It is difficult to improve on a game that has endured virtually unchanged in casinos for over 200 years. Nevertheless, someone always makes the attempt. In 1888, for example, some American versions of the wheel were created to feature only 14 red numbers and 14 black ones. They also had three bank slots—a zero, a double zero and an American eagle symbol—which made 31 pockets in total. The payout for a winning number bet straight up was just 27-to-1, and the House edge was a whopping 9.8%, Needless to say, this variation never became popular, and the wheels are now seen only as museum pieces.

That said, not all experiments in changing the basic game of Roulette have failed. Although few have attracted a worldwide following, many have met with success as regional games of chance, as the example below demonstrate.

The French Connection

French Roulette is almost identical to the European version of the game, using a wheel with 37 numbers, including a single zero. The table layout, however, is quite different. The betting areas for Noir (Black), Passe (19~36), and (Pair (Even) appear on one side of the numbered field, while those for Rouge (Red), Manque (1~18), and Impair (Odd) are on the other. Wagers on the dozens are made in special sections below the columns marked P¹² for 1~12, M¹² for 13~24, and D¹² for 25~36.

On the French Roulette table, the numbers in the field do not have any associated colors, but there is a special oval-shaped array of the numbers as they appear on the wheel that does. In this special area, “call bets” can be made on sectors of the wheel, such as Les Voisins du Zéro (neighbors of zero), Les Orphelins (the orphans), and Le Tiers du Cylindre (a third of the wheel). These wagers cover 17 numbers, 8 numbers, and 12 numbers, respectively.

A very different French variation on Roulette is La Boule. This game features the numbers 1~9 and three colors—red, black, and yellow. A rubber ball, just a bit smaller than a tennis ball, is spun around a wheel that has colored concave dimples instead of slots. The numbers 1~9 are associated with each of these dimples, two sets of them near the outer edge of the wheel, and two sets separating the dimples from the central axis. The dimple where the ball comes to rest determines the outcome.

In La Boule, even money bets can be made on Red, Black, Low (1~4), High (6~9), Odd, or Even. Straight-up wagers on a single number pay 7-to-1. The number 5 and the color yellow are The House edge in this game is 11.11%. The version of this played at Genting Highlands Casino in Malaysia is called French Boule. It has ten numbers 0~9 and pays 8-to-1 for a straight up winner. The House advantage for this variation is 10%.

More Forms of Roulette

Even though most innovations will not endure, developing new Roulette variations can help casinos attract new customers who are drawn in by novelty. In almost all cases, the House advantage is greater that it is with the standard American and European versions, so such games should be approached with caution. Following a few of the latest Roulette innovations that have surfaced and survived their initial introduction:

Roulette Royale – This game looks and plays exactly the same as American or European Roulette, but with one twist—it features a special jackpot and a compulsory side bet. Each time a player wagers, at least one unit must be bet in an area on the table marked “Jackpot Side Bet.” Bonus payouts are awarded for hitting the same number more than once: 15 units for a repeat, 200 units for three times in a row; 3,000 units for four hits on the same number, and the Jackpot, which can be as much as 250,000 times the wager, for five repetitions of a winning number.

Mini Roulette – The wheel and table layout feature only 12 numbers, 1~12, with a single zero for the bank; odds vary accordingly, with the payout for a straight-up winner on a single number worth 11-to-1. The advantage to the player is that numbers bet straight up win three times more often, but it must be noted that this version has a huge House edge of 7.69%.

No Zero Roulette – The wheel and table layout feature only 36 numbers, 1~36, with no bank slots. This variation, which has no House advantage, is sometimes seen as a promotional tool or as a home party game. When found in casinos, the minimum and maximum betting limits are usually very low and the tables are not used for serious gambling.

Multiball Roulette – Up to three balls are rolled on the wheel at the same time; the odds and payouts are reduced accordingly, divided by two or three. The advantage to the player is more opportunities to win, but the drawback is smaller winnings with no reduction in the House edge.