American vs European Roulette (Quick Comparison)

American roulette and European roulette are the two main versions of roulette and what sets them apart is the roulette wheel. Both games use the same roulette rules but the layout of the wheel is different, which changes the dynamics of the game slightly. American roulette vs European Roulette is an age-old debate we will tackle here.

American Roulette is also known as double zero roulette because of its pocket for “00.” Most fans consider this to be the original wheel, and it is a beloved roulette wheel among roulette purists. The wheel uses 38 numbers from 0-36 (including the 00). Due to its 00 pocket, the house edge of the wheel sits at 5.26%. This house edge puts the RTP (Return to Player) at 94.74%, which is quite low for casino games. American roulette has the 5 number bet, which players place on 1, 2, 3, 0, and 00. This bet is unavailable for European roulette because of the lack of a 00 pocket.

European Roulette is also known as single zero roulette, as it was modified to remove the 00 present in the American wheel. It uses 37 numbers from 0-36, and it has a house edge of 2.7%. The low house edge raises the RTP to 97.3%, which is higher than most casino games.

In addition, European Roulette has a special rule called “La Partage” which returns half a player's stake if they made an even money bet and the ball landed on zero. Players at European Roulette wheels can make call bets, which are predetermined bets that cover specific sections of the wheel.

In the end, although both games are similar in rules and playstyle, the differences make the playing experience different. Depending on the player's preferences, both games provide a fulfilling gambling experience.