European roulette and American roulette may seem the same at first glance, but there are notable differences between the two casino game variants.
How do you tell the difference between European roulette and American roulette? Keep reading to find out.
What's The Difference Between American & European Roulette?
Let's look at the main differences between American and European roulette (and the roulette odds).
Single Zero and Double Zero
While European roulette only has a single zero (0) pocket, American roulette also has a double zero (00). The former has 37 pockets with the numbers 1-36 and 0, while the latter has 38 pockets, including 1-36, 0 and 00.
Different Odds
Having a single zero pocket or two zero pockets may not seem significant, but it greatly affects the game. For example, European roulette has 37 pockets with a 1 in 37 chance of the ball landing on a single number. On the other hand, in American roulette, there's a 1 in 38 chance of the ball landing on a single number.
Different House Edge
The extra zero makes a huge difference on the house edge too. For example, American roulette has a 5.26% house edge, while European roulette has a 2.7% house edge. Therefore, European roulette offers better odds than American roulette.
The Roulette Wheels
The American roulette wheel has 38 slots featuring black and red slots from 1 to 36 and two green slots for 0 and 00. Alternatively, the European roulette wheel has 36 black and red numbers and a single green zero pocket.
American Roulette Odds & Payouts
American roulette has 38 numbers where the odds of hitting a single-number win via a straight-up bet are 1 in 38. However, the house pays out 35:1 odds if you win and the same payout odds for combination bets.
American roulette pays out at the same odds as European roulette on all bets, despite the slightly lower odds of them landing. You can also place the same bets in both variations of roulette.
The only difference is a 5-number bet you can place in American roulette, known as a "basket", that isn't available in European roulette. It involves betting on the numbers 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3, and it pays out at 6:1 odds.
European Roulette Odds & Payouts
The European roulette wheel has 37 numbers, so the chance of landing a win on a single-number bet is 1 in 37, but this variation also pays out at 35:1 odds on this bet. The rest of the bets offer the same payouts as in American roulette.
Is European or American Roulette Better?
Ultimately, European roulette offers slightly better odds than American roulette because it has a lower house edge.
Playing American roulette offers slightly lower chances of winning but the same payout odds as its counterpart. Therefore, European roulette is statistically better than American roulette.
However, many players enjoy the slightly lower odds, and gambling is intended as a form of entertainment after all. So, it is down to personal preference on which is better for you.
Conclusion
European roulette offers better odds than American roulette, but many players still choose the latter over the former. You can decide for yourself which one you prefer; there are plenty of roulette options to play at Wizard Slots online slots casino.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to this game are subject to change at any time.