Learning the Difference between American and European Roulette

It doesn’t matter if you are playing online or in a physical casino, European, as well as an American roulette wheel, is one of the most popular betting destinations. Once you roll the dice and the wheel starts to spin, you watch your luck unfold right in front of you in intense anticipation. The combination of drama, hope, and fortune keeps millions around the world hooked to this simple yet entertaining game.

Why You Need to Know the Difference between American and European Roulette

When roulette made its way over the Atlantic to the then-recently created United States, it underwent some minor alterations. Knowing the difference between American and European roulette wheels might be a little like playing a game of spot the difference, but it is a well-known truth in the world of gambling.

If you’re like other players, you might have begun playing roulette at an online casino only to discover that the rules appear to be different from what you expected. Certainly, this is a rare occurrence when you know how to play European roulette along with the American version. In spite of this, many players are unaware of the fact that the popular betting game comes in two distinct forms – European roulette vs American roulette.

All of the games begin with the same basic concept. But as you are well aware, the devil really is in the details. Having awareness about all these aspects can avoid any unpleasant shocks if you choose to play roulette on a website. While almost all betting sites and apps make it pretty clear what type of the roulette you are about to play, it is easy to miss the difference between the two.

The Origin of Roulette – Fascinating Story

The game of roulette was first played in France in the seventeenth century and was developed by a man named Blaise Pascal. The ‘little wheel’, which was first invented in Paris, quickly became a favourite of both gamblers and mathematicians because it led to a range of possible results. The game was played at the most opulent institutions, where a croupier spun the wheel one way and then rolled the ball the other way, against the wheel’s revolution.

The game was also mentioned in a well-known French book from the time period, La Roulette, ou le Jour, in its more rudimentary form, which developed into the modern game we know today. Having at least one of the pockets dedicated for the casino on the reel, roulette gives a mathematical advantage to the casino that makes it simple to manage, lucrative, and transparent game. It became a huge hit in Europe and quickly spread over the Atlantic to the United States.

That being said, despite the evident similarities between European and American roulette wheels, there are well-known distinctions.

European Roulette vs American Roulette – 6 Must-Know Differences

We’d like to take you through the key distinctions between the two types of this game in order to assist you in avoiding any unexpected surprises. Today, we’re going to speak about the game’s American and European variations. Let’s discuss the specifics that set them apart so you can make an informed decision on which one to choose.

1. Number of Pockets in Wheel Design

One of the key differences between American and European roulette is rooted in the wheel design. While this may not seem like a major factor apparently, it does make a lot of difference in terms of how you play the game. Keep in mind that the difference in wheel design means your odds are not the same when playing European roulette as opposed to the American version.

American Roulette

The American roulette wheel features 38 pockets where two are zeros. One of them is denoted by a single zero while the additional pocket is signified using a double zero. The remaining numbers range from 1 to 36. These 36 numbers are alternated between red and black colours while zeros are featured in green.

European Roulette

In the European version of the game, there are 37 pockets on the wheel. Here, you will only find one zero and the rest of the numbers are identical to the American roulette wheel ranging from 1 to 36. Similar to its American counterpart, those 36 numbers are red and black with zero being green in colour.

Remember that as there are 38 total numbers in the double zero variation, the chances of betting on one number are always 38 to 1. 37 to 1 is always the odds for the single zero. In other words, ignoring the fact that the first-mentioned variants contain two zeros. The single-zero table game has an advantage in terms of odds.

2. The Difference in House Edge

The house edge refers to the advantage the casino has over its roulette players. It is the gap between the chances of winning and the casino’s payment when players win bets in certain games. Table games like roulette, which are purely dependent on chance, provide players with a higher chance of winning as compared to the majority of the other games in a casino.

Most casino games offer a house advantage of between 1 and 17 percent. However, as far as roulette is concerned, house edge falls somewhere in the middle of the pack. It’s neither too high nor too low. When we talk about American vs European roulette, the former has an additional pocket. It gives the American version of the game a higher house advantage of 5.30%. This means that casinos are more likely to benefit from their players and you have a greater probability of winning with European roulette which offers a 2.7% edge on single-zero wheels.

