European vs American Roulette: What’s the Difference?
European vs American Roulette: What’s the Difference?
European and American roulette look very similar, but there is one important difference between their standard wheel layouts.
European roulette typically uses a single-zero wheel, while American roulette generally adds a second zero pocket.
That additional pocket changes the probabilities and house edge associated with many standard bets.
What Is European Roulette?
A standard European roulette wheel contains 37 numbered pockets:
- Numbers 1 to 36
- One single zero (0)
The numbers 1 to 36 are divided between red and black, while the zero is green.
Players can place bets on individual numbers as well as groups and characteristics of numbers.
What Is American Roulette?
A standard American roulette wheel generally contains 38 pockets:
- Numbers 1 to 36
- Single zero (0)
- Double zero (00)
The additional double-zero pocket is the main mathematical difference between the standard American and European versions.
European vs American Roulette: The Main Difference
The basic comparison is:
European roulette: 37 pockets
American roulette: 38 pockets
Both contain numbers 1 through 36.
American roulette adds the 00 pocket.
Because most standard bets retain similar payouts despite the additional possible outcome, the theoretical house edge differs between the two versions.
What Is the House Edge in European Roulette?
On a standard European single-zero wheel, many common bets have a theoretical house edge of approximately 2.70%.
For example, consider a straight-up bet on one number.
There are 37 possible pockets, while the standard payout is 35:1.
The presence of the zero creates the mathematical advantage for the house.
What Is the House Edge in American Roulette?
On a standard American double-zero wheel, many common bets have a theoretical house edge of approximately 5.26%.
There are 38 possible pockets because both 0 and 00 are present.
This additional pocket increases the house edge compared with standard European roulette for many equivalent bets.
What About the Five-Number Bet?
American roulette can also offer a five-number bet covering:
0, 00, 1, 2 and 3
This wager has different mathematics from many of the other standard bets and carries a higher theoretical house edge.
Players should check the rules and paytable of the particular roulette game they are playing.
Are the Bets Different?
Many common roulette bets appear in both versions.
These can include:
- Straight-up bets
- Split bets
- Street bets
- Corner bets
- Red or black
- Odd or even
- High or low
- Dozens
- Columns
However, the precise table layout and available special bets can vary between versions and operators.
Does European Roulette Have Better Odds?
For many equivalent standard bets, the single-zero European format has a lower theoretical house edge than the standard double-zero American format.
That is a mathematical comparison between the game structures.
It does not mean a particular spin or playing session will produce a specific result.
Roulette outcomes remain uncertain.
What Are La Partage and En Prison?
Some roulette variants include additional rules such as La Partage or En Prison.
These rules can affect what happens to certain even-money bets when the ball lands on zero.
They are not available on every roulette table.
If either rule is offered, check the specific game's rules to understand exactly how it operates.
Is Online Roulette Different From Live Roulette?
Online roulette can be offered in different formats.
A digital roulette game typically uses software to determine outcomes according to its game design.
Live dealer roulette streams a physical roulette table and dealer to players through video.
Both formats can offer European or American-style rules, depending on the game.
What Should You Check Before Playing Roulette?
Before choosing a roulette table, check:
- Whether it uses a single or double zero
- The game's rules
- Available bets
- The paytable
- Whether special rules such as La Partage apply
- Minimum and maximum bets
- Whether promotional wagering restrictions apply
Do not assume every roulette game uses identical rules.
Final Thoughts
The main difference between standard European and American roulette is the number of zero pockets.
European roulette typically has 37 pockets with one zero, while American roulette generally has 38 pockets with both 0 and 00.
That seemingly small difference changes the mathematics of the game and gives standard European roulette a lower theoretical house edge on many equivalent bets.
As always, these percentages describe mathematical probabilities over repeated play and do not predict the result of an individual spin or session.