American vs European Roulette
The two main roulette wheels look nearly identical, but the difference between them is the single most important decision you make at the table. This guide explains why, in plain numbers. 18+, play within your limits.
The double zero doubles the edge
European roulette has 37 pockets: 1 to 36 plus a single green zero. American roulette has 38: the same numbers plus a second green pocket, the double zero (00). That one extra pocket does not change any payout, but it nearly doubles the house edge from 2.7% on the European wheel to 5.26% on the American wheel.
In practice that means an American wheel costs you almost twice as much over time for the same game and the same bets. Whenever both are available, the single-zero wheel is the better choice, full stop.
French roulette, La Partage and En Prison
French roulette uses the single-zero wheel and adds two player-friendly rules on even-money bets. La Partage returns half your even-money stake when the ball lands on zero. En Prison instead locks that bet for one more spin to try to recover. Either rule roughly halves the even-money house edge to about 1.35%, the best roulette you can play.
For the maths behind these figures, see Odds & House Edge, and for the bets themselves see Bet Types & Payouts.
The simple rule
Always pick single-zero where possible: French first (for the La Partage rule), then European, and only American if nothing else is on the table. No betting system makes up the difference between a 2.7% and a 5.26% edge, so this choice does more for your money than any strategy. Browse the casino games guides or back to the roulette guide, and try a single-zero table in the live roulette studio.
Frequently asked questions
Why is American roulette worse for players?
Because the extra double-zero pocket adds an outcome that loses most bets without raising any payout. It pushes the house edge from 2.7% on the European wheel to 5.26% on the American wheel, almost double.
What is La Partage?
A French roulette rule that returns half your even-money stake (like red/black) when the ball lands on zero. It roughly halves the even-money house edge to about 1.35%, making French roulette the best version to play.
Is the difference really that big?
Yes. Over many spins a 5.26% edge costs nearly twice what a 2.7% edge does on the same stakes. Choosing a single-zero wheel matters far more than any betting system you might layer on top.