Don’t forget that while the house advantage is rather modest, it doesn’t guarantee that players will always win. Because of this, players should be able to calculate the house advantage in every game so that they may make more informed wagers. As a consequence, their losses will be minimized when they play for a longer duration.

If you know the house advantage and your odds of winning, you have the option to greatly improve your chances of winning in both American and European roulette. It’s true that the house has an edge in every game, yet there are certain games like roulette where you really have a higher chance of winning your investment.

3. Numbers’ Order on the Wheel

When you look at the roulette wheel, you’ll note that the additional 00 number hasn’t been crammed into an already existing roulette European wheel configuration. In both variations of the game, the sequence of the numbers on the wheel is totally different.

On the European roulette wheel, the arrangement of numbers looks like this.

On the other hand, the numbers on the American wheel appear in a different order.

Although this might look like a major difference between American and European roulette games, it is just a matter of visual configuration. This means that the distinguished appearance of numbers’ order on the wheel doesn’t result in any variations in rules of roulette. The gameplay basically remains the same and it just comes down to the personal preference of the player.

4. ‘La Partage’ and ‘En Prison’ Rules in European Roulette

While these rules are not presented by all casinos, there are some that offer these additional rules that allow players to reduce the house edge even further. Both of these rules are only included in the European variant of the game and are usually offered when you are playing French roulette.

‘La Partage’ Roulette Rule

“La Partage” means “the division” in French. As with “En Prison,” “La Partage” is only applicable to even-money wagers. Many French casinos already have it in place by default, as previously mentioned. The outside ‘even money’ bets are particularly popular among European gamblers, as is the case worldwide.

When the ‘La Partage’ rule is in force, the dealer instantly splits any even money bets in half, keeping half for the house and giving the other half to the player when the wheel spins to a ‘zero.’ Using the ‘La Partage’ rule reduces the house advantage from 2.70 percent to 1.35 percent. Remember that this only applies to even money bets. If the zero appears on the wheel, all other bets, including column, section, and individual number bets, are void.

‘En Prison’ Roulette Rule

Like the ‘La Partage’ wager, the ‘En Prison’ rule is an adaptation of the same concept. Only even-money wagers are covered by the “En Prison” bet. An ‘En Prison’ marker is placed next to a bet by the dealer when the wheel lands on the zero position. If the player wins the following spin, he or she will get the whole amount of the initial wager as winnings. If has placed a $50 bet, the $50 is returned to him if he bets on the number “Even” and the number “0” is followed by an even number. He loses his whole stake if an odd number comes up in the same situation.

If the ‘La Partage’ rule is enabled by default at the casino, the player may specify that he wants his initial stake to be ‘En Prison.’. Alternatively, he may accept a half-refund of his investment under the ‘La Partage’ regulation and continue to play.

5. European Roulette Allows Call Bets

It is possible to make pre-determined and pre-addressed wagers known as “call bets.” Only in European and French roulette can you find them. This kind of stake does not require the player to put any money on the table. In this case, the croupier takes care of everything for the player.

In other words, every time a player places a call wager, the casino is granting credit to the player. There are some casinos that allow their players to play using call bets. While the rules of the game stay the same, it provides the players with convenience.

6. Five Number Bet in American Roulette

Only an American roulette table offers the five-number bet. Numbers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3 are included in this bet. This bet cannot be put on a European table for obvious reasons. In terms of odds, this is definitely a good thing since the house advantage is 7.90%, the most of any other stake. If you want to know what the house advantage is on any of the other bets, this is your only option.

American vs European Roulette – Which One Should I Play?

Statistically speaking, American roulette offers poorer odds of winning a bet as compared to the European variant of the game. The house edge is higher and there are no ‘La Partage’ or ‘En Prison’ rules that allow you to manage your betting risk. This doesn’t mean that you are going to win at European roulette every time, you just have a marginally better chance to do so.

It has to be kept in mind that roulette is a negative expectation game so there’s no real strategy apart from minimizing your odds of a loss. Whatever variant of roulette you play, do your homework, learn about the difference in rules, and how you can reduce the house advantage. That’s all you need to do to enjoy a great session!