Roulette is universally recognized as one of the most iconic and popular games in casino history.
European and American roulette may look nearly identical to the untrained eye, but the math differs wildly.
The Extra Green Zero
The American wheel, however, has 38 pockets: numbers 1 through 36, a single zero (0), and a double zero (00).
While the payouts remain exactly the same, your odds of hitting a specific number decrease on the American wheel.
The extra number changes all probability calculationsThe betting layout is slightly larger on the American tableEuropean tables often use a different chip system
Why the House Edge Matters
With a house edge of 2.70%, European roulette is relatively fair compared to many other casino games.
Statistically, for every $100 you wager, you expect to lose $2.70 on European and $5.26 on American.
Special European Roulette Rules
Some European, and particularly French, roulette tables offer player-friendly rules called "La Partage" or "En Prison."
American roulette essentially never offers these rules, further cementing its status as the inferior option.
GameWheel NumbersEdge with La PartageFrench371.35%American38N/A
The conclusion is incredibly simple: you should always seek out and exclusively play European or French roulette.
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The Difference Between European and American Roulette
Anderson Grantham edited this page 2026-08-04 09:30:11 -04:00