American Roulette vs European Roulette

Roulette is one of the most popular and exciting casino games, and the simple act of spinning the wheel is pure adrenaline. But there are two major categories of the game that people can play: American Roulette and European Roulette. Even though both games have the same basic rules, there are some differences between the two that may affect the odds of the game and your betting pattern. This article aims to help you make a decision on which of the two roulettes is most appropriate for you based on the differences between the two.
The major distinction between the American Roulette and the European Roulette is the wheel layout. The European version of the wheel has 37 pockets on the wheel, which are marked from 0 to 36. The single zero (0) is the trademark of this version. In contrast, American Roulette has 38 numbers from zero to thirty-six, with a single zero (0) and a double zero (00). This additional pocket in the American version increases the house edge, and hence, American Roulette is not as good as the European Roulette for the player.
The house edge in European Roulette is 2.7%, which means that for every 100 units wagered, the player can expect to lose 2.7 units in the long run. This is a lower house edge and is one of the reasons that many players prefer European Roulette. But in American Roulette, the presence of the double zero raises the house edge to 5.26%, which means that the player is at a disadvantage than before.
Both of the versions allow players to make the same kind of bets. They include the inside bets, which are placing your bet on a single number or a group of numbers that are quite small, and outside bets, where you place your chip on the color (red or black), the number (even or odd), and the region (high or low). Payout is the same in both versions; the inside bets pay more than the outside bets, which are more frequent but pay less.
One rule that is somewhat different is that in some European Roulette games, there is a rule called the La Partage or En Prison rule. If the ball stops at zero, then any even-money bets that a player has made (red/black or odd/even) are returned one of two ways: La Partage, where the player keeps half of their bet, or En Prison, where the bet is “imprisoned” and will be returned or “served” the next spin. This rule provides one more chance to regain the bet and slightly decreases the house edge.
In conclusion, even though both American and European Roulette have the same basic principle of the game, the main differences are in the wheel and the house edge. The house edge is usually lower in European Roulette, which is why this version is preferred by many players. Both of these versions are enjoyable in their own way, but European Roulette is slightly better than American Roulette due to its lower edge. Whether you opt for the European Roulette variant with more favorable odds or the American Roulette variant with its additional double zero, both versions are fun and rewarding when playing in the casino.