Modern roulette wheels are designed to give random results, and even if you may notice some short-term patterns, each spin stands alone, so you can’t really predict what’s next.
Mathematically, all bets have the same 2.70% house edge. With this in mind, finding the best bet in European roulette depends on what you’re after and your risk-tolerance level.
PokerStars Casino is licensed and regulated by the Directorate General for Gambling Regulation (DGOJ) to offer online roulette games for real money in Spain. All our games use certified random number generators to keep things fair, and your money and personal info are protected with top-notch security.
Your amount does not increase or lower your chances to win at European roulette. Your chances of winning stay the same no matter how much you wager.