Summary:
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Roulette is popular due to simplicity, suspense, and fast-paced action, with a variety of variants to choose from.
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Differences in European and American roulette wheel designs can impact winning odds and strategies for players.
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European roulette offers better odds with a lower house edge, while American roulette provides higher volatility for thrill-seekers.
Roulette remains one of the most iconic and widely played games at casinos, even with new, exciting genres emerging regularly. It is mainly because of simplicity, suspense, and fast-paced action that players choose it over other table games online, but a variety of variants also play their part.
This rich choice might be overwhelming for newbies, but it becomes easy to navigate the list of options when you know the basics. And the difference between European and American variants is one of them.
Table Layout and Wheel Differences
At first sight, it might be difficult to spot differences between European and American roulette, but several features can influence your chances of winning. European roulette has a wheel with 37 sections (1 to 36 plus a single zero), while American roulette has a double zero, bringing the total number of sections to 38. According to GammaStack, these differences in the wheel design can affect the odds and strategies for players.
This slight difference changes it all. It can impact your frequency of winning and your betting patterns.
With two zero sections, American roulette gives the house more ways to win. For players, this means they have fewer chances for a favorable outcome of a gaming round.
House Edge and Odds
Yes, that little detail of one additional zero section makes a difference in terms of the odds and the house edge. European roulette offers a house edge of approximately 2.7%, while a double zero makes the house edge almost twice as big — approximately 5.26%.
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For instance, you can have a 351:1 payout if you place a bet on the winning straight number. In the European version, your chances of winning are 1 to 37. In American roulette, those will be 1:38. It looks like a small difference, but it can impact your bankroll significantly over time.
Which One Should You Play?
Both European and American roulette are common at online operators. For instance, in MyBookie, you can find dozens of variants of each version. Still, you might wonder what the purpose of offering the American version is if it has a lower edge, and most players go for the European version.
Well, the American version is no less popular than the European one. It has higher volatility, which attracts thrill-seekers who hunt for emotions instead of big wins.
On the other hand, there are solid reasons why players prefer to stick to the European variant, namely:
- prolong your gambling experience by stretching your bankroll (thanks to lower house edge);
- better long-term odds and more control;
- more suitable for popular betting strategies;
- higher chances of winning big one time.
Still, most players never stick to just one version. They often play them in turns, depending on their goals and mood. If they are into low-risk play, one of the European roulette games is to be selected. But if they are keen on having a thrilling gameplay session with higher risks, American roulette can offer them this. Still, do not forget that this table game is still a game of chance, so statistics might be just a number, and a big win can happen after any bet.
