European vs. American Roulette: Which is Better?

Roulette is one of the most iconic and visually thrilling games available on any casino floor.

Knowing which wheel to choose is the single most important decision a roulette player will ever make.

The Green Zero: The House’s Secret Weapon

On a European table, the presence of the single zero is what prevents the even-money bets from being perfectly 50/50.

The American wheel, however, features 38 slots: numbers 1 through 36, a single zero, AND a double zero (00).

• The single zero is the only reason the casino makes a profit on Red/Black or Odd/Even wagers
• Adding a second zero effectively doubles the speed at which you will statistically lose your bankroll
• The visual layout of the numbers on the wheel itself is also completely different between the two versions

Why French Roulette is Even Better

Certain high-end European tables utilize the ‚La Partage‘ rule, which further reduces the house advantage.

Under the ‚La Partage‘ rule, if you make an even-money bet (like Red or Black) and the ball lands on zero, you only lose half your bet.

If you have the option, you should absolutely never sit down at an American roulette table.