American vs European Roulette: The Ultimate Guide

Roulette is a simple game. A ball traverses a wheel, landing in a numbered slot, and all bets corresponding to the number or colour of the slot win.

Roulette’s simplicity hasn’t stopped casinos for creating a large number of variations. This is especially true for online casinos, which offer versions like Classic, 3D, Live Casino, Dragonara and Speed roulette. But for all the different styles of play, the basic game of roulette adheres to a core set of rules. At PartyCasino we have a large selection of online roulette games for you to choose from!

The most fundamental difference exists between the American and European versions of the game, which use different wheels.

How so? We’re glad you asked because that is what you will find on this American vs European Roulette guide.

• American roulette has 38 pockets (0-36, plus 00), while European roulette has 37 pockets (0-36).
• The presence of the additional pocket in American roulette (00) slightly decreases the player's chances of winning.
• In American roulette, the numbers on the wheel are arranged in pairs opposite to each other, while in European roulette the numbers alternate around the wheel.
• American roulette tables typically have a "house edge" of around 5.26%, while the house edge on European roulette tables is typically around 2.7%.
• In European roulette, players have the "en prison" rule which allows players to recover half of an even money bet, when the ball lands on 0. This option is not usually offered on American Roulette.
• European roulette usually has higher table limits, which makes it more appealing to high rollers.
• American roulette tables have a specific layout that is designed to make it easier to place certain types of bets, while European roulette tables have a simpler layout.

The American roulette wheel has an additional green pocket labelled "Double Zero" (00) in addition to the standard green "Zero" pocket. This increases the house edge for players, as it slightly decreases the chance of winning. However, there are some exceptions, such as betting on the ball landing on "00" or taking a "Five Number Bet." In contrast, European roulette has a single green pocket and the numbers on the wheel are arranged differently. This small difference can have a significant impact on a player's long-term win rate.

The addition of a new pocket does more than change the wheel – it changes your odds and chances of winning.

Not only does the American roulette offer worse odds, it also doesn’t offer a better payout rate. You play with a reduced chance of success without augmenting your potential winnings. In other words, more risk for the same reward.

You may look at the wheels and think the difference would be so small it doesn’t make a difference. Though it’s true, the difference between American and European roulette is minor, the effect can be dramatic when applied over numerous wagers. In fact, the house edge nearly doubles for casinos using an American wheel.

It's important for players to be aware of this, and to weigh the pros and cons before playing any roulette game. American roulette has a higher house edge of around 5.26% compared to European roulette that has a house edge of about 2.7%.

European roulette has 37 (0-36) pockets for the ball to land in, instead of 38 (0-36, plus 00) in American roulette, which improves the odds for players. For example, the odds of the ball landing on a specific number such as 12 are 1 in 37, rather than 1 in 38.

Additionally, European roulette has a rule called "En Prison" or "In Prison," which benefits players even further. If a player placed a 1:1 bet, such as on red or black, and the ball lands on the green zero, they get to keep their bet for another spin of the wheel instead of losing it. This increases the chances of winning, and is one of the key strategies for winning in European roulette.

Another aspect that sets American roulette apart from European roulette is the option of a "Five Number Bet" in American roulette. This type of bet allows players to wager on the numbers 1, 2, 3, as well as both the green "0" and "00" pockets.

At first glance, it might seem like a good option with a payout of 6:1, but upon further examination, players will realize that it comes with a high house edge of 7.9%. This means that the odds are not in the player's favour, and it's considered to be one of the least profitable plays in American roulette.

One difference between the wheels is how the numbers are ordered. For example, on a European wheel, the number 24 is situated between 5 and 16. On an American wheel, the number 24 is flanked by 3 and 36.

The order of numbers has no fundamental bearing on the likelihood of a particular outcome. Though some players like to monitor a wheel’s patterns, the nature in which these patterns emerge will not be altered, so long as the numbers remain in order from one spin to the next, as is the case.

What does alter the probability of potential outcomes is the addition of an extra number to the American wheel.

So, which version of this ever-popular casino game is better? It’s down to what you want from your roulette session. How to play roulette doesn’t change, unless you find a casino offering bigger payouts for playing the American wheel (which is not typical). If you’re out solely to make money, or at least increase your chances of winning a big payout, then European roulette is the way to go. The En Prison option, plus one fewer segments on the wheel, makes it a no brainer.

However, while it might be harder to win American roulette – remember, we are talking small edges here – the game can be more fun. Entertainment mounts when you have more betting options. Many players routinely take advantage of the two green segments by betting on both. The Five Number Bet also adds some variety.

As stated, there are differences in the house edge. In American Roulette, it is 5.26%, and in European Roulette, it’s 2.7%.

A surprising number of people can’t distinguish (or don’t understand the significance of the differences) between the American and European wheel. Now you no longer have to be one of them!