How Many Roulette, Baccarat, Blackjack Variations Are There?

Variations of table games were created in order to keep the players interested and allow those who aren’t fond of traditional rules to participate. Popular table games include Roulette, Blackjack and Baccarat, and each come with their variations. Although the rules are largely the same, the tweaks keep the games exciting. They allow players to come up with brand new strategies and truly study the art of table games. 

Suppose you’re bored of traditional table games but aren’t sure where to start. In that case, this guide will help you familiarise yourself with Roulette, Blackjack, and Baccarat variations, their rules, and key differences.

Roulette Variations

European Roulette

European Roulette is the most popular choice for roulette players. You’ll play on a 37-number wheel with only one zero and red and black colours. Before the dealer spins the wheel, players bet on the number and colour they think the ball will land on. Then, the dealer spins the wheel in one direction and oppositely throws the ball. 

There are several inside bets and outside bets available. You can find each type thoroughly explained in our Roulette bet type guide.

An important thing to note is that in European Roulette, the house edge gets cut to 2.70%.

American Roulette

American Roulette follows similar rules to the European Roulette, with a 38-number wheel featuring one 0 and one 00 number on the green.

American Roulette also features inside and outside bets — the bet payout is the same as it is in European Roulette. However, the probability is often slightly higher, and the house edge is averaging at 5.26%. Because of the high house edge, most experienced players prefer to play European Roulette. 

French Roulette

French Roulette and European Roulette follow the same wheel setting, with French tables rather than English tables. The house edge in French Roulette is slightly decreased due to the La Partage rule, which gives players a fair chance to win when using the money bet.

Mini Roulette

As the name suggests, Mini Roulette is a miniature version of the big thing. The wheel has 12 red and black numbers along with one zero.

House edge is decreased to 3.85%, which makes Mini Roulette a popular choice for beginner players. 

Multi Wheel Roulette

Multi Wheel Roulette has the same rules as European Roulette with one key difference: you can spin up to eight wheels at once. Your bet will apply to all eight wheels, which increases your odds of winning.

Blackjack Variations

American Blackjack 

American Blackjack is the most popular version of the game. Before the player decides on their hand, the dealer will get the downhole face card along with another card. Players must still try to get 21 to win and “hit” or “stay” to get your number. If you go over 21, you “bust”. American Blackjack uses 6-8 standard decks. Players can double down on any value. Players can split similar-valued cards three times. 

European Blackjack

European Blackjack rules are the same as American Blackjack, with some key differences and slightly more restrictions. The dealer is dealt a face-up card — they only receive the second card after your hand is complete. European Blackjack uses 2 standard decks. Players can only double down on values 9, 10, or 11. You’re only allowed to split your hand once, with 10-value cards.

Vegas Strip Blackjack 

Vegas Strip Blackjack rules are fairly relaxed when it comes to splitting and doubling down. The dealer draws on totals of 16 or less and stands on totals of 17 to 21. Thus, you can double down on any initial hand and split any pair (except for Aces). 

Blackjack Switch

Blackjack Switch also follows similar main rules with one key variation – players get two hands and play them separately. You’re also able to swap cards between two hands, which gives you a better advantage of winning. This is one of the most popular Blackjack variations available. 

Blackjack Perfect Pairs

Perfect Paris is a side bet which tends to be offered before cards are dealt. You win the side bet when your first two cards feature the same value or the same face card.

Baccarat Variations

Mini Baccarat

Only seven players can join the mini Baccarat game at a time, with only one croupier. The player bet rates are fairly low (1.24% house edge), making this game a popular choice amongst new and existing players. 

Chemin de Fer

As the name suggests, this is the French version of Baccarat, but somehow it originated from Italy. Instead of seven decks of cards, only six are used in this game. The person distributing the cards is the banker instead of the croupier; all players get to take turns being the banker. Cards are dealt face down and each player decides whether they want to draw the third card or not. The player with the biggest bet gets to play first. 

Punto Bunco

The Punto Bunco variation was born in the 1950s after Baccarat became popular in Argentina. 12 players (called Punto) can join the table with two players needed to start the game. After that, the croupier does the shuffling and distribution, with the third card being dealt automatically. 

Baccarat Banque

Baccarat Banque is played with up to 16 players. Only one player gets to play the dealer in this game (throughout the whole game). The person with the largest wager gets to play the Banker until they can’t place any more bets. The key difference in Baccarat Banque is two-player positions — the player is dealt two decks while the banker gets one. You can start playing this game even if only one player joins the table. 

All in all, you can find plenty of variations of classic table games — if you’re bored of traditional rules, you may find these options a good substitute. However, while the main playing rules are generally the same, it’s important to note key differences to make sure your betting strategy remains successful. 

Remember never to dismiss the house edge when determining your strategy and choosing your variation game. Each game comes with its own slightly different house edge, which can often work in your favour and allow you to make the most out of your game truly. As house edge varies depending on the online casino you choose, it’s always important to read the fine print.