European Roulette and American Roulette are two of the most recognized versions of Table Games Roulette. At first glance they look almost identical, but one difference changes the mathematics of the two games: European Roulette has one zero, while American Roulette normally has both 0 and 00.
The biggest difference between European vs American Roulette is the number of zero pockets.
The additional 00 pocket is the main reason the mathematical probabilities differ.
European Roulette uses a wheel containing: Numbers 1–36 + 0
This creates: 37 total pockets
The numbered pockets from 1 to 36 are divided between red and black, while zero is traditionally green. A simplified wheel composition is:
| Pocket Type | Count |
|---|---|
| Red Numbers | 18 |
| Black Numbers | 18 |
| Green Zero | 1 |
| Total | 37 |
European Roulette is sometimes called Single-Zero Roulette because there is only one zero pocket.
American Roulette contains: Numbers 1–36 + 0 + 00
This creates: 38 total pockets
The wheel therefore contains:
| Pocket Type | Count |
|---|---|
| Red Numbers | 18 |
| Black Numbers | 18 |
| Green 0 | 1 |
| Green 00 | 1 |
| Total | 38 |
The additional 00 distinguishes standard American Roulette from its European counterpart.
| Feature | European Roulette | American Roulette |
|---|---|---|
| Numbers | 1–36 | 1–36 |
| Single Zero | Yes | Yes |
| Double Zero | No | Yes |
| Total Pockets | 37 | 38 |
| Red Pockets | 18 | 18 |
| Black Pockets | 18 | 18 |
| Standard House Edge | Lower | Higher |
| Common Name | Single-Zero Roulette | Double-Zero Roulette |
The betting layout may appear very similar, but the extra pocket changes the probability of every standard wager.
Roulette payouts remain broadly similar across many common wagers. For example, a Straight-Up number commonly pays: 35:1
However, the probability of selecting the winning number changes because the total number of pockets differs.
One specific number has a probability of: 1 out of 37
One specific number has a probability of: 1 out of 38
The payout does not increase enough to compensate for that additional American Roulette pocket. That difference creates the larger theoretical house edge.
On many standard European Roulette wagers, the theoretical house edge is approximately: 2.70%
This results from having one green zero among 37 total pockets while standard roulette payouts are structured around 36 numbered outcomes.
This percentage is a long-term mathematical expectation. It does not mean an individual session will lose exactly 2.70%.
For many standard American Roulette bets, the theoretical house edge is approximately: 5.26%
The additional 00 pocket causes this increase. The comparison is therefore approximately:
| Roulette Type | Standard Theoretical House Edge |
|---|---|
| European | 2.70% |
| American | 5.26% |
These figures apply to common standard wagers and can differ for particular special bets or rule variations.
Consider a Red bet. Both versions generally contain: 18 red numbers
Total pockets: 37. Possible non-red outcomes include 18 black numbers and 1 green zero.
Total pockets: 38. Possible non-red outcomes include 18 black numbers, green 0, and green 00.
The additional losing outcome for standard even-money wagers increases the casino's mathematical advantage.
Suppose a player wagers on Red.
Winning pockets: 18. Total pockets: 37. Probability of Red: approximately 48.65%
Winning pockets: 18. Total pockets: 38. Probability of Red: approximately 47.37%
The payout may remain 1:1, but the probability is slightly lower on the American wheel.
Many core roulette bets are available in both variants. Common betting options include:
However, the American layout includes an additional 00 position. Some special bets may also differ between roulette versions and casinos.
A Straight-Up bet places a wager on one specific number. Example: 17
If the ball lands on 17, the wager wins according to the table's payout rules. A standard Straight-Up payout commonly uses: 35:1
But the probability differs: European: 1/37. American: 1/38
This demonstrates again why identical payouts do not mean identical mathematical value.
Outside bets cover larger groups of numbers. Examples include:
These wagers generally offer smaller payouts than single-number wagers because they cover more possible outcomes. Zero and double zero do not belong to the standard red/black, odd/even, or high/low groups.
On a standard table, when the ball lands on 0, or in American Roulette 00, standard Red/Black, Odd/Even, and High/Low wagers generally lose.
However, certain European or French Roulette variants may offer special rules such as La Partage or En Prison. These rules can modify what happens to eligible even-money wagers when zero appears. They are not universally available, so players should check the specific table rules.
