Roulette has always been a popular casino game, but there are various takes between American roulette vs. European roulette and which one is better for players. Once you learn the differences between American and European roulette, you’ll make sure you’re sitting at the right (virtual) table. Let’s spin the wheel to uncover what each roulette brings!
Rules of American vs. European Roulette
The rules of American and European roulette are simple, and you can learn how to play roulette quickly, but it will take some time to become comfortable with the game. The aim of the game is to predict where the ball is going to land on a numbered wheel. You place chips on the number(s) or group of numbers, and based on what you bet on, you have the opportunity to win between 1x and 35x.
However, because American roulette has a 00 and European roulette doesn’t, different rules apply.
The Key Differences Between American and European Roulette
Before you decide on European vs. American roulette, you have to understand how both of them work and which gives you more chances to leave the table with a full wallet. Let’s explore the differences in detail.
Roulette Wheel Layout
The main difference when we compare European roulette vs. American is the layout of the roulette wheel. The European roulette wheel has 37 pockets, with numbers ranging from 0 to 36. In American roulette, the wheel has 38 pockets, with the addition of a double zero (00).
You might think that adding one extra pocket isn’t a big deal. However, the 00 pocket isn’t just jammed in a European roulette layout randomly. In fact, the wheel layout for the American roulette wheel is completely different compared to the European roulette wheel.
The restructuring of the numbers on the wheels doesn’t affect the gameplay. However, the addition of the 00 does.
House Edge
The significant difference between American and European roulette is the house edge, which players should know about. The house edge in American roulette is 5.26% compared to 2.70% in European roulette. That’s almost double!
The bets and payouts in each game are precisely the same, but because the 00 pocket is added, the odds of you winning at the American roulette decrease significantly!
En Prison and La Partage
En Prison and La Partage are two rules found only in European roulette. Both rules relate to the situation when the ball lands in the zero (0) pocket. With En Prison, you get half of your bet back, while La Partage gives you your entire bet back.
Whether these two rules exist depends on the casino. They give you a slight advantage over the house – an advantage you don’t have in American roulette, but they’re not the default rules at every European roulette table, online or offline.
Call Bets
A call bet or an announced bet refers to a particular type of bet where the player announces the bet verbally instead of placing the chips. Instead, the dealer places the chips for them. Call bets are offered in European roulette only.
If you want to know how to win at online roulette, it’s important to know that call bets cover the specific sections of the roulette wheel. Here’s the division:
- Voisins du zero: covering 17 numbers surrounding the green 0
- Jeu zero (zero game): seven numbers surrounding the 0.
- Le tiers du cylinder (thirds of the wheel): 12 numbers placed as 6 splits.
- Orphelins (orphans): two groups of numbers not found in voisins or tiers.
Five Number Bet
A five-number bet is a specific type of bet for American roulette. The numbers you bet on include 1, 2, 3, 0, and 00. Because 00 is included, it’s clear why this bet isn’t available in European roulette. The house edge for this bet rises to a startling 7.89%. Even though this option exists and is a significant difference between European roulette and American roulette, not many players place this bet in online roulette.
RTPs and Odds in American Compared to European Roulette
Adding a single number has an enormous impact on the outcome of your games. While any game has a built-in house edge, the difference between European and American roulette is astounding, considering that it’s essentially the same game.
Because the 00 is added, the roulette odds and return to player (RTP) differ in American roulette.
The RTP for each type of bet in European roulette is 97.3%, while the RTP in American roulette is 94.7%. But with the lower odds, you’d expect higher payouts in American roulette, correct? Wrong! The payouts in both roulettes are the same, ranging from 1 to 1 to 35 to 1.
American vs European Roulette – How to Choose the Version for you?
When you have a chance to choose American vs European roulette, always go for the European. You will have the same playing experience, except European roulette gives you better odds.
It’s important to find reliable casinos with online roulette that offer players quick deposit and withdrawal methods and the version of the roulette with a better house edge. Keep in mind that there’s nothing wrong with American roulette – but the players we know like their winning chances increased!