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 American wheel, however, has 38 pockets: numbers 1 through 36, a single zero (0), and a double zero (00).
This single extra pocket on the American wheel drastically alters the mathematical probabilities of the game.
The green zeros represent the house edgeAmerican roulette includes the 0 and the 00European roulette only utilizes the single 0
The Mathematics of the Two Wheels
Because the European wheel has only one zero, the house edge is a very reasonable 2.70%.
This means you will lose money almost twice as fast playing the American version over the long term.
The En Prison and La Partage Rules
Some European, and particularly French, roulette tables offer player-friendly rules called "La Partage" or "En Prison."
American roulette essentially never offers these rules, further cementing its status as the inferior option.
GameWheel NumbersEdge with La PartageFrench371.35%American38N/A
Playing American roulette is a mathematical mistake that unnecessarily drains your bankroll twice as fast.
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European vs. American Roulette Explained
Delila Christian edited this page 2026-08-03 14:41:31 +00:00