Roulette Table & Wheel
The game of roulette was invented in the 18th century and, surprisingly, for over 200 years now, it has been one of the most played games. Roulette has brought one of the highest revenues for casinos, driving interest in the development of elegant roulette tables and wheels. The game today has branched into mainly three versions which you can expect to find on most casino floors – European, French, and American. Each version is slightly different and then again, there are many similarities. We have put together a detailed breakdown of the different versions and answered some popular questions to make your next roulette gaming session more beneficial.
The Main Components of the Roulette Wheel
When the roulette wheel was invented, it didn’t contain all the elements it does today. There are over 300 pieces that go into a modern roulette wheel and the design has largely remained unchanged since the 18th century albeit with some improvements. The proper execution and manufacturing of the roulette wheel, the placement of the pockets, number sequence and colors matter. Yet, the wheels you will find today will be free of any bias and help you enjoy fair and provably fair, thanks to the proper engineering that goes into the roulette wheel. Here is a quick overview of the 14 main elements of the wheel.

- 1.Turret - a rotatable mechanism at the top of the roulette
- 2.Turret Base – the part of the roulette that supports the turret
- 3.Height Adjuster – responsible for calibrating the height of the turret
- 4.Wheel Head – part of the upper bearing mechanism
- 5.Ball Pocket – the place where the ball lands
- 6.Upper Bearing – part of the ball
- 7.Cone – the field where the ball rolls
- 8.Ball Deflector – obstacles for the ball to bounce off
- 9.Ball Track – the circumference in which the ball spins
- 10.Lower Ball Track -the surfaces housing the deflectors
- 11.Spindle – supports the rotating wheel head
- 12.Bowl Rim – holds the cone
- 13.Lower Bearing – part of the bowl
- 14.Bowl – external wheel housing
American Roulette Wheel & Table
American Roulette is a game that developed in the United States, as the name suggests, with a particular twist to its sequence of numbers and layout – the addition of double zero. Because of the double zero, however, the game is also cited as the roulette version with the highest house edge at 5.26%. The fact has discouraged some players from playing American Roulette, but the game does have its appeal, mostly because of the unique five-number bet that players can make only in this version of the game. Yet, if there is any bias in the American version of the game, it’s negligible, although the payout chances are certainly lower because of the double zero.
European Roulette Wheel & Table
The European Roulette wheel isn’t too different than the American version, but it’s still a little more optimized. For starters, European Roulette has a 2.70% native house edge which gives players a good margin to turn a successful bet. The wheel itself is sequenced slightly better, with no two big numbers stacked in neighboring ball pockets. Another advantage of the game is the single zero, which allows for a better house edge, with a total of 37 numbers on the wheel and table layout. Players can bet on either of the numbers or use the wheel sectors to place a more comprehensive bet.
- The Neighbours of Zero or Voisins du Zero bet is a bet you place on 17 numbers, all of which have to be close to the zero. To make sure that you have covered all numbers to create a Voisins du Zero, you will need to place at least nine chips. The chance of this bet turning out is 49.9% and it offers a much better payout than odd/even or black/red, with 24:1 payout rate. Some players refer to this bet as the “Grand Series.”
- Zero Game or Jeu 0 as the bet is known by its French moniker is a type of bet that is centred around the zero. Once again, the build features the zero, but also the numbers around it. The bet has a 26:1 payout and the probability of landing this bet is 18.9%. You could argue that this bet is almost the same as Neighbours of Zero, but because of the fewer numbers involved in the bet, the chance of turning out a successful bet is somewhat lower.
- Thirds of the Wheel (Tiers du Cylindre). Known as Thirds of the Wheel, you are covering 1/3 of the wheel, or at least very close. This is a 12-number bet that is very popular and offers a 32.4% of success. The payout is pretty good too, and if you do end up landing a Tiers du Cylindre, as the French name of the bet is, you will receive a 17:1 payout.
- Orphans (Les Orphelins). Lastly, you have the Orphans, which are the numbers from the table field that aren’t really used in any of the bets. This bet has a 21.6% chance of success.
French Roulette Table & Wheel
French Roulette is one of the best versions of the game as it offers the lowest house edge, owing to the En Prison and La Partage rules. A regular game of roulette has a 2.70% house edge, but with the help of the aforementioned rules, the house edge drops to a mere 1.35%.
The roulette wheel is exactly the same as the European wheel, and the rules allow you to either re-bet your money or withdraw half of your money and forfeit the other. If you choose to keep your bet active and the bet turns up on the next spin of the wheel, you win. However, if the bet flops, you can no longer benefit from these rules on this specific bet.
Things go back to normal on your next spin, though, and you can once again make use of the En Prison and La Partage rules, designed to help you minimize the house edge and add excitement to your roulette sessions.
Roulette Wheel & Table Manufacturers
To guarantee the safety and fairness of roulette games, casinos only choose to work with household names from the industry. Each established company has a genuine interest to provide roulette wheel and tables that are of the highest quality and provide casinos with the products their patrons expect. Presently, the largest and most renowned developers of roulette and casino products include Cammegh, TCS John Huxley, Paul-Son. Let’s take a quick look at each of these and see what has helped them establish themselves as market leaders. Every company supplies and develops unbiased roulette wheels held to the highest industry standards.

Cammegh has a close-knit team of specialists with some 30 craftsmen and experts delivering quality products. The company started as a British family-run entity, but it has grown to deliver some of the most attractive roulette tables, wheels, and layouts over the years, firmly embedding itself as a market leader.

Before John Huxley became a part of the TCS concert, the company established a global footprint, supplying casinos around the world with the highest quality. The company was established in 1979, giving it an unrivalled experience. The company manufactures traditional roulette wheel and there is a special series allowing you to purchase a LED-infused gaming table.

Run as a family company, Paul-Son remains one of the finest developers in the casino industry, providing famous hospitality brands with roulette, card, and dice solutions. The company is headquartered in Reno, Nevada, but it services every major gambling hub in the United States.
FAQs
It’s a popular belief that French and European Roulette both tend to be great picks for beginners. French Roulette, however, allows someone who is new to the game to familiarize themselves very quickly and also play with a slightly better house edge. Thanks to the En Prison and La Partage rules, the house edge in French Roulette is only 1.35%.
Every zero on the roulette wheel progressive increases the house edge. In European roulette, which is a single zero version of the game, the house edge is only 2.70%. However, in American Roulette, this advantage is already sitting at 5.26% making for an additional challenge. This also reflects the chances of each individual bet of success, although it also allows you to place a five-number bet instead.
Yes, all payouts have been already calculated. You can know exactly how much to expect for each individual bet based on the type of the roulette you are playing, i.e. American, French, or European.
There are 37 numbers on both the European and French Roulette versions. Up to 36 regular numbers and one slot reserved for the zero.
The “Announced” or “Call” bets are bets that apply to specific sections of the wheel. There are four types of such bets, including Neighbours of Zero, Thirds of the Wheel, Zero Game, and of course, Orphans, which is the name given to the numbers that don’t fit any of the other bet categories. These bets apply to specific parts of the wheel and they offer a much better payout than other “safe” bets, such as Even/Odd or Red/Black. Most players really appreciate the opportunity to place a bet such as this as it enables them to try and win more while carrying almost the same risk.