Roulette's Best Bets

25 January 2024

By Royal Flushes

CINDY: Roulette has so many bets that players can make. On the American double-zero wheel (0, 00) it is number after numbers plus some proposition bets that are actually groups of numbers such as the dozens, the columns, multiple connecting numbers, and the colors of the numbers.

ABBY: Players have so many different bets they can make. Of course, the house edges of all three different roulette games remain the same no matter what bets you make.

CINDY: Except.

ABBY: Yes, except.

CINDY: But first, let’s take a quick look at the three types of roulette games available for play in casinos. We have already gone over the American double-zero (0, 00) game where the house has a 5.26 percent house edge. That means the players’ expectation is to lose $5.26 per $100 wagered.

ABBY: Then you have the newest and, sadly, the worst roulette game, the triple-zero one (0, 00, 000). This is now in many casinos as it gives the casinos an awfully big edge over the player of 7.69 percent – or a player’s expected loss of $7.69 per $100 wagered.

CINDY: Now to the best of all the roulette games and that is the European/French single-zero (0) game. With just 37 numbers and one zero (0), the house edge is a reasonable 2.70 percent – an expected player loss of $2.70 per $100 wagered.

ABBY: Given the choice of playing any of the above three games then make it the European/French one.

CINDY: You will find that in the casinos that offer a choice of any of these games, the table minimums will be more for the European/French game.

ABBY: Before you run away from the European/French game because of the higher minimum bet, remember that no player has to bet every spin of the wheel. You can bet every other spin (or something to that effect) so that the total amount you are betting in a playing session remains the same from wheel to wheel. That means your expected loss over time will remain the same.

CINDY: That’s excellent advice. Okay, now we come to the “except” situation we brought up before. On both the American game and the European/French game a usually unannounced benefit exists for players who make the “even-money” bets of red/black, odd/even, and high/low.

ABBY: If the zero or double-zero is the decision, the player only loses half the money wagered on the “even-money” proposition.

CINDY: In the American game this is called “surrender.” The casino will only take half your losing bet, bringing the overall casino edge over the player who makes this his or her method of play down to 2.63 percent.

ABBY: As good as that is, the European/French game cuts the house edge in half by using the “en prison” rule. Instead of facing a 2.70 percent house edge, those three “even-money” bets now are lowered to 1.35 percent. That is now one of the very best bets in the casino! En prison just means the bet stays on the proposition for the next spin of the wheel.

CINDY: You will often not see any mention of these rules on the table-card; you have to ask the dealer or floor person if they use the rule.

ABBY: If the game has those rules then – jump on it! You are getting a far, far better game just betting the “even-money” bets. It is my preferred way of playing and if roulette is going to be my main game during a session then I want either of those rules at my game.