Let’s start with the basics of the European roulette wheel. Basic Overview of the European Roulette Wheel Because of this, the single-zero roulette wheel is today most commonly known as a European roulette wheel. They devised this game to provide a more player-friendly alternative, as the previously-invented roulette wheel with 0 and 00 pockets set odds too heavily in the casino’s favor.ĭuring the next few decades, this variation spread across Europe and became the standard in European casinos. Initially, roulette had a zero and a double zero pocket, but this changed in 1843 when Francois and Louis Blanc introduced a roulette wheel with only one zero.