The American roulette wheel differs from the European one due to the extra double zero pocket (00), which gives the house a bigger edge over the player.
This article will inform you about the two versions of the roulette wheel, how the house edge works and what it means for you as a player.
The Fruity King NZ team believes that as much information as possible is required to make the correct choices regarding your game type. Choosing the right game will add to your fun factor, so it is well worth you reading this article to gauge which game of roulette you will prefer to play.
Table of Contents
What is The Difference in The Roulette Wheels?
- The European roulette wheel (sometimes called the French roulette wheels) has 36 numbered pockets which are either red or black. The European wheel also has a green pocket, the single zero (0).
- The American roulette wheel has 38 pockets, 36 of which are black and red, and two extra green pockets. The single zero (0) and the double zero (00).
- The numbers on the wheels are in a different order, but the outcome of your game is insignificant.
The most important difference between the American and European roulette wheels is the number of green zero pockets. The European roulette wheel has one green pocket (0), whilst the American roulette wheel has two green pockets, (0) and (00).
What is The House Edge, And How Does it Work?
The house edge (sometimes known as the house advantage or house take) is one of the major ways that casinos generate income. Casinos have predetermined payout odds for every table game they offer (pokies have variable payout odds depending on the game).
- European roulette has 36 red and black numbers and one zero. If you were to place $10 on red and $10 on black (total $20), you would win your $20 back 36/37 times when the result is red or black. You would only lose the whole bet 1/37 times when the roulette ball falls on the green single zero.
- American roulette has an additional green pocket (the double zero (00). There are still 36 red and black numbers. Still, American roulette has two green numbers instead of one (European roulette). Because of the extra green double zero, you are set to lose the same $20 bet 2/38 times.
How Does The Extra Double Zero Affect The Odds in Roulette?
The odds of losing your $20 bet are almost doubled when playing American roulette due to the extra double zero (00).
- The odds of American roulette =2/38
- The odds of European roulette + 1/37
- The house edge in American roulette is 5.26%, whereas the one in European roulette is 2.7%. The two odds and the percentages above are linked.
The payouts for each game are the same. Still, the extra green double zero (00) adds to the opportunity of you losing your money when playing American roulette.
What Does The House Edge Percentage Mean?
The house edge percentage represents a part of your bet that you will lose to the house (the casino) on average each time the roulette wheel is spun.
For Instance:
- If you made a $10 bet on a single bet of a European roulette wheel over time, you would lose 2.7%, which is $0.27, to the house (the casino). You could either lose your entire $10 or see a return of around $20 if you win.
The 2.7% is the perceived amount of money that the bet will cost you (on average) over time because of the house edge.
If we look at bigger numbers and imagine betting $100,000 on European roulette over time, then the expected loss to you would be in the region of $2.700 (on average).
However, if you spent the same $100,000 on American roulette over time, the expected loss would be around $5.260 (because of the double zero).
If The Odds Are Worse in American Roulette, Why do Online Casinos Offer it?
- One main reason is that some players must learn about the differences between the house edge in European and American roulette. Suppose some need to learn about the differences in house edges. In that case, the casino offers both types and generates more income for the casino.
- Another reason is that some players feel the extra double zero (00) makes the American game more exciting.
- Other players will play the American version due to patriotism. Even though the game has better odds, they won’t play European roulette.
- Some casinos (especially land-based venues) only offer American roulette, so that you will have no option but to suffer the higher house edge if you want your roulette action.
There is nothing wrong with choosing to play at an American roulette table. Still, it is good to know that the odds are stacked against you and more for the casino before doing so.
In Conclusion
Expected loss (or expected return) can be applied to every gambling game; in roulette, the more bets you make, the more the house edge will chip away at your bankroll. The bigger your bet will be relevant to your bankroll and directly affect how many bets you can make before losing money.
Therefore, you can play longer at a roulette table with a lower house edge (European roulette).
