Guide to Understanding Differences between European and American Roulette

Roulette is one of the classic casino games dating back to the 18th century. The game was invented in France, from where it spread to the rest of the world. There have been different versions of this game right from European to American, French and few others.

European Roulette was the first of the versions among these. In the 19th century, this game featured 38 numbers on the wheel. This included numbers from 1 to 36 along with a single zero and double zeros.

From the European-version of the game, American Roulette was formed. This showcased 31 pockets on the wheel. These pockets presented numbers from 1 to 28 plus a single and double zero. Additionally, there was also an eagle pocket.

However, modern roulette games come with many other differences, including the numbers.

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Difference in Pockets Numbers in European and American Roulette

Currently, European Roulette has 37 numbers on the wheel. This equals to 18 even numbers, 18 odd numbers from 1 to 36 along with a single zero before it had one single zero and one double zero.

Likewise, American Roulette has also been upgraded to a total of 38 numbers. You now have 1 to 36 numbers along with one single zero and one double zero.

How does the House Edge Varies in both these Roulette forms?

Since European Roulette has just a single zero, its house edge is set to 2.70% generally. So, the Return to Player (RTP) percentage will be 97.3%.

Furthermore, in the case of American Roulette, you have a 5.26% house edge. This is due to the presence of an additional double zero in this version along with a single one. Here, you will have 94.74% RTP.

As we can see, the house edge is almost double in case of American roulette when compared to European. All in all, considering both the house edge and RTP, the European version of this game seems more reasonable to gamble upon.

However, for the single number bets in both the versions, the payout remains the same, i.e., 35:1.

Other Associated Rules in these Games

Roulette game also showcases some unique rules in each of these versions. These include:

En Prison: Applicable in European Roulette, this rule is used during the even number bets. So, if the ball halts on the zero on the roulette wheel, the dealer first marks the bet amount to apply the En Prison rule. After this, he spins the ball again. During this spin, if the ball lands on an even number, you win back 100% of your wager. If it lands on an odd number, you lose your entire bet.

Basket Bet: This bet is applicable in American Roulette. Using this rule, you can bet on the first 5 numbers of the American Roulette table, including 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3.

Apart from these, there are some other rules and differences that are applicable to each version of the Roulette game, making them unique in their own way.