European vs American Roulette
One extra pocket, identical payouts, roughly double the cost. This is the clearest decision in casino gambling and it is made before a single chip is placed.
| European | American | |
|---|---|---|
| Pockets | 37 — numbers 1–36 plus a single 0 | 38 — numbers 1–36 plus 0 and 00 |
| House edge, all bets | 2.70% | 5.26% |
| Straight-up payout | 35:1 | 35:1 |
| Straight-up chance | 2.70% (1 in 37) | 2.63% (1 in 38) |
| Red / black chance | 48.65% | 47.37% |
| Return to player | 97.30% | 94.74% |
| Cost per $1,000 wagered | $27.03 | $52.63 |
| Five-number bet | Does not exist | Exists, and costs 7.89% |
| Best available rule | La partage — halves even-money edge to 1.35% | Surrender — halves it to 2.63%, rarely offered |
| Wheel sequence | Colours alternate, consecutive numbers scattered | Consecutive numbers sit directly opposite |
| Racetrack / call bets | Common | Rare |
| Typical availability | Europe, most online casinos, all crypto casinos | North America, some US-facing online casinos |
Where the difference comes from
Both wheels pay a straight-up bet 35 to 1. A fair payout on a 37-pocket wheel would be 36 to 1; on a 38-pocket wheel it would be 37 to 1. Neither table pays fairly, but the American table is two units short instead of one.
Formally, expected return is 36 ÷ N where N is the pocket count. That gives 36/37 = 97.30% on European and 36/38 = 94.74% on American, so the edges are 2.70% and 5.26%. The extra pocket does not change a single payout — it changes the denominator, and the denominator is the whole game.
This also explains why the difference applies uniformly. Every bet on both wheels is priced from the same 36, so every bet on an American wheel is exactly 1.95 times more expensive than its European counterpart. There is no bet that dodges it.
What it costs over a real session
| Scenario | Turnover | European cost | American cost | Extra you pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A single hour, $10 spins, 50 spins/hour | $500 | $13.51 | $26.32 | $12.80 |
| A two-hour session, $10 spins | $1,000 | $27.03 | $52.63 | $25.60 |
| A weekend, four hours at $25 spins | $5,000 | $135.14 | $263.16 | $128.02 |
| Weekly two-hour session for a year | $52,000 | $1,405.41 | $2,736.84 | $1,331.44 |
Same chairs, same game, same pace. Run your own figures through the session cost calculator.
Why the double-zero wheel still exists
Because it can. In venues where both are on the floor, the American table usually carries the lower minimum — a $5 American table next to a $25 European one is a common arrangement, and it is a very effective one. A player who cannot comfortably bet $25 takes the cheap seat into the expensive game, and the operator collects nearly twice the margin on every dollar.
Online, the split is largely regulatory and habitual. European and crypto casinos default to single zero; US-facing sites carry the double-zero wheel their customers recognise. Where both are offered, they sit side by side in the lobby with no indication that one costs twice as much.
How to tell them apart in two seconds. Look for a 00 on the layout. If it is there, the wheel has 38 pockets and every bet costs 5.26%. If the game is called "Roulette" with no qualifier, check anyway — the naming is not reliable, and the 00 always is.
The version that beats both
French roulette uses the European wheel and adds la partage: when zero lands, even-money bets lose only half. That takes red, black, odd, even, high and low to a 1.35% house edge — half of European and a quarter of American.
If a French table is available and you are betting even money, there is no argument for anything else. Inside bets stay at 2.70%, so the advantage applies only to red/black-style bets, but it is the single largest free improvement available in roulette. Try it in the French roulette demo.
| Table | House edge | Cost per $1,000 | Relative to French |
|---|---|---|---|
| French, la partage | 1.35% | $13.51 | 1.0× |
| American with surrender | 2.63% | $26.32 | 1.9× |
| European | 2.70% | $27.03 | 2.0× |
| Mini, half-back on zero | 3.85% | $38.46 | 2.9× |
| American | 5.26% | $52.63 | 3.9× |
European vs American FAQ
Is European roulette better than American?
Yes, unambiguously. Identical payouts and one fewer pocket means a 2.70% house edge instead of 5.26%. There is no bet, rule or system on an American wheel that closes the gap.
How much more does American roulette cost?
About 1.95 times as much per unit staked. On $1,000 of turnover the expected loss is $27.03 on a European wheel and $52.63 on an American one, and the ratio is the same for every bet type.
Which numbers are on a European wheel but not American?
None — both have 1 through 36 and a single zero. American adds a 00. The number set is otherwise identical, which is why the payouts are identical and only the odds change.
Is there any reason to play American roulette?
Only if it is the only table available, or if the minimum bet is the binding constraint on your session. A promotion would have to be worth more than 2.56% of your total turnover to compensate, which is a high bar.
What is the best roulette variant overall?
French with la partage, for even-money bets, at 1.35%. For inside bets, French and European are identical at 2.70%. American and Mini Roulette are the two to avoid.
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Other guides
- Roulette Rules — How a round works, every bet on the table, and the rules that change the maths.
- Roulette Odds & Payouts — The full payout and probability table for every wheel, side by side.
- Roulette Strategies — Ten systems, what each actually does to your distribution, and why none change the edge.
- Roulette Wheel Layout — Pocket order, wheel sectors, the racetrack and why the numbers sit where they do.
- Roulette House Edge — Where the edge comes from, how it is calculated, and what it costs per hour.
18+. Roulette has a fixed house edge, so over enough spins the maths favours the operator — always. If you play for real, treat it as money spent on entertainment, set a limit before you start and stop when you reach it. Our responsible gambling page covers the warning signs and where to get free, confidential help.