Roulette is one of the most famous casino games of all time. Since it first spun onto the scene in 1655, thanks to a failed invention by French physicist Blaise Pascal, the game has evolved to cater to players in the modern day.
Now, you can play Roulette online as well as at land-based venues, with different themed games available amongst the classic variations – American and European Roulette.
But what is the difference between these two iconic wheels? And most importantly – which is best?
Read on to find out.
European Roulette
In 1843, French brothers Francois and Louis Blanc removed the green double zero pocket from the wheel to lower the house edge in an attempt to boost the economy of Hamburg, Germany – the city they had recently moved to.
This created what would later become known as the European Roulette wheel, with a house edge of 2.70% rather than the original 5.25%.
On the European Roulette wheel, there are a total of 37 pockets, with numbers one to 36 alternating in red and black, and between odd, even, high and low numbers where possible, as well as the green single zero.
There are a variety of bets you can place, many of which are the same as those you can place in American Roulette. However, alongside the standard inside and outside bets, you might also find the addition of French bets like La Partage or the En Prison rule when playing on a European wheel.
American Roulette
American Roulette gained its name when the single zero version of the wheel was introduced to American shores. When casinos and players alike agreed they preferred higher stakes, they favoured the version with both a single zero and double zero green pocket.
To differentiate the two, the double zero version became known as American Roulette.
Similar to European Roulette, American Roulette features numbers one to 36 alternating between black, red, even, odd and high and low where possible, although these might appear in a slightly different order. Either way – where the numbers are situated around the wheel is carefully chosen to help the outcome seem as random and unpredictable as possible.
With 38 pockets in total, the main difference between the two wheels is the green zero pockets, altering the house edge and giving you the choice as to on which wheel you’d like to place your bets.
Which is best?
European wheels aren’t as common at land-based venues, especially in America – as you can imagine – and when you do find one, you’ll notice that the betting limits are usually higher. This way, the stakes are just as high, if not higher, than they would be if you were playing American Roulette.
Despite this, much of the casino industry has moved online, with a variety of games available to play right at your fingertips. Included in this is European Roulette, with lower minimum betting limits than you would find at any land-based venue. And, thanks to the lower house edge, more players generally opt for the games hosted on this wheel.
However, which is best ultimately comes down to your personal preference, and whether you prefer to see the occasional French bet spinning into play, or if you like to up the ante and take a chance on a higher house edge.
Will you be spinning European or American-style?
