Differences Between American Roulette vs. European Roulette
Online roulette variations come in many shapes and sizes, from virtual variants governed by RNG to live casino games and from progressive jackpots to optional side bets. These games typically fall into two categories: European Roulette and American Roulette.
They are both wheel-based games of chance. They have similar probabilities and payouts; if you know how to play one, you’ll know how to play the other. However, there are some key differences, and in this guide, we’ll compare American Roulette vs. European Roulette to see what those differences are.
Differences in Roulette: American vs European
There is one main difference between these two games, and that concerns the green spaces on the wheels. The American roulette table allows you to bet on both the “0” and “00”, either as a joint bet that pays 17/1 or individual bets that pay 35:1. In a European Roulette game, however, there is just one green space.
This is an important distinction, as the green “0/00” creates the house edge when wagering on popular roulette bets like Black/Red, High/Low, and Odd/Even, as none of these outcomes win if the ball lands on green. As a result, it means that American Roulette has a higher house edge than European Roulette.
American Roulette vs European Roulette: The History
As the game of roulette began in 18th-century France, you could be forgiven for thinking that French and European Roulette variations were the originals and that the extra green space was added when the game crossed the Atlantic.
The earliest variations of this game had two green spaces. In La Roulette, ou le Jour, a novel from the late 1700s, the game is described as having “two slots reserved for the bank” before later noting that these are the “zero and double zero.”
The modern European roulette wheel layout was introduced about half a century later to compete with the original design. This new wheel spread across Europe, while the double-zero style became the default American roulette wheel as the game was popularized in the United States.
American Roulette vs European Roulette: The Wheel
The numbers on an American Roulette wheel are slightly different from those on a European Roulette wheel, but this doesn’t impact the odds. The only real difference is that American versions contain two green spaces (“0” and “00”), while European Roulette wheels have just one (“0”).
American vs European Roulette: The House Edge and Payouts
The total house edge for American Roulette is 5.26%. This drops to just 2.7% for European roulette. This edge applies across the board, regardless of the bets you place. The payouts don’t change for either of these games, though. You will get 35 to 1 for a single number, 17 to 1 for splits, and 1 to 1 for outside bets in both games, but the RTP for American Roulette is a couple of percentage points lower than its European counterpart.
European Roulette vs American Roulette: Strategies
Some essential online roulette tips for beginners can help you keep your spending under control and ensure you’re playing the best games. Betting strategies also promise to push the edge more in your favor. However, many of these are high-risk, and as this is a game of chance with a house edge, none will work 100% of the time.
If you’re going to use a strategy anyway, you’re better off with European Roulette, as the house edge is lower, so you’re starting on more of an even footing. You could also look for versions of French Roulette. These games use the European Roulette wheel layout, but they introduce additional rules concerning the green space, and these rules favor the player.
European vs American Roulette: Which is Best?
Whether reading through the countless American roulette vs. European Reddit threads, chatting with professional roulette players, or engaging with dealers and players at your local casino, everyone will tell you that European Roulette is the better option.
After all, one of the only changes from European to American variations is that the former has a lower house edge, and this is a big deal if you’re placing roulette outside bets and hoping to win big with strategies like martingale (see our guide on the ways to win online roulette to learn more).
That doesn’t mean that American Roulette should be avoided, though. After all, the 17 to 1 green wager is only possible with this game, and while the house edge is higher, it’s not high enough to make a difference to occasional gamblers dropping a few bucks on a spin or two.
Roulette Common Queries
Which roulette system is the best?
Martingale is one of the most effective strategies. This tried-and-tested method is high stakes and high risk, but it can return your losses if done correctly. It involves doubling your stake following a loss and returning to a base stake after a win. It works best when used on outside bets. The Paroli system is popular and works similarly, albeit with less risk and more focus on winning streaks.
Is European or American roulette better?
Due to the lower house edge, European Roulette is generally considered a better game, but it all comes down to personal preference. The games are very similar, except for the green spaces and the house edge that these create.
Which roulette has better odds?
European Roulette has better odds than American Roulette, but if you can find a game of French Roulette that stays true to the classic rules, the edge will be even lower. This game features a rule that gives players half their stakes back when the ball lands on green, and they have an outside bet.
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