Roulette is universally recognized as one of the most iconic and popular games in casino history.
European and American roulette may look nearly identical to the untrained eye, but the math differs wildly.
The Difference is in the Zeros
A European roulette wheel features 37 pockets in total: the numbers 1 through 36, plus a single zero (0).
This single extra pocket on the American wheel drastically alters the mathematical probabilities of the game.
- European wheel has 37 total pockets
- American wheel has 38 total pockets
- Both versions pay 35 to 1 on a single number bet
Comparing the House Edge
With a house edge of 2.70%, European roulette is relatively fair compared to many other casino games.
Statistically, for every $100 you wager, you expect to lose $2.70 on European and $5.26 on American.
Lowering the Edge Even Further
The "En Prison" rule "imprisons" your bet for the next spin if the zero hits, giving you a second chance.
If these special rules are in effect, the house edge on even-money bets drops to an incredible 1.35%.
| Game | Wheel Numbers | Edge with La Partage |
|---|---|---|
| French | 37 | 1.35% |
| American | 38 | N/A |
The conclusion is incredibly simple: you should always seek out and exclusively play European or French roulette.
