Difference Between European Roulette American Roulette
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- The terms ‘American Roulette’ and ‘European Roulette’ simply refer to the number of zeros on the wheel. This is significant since this is where the ‘house’ gains its primary mathematical advantage.
- In American Roulette, if it is not a double zero roulette, the odds for almost all bets are substantial. Therefore, the casino profit rate is 5.26% for nearly all bets. In some casinos throughout the American roulette, there is a limit of single zero roulette. Unlike French roulette and European roulette, American roulette is more a self-help game.
- European Roulette. The difference between American and European roulette. Have you ever played at an online casino and noticed that there are two or more versions of roulette? Two of the most common variants you will find are the American and a European roulette tables. Both of these roulette games look suspiciously similar.
- The biggest differences between the American and European roulette wheels are immediately apparent: The sequence of numbers is different. The American wheel has an extra pocket, making it 38 to the European wheel’s 37. That extra pocket on the American wheel is a double zero (00), marked in green.
For years now, Roulette has been one of the most played online casino game, attracting players from different walks, races, and class of life. Others might want to argue that it’s played by a common man, while others might want to argue that only the rich play it, given that most of the high rollers prefer playing it. Regardless, one fact remains – it is one of the most sought after casino game, both at the land-based and online casino website.
Despite its popularity, it has occurred to me that not all players know why it’s important to choose certain types of roulette over others. Since there are different types of variants with different names, players might assume that the difference perhaps arises because of the names, yet there’s more to the game than the names.
In this brief guide, we look at the main differences between the different types of the game, and which one you should always strive to choose to ensure that you’ve increased your chances of winning.
Different Types of Roulette
There are more than 20 different types of roulette – with the most popular ones being the Premium European and American, Multi Wheel Roulette, Video and 3D Roulette. Despite the different variants, all these games come down to two main categories – the American and the European.
The European Roulette was the first game to be invented, and it resulted from what is referred to as the French Roulette. It, later on, spread to the American continent, where they made modifications to it and formed their new variant, the American Roulette. While these two games have similar gameplay and rules, what brings in the difference between them is the difference in the number of zeroes.
It’s All about the Zeros
The zeroes can be seen as the numbers on the green section of the table. They are the ones that bring out all the differences on the roulette table and the game.
While the American variant has Zeros – the usual zero and the double zeroes, the European one has a single zero, which you can easily see on the table.
How Does the difference in Zeroes Affect the Game?
As already mentioned, the gameplay and rules remain the same in both. This means that the zeros don’t affect these sections of the game. What, however, is affected is the house edge and the odds of the game.
House Edge
The house edge just as you would expect it is the edge that the online casino has over you. It is how much the house is going to get when you play this game on their site.
When playing European Roulette, the house edge is usually half when compared to the American one. How is this possible? You see, as a result of the double zero, the American Roulette has an RTP of around 94.74% while its counterpart has an RTP of 97.3%. When you look at these two from a house edge perspective, the first has a house edge of 5.26%, while the later has an edge of 2.7%.
Mathematically, it wouldn’t be difficult to see that the edge of American Roulette is twice that of the European one.
Does This Affect How You Play the Game?
Of course, it does affect your game in so many ways! As already mentioned, the edge of the house refers to the theoretical advantage that it has on you. This means that every time you play the American variant, your chances of winning have been halved as compared to the European variant. This means that you are better off playing the European than the American any day!
The Number of Pockets on the Wheels Is Different
Due to the difference in the number of zeroes, these games also have a different number of pockets on the wheel. While the European variant has up to 36 slots, the American has 37, which is as a result of the double zero. This extra slot also results in an extra bet.
The Basket Bet
This is a special bet that you can only place when playing the American variant. It’s called a basket bet because it allows you to bet on a group of numbers, 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. Given all these numbers, this bet has an extremely high house edge that stands at an astonishing 7.89%. However, it’s very rewarding as it pays out at odds of 6:1.
Have You Ever Heard of the En-prison Rule?
Not so many players might be aware of this type of rule, which allows you to save on your bet and money while playing this amazing game and it helps you reduce the house edge of the game by a significant 1.35%.
If you’ve been playing casino games online, you’ll agree that anything that can reduce the advantage of the house even by 0.2%, is guaranteed a good deal. If you use this strategy well on the European variant, then you can be assured of winning more often.
Lastly…The Chip Colours Are Totally Different!
Since these two have the above differences, online casinos want you to be able to differentiate between them easily. This is why they have different chip colours for different games.
What is the notable difference? In the European version, all the chips are of the same colour, while for the American variant, chips come in different colours.
