American vs European roulette: Which Version is Better for You?
Contents:
- The Basics Between American And European Roulette And How To Play Them
- The main difference between American and European Roulette
- Single zero vs double-zero wheels
- Number of pockets on each Roulette wheel
- Why one extra pocket changes the odds
- American Roulette rules and wheel layout
- How European Roulette works
- American vs European Roulette odds and house edge
- Does European Roulette give players better chances?
- Comparing bets and payouts across both versions
- Online and live dealer Roulette differences
- Which Roulette version should beginners choose?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Which is better, American or European Roulette?
- What is the biggest difference between American and European Roulette?
- Does European Roulette have better odds?
- Are Roulette payouts the same in both versions?
- Can you play European Roulette in US casinos?
To find out which version is better for you and help you to work within your budget, we will look at the rules for playing both versions of the popular table game Roulette and also take a more detailed explanation of the true odds involved and the average return on investment, i.e., the house edge of the two games.
The Basics Between American And European Roulette And How To Play Them
Roulette is offered in most casinos worldwide, whether they are land-based or online casinos. The main idea of Roulette is to guess a number on a spinning wheel. Simple enough for beginners, as all you have to do is pick a number and a colour, place a bet, and hopefully see your prediction become reality.
Roulette, the table game found in online casinos around the world, is divided into two different versions of the game: the European Roulette and the American Roulette version. The wheel on both games consists of 37 numbers painted alternately red and black. Each number on the wheel is painted with green colour in the zero pockets. In order to bet on the numbers of the Roulette wheel, on the Roulette table you will find numbers, colours, and lines. As we previously mentioned, the objective of the game is to guess the number, colour or a line on the wheel where the ball will land. When the ball finally stops on a number, you are paid out with the corresponding odds for the type of bet that you have placed on the Roulette table.
As for the actual payouts, the two Roulette games have the exact same payouts for all wagers including straight-up wagers as well as all other wagers. Also, both Roulette games have the exact same RTP (Return to Player) for all outside wagers as well as for all inside wagers. European Roulette has an RTP of 97.30% while the RTP for American Roulette is only 94.74% because of the extra 00 found on the American Roulette wheel.
The main difference between American and European Roulette
The main difference between American and European Roulette is the number of zeros found on the Roulette wheel.
Single zero vs double-zero wheels
The European version of the game has a single zero wheel with one green 0 pocket. The American Roulette wheel, on the other hand, is a double-zero wheel. While the two green betting boxes for a zero and a double-zero on the table are right next to each other on the left side, they are actually placed opposite each other on the wheel.
Number of pockets on each Roulette wheel
The European wheel has 37 numbered pockets on it, which are the 36 red and black numbered pockets, as well as the one green 0 pocket. The American Roulette wheel, on the other hand, contains 38 pockets. This includes the 36 red and black numbered pockets, as well as 2 green 0 pockets.
Why one extra pocket changes the odds
The extra 00 in American Roulette greatly affects the odds of winning a straight-up number bet. Typically, straight-up number bets in both American and European Roulette receive the same payouts. However, in European Roulette a straight-up number bet has true odds of 37 to 1. On an American wheel a straight-up number bet has true odds of 38 to 1. This means the casino’s edge on American Roulette almost doubles to 5.26% compared to European Roulette at 2.70%.
American Roulette rules and wheel layout
There are several different options for placing wagers in the game of American Roulette, which are generally categorised as either inside or outside bets. There are several different types of inside bets in American Roulette, including Straight bets, Split bets, Street bets, Corner bets, and Line bets. Players who make inside bets are hoping that their number will be selected from the wheel. Players can also place a number of outside bets, such as betting that the winning number will be Red or Black, will be Odd or Even, will fall in the section known as High or Low, or will fall in one of the three sections known as the First, Second or Third Dozen, or the First, Second or Third Column.
The American Roulette wheel is set up in a distinct sequence from the European version. However, it is vital to stress to the reader that the manner in which the numbers are placed upon the wheel has no influence on chance. The house edge for American Roulette of 5.26% is based on the fact that the wheel has 38 pockets in total. The area on the betting mat that encompasses the 0 and 00 is usually separated from the rest of the betting options on the table.
How European Roulette works
The European version of the game of Roulette is very similar to that of the American version, such as standard European Roulette or online European Roulette, for example. In reality, European Roulette is played in exactly the same way as it is when playing American Roulette, with various types of bets placed including all of the standard inside and outside bets found on a typical Roulette table, as well as various different ways in which players can place wagers on the numbers found on the Roulette wheel.
