The Roulette Wheel Explained By Jackpot Wheel

Roulette wheel with casino chips stacked on roulette table.

The roulette wheel is integral to roulette. In fact, the word “roulette” means ‘little wheel’ in French. Learn the rule, layout, and gameplay differences between the American wheel, the European wheel, and the French wheel. The bottom line is that all roulette variations necessitate the use of a roulette wheel! 

There’s no better place to learn about the different roulette wheel types than Jackpot Wheel Casino! So, are you ready to go for a spin?

Full Speed Roulette

We know that the roulette is integral to the casino game, but how do you play the roulette? The roulette wheel does what all wheels do—it spins and turns. It features 38 numbered pockets in American roulette and 36 in European roulette. Later, we get into the difference between the two variations, which you should play at Jackpot Wheel. The dealer will throw the roulette ball onto the spinning wheel after or while players are placing bets. Wherever the ball lands determines a player’s win or loss and the subsequent payout. 

It’s pretty easy to win in a game of roulette, right? All you need is a winning wager and Lady Luck on your side. However, the various roulette bets are what can confuse a player. The main bets in roulette are inside bets and outside bets. While you can bet on all the numbers on a roulette wheel, this isn’t a profitable bet. Betting on almost all the numbers on the wheel is a roulette strategy. 

Fun Fact Time:

All the numbers on a standard wheel add up to 666. Many associate that number with the number of “the beast” or the devil. However, 666 is the strategy where you can bet on almost all the numbers, with the exception of the number 4. The 666 strategy is an aggressive strategy, and the house edge will always be an obstacle should you win. You’re probably thinking… well, what is the best bet in roulette? While there isn’t a best bet, there are safe bets that you can make. 

With a minimum bet of $5, these are the safest bets to place:

  • Black or Red 
  • Odd or Even 
  • Column bets 
  • Straight up 

Think these are the best bets to make? There’s so much more!

The Age of Roulette

Lady luck has her bountiful hands in all casino games, and the casino roulette wheel is no exception. This means that roulette is essentially a game of luck. However, veteran roulette players will swear by the skills they have gained over the years. Unlike poker or blackjack, which require decision-making and skill during play, roulette requires players to make a decision and place a bet either before the wheel starts spinning or while it is spinning. In effect, the decision-making in roulette must happen before you play. 

This is where roulette strategies come into play. While the dealer and players are at the mercy of the wheel and where the ball chooses to land, choosing the right strategy can significantly improve your chances of winning! Most roulette strategies follow a pattern of play and can be used to beat either the RNG, if playing online roulette or other players if playing at traditional casinos.  

American Or European?

Undoubtedly, two of the most common roulette variations are American roulette and European roulette. While the rules differ slightly, the biggest difference is the wheel in both variations. Earlier, we mentioned that the American wheel has 38 pockets while the European wheel has 36. The reason? The American roulette wheel has 18 black pockets, 18 red pockets, and two green pockets numbered 0 and 00. The double zeros significantly decrease your odds of winning while the house edge increases. In addition to the double zeros, the numbers in American roulette face the outside of the wheel. In contrast, the European roulette wheel’s numbers face the inside of the wheel and contain 18 black pockets, 18 red pockets, and 1 green zero pocket, making for favorable odds and a lower house edge. European roulette defeats American roulette in both the house edge and odds categories. The average house edge for American roulette is 5.26%, while the typical house edge for European roulette is 2.70%! 

The choice between American and European roulette is a daily debate among gamblers; with some under the impression that the variations are available geographically. In fact, the internet has several sites that tell American players that European roulette is not available to them. This couldn’t be more untrue! Both variants are available based on what a casino offers. For example, Jackpot Wheel offers several roulette variations, from these two common variants to auto roulette and live roulette. 

If you’re ready to roulette the day, navigate to the top right corner of your screen and sign up to give any of the roulette variations in our casino games lobby a spin! Join Jackpot Wheel Casino and claim your 200% roulette match bonus.