European roulette vs American roulette

European roulette has one green zero and 37 pockets in total. American roulette adds a double zero, written as 00, which takes the wheel to 38 pockets. That extra pocket gives the house one more winning outcome while most standard payouts stay the same.

On a standard table, European roulette has a 2.70% house edge and a theoretical RTP of 97.30%. The American version has a 5.26% house edge and a theoretical RTP of 94.74%. If the decision is based on the standard maths alone, European roulette is the lower-edge option.

Those percentages describe expected results across a very large number of bets. They do not predict whether a particular spin or session will win. Before choosing one of the roulette games, check the wheel type, paytable and any special rules shown in the game information.

What is the difference between European and American roulette?

The main difference is the second green pocket on the American wheel. It changes the number of possible results and creates an extra space on the betting layout.

The numbers also sit in a different order around the two wheels. That arrangement does not change the chance of any individual pocket being selected on a fair wheel. The important mathematical difference is that the American game has 38 possible outcomes rather than 37.

These figures apply to the standard formats. Multiplier roulette and other feature-led variants can use different straight-up payouts or RTP figures, even when the wheel has a single zero.

Why does the double zero increase the house edge?

Roulette payouts do not usually rise when 00 is added. A straight-up bet on one number normally pays 35 to 1 on either wheel, but the chance of hitting that number is 1 in 37 on European roulette and 1 in 38 on American roulette.

The same issue affects red or black. Each colour covers 18 numbers. On the European wheel, an even-money colour bet has 18 winning pockets and 19 losing pockets once zero is included. The American wheel still has 18 winning pockets, but there are 20 losing pockets because both 0 and 00 count against the bet.

Across a very large number of wagers, each £100 staked on standard European roulette carries a theoretical average loss of £2.70. The comparable figure on standard American roulette is £5.26. A short session can finish well above or below either average.

Are the bets and payouts the same?

Most standard roulette bets are available in both versions. Inside bets cover particular numbers or small groups on the grid. Outside bets cover broader outcomes such as red or black, odd or even, columns and dozens.

The usual payouts are also the same. A winning straight-up bet generally pays 35 to 1, a dozen or column pays 2 to 1, and an even-money bet pays 1 to 1. Keeping those payouts while adding 00 is what raises the house edge in American roulette.

American roulette also has a five-number bet covering 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. It normally pays 6 to 1 and has a house edge of 7.89%, which is higher than the 5.26% attached to other standard American roulette bets.

Check the paytable before placing a chip. A familiar wheel does not guarantee that a branded or multiplier game uses every standard payout.

How can you tell which roulette version you are playing?

Look at the green pockets first. One 0 means the wheel is European. Separate 0 and 00 pockets mean it is American. The betting grid should show the same distinction.

The game information is the next check, particularly online. It should identify the wheel format, RTP, available bets and payout rules. The title alone may not tell the whole story when a game adds multipliers or changes the pace.

Roulette Nouveau is a single-zero European game with 37 pockets and a standard 97.30% RTP. Speed Roulette, available with other live casino games, also follows the European format but shortens the time between rounds.

Auto Mega Roulette is another European-format game, although its Mega Lucky Numbers and altered straight-up rewards mean its paytable needs to be read on its own terms. This is why checking both the wheel and the rules matters.

Is French roulette the same as European roulette?

French roulette normally uses the same 37-pocket, single-zero wheel as European roulette. The difference lies in its table layout and rules rather than an extra pocket.

Some French or European tables offer La Partage. If zero lands, half of a losing even-money stake is returned. This reduces the house edge on qualifying bets to 1.35%. En Prison can have a similar mathematical effect by holding the even-money bet for another spin instead of returning half immediately.

Neither rule should be assumed. Check whether it is stated in the table information and which bets qualify.

Does European roulette give you a better chance of winning?

European roulette gives each standard bet a better probability than the equivalent American bet because the wheel has one fewer pocket. A straight-up number has a 2.70% chance on the European wheel and a 2.63% chance on the American wheel. An even-money bet covers 48.65% of a European wheel and 47.37% of an American wheel.

The difference is mathematical, but it does not make an individual result predictable. Each fair spin is independent. A run of red results does not make black due, and a number that has not appeared recently is not more likely to land next.

Can a betting system remove the American roulette house edge?

No staking system changes the number of pockets or the probability attached to a bet. Increasing the stake after a loss only changes the amount of money at risk on the next spin.

The Martingale strategy, for example, doubles the next stake after a loss. It does not reduce the 5.26% standard American roulette house edge or make a particular colour more likely to land.

Which roulette version should you choose?

European roulette is the stronger choice when the two standard games have comparable table limits and you are deciding on house edge alone. Its single zero produces a lower house edge, while the American game offers the same usual payouts despite having the extra 00.

Wheel type is not the only detail worth checking. Look at the RTP, table limits, pace and special features before placing a bet. A multiplier title may appeal for a different reason, but its rules should be judged separately rather than treated as standard European roulette.

Decide your maximum spend and session length before the first spin, and never treat the lower house edge as a promise of profit. Safer gambling tools can help you manage a session and take a break when needed. Gambling is for adults aged 18 and over.