European Vs. American Roulette Explained

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 Impact of the Double Zero

The American wheel, however, has 38 pockets: numbers 1 through 36, a single zero (0), and a double zero (00).


The addition of the 00 pocket effectively doubles the casino's built-in mathematical advantage over the player.

The extra number changes all probability calculationsThe betting layout is slightly larger on the American tableEuropean tables often use a different chip system
Comparing the House Edge

Conversely, the American wheel's extra double zero pushes the house edge up to a massive 5.26%.


There is absolutely no mathematical justification for ever choosing to play American roulette if European is available.

Lowering the Edge Even Further

Some European, and particularly French, roulette tables offer player-friendly rules called "La Partage" or "En Prison."


This makes French roulette one of the most mathematically favorable table games on the entire casino floor.

TypeLong Term Loss per $100Player ValueSingle Zero$2.70ExcellentDouble Zero$5.26Terrible

The conclusion is incredibly simple: you should always seek out and exclusively play European or French roulette.