The average game of roulette has a fairly low house edge. European games, with a single zero, have a house edge of 2.70%. American roulette, which has an extra number (38 in total), has a house edge of 5.26%. Even a small change in the games dynamics can have a profound effect on the house edge. This information is important because it dictates the potential return rate, otherwise known as the Return to Player (RTP) value. Therefore, we can use house-edge and RTP to assess the potential of a roulette game.
The Significance of RTPs in Roulette
Before we look at different types of roulette and what their potential payout rates are, we need to understand the theory behind RTP. To work out the RTP, subtract the house edge from 100. So, for European roulette, the RTP value is 100% 2.7% = 97.3%. An RTP of 97.3% tells us that, in theory, you’ll get $97.30 back for every $100 wagered. This doesn’t mean you’ll get a $97.30 return every time you wager $100. There will be times when your win rate is higher than 97.3% and times when it will be lower. In fact, it’s this variance that allows you to have winning sessions because, if you always got the exact RTP, you wouldn’t make a profit. But, because results can fluctuate around the expected norm, it’s possible to have winning sessions. However, over time, the RTP should hit 97.3%.
Different roulette variants have different RTP values. If you play Money Back roulette at Paddy Power, the RTP is 98.65%. The gameboard is identical to a European roulette gameboard i.e. it has 37 numbers running from 0 to 36. The payouts are also the same. The reason it has a better RTP than traditional European roulette is the fact you get a rebate on certain bets. Specifically, if you make an even money bet and the ball lands on zero, you’ll receive a 50% rebate. The addition of this feature reduces the house edge which, in turn, improves your potential return rate.
Roulette RTP Values Can Vary
We see a similar thing happen when you add or remove other features. So, to bring this roulette guide to a conclusion, let’s run through some of the most popular online variants and, importantly, their RTP values. Variants that use the European format, such as Instant Roulette, Lightning Roulette and 10p Roulette have an RTP of 97.30%. The same goes for variants that use two balls, such as Double Ball Roulette. Variants that have a cashback feature, such as French Roulette Gold, have an RTP of 98.65%.
As you can see, the average RTP is 97.30%, which conforms to European roulette’s value. Games with cashback, aka La Partage, offer better potential returns over the long term (aka expected value), but it’s important to understand that anything can happen in the short term. You might go on a run that sees you achieve an RTP of more than 100%. This type of run probably won’t last forever, which is why it’s important to consider the RTP values if you want to get maximum value when you play roulette online.