La Partage is a roulette rule found on some European or French tables. When an eligible even-money wager is placed and the ball lands on zero, the player may receive part of the wager back according to the table's rules.
This can reduce the effective house edge on eligible wagers. Not every European Roulette game offers La Partage.
En Prison is another special roulette rule sometimes found on French-style tables. When zero appears on an eligible even-money wager, the wager may remain "imprisoned" for the next spin rather than being immediately settled as a complete loss.
Specific settlement rules vary. Players should consult the game's official rules before assuming En Prison applies.
European and French Roulette are closely related but should not automatically be considered identical. French Roulette commonly uses a single zero, French betting terminology, a different table layout presentation, and special rules such as La Partage or En Prison on eligible tables.
European Roulette usually refers more broadly to the standard single-zero format. This article focuses mainly on the difference between standard European and American Roulette.
Yes. European and American Roulette wheels use different physical number sequences. The numbers do not simply appear in numerical order around either wheel.
However, for beginners, the most important distinction remains: European = one zero. American = zero + double zero
The sequence becomes more relevant when studying specialized wheel sectors and racetrack bets.
The word "easier" can be misleading. European Roulette has a lower theoretical house edge on many standard wagers because it contains one fewer zero pocket.
That does not mean a European Roulette wager is guaranteed to win, a player will experience fewer losses in every session, or the next European spin can be predicted.
The lower house edge describes long-term mathematical differences only.
Standard payouts for many common wagers are broadly similar. For example:
| Bet | Common Payout |
|---|---|
| Straight Up | 35:1 |
| Split | 17:1 |
| Street | 11:1 |
| Corner | 8:1 |
| Six Line | 5:1 |
| Dozen | 2:1 |
| Red/Black | 1:1 |
Because American Roulette adds the 00 pocket without proportionally increasing these standard payouts, its theoretical house edge is higher. Specific casino rules should always be checked.
From an educational perspective, European Roulette is often easier to understand because it uses one zero, has fewer total pockets, and the standard mathematical house edge is lower.
However, players should choose games based on understanding of the rules, table limits, entertainment preferences, and responsible budget. Neither version guarantees winning results.
No. Live Roulette interfaces frequently display recent results, such as:
17 – 32 – 8 – 0 – 21 – 14These are historical results. They do not establish what number is mathematically "due" next.
For example: if Red appears five times consecutively, Black is not guaranteed to appear on the sixth spin. Each properly conducted spin should be treated as an independent event.
False. The additional 00 increases the number of possible outcomes but does not proportionally improve standard payouts.
False. It has a lower theoretical house edge on many standard wagers, but short-term outcomes remain unpredictable.
Incorrect. Zero is a legitimate roulette outcome and has its own betting position.
False. Previous spins do not guarantee the next color.
No. Betting systems can change stake patterns but cannot remove the mathematical structure of the game.
Understanding the difference between European and American Roulette does not eliminate gambling risk. Responsible practices include:
Roulette should remain entertainment rather than a method of guaranteed income. Readers who want to review table preparation basics can also see the Live Casino Tips & Strategy Guide.
European Roulette has one green zero, while American Roulette normally has both 0 and 00.
European Roulette has 37 pockets.
American Roulette has 38 pockets.
Standard European Roulette generally has the lower theoretical house edge on common wagers.
Approximately 2.70% on many standard wagers.
Approximately 5.26% on many standard wagers.
No. A lower theoretical house edge does not guarantee winning results during an individual session.
It contains an additional 00 pocket while many standard payouts remain the same.
No. Previous spins do not reliably predict independent future outcomes.
The European vs American Roulette comparison ultimately comes down to one small-looking but mathematically important difference: European Roulette: 0. American Roulette: 0 + 00
That extra double-zero pocket increases the American wheel from 37 to 38 outcomes and results in a higher theoretical house edge on many standard wagers.
The games otherwise share many familiar betting options, including Straight-Up bets, Splits, Streets, Red/Black, Odd/Even, Dozens, and Columns.
Understanding wheel structure, probability, payouts, and special rules provides a more useful foundation than relying on betting systems or historical-number patterns.
Neither roulette version can guarantee winning results, so table selection should always be combined with realistic expectations and responsible casino gaming practices.
