Roulette is universally recognized as one of the most iconic and popular games in casino history.
Choosing the wrong version of roulette is the most common and costly mistake new players make.
The Extra Green Zero
A European roulette wheel features 37 pockets in total: the numbers 1 through 36, plus a single zero (0).
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
Why the House Edge Matters
Because the European wheel has only one zero, the house edge is a very reasonable 2.70%.
There is absolutely no mathematical justification for ever choosing to play American roulette if European is available.
Special European Roulette Rules
The "En Prison" rule "imprisons" your bet for the next spin if the zero hits, giving you a second chance.
If these special rules are in effect, the house edge on even-money bets drops to an incredible 1.35%.
VersionZero PocketsHouse EdgeEuropeanOne (0)2.70%AmericanTwo (0, 00)5.26%
The conclusion is incredibly simple: you should always seek out and exclusively play European or French roulette.
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Which Roulette Version is Better?
Marilou Snook edited this page 2026-08-05 16:53:21 +00:00