5 Weird Variations of Roulette Games

Roulette game is a classic. It’s been around for hundreds of years and has maintained its popularity through the prohibition of gambling and the move to online platforms. Even if you’ve never set foot inside a casino, you’ll have an idea of what the game entails.

Since it only needs a wheel, a ball, and a croupier to spin it, roulette is relatively simple. The types of player bets can make it more varied and interesting. The result is a table game that almost anyone can learn to play in just a few minutes.

As with any classic that is simple, popular, and has stood the test of time, eventually, someone wants to adapt the game to maximize the entertainment. That led to several variants on casino floors and online. Common versions of the game include:

  • American roulette – with a single and double zero
  • European roulette – with just a single zero
  • French roulette – with different layout and betting rules
  • Lightning roulette – a rapid live online version that adds multipliers to the classic French rules

At most Canadian online casinos, you’ll see these variants as normal and live casino games. However, some developers have continued experimenting. Occasionally, you might come across one of these more unusual versions of roulette. Read on to discover 5 uncommon types of roulette and find out how they work.

Double Ball Roulette

Double Ball Roulette

You might’ve guessed what’s different about this version of roulette from the name. Double ball, or sometimes multi-ball roulette, includes one wheel but 2 or more balls of different colours that are used on the same spin. The idea is to have double the thrills.

In some versions, you’ll find up to 10 balls used, each with a specific colour to help you keep an eye on where they land. Apart from the extra balls, the game functions in the same ways as the classic one. However, where you’ll see the difference is in the bets and your potential winnings.

You’ll find American and European variants of the game. Your chances of winning an inside bet are increased, but the payout will be smaller. You can place 2 or multiple number bets depending on how many balls are in play. For an outside bet in double ball roulette, both balls need to win for you to see a return.

Double Action Roulette

Double Action RouletteIn this version of the game, the double action refers to a uniquely designed wheel. There’s an inner and an outer ring, which means two sets of numbers. One ring has the numbers in the standard order, while the other has them running the opposite way. When it comes to spinning the wheel, they each go in different directions.

The system works similarly to standard roulette, except the ball lands in the pocket between the two rings of numbers. It’s more common to find the French single zero version, but American wheels exist too. Seeing the winning numbers is simple, but the betting system is slightly more complex.

It’s possible to bet on the number on the inside ring, the outer ring, or both. The inside bets have standard odds, whereas outside bets depend on the results of both circles in the wheel. Thrill-seekers enjoy this aspect, and it can lead to some big payouts.

Alphabetic Roulette

Alphabetic RouletteThis variant of the game is rare. Instead of red and black spaces and the numbers 0 to 36, you’ll see several colours and letters. Though the concept remains the same, the wheel and the potential outcomes are completely different.

There are 25 spaces for the letters A through to X, and Y and Z share a section, which is often seen as the equivalent to the zero as it has no colour or is black. The remaining 24 letters are split into groups of 4 and are assigned a colour. You’ll usually see them in the following order: yellow, red, blue, green, orange, and pink.

The odds and the bets for alphabetic roulette are different from the standard game. You can bet on single letters, a colour group, a group of 12 letters, or even a column. Since it uses letters instead of numbers, you can have some fun with the combinations, such as betting on any letter in the word roulette.

Multi-Wheel Roulette

Multi-Wheel RouletteOnline casino games added to the number of possibilities when playing roulette, including adding extra wheels to the table. The theory is that if 1 wheel offers a bit of excitement, 8 will deliver even bigger thrills. Instead of adding more balls or numbers, this variant replicates the main element of roulette.

You’ll usually find anywhere between 2 and 8 wheels in this version of the game. It’s often up to the player to activate the wheels, so you can find that number that feels right for you. Although there’s a lot of action, it’s not so fast-paced that you can’t keep track of the results.

The main appeal of multi-wheel roulette is that you can place one bet covering several wheels, which increases the chances of your number being the correct one. The betting system isn’t complicated, as it’s the same as the traditional game, which means you can get started straight away.

Pinball Roulette

Pinball RouletteThe last entry in our list is one of the weirdest. It combines 2 classic games, pinball, and roulette, to create something completely different. You’ll need to understand the concepts of each game to figure out what’s going on in this variant.

You’ll place your bets as normal with the standard selection of red or black, numbers, and so on. However, instead of spinning a ball in the wheel, when you press bet, a ball will launch into a pinball machine. It can hit flippers and buffers and move around before it eventually drops to the bottom.

The roulette element merges with pinball as the usual numbered spaces scroll across the screen at the bottom of the machine. If the ball lands in the slot that matches your group or number, then you win. It involves even more anticipation as you try to predict where the ball will drop.

Summary

As it continues to be a popular game in both land-based casinos and Canadian online gambling, roulette is not going anywhere. Pinball roulette and multi-ball are only two of the numerous inventive varieties that keep the game's excitement alive. There's always a new way to play this classic casino staple, whether you prefer the older iterations or want to try something different. See our online casino reviews to find the best places to start if you're ready to spin the wheel! 

Conrad Brennan
Former Author
University of Toronto
BA of Business and Marketing
Expert in:
  • Games reviews
  • Slot reviews
Fact checked by Chief Editor:
Gerda Grinova

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