Difference Between American and European Roulette

American and European Roulette are the most popular wheels in casinos. You play them both the same way, and their rules are identical. The only difference between the two games is the zero boxes and the number order on the wheels.

Difference between American Roulette and the European wheel

American Roulette has 38 spaces numbered from 1 to 36, zero, and a double zero.
 
European Roulette has 37 spaces numbered 1 to 36 and a single zero square.
 
The payout tables on winning bets are identical with both Roulette games. Whether you bet on one number, a group of numbers, or single odds, the payout odds stay the same. It’s the odds of winning that change on each shot. From the outset, we can already tell you that the European wheel has better chances of winning. This is due to the payout rate of each version of the game. American Roulette has a payout rate of 94.76%, while European Roulette is 97.3%. If winning bets on the American wheel paid more than the European one, there would be a balance, but it doesn’t.
 

Key difference between American and European Roulette

American Roulette is a wheel with 38 squares. The boxes feature black and red numbers, from 1 to 36. The two additional boxes, in green, are zero and double zero. In European Roulette, there are also 36 squares from 1 to 36, but there’s only one zero.
 
Even though the numbered squares on the wheels are in a different order, it doesn’t impact the winning odds. It’s just another way of presenting the wheels. In fact, the only difference that has an impact is the number of green boxes.
 
Comparing the two Roulette tables

The casino’s margin

Making bets on American or European Roulette may seem even, and if you rarely play at the casino, it doesn’t matter. Moreover, luck is one of the biggest deciding factors of the game. But, if you bet a lot, there is an impact, so you might as well choose European Roulette.

The house has the advantage

Believing you’re guaranteed to win on European Roulette because it pays more than the American version can be costly. European Roulette favors the casino; the margin is 2.7% on this game. So, bet responsibly and don’t spend too long trying to recoup any losses.

Moderator reviews

As shown on the guides of the best UK online casinos, you should avoid irresponsible gambling. The best way to stay within your means is to set a casino budget and limit the time spent in a gaming room.

American Roulette vs. European Roulette

The house advantage is due to the rules of casino games. These rules always favor the casino on all possible bets. However, one-zero Roulette pays better between one zero space (European) and two zero spaces (American). In American Roulette, the odds of winning are 1 in 38, while in European Roulette, they’re 1 in 37. In short, European Roulette gives you a higher chance of winning.

Roulette zeros make the difference

Without the zeros on the Roulettes, the profit margins of the casinos would be zero on the 36 number wheels. Gambling rooms aren’t just there to entertain their customers with shows, trendy bars, or other entertainment. The casino must make a profit to meet its costs. Not surprisingly, gambling houses make their biggest margins with slot machines. They’re also making a margin on Roulette wheels but to a lesser extent.

Difference in RTP rates

At the American wheel, the casino margin is 5.26%. That makes the RTP rate 94.76% (100% – 5.26%). This 5.26% margin is the theoretical percentage collected on all the bets by American Roulette players. You calculate the return to player (RTP) with the odds of winning and the probabilities of losing on an infinite number of bets. For the European wheel, the casino’s margin is 2.7%. This makes an RTP of 97.3%. On the mass of bets, ultimately, the casino is always a winner. Even if sometimes there are players who win, the casino doesn’t lose anything.

American and European Roulette overview

Out of the two casino wheels, European Roulette is more profitable. Typically both versions are available in the big London casinos, but we advise you choose the European wheel. The same goes for players online. If the casino you frequent only has American Roulette, we don’t recommend you play it. One more thing worth knowing is that the European version of Roulette is the same as English Roulette. However, there’s a special rule in English Roulette where losing bets on single odds are paid off in half if the ball of the wheel lands on the zero square.