Roulette varieties
It is believed that roulette first appeared in France, then conquered Europe, then crossed the ocean. In America, greedy casino owners added an additional number - 00 (Double Zero), which greatly reduced the chances of winning.
There are currently three types of the game:
American roulette (Double zero roulette): 38 numbers: 0, 00, from 1 to 36 inclusive.
European roulette (Single zero roulette): 37 numbers: 0, from 1 to 36 inclusive
French Roulette (Single zero roulette) is the predecessor of European one, has the same wheel, but the playing field differs from all the others.
Russian roulette. This site does not consider this type of the game, as the authors prefer to risk their money rather than their own head.
Games differ by
• the distribution of numbers on the wheel (American roulette wheel and European Roulette wheel);
• game board;
• Possible bets;
• Some special rules (”En Prison”, “La Partage” and “Surrender”), which are described below.
• Rules of conduct at the table, the procedures, chip and others.
The Game procedure
Games have small differences in playing.
Chips in Roulette
Traditionally, colored chip are used in American roulette, and each player at the table has chips of a different colour from other, which greatly facilitates the procedure for making bets and winnings payments. Such chips are usually bought from the dealer on special gaming tables and they are not used in other games. Once a player completes a game, his chips are exchanged for money, or for traditional chips.
European casinos often use standard chips, which players get in cash desk. The dealer uses a special shovel to remove bets played, in American Casino the dealer usually does this with his hands.
Equipment to play roulette
Gaming tables with two playing fields and one wheel in the middle can be found in the European casino. Up to 16 players can play at such a table. Three persons serve such game, one in the middle throws the ball, and two assistants serve their playing fields. These two fields often have different limit rates.
In the United States the dealer serves the table, he rotates the wheel and his assistant sorts the chips. Up to six players can play at the table.
How to behave at the Roulette table
The European Casinos tend to have more elegant atmosphere, requiring stricter dress code. In addition, many casinos are private clubs open only to their member - especially English Player houses.
The US casinos prefer a more democratic style of dress and behavior. Tips are welcomed, while they are not approved in some English casinos. And tips are often compulsory in France!
Roulette in Russian Casinos
In many Russian casinos they usually cultivate roulette, called the American one, but in fact it is a European (French) roulette. The main criterion for roulette wheel identification is a wheel. The American wheel has 38 numbers (including ZERO and double ZERO). European wheel has 37 numbers, just one ZERO.
The confusion probably went from the fact that Russian casinos use a table, similar to American tables. Moreover, just like in American casinos, different color chips rather than standard are used on Russia roulette table.