American vs. European, Which is the Best?
It all comes down to your preference. If you want to play and win big with big odds, the American variant is highly recommended. If you, however, want one that has higher chances of winning thanks to the smaller odds, then the European is the best variant.
All in all, we highly recommend you choose a site that is reputable and one that is known for offering fair services to its players!
The roulette wheel is truly an iconic sight in any casino.
One of the most famous gambling pastimes of them all, the roulette wheel, with it’s spinning wheel and rolling, shiny silver ball, is a treat for the eyes and, of course, a potential threat for the wallet, too.
Despite being one of the oldest casino games, the roulette wheel is still very popular today. Famous for featuring in a number of films and TV series, with the likes of James Bond and Tony Soprano enjoying a flutter on the iconic wheel, we all know what the online roulette game looks like but there is plenty that a lot of people don’t know about the famous game.
There are so many different ways to bet. Not only can you pick red or black, odds or even, but more intricate and thought out bets and betting strategies exist in the game of roulette and have very much become part of the culture of the game.
European Roulette Las Vegas
Also, did you know that the American and European roulette wheels are actually different?
Where was the roulette wheel invented?
The game of roulette was invented in France and dates all the way back to the 17th century. The age old game was founded in Paris and immediately enjoyed by gamblers and mathematicians alike, for the number of outcomes that the ‘little wheel’ offered.
Hosted by a croupier who spins the wheel in one direction and then rolls the ball the opposite way, against the rotation of the wheel, the game was played in the fanciest of establishments. The more primitive version of the game evolved into something more similar to what we know now in the 18th century, even being cited in a famous French novel from the time called La Roulette, ou le Jour.
With (at least) one of the pockets reserved for the hosting house on the reel, the game of roulette offers a slight mathematical advantage to the casino that makes it an easy to run, profitable game that is straightforward and transparent. It became popular almost instantly and eventually found it’s way across the Atlantic to America.
However, despite the obvious similarities between the roulette wheels found in Europe and America, there are some well known differences.
What is the difference between American and European Roulette?
As the game of roulette found its way across to the fairly newly formed United States of America, some subtle changes were made to the game. Telling the difference can be like a game of spot the difference, but it is a well know fact of gambling and casino history that American and European roulette wheels are different.
Simply put, the American roulette wheel has one extra slot, reserved for the house as a green double zero pocket. Whereas the traditional French roulette wheel has just one green pocket reserved for the house, American wheels having two means that the odds are ever so slightly swung towards the casino more.
Some of the earliest American roulette wheels would even add an eagle pocket, too, which would have a similar effect to the green pockets. When the ball lands in one of these slots, as unlikely as it may seem, the banker can sweep up all the money or chips on the table, making quite the pay day for the casino at times.
With 36 numbered pockets and one green zero in the game of European roulette and 36 numbers packets and two green pockets in the game of American roulette, there is a subtle yet quite important difference between the two formats.
Why do America and Europe have different roulette wheels?
The French roulette wheel did find it’s way to America, first arriving in Canada as the North American country was a colony of France. The French speakers in Canada are more likely to spin the French roulette wheel even today and naturally, French wheels found their way across the border and into the states.
But why are American roulette wheels different anyway? In all honesty, there has never been a factual reason as to why the American game has an extra green pocket. The only explanation is, of course, to tilt the odds further towards the house. Assumptions about the American Dream and Capitalism can be made here at your own discretion, but officially there is no factual information as to why American and European roulette wheels are different.
Are the rules different?
Difference Between European Roulette American Roulette Game
The rules of American an European roulette are exactly the same.
Despite the change in the number of slots, the same betting options, traditions of when to call your bet and how you cash in and out are exactly the same. Even in the popular online roulette format which is thriving today’s modern gambling industry, you can choose between playing American and European roulette wheels and the rules are just the same.
As per, there is often minimum and maximum bets in each format, with winning bets remains on the board be it a physical one or a virtual one. The only difference is that extra pocket on the American roulette wheel and the effect that this has.
Which roulette wheel has better odds?
Quite simply, the odds are slightly better for the gambler when playing the French version of the roulette wheel. The originators of the game, it seems like they got it right on the first occasion. That said, there is no reason to be discouraged from the American format.
The nature of online roulette games means that there are some really greta titles to play of each format. Great graphics, animations and smartphone functionality means that there has never been a better time to play roulette wheel from the comfort of wherever it is you may be sitting.
However, your odds for picking just one number on the wheel and getting it right are 1 in 38 on the American wheel and 1 in 37 on the European wheel. So if you are simply playing the odds game, it is an easy choice.
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