True or False? European Roulette Has Better Odds than American Roulette

Inside my circle of friends, my sister and I are known for being blunt truth conveyers. Maybe because of our genes, we were programed to be the one in a table that says the uncomfortable truth everyone is thinking, but no one is saying out loud. Therefore, this is a question that I think needs some answering.

It has always been a big controversy whether the European roulette is better than the American roulette and vice versa. If you’ve been in the casino world for a while, then you know that this is so and probably by now, have this question answered. If you haven’t been in this environment for long, then hang on with me and let’s get this solved. Many people write to us asking this question and I decided to demystify this interrogative for once and for all.

So the question is: Is it true? Yes, it is! Truth be told, I actually hope that this information gets out there and becomes popular knowledge, since, come on! No one wants casinos to win, right? (Don’t let my bosses hear me.)

Let me explain the differences which in fact, are very simple.

Differences between American and European Roulette

• Let’s begin with the differences of the wheels themselves, since its differences already make the point clear. The difference between the American and European Roulette is that the American one comes with a 0 and a 00, making it a roulette with 38 numbers on the wheel (0-36 + 00). The American Roulette only has a 0, making it a roulette with 37 numbers on the wheel (0-36). This is a key difference, since the double zero in the American Roulette gives the house a higher edge over the player and the player has less chances of getting paid than in the European Roulette.
• In the American Roulette the odds of any given number coming up are 37 to 1, whereas in European Roulette the odds are 36 to 1.
• The house edge on American Roulette is 5.26%, in contrast with a 2.7% house edge in European Roulette. This means that for every $100 that you play on the American Roulette, you will lose $5.26, and for the same amount played on European Roulette you will only lose $2.7.
• These are basically the reasons why playing on the European Roulette is better for players. Don’t think that because of the fact that they are called “American” and “European,” they can only be found in certain areas. Most casinos in the United States and in Europe offer both versions of the game.

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