Roulette is universally recognized as one of the most iconic and popular games in casino history.
Choosing the wrong version of roulette is the most common and costly mistake new players make.
The Difference is in the Zeros
A European roulette wheel features 37 pockets in total: the numbers 1 through 36, plus a single zero (0).
While the payouts remain exactly the same, your odds of hitting a specific number decrease on the American wheel.
The green zeros represent the house edgeAmerican roulette includes the 0 and the 00European roulette only utilizes the single 0
The Mathematics of the Two Wheels
Because the European wheel has only one zero, the house edge is a very reasonable 2.70%.
Statistically, for every $100 you wager, you expect to lose $2.70 on European and $5.26 on American.
Special European Roulette Rules
The "La Partage" rule dictates that if the ball lands on zero, you only lose half of your even-money bet.
If these special rules are in effect, the house edge on even-money bets drops to an incredible 1.35%.
VersionZero PocketsHouse EdgeEuropeanOne (0)2.70%AmericanTwo (0, 00)5.26%
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
Lauri Stoate edited this page 2026-08-03 18:09:12 +00:00