European Roulette: Rules, Odds and House Edge
European Roulette is a single-zero table game played on a wheel with 37 pockets numbered 0 to 36. Players predict the winning pocket by placing inside or outside bets before the croupier closes wagering and spins the ball. The single zero produces a standard 2.70% house edge and 97.30% theoretical return to player, making the mathematics clearer than the double-zero American format. For players in Canada, understanding the wheel, payout table and provincial regulatory context helps distinguish true European rules from similarly named variants. This glossary explains the layout, common wagers, probabilities and long-run cost.
How the European Roulette Wheel and Layout Work
The European wheel has 37 equally sized pockets: one green zero and the numbers 1 to 36 split evenly between red and black. Its number sequence does not follow numerical order, while the betting grid arranges 1 to 36 in three columns and includes a separate space for zero. Players place chips before the croupier announces that wagering is closed; the ball then settles in one pocket and the table resolves every wager against that result. Live tables from providers such as Evolution and Pragmatic Play use the same core sequence, although table limits and optional rules can differ.
European Roulette Bet Types, Payouts and Chances
Inside bets cover up to six numbers, while outside bets cover 12 or 18 numbered pockets. A straight-up selection pays 35:1 with a 1-in-37 chance; split, street, corner and six-line wagers pay 17:1, 11:1, 8:1 and 5:1 respectively. Dozens and columns pay 2:1 and win on 12 of 37 outcomes. Red or black, odd or even, and 1–18 or 19–36 pay 1:1, but each succeeds on only 18 of 37 outcomes because zero belongs to none of those groups. Higher payouts reflect lower hit rates, not a lower mathematical disadvantage.
European Roulette House Edge and Expected Return
Standard European Roulette carries a 2.70% house edge, calculated as 1 divided by 37, and a theoretical RTP of 97.30%. A total of C$100 wagered therefore has an average long-run expected loss of about C$2.70; this is not a prediction for one session. American Roulette adds 00, raising its edge to 5.26% because two of 38 pockets create the operator advantage. On even-money bets, an explicitly offered la partage rule returns half the stake when zero lands and reduces the edge to about 1.35%. In Ontario, regulated internet games must meet AGCO standards for game integrity and player information.
