European vs American Roulette: Odds & Wheel Differences

Many tables still have drink and ashtray holders (remanence of the times when smoking was still allowed in the casino). Professional Roulette tables at casinos have a rectangular shape and are usually made of leather or polished wood for upscale tables, or synthetic upholstery for the larger, more casual gambling halls. When playing at the European Roulette table, players can ‘call bets’ which means they can place a bet by announcing it to the dealer instead of putting chips down on the table. Players cannot bet on the zero number/pocket, and this is where the differences between the two versions begin – a European Roulette wheel has one zero pocket and an American Roulette wheel has two (marked with ‘0’ and ‘00’). Taking technological innovation further, today many online roulette casinos offer live-dealer Roulette games which enable to play the game at a real table from the comfort of your own home. If either of these rules are in effect, the house edge is halved from 2.70% to 1.35%. If you look closely, you'll notice that the extra 00 number hasn't just been shoved in to an existing European roulette wheel layout.

If gambling stops being fun or begins to impact your finances, relationships, or mental well-being, it’s important to seek help. Before you start playing, set clear deposit, loss, and time limits to help manage your bankroll effectively. European roulette offers a lower house edge at 2.70%, while American roulette nearly doubles that advantage to 5.26% due to the extra zero. There are different strategies you can follow playing either American or European Roulette that can not only increase your chances to win, but also make the game more challenging, exciting and fun. It isn’t an opinion or assumption, it is fact – no matter which bet you place, your chances to win over time are considerably better at a European Roulette table. The games are almost identical, other than two game rules that can work to the advantage of French Roulette players. So it is common to find in French casinos and gambling salons large, double French Roulette tables with the wheel based in the centre and two betting layouts set, one on each side of the wheel.

If there are two pockets, you are definitely standing in front of an American Roulette table. The best way to immediately spot the difference between European and American Roulette is to look for the green pockets on the Roulette wheel. We cover these rules in detail, including their RTPs and odds in the dedicated French Roulette section below. Whilst the basic rules across different game variations are similar, there are specific rules that are unique to European Roulette as opposed to American Roulette and vice versa. The dealer then spins the wheel and if the ball lands on a predicted number and/or event, the player wins the bet. The aim in all roulette games is for the player to place bets on specific numbers and/or events (these are called ‘outside bets’ – for example betting on odd/even, black/red, 1-12, etc.). When casino proprietors there wanted to increase the house edge they reintroduced the double zero-pocket which is today the most distinct feature of the American Roulette wheel. As gambling became illegal in France, French brothers Fancois and Louis Blanc introduced in 1842 the first single-zero pocket Roulette game at a spa casino in Baden Hamburg, Germany.

European Roulette Wheel

This small change significantly impacts the odds, increasing the house edge and reducing player value on American roulette wheels. The key difference between roulette wheels comes down to the number of zero pockets. Ziv Chen has been working in the online gambling industry for over two Willem Powerfish Casino decades in senior marketing and business development roles. When the fun stops and you are about to lose more than you intended to, take a break and leave the table. So do some research about which variation is best for you and have a look at the rules. Following the ‘La Partage’ rule in French Roulette, if you lose on an outside bet you will receive half of your bet back in case the ball lands on the zero pocket. The most obvious clue which we covered already is the single zero pocket on a European Roulette wheel vs two pockets on the American wheel. Although looking similar at first glance, the European and American Roulette wheels have quite a few differences in design.

After all, it’s not like these options have a lower house edge. For a Roulette player who plays often, this can result in significant differences in their bankroll over time.​ The house edge only becomes true over the course of time. From there, it quickly became popular in steamboat casinos and spread across other parts of the US. In fact, out of every 100 spins on average, the ball only lands in the zero pocket less than three times. The European roulette wheel layout has 37 slots called pockets. Over time, this increased house edge leads to faster bankroll depletion and lower overall returns, regardless of the betting strategy used. Most reputable online casinos also provide responsible gambling tools, including self-exclusion options and account controls, to support safer play.

Understanding your limits and playing responsibly is essential for maintaining control and enjoying a positive casino experience. Most live casino roulette games use European-style wheels, which is excellent news for players. Even popular systems like Martingale perform better on European roulette simply because the odds are less stacked against the player. The casino keeps the same rewards while increasing its advantage with the extra zero. American roulette is usually offered alongside European versions, but experienced players almost always avoid it. For Australian players at online casinos, European roulette is the smarter choice in nearly every situation. Over time, this difference has a major impact on player losses, making European roulette the more favourable option for long-term play.

In 1842, two brothers from Germany removed the double-zero pocket to lower the house edge and attract more players. In addition to those pockets, there’s a single zero pocket, which is colored green. Those pockets contain the numbers 1 through 36. Come along with us as we take a close look at European vs. American Roulette, how they’re different, their odds, and unique bets. In both versions, you’ll be able to make the same types of bets. For players who want to maximise their chances, manage their bankroll effectively, and enjoy a more balanced casino experience, European roulette is always the smarter choice. European roulette consistently offers better odds thanks to its single-zero wheel, resulting in a much lower house edge and improved long-term value for players. Avoid chasing losses, take regular breaks, and only gamble with money you can afford to lose.

Some hands offer strong chances from the start, while others leave you with very few options. Unless you are playing on a site that scams people. European roulette wheel layout is easier for beginners as the game is a bit slower-paced with better odds of winning. The European roulette wheel layout has better odds. If you’d like to play around with both versions, be sure to check out the trusted online casino. In our opinion, when it comes to European vs. American Roulette, there is only ever one version to play (if it’s available). Instead of 37 pockets, you now have to play with 38. Thankfully, it’s something that’s not very difficult to remember.

If you bet $1 on even-money spins 1000 times, over and over again, you’d eventually see that you lose $27 dollars on average. Learning the roulette rules and understanding how the house edge works can also help you make more informed decisions while playing. While both games look similar at first glance, the roulette wheel differences between these two versions create a noticeable gap in odds, payouts, and overall player value. So, what are the advantages of playing American Roulette and why is it so popular in the US? By taking advantage of these rules, players can actually reduce the house edge from the European Roulette standard of 2.6% to as low as 1.35%! Given there are two chances of losing due to the ball landing on zero pockets, this bet is pretty risky, with a house edge of a massive 7.89%! Closer to Roulette as we know it today, Roman and Greek soldiers in ancient times used to play betting games involving spinning a shield or a chariot wheel. At first glance many casino players cannot tell the difference, but each Roulette variation has its own rules and odds, and a closer look at the tables and wheels of each game reveal even more differences.

Video poker has stayed popular for a long time, and you can see why after just a few rounds. At the end of the day, it’s about how much you win or lose. So, if you place a single bet on 7, in the European roulette wheel layout, there are 36 other pockets the ball can’t land in to win. Keep in mind, we’re talking about spinning 1000 times and doing that numerous times. As we’ve stated numerous times, the odds of winning in European Roulette is about two times higher than the American version. If you’re playing, you may notice a difference between European vs. American Roulette other than the bets made and payouts.