The Difference Between European And American Roulette

Roulette is one of the most iconic and visually thrilling games available on any casino floor.


The variation you decide to play has a massive impact on your mathematical chances of walking away a winner.

The Extra Number That Changes Everything

On a European table, the presence of the single zero is what prevents the even-money bets from being perfectly 50/50.


That extra double zero on the American wheel might look harmless, but it drastically increases the operator's profit margin.

The payouts for hitting a single number are exactly the same (35 to 1) on both wheelsBecause the payouts are identical but the American wheel has an extra number, your odds of winning decreaseYou are taking on more risk for the exact same potential reward when playing the American version
The 'En Prison' and 'La Partage' Rules

If you can find a French roulette table, you will encounter the best possible odds for this specific game.


These rules effectively cut the house edge in half again, dropping it to a phenomenally low 1.35% on outside bets.

Roulette VariationNumber of ZerosHouse Edge (Standard Bets)AmericanTwo (0, 00)5.26%EuropeanOne (0)2.70%

By simply choosing the European wheel, you instantly double your expected mathematical longevity at the casino.