Roulette is one of the oldest and most widely played games in the casino world. Loved by both casual gamers and high-rollers alike, it offers a perfect balance of simplicity, suspense, and strategy. If you’ve ever played roulette at an online or land-based casino, you’ve likely noticed that there are different versions of the game. Among these, the two most popular are American Roulette and European Roulette.
While they look very similar at a glance—with familiar betting tables and numbered wheels—there are key differences between them that can significantly affect your gameplay and winning odds. In this comprehensive guide by 91 Club, we’ll break down the core differences and help you decide which roulette variant gives you the best shot at winning.
Play Roulette Online – Basic Rules and Principles
If you’re a new player or have never placed a bet on roulette at a casino before, this is your crash course in one of the most important aspects of playing real casino games online. The information you gain from this guide can be applied whether you’re playing at an online casino or a live casino, as the rules are the same.
When you place a bet in roulette, you are playing against the dealer—also referred to as “the house.” The person overseeing the game is called the croupier, appointed by the casino. This holds true for online casinos as well. The dealer’s job is to spin the wheel and manage bets placed by you and other players at the table.
In European and French roulette, there are 37 numbers where the ball can land. These include numbers from 1 to 36, alternating between black and red. In addition, there is a single green zero (0) slot in both European and French variants.
American Roulette is slightly different. Casinos across the Atlantic added a double zero (00), bringing the total number of pockets to 38 instead of 37. This small change significantly increases the house edge and reduces your chances of winning. So, if possible, always stick to the European or French versions of the game for better odds.
Each player receives their own color-coded set of casino chips when playing at the table. This makes it easy for the dealer to identify who placed which bets. That way, only you receive your winnings—no other player can mistakenly collect your payout.
Key Differences Between American and European Roulette
At first glance, both American and European roulette share similar layouts. However, one of the most important distinctions lies in the number of pockets on the wheel.
| Feature | European Roulette | American Roulette |
| Total Pockets | 37 | 38 |
| Green Pockets (Zeros) | 1 (Single Zero – 0) | 2 (Single Zero – 0, Double Zero – 00) |
| Red Pockets | 18 | 18 |
| Black Pockets | 18 | 18 |
Wheel Number Arrangement
- European Roulette Wheel Sequence:
0-32-15-19-4-21-2-25-17-34-6-27-13-36-11-30-8-23-10-5-24-16-33-1-20-14-31-9-22-18-29-7-28-12-35-3-26 - American Roulette Wheel Sequence:
0-28-9-26-30-11-7-20-32-17-5-22-34-15-3-24-36-13-1-00-27-10-25-29-12-8-19-31-18-6-21-33-16-4-23-35-14-2
The presence of the double zero (00) pocket is what primarily separates American from European roulette. This extra pocket increases the total number of possible outcomes and tilts the odds slightly in favor of the house.
Bets, Odds, and House Edge: A Detailed Comparison
Another crucial distinction lies in the house edge. Due to the extra green pocket in American Roulette, the house edge is significantly higher than its European counterpart.
| Metric | European Roulette | American Roulette |
| House Edge | 2.7% | 5.26% |
Betting Types, Odds, and RTP
Both variants allow the same basic types of bets—inside and outside bets—but the payout percentages and probabilities differ. Here’s a full breakdown:
| Bet Type | Payout | European Odds | European RTP | American Odds | American RTP |
| Straight (Single Number) | 35:1 | 2.70% | 97.30% | 2.60% | 94.74% |
| Split | 17:1 | 5.40% | 97.30% | 5.30% | 94.74% |
| Street (Row) | 11:1 | 8.10% | 97.30% | 7.90% | 94.74% |
| Corner (Square) | 8:1 | 10.80% | 97.30% | 10.50% | 94.74% |
| Basket Bet* | 6:1 | N/A | N/A | 13.20% | 92.10% |
| Line | 5:1 | 16.20% | 97.30% | 15.80% | 94.74% |
| Column | 2:1 | 32.40% | 97.30% | 31.60% | 94.74% |
| Dozen | 2:1 | 32.40% | 97.30% | 31.60% | 94.74% |
| Red/Black | 1:1 | 48.60% | 97.30% | 47.40% | 94.74% |
| Even/Odd | 1:1 | 48.60% | 97.30% | 47.40% | 94.74% |
| Low/High | 1:1 | 48.60% | 97.30% | 47.40% | 94.74% |
*Basket Bet: Exclusive to American Roulette, this bet covers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3 and carries the highest house edge—a staggering 7.89%—making it the least favorable wager in roulette.
