Do you know there are different versions of Roulette based on region and that there are distinct differences between American Roulette and European Roulette?
Roulette is a massively popular game that has been popularised by the famous James Bond movies. It is the face of online casinos and has been portrayed in many Hollywood movies over the years. At a single glance, Roulette seems like a fairly simple game with a spinning wheel and multiple colored numbers on the table.
The difference between American Roulette and European Roulette is quite minor but it is still big enough to classify them as different variants.
Roulette is well-known and one of the most prominent games to ever exist. When platforms were digitized and moved to the online sector, Roulette was among the very first games to reach their digital versions. However, not many gamblers know that there are different versions of Roulette according to where they are played.
In this blog, we will highlight what is the difference between American Roulette and European Roulette. If you want to make your own Roulette table, you can leverage the capabilities of Roulette game development and start your own Roulette business with your preferred variant.
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The origins of the Roulette wheel can be traced back to 17th-century France. It is believed to have been invented by Blaise Pascal, a French mathematician and physicist who was trying to invent the perpetual motion machine but he built a Roulette wheel instead. While he couldn’t manage to make his invention, he did make the Roulette wheel and in turn, gave birth to one of the most popular games ever.
The early Roulette games feature both single and double zeroes. The double-zero wheel granted a significant house edge. However, with time, the games diverged on small minor changes and today we have three different variants of the Roulette wheel. These variants have different strategies, different house edges, and different odds for playing Roulette. However, today we will be only talking about the difference between American and European Roulette house edge and everything in between.
Gambling has been part of American culture for a long time. It is deeply rooted in the American Western culture as early risk-takers were hoping to strike rich in one way or another and gambling seemed like a perfect fit for them. However, with the widespread legalized gambling, operators wanted a way to generate hefty revenues from their platforms. That’s when American Roulette was born.
As the name suggests, American Roulette is a version of Roulette that is primarily played in the USA. The key distinction is that American Roulette consists of 38 tiles on the wheel instead of the regular 37. The American variant consists of a “Double Zero” tile which greatly increases the house edge. Moreover, the American Roulette wagering strategy is also quite different from the European version. At a single glance, the American Roulette wheel looks similar to that of European roulette live and a beginner gambler won’t be able to tell the difference.
European Roulette can be traced back to the 18th century. The wheel was first spun by the Europeans and over the years the game has evolved significantly. The game rules and the game concept have remained unchanged. A standard European wheel consists of 37 numbered tiles, starting from 0 to 36.
18 tiles are red. 18 of them are black, and one is green. Gamblers can stake money on every possible outcome, including single numbers, groups of numbers, sequences, odd or even, and even green or red. While the European roulette strategy differs from the American version, the European roulette play version can actually be found all over the world and is probably the most-played version of Roulette in Asia and Europe.
Now that you have a general understanding of both variants, it is time to take a look at the key differences between European Roulette vs. American Roulette. The differences while minor have a major impact on the gameplay and the overall experience of the game.
The most prominent difference between the two variants is the number of green tiles on the wheel. A typical European wheel has a single zero while the American variant also features a 00 tile. While it may not seem a major difference at first glance, the addition of an extra green tile doubles the number of losing tiles.
If you are playing on any of the 50-50 wagers such as green red or odd or even, if the ball lands on the green tile, all amount is lost. It significantly increases the game’s house edge and is a major advantage for the house.
Both the European roulette strategy and the American roulette strategy are largely similar as the available options are also similar. These options include all types of 50-50 wagers like odd or even, red or black, high and low, etc. While most of the options are identical, the European roulette online offers a number of additional options that can’t be found in the American-style Roulette wheel. Let’s have a look-
The addition of an additional zero might not seem like a major difference to the average layman but professional gamblers know how big of a deal it is. It significantly increases the house advantage and it makes the game from one of the most player-favoured games to the worst.
The average House edge for a European roulette wheel is around 2.7% which is very player-friendly. On the other hand, the addition of the “Double Zero” tile greatly increases the house edge to a staggering 5.3% which is double that of the European variant. So if you are thinking about which variant will be suitable for you, the low house edge on the European Roulette wheel makes it the preferred choice.
By now you must have understood the importance of the “Double Zero” tile, and most operators also understand its value. This difference between American and European Roulette online isn’t major but it is worth mentioning. Operators understand the house edge on both tables, and they charge extra to play on European tables which are extra player-friendly. In most online platforms, the European Roulette table layout is generally found at higher limits. Make sure to understand the best European roulette strategy before you actually place your wager with the dealer.
If you are playing at a popular gambling destination like Macau or Vegas, you will have to enter a high-limit room to play at the European table. And some of these rooms include a minimum wager amount of over $100.
The house edge and RTP rates of both variants are varied. While the European Roulette board has a house edge of 2.3%, the American-style Roulette wheel has a staggering house edge of 5.3%. We have provided a house edge and RTP rates on different types of wagers on both variants of the Roulette game. Take a look.
| Wager Type | Wager Payout | House Edge | Return to Player |
| Straight | 35/1 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
| Split | 17/1 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
| Street | 11/1 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
| Square or Corner | 8/1 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
| Five Line | 6/1 | 7.89% | 92.11% |
| Six Line | 5/1 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
| Column | 2/1 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
| Dozen | 2/1 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
| Red or Black | 1/1 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
| Odd or Even | 1/1 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
| High or Low | 1/1 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
| Wager Type | Wager Payout | House Edge | Return to Player |
| Straight | 35/1 | 2.70% | 97.30% |
| Split | 17/1 | 2.70% | 97.30% |
| Street | 11/1 | 2.70% | 97.30% |
| Square or Corner | 8/1 | 2.70% | 97.30% |
| Six Line | 5/1 | 2.70% | 97.30% |
| Column | 2/1 | 2.70% | 97.30% |
| Dozen | 2/1 | 2.70% | 97.30% |
| Red or Black | 1/1 | 2.70% | 97.30% |
| Odd or Even | 1/1 | 2.70% | 97.30% |
| High or Low | 1/1 | 2.70% | 97.30% |
Lucky for us, most Roulette platforms feature both American and European Roulette tables, so we can choose the one we want to play. However, the European Roulette odds chart is significantly better than American Roulette odds which makes the European version a lot more viable. In turn, the European roulette payout will be better as compared to American roulette.
Being one of the most popular games, Roulette Game Development is going on in full force. As a leading Roulette software development company, BR Softech excels in delivering highly interactive and responsive European Roulette game development to our global clientele. Our developers focus on building highly responsive and bespoke applications that can handle a large number of concurrent users. We are proficient in building bespoke Roulette applications that are tailored according to the client’s requirements.
If you are looking for a reliable Roulette Game Development Company, you can contact BR Softech.
Ans. It takes around two to three months to develop a European roulette app from scratch.
Ans. It costs around $30k to $35k to develop roulette software. However, the cost may shoot up depending on the type and complexity of the project.
Ans. Yes, we provide customized European roulette simulator software with high-end features, graphics, and excellent sound effects.
Ans. The best European Roulette strategies include The Fibonacci Strategy, The Martingale Strategy, and The D’Alembert Strategy.
Ans. The popularity of European Roulette in Las Vegas is skyrocketing in a manner like none other.
