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).
The addition of the 00 pocket effectively doubles the casino's built-in mathematical advantage over the player.
- 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
Because the European wheel has only one zero, the house edge is a very reasonable 2.70%.
There is absolutely no mathematical justification for ever choosing to play American roulette if European is available.
Special European Roulette Rules
The "La Partage" rule dictates that if the ball lands on zero, you only lose half of your even-money bet.
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 |
Online casinos almost always offer both, so be vigilant and always click on the European wheel.