American vs. European Roulette: Final Verdict
When comparing the two versions side-by-side, European Roulette clearly offers better odds, lower house edge, and greater long-term value for players. Here’s why:
- American Roulette has 38 pockets, which increases house edge to 5.26%.
- European Roulette contains only 37 pockets, reducing the house edge to 2.7%.
- The absence of the double zero (00) pocket in European Roulette improves your chances of winning significantly.
If you’re looking to get the most out of your betting strategy and optimize your win rate, European Roulette is the smarter choice—especially when you’re playing online at a trusted platform like 91 Club.
French, European, and American Roulette
- European and French Wheel Layout:
0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25, 17, 34, 6, 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33, 1, 20, 14, 31, 9, 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26 - American Roulette Wheel Layout:
0, 28, 9, 26, 30, 11, 7, 20, 32, 17, 5, 22, 34, 15, 3, 24, 36, 13, 1, 00, 27, 10, 25, 29, 12, 8, 19, 31, 18, 6, 21, 33, 16, 4, 23, 35, 14, 2
One of the most significant differences in roulette arises when you consider how it’s played at online casinos and how real outcomes are generated using a physical wheel. Most other online games are governed by RNG (Random Number Generator)—a piece of software that generates 100% random numbers without the possibility of manipulation.
Fortunately, many casinos today offer authentic live roulette, whether you’re playing European, French, or American versions online. The results come directly from a real roulette game, where you can watch the ball land with your own eyes.
A great example of this is the Aarhus Casino in Denmark, which allows many of its European tables to be live-streamed into online casino platforms. This means you can now play right from your computer or phone—no need to visit a land-based casino.
Many players prefer watching live dealers spin the wheel, especially to see whether the ball lands on red or black, even or odd. Moreover, you can also observe whether the live dealer is conducting the game fairly and professionally.
There’s also something special about hearing the authentic sounds of the wheel spinning or the ball clicking into a number slot. Most passionate players will recommend playing the live dealer version if you’re looking for the best and most immersive online roulette experience.
Roulette is a classic game often featured in Hollywood films and is famously known as one of James Bond’s favorite games. Another advantage of playing from home is that you avoid the hassle of manually handling physical casino chips.
It’s also easy to make mistakes when betting on specific number groups at a physical table. That’s why using an online casino as a practice ground until you master the game is a solid strategy.
The image below shows the full layout for both American and European versions of the game—highlighting the sections where you can place your chips and money. You’ll also see the two types of wheels commonly used in both online and live casino games.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which roulette version has higher payouts?
European Roulette offers better payout potential due to its lower house edge and higher RTP compared to American Roulette.
Which roulette variant gives better odds?
European Roulette has better odds, especially for even-money outside bets (red/black, even/odd, high/low), where the win probability is approximately 48.6%—higher than the 47.4% in American Roulette.
How many numbers are there on an American Roulette wheel?
There are 38 pockets, including numbers 1–36, a single 0, and a double 00.
Are there unique bets in each version?
Yes. American Roulette includes the Basket Bet (0, 00, 1, 2, 3), which is not available in European Roulette.
What strategies work for European or American Roulette?
Popular strategies include:
- Martingale System
- Paroli System
- D’Alembert Strategy
- Andrucci System
- Romanosky Bet Strategy
Is there another type of roulette worth trying?
Yes, French Roulette is another exciting variant based on European rules but with additional betting options like “La Partage” and “En Prison,” reducing the house edge to as low as 1.35%.
Why would anyone choose American Roulette?
While it has a higher house edge, American Roulette is still widely offered and can appeal to players who are unaware of the odds difference or are playing with certain bonus conditions.
🎯 Why Play at 91 Club?
At 91 Club, you’re not just spinning the wheel—you’re entering a premium online casino experience. Here’s what makes us stand out:
- ✅ Multiple Roulette Variants including European, American, and French
- ✅ Live Dealers & Real-Time Games
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- ✅ Generous Welcome Bonuses
- ✅ 24/7 Customer Support
