The Difference Between European and American Roulette
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
A European roulette wheel features 37 pockets in total: the numbers 1 through 36, plus a single zero (0).
This single extra pocket on the American wheel drastically alters the mathematical probabilities of the game.
- The green zeros represent the house edge
- American roulette includes the 0 and the 00
- European roulette only utilizes the single 0
Comparing the House Edge
With a house edge of 2.70%, European roulette is relatively fair compared to many other casino games.
This means you will lose money almost twice as fast playing the American version over the long term.
Special European Roulette Rules
Some European, and particularly French, roulette tables offer player-friendly rules called «La Partage» or «En Prison.»
This makes French roulette one of the most mathematically favorable table games on the entire casino floor.
| Version | Zero Pockets | House Edge |
|---|---|---|
| European | One (0) | 2.70% |
| American | Two (0, 00) | 5.26% |
The conclusion is incredibly simple: you should always seek out and exclusively play European or French roulette.