French, American, European: discover the secrets of roulette variants

It’s a game that fascinates, to the point where James Bond directors never hesitated to include it in the scenery of many films in the saga. Available in our Live Casino mode, roulette is one of the players’ favourite gambling games.

Your new 2025 Belgium online casino site, Dragon Casino, is well aware of this. Beyond the game itself, it is often seen as a metaphor for chance and destiny: life spins like the wheel, and everything can depend on a tiny detail — where the ball stops.

But do you really know everything about roulette? Russian for gangsters, it is European, American or French for casino enthusiasts. Here are the secrets of all these variants.

Understanding the different variants allows you to choose better according to your playing style, your budget and your goals. Here is everything you need to know to master the main roulette variants.

European Roulette: the most balanced version

It is the most widespread. The variant known as European Roulette is often the most favourable to players. It is played on a wheel with 37 pockets: numbers 1 to 36 plus a single zero (0), which increases your chances of hitting a jackpot.

This single zero gives the house an edge of about 2.70%. In terms of gameplay, bets and payouts are identical to other variants (a straight-up pays 35:1, etc.), but the odds are slightly better than with two zeros. Ideal for managing your bankroll.

Choosing this version offers an interesting balance between simplicity, tradition and reasonable chances. Favour “even-chance” bets (red/black, even/odd) to reduce your risk while taking advantage of this favourable version. A responsible way to play.

American Roulette: more risk, more action

Our blog had not yet covered this specific topic. The variant known as American Roulette introduces a major difference: the wheel has 38 pockets, meaning numbers 1 to 36, a single zero (0) and a double zero (00). The presence of “00” significantly increases the house advantage, which rises to around 5.26%.

The game can be faster, with a more intense pace. It’s the version for players looking for more adrenaline or who are not solely focused on the best probability.

Come try it, even for free with the demo mode, on American Vertical Roulette by Gaming1. If you choose this version, set a strict budget and favour short bets — the house edge is noticeably higher.

French Roulette: the most favourable version for players

French Roulette combines the single-zero wheel (as in European Roulette) with additional rules that are highly favourable to the player, especially for even-chance bets. The wheel has 37 pockets (0–36).

And the rules “La Partage” and “En Prison” often work in your favour. But what are they? Just like in our glossary on dice slots, we’ll explain these rather specific terms.

“La Partage” applies when the ball lands on zero. The player loses only half of their stake on red/black or even/odd. As for the “En Prison” rule, the player may keep their stake for the next round if zero appears. Thanks to these rules, the house advantage can drop to around 1.35% on even-chance bets.

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But Dragon Casino is much more than that. Our interface offers a complete selection including the famous dice games. Browse all our games below. We’re waiting for you!