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
The single most important difference between the two games lies entirely in the number of green zero pockets.
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
The Mathematics of the Two Wheels
Because the European wheel has only one zero, the house edge is a very reasonable 2.70%.
Statistically, for every $100 you wager, you expect to lose $2.70 on European and $5.26 on American.
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%.
VersionZero PocketsHouse EdgeEuropeanOne (0)2.70%AmericanTwo (0, 00)5.26%
Online casinos almost always offer both, so be vigilant and always click on the European wheel.
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European vs. American Roulette Explained
Aidan Stansbury edited this page 2026-08-04 13:29:33 +00:00