There are three main types of roulette that you will come across when playing at both online and offline casinos. These are American, European and French roulette, with the latter often also referred to as ‘single zero’ roulette due to the one less number on the wheel in comparison to the American version.
Below we take a look at the key differences between these three roulette variants so that you can make an informed choice as to which is the best game for you.
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Roulette originated in France back in the 17th century and it was not until the 1800s that it started to gain popularity in America. The European version of the game is thought to be a mix of both French and English roulette, with the main difference being that it has 37 numbers on the wheel as opposed to 38 (1-36 plus 0 and 00).
The extra number on the American wheel is known as the ‘double zero’.
So what does this mean in terms of house edge? Well, the extra number obviously gives the casino a greater advantage as your chances of winning are slightly reduced. In European and French roulette, the house edge is 2.7% whilst in American roulette it jumps up to 5.
26%. This may not seem like a huge difference but over time it can make quite a big impact on your bankroll.
Another key difference is that in European and French roulette, if the ball lands on zero then any bets placed on even money bets (red/black, odd/even etc.) are ‘imprisoned’.
This means that they stay on the table for another spin and if you win then your bet is released, but if you lose then your bet is taken by the casino. There is no such thing as ‘imprisonment’ in American roulette so if your bet lands on zero then you will simply lose it.
The final major difference between these three roulette variants is in relation to what happens when you place a bet on one of the outside bets (red/black, odd/even etc.) and the ball lands on zero.
In both European and French roulette, your bet will be ‘imprisoned’ as we already mentioned above. However, if this happens in American roulette then your entire bet is taken by the casino – this is known as a ‘house edge’.
So there you have it – those are some of the key differences between American, European and French roulette. As you can see, there are pros and cons to each variant but ultimately it comes down to personal preference as to which one you prefer to play. If you want the best chance of winning then we would suggest sticking to European or French roulette, but if you want a more exciting game then American roulette may be more up your street!.