Other single-zero Roulette games, like French Roulette, may include additional rules for the even-money wagers found on their respective tables. For example, when the single-zero wheel lands on zero, even-money wagers that were placed on the table are paid out of play for that spin. The wager then is said to be “En Prison” or “In Prison.” When the wheel is spun again, if the ball lands on zero, then the even-money wager that was placed “En Prison” on the previous spin is lost. If the ball lands on any other number, then the even-money wager that was placed “En Prison” on the previous spin is paid out. In this case, half of the even-money wager is returned to the player. When La Partage is in effect for even-money wagers on a single-zero Roulette wheel, then the house edge for those even-money wagers is 1.35%.
See also: 10 best numbers on roulette: Statistics, legends, and winning strategies
American vs European Roulette odds and house edge
The odds and the house edge of both versions of Roulette are determined by the number of pockets the wheel has. The above table details the true odds (probability of winning), the house edge, and the return to player (RTP) for a straight-up bet on both the American and the European version of Roulette.
| Version | True Odds (Probability) | House Edge | RTP (Return to Player) |
| American Roulette | 1 in 38 (2.63%) | 5.26% | 94.74% |
| European Roulette | 1 in 37 (2.70%) | 2.70% | 97.30% |
Does European Roulette give players better chances?
European Roulette gives the player more chances to win than the American Roulette variant. The house edge of the European Roulette variant is 2.70%, whereas that of the American Roulette variant is 5.26%. In other words, playing on a European wheel will mean losing less money per hour than playing on an American wheel. In the long run, therefore, you are likely to win more money playing European Roulette than American Roulette.
Comparing bets and payouts across both versions
In many casinos it is claimed that the outside bets in the American version of Roulette have higher payouts to compensate for the lack of a fifth green number. This is a complete myth, the payouts of all individual bets in both European and American Roulette are the same:
- Straight-up (single number): 35 to 1
- Split bet (two numbers): 17 to 1
- Street (three numbers): 11 to 1
- Corner (four numbers): 8 to 1
- Line (six numbers): 5 to 1
- Dozens/Columns (12 numbers): 2 to 1
- Even-money bets (e.g., red/black, odd/even, high/low): 1 to 1.
Online and live dealer Roulette differences
All online Roulette games are either based on Random Number Generators or are played with live dealers. Since all winning numbers are paid out at the same rate, even in single-zero Roulette and in double-zero Roulette, all games offered by casinos, that are offered as live dealer games and as online casino games in virtual software, are offered as European Roulette games.
See also: Roulette betting strategy: The ultimate guide
Which Roulette version should beginners choose?
If you are just starting to play Roulette then it is best to play European Roulette only. The payouts on European Roulette are the same as on American Roulette. So the only difference is the amount of losing numbers on the wheel. And this is greatly reduced in European Roulette. Playing with a house edge of 2.70% with European Roulette means that you can play a lot longer with the same bankroll than with a house edge of 5.26% on American Roulette.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, American or European Roulette?
Better choices for new players than the American Roulette game are the more familiar game of European Roulette and its single zero (‘0’) and lower house edge of 2.70%. With American Roulette having a 5.26% house edge for the player, European is clearly a much better bet for your bankroll.
What is the biggest difference between American and European Roulette?
The largest difference between the two Roulette games is the Roulette wheel. The American wheel has an extra green pocket on the wheel with the number 00, or double-zero. This adds an extra outcome to the possible results of the spin of the wheel. The croupier drops the ball onto the wheel and it spins until it finally comes to a stop in one of the 38 possible pockets on the wheel. The European Roulette wheel has one zero on it, and there are a total of 37 possible pockets on the wheel for the ball to land in.
Does European Roulette have better odds?
No. The payouts for both Roulette games are identical. However, the European Roulette has better true odds than the American Roulette because there are fewer losing numbers on the wheel.
Are Roulette payouts the same in both versions?
No, the payouts for winning numbers are the same for both Roulette variations. For example, a straight-up bet on one number pays 35:1 for both American and European Roulette, but the odds of hitting a number that wins that amount are vastly different.
Can you play European Roulette in US casinos?
You can find European Roulette at online casinos or high limit tables in land-based casinos across the US. Note that although you can find European Roulette in the US online casinos, it is not as common as American Roulette. However, more and more online casinos are opening up that are licensed in various states and they do have a large selection of Roulette games for their players. When it comes to the land-based casinos though, it seems the majority of low-limit tables are set up with the American version of the game.
See also: Your Complete Guide to the Triple Zero Roulette House Edge + More
By Focus Gaming News Editorial Team
