European Roulette vs American Roulette: Why You Should Play European Roulette, Not American

Most roulette players focus on the most common bets: red or black, odd or even, maybe that one lucky number. But what many players don’t realize is that the wheel itself can change your odds (sometimes by a lot).

It doesn’t matter if you’re just messing around with online roulette for fun or aiming to play smarter with real money, it’s worth knowing what kind of game you’re dealing with.

Now, American and European Roulette are the most popular types of roulette you can play at online and in-person casinos. They might look the same, but they play very differently when it comes to your wallet.

This guide breaks down those key differences and why they matter more than you think.

The Difference Between American and European Roulette

European and American Roulette look almost the same, but there’s one crucial difference: the number of zeroes on the wheel.

The European Roulette wheel has a single zero (0), while the American version has both a single zero (0) and a double zero (00). This small tweak makes a big impact on your odds.

That change didn’t come out of nowhere. European Roulette has roots in 18th-century France, where the game first gained popularity.

As it made its way across continents, it evolved, especially when it landed in the U.S., where the double zero was introduced to give casinos a bigger edge.

The gameplay is otherwise similar. Both use the same bet types, layout, and pacing, but the edge difference is enough to change the outcome of a player’s game over time.

Other Varieties of Roulette You Can Find Online

Now, the roulette game has come a long way, and online casinos offer more than just the two classic versions. Here’s a look at some other types you might encounter at popular casino sites today:

• French Roulette – Very similar to European Roulette, but this has special rules like “La Partage” and “En Prison” that can cut the house edge in half on even-money bets.
• Lightning Roulette / Speed Roulette – Typically uses a European-style wheel but adds multipliers for lucky numbers or faster gameplay. Often featured in live dealer settings.
• Mini-Roulette – A smaller wheel with 13 slots (0–12). Fun for casual play, but has a higher house edge unless special rules are applied.
• Double Ball Roulette / Multi-Wheel Roulette – These use either two balls or multiple wheels. The wheel is usually European for this game, but the twist lies in how bets play out. This is also a roulette game with higher volatility.
• Auto Roulette – Fully automated using a European wheel. No dealers involved. Good for faster play and lower limits.
• Multiplayer Roulette – Online format that mimics a real casino table with multiple players betting simultaneously. Also often uses a European wheel.

Why Knowing the Different Types of Roulette Matters

Understanding the different roulette variants isn’t just trivia because the type of game you play affects your experience, strategy, and odds. Each version changes the rhythm of the game, your win potential, and even how much risk you’re taking on with each spin.

If you’ve ever felt like the house wins more often than it should, chances are you weren’t playing the right version of roulette.

Player Psychology and Casino Preferences

Some players enjoy slower games with higher stakes (like French Roulette), while others want fast-paced, flashy play (like Lightning Roulette). Casinos use this to design tables that attract specific types of bettors.

Generally, flashier versions with multipliers appeal to adrenaline seekers, while strategic players look for calmer, rule-heavy variants with better odds. Knowing your own play style helps you avoid tables that work against it.

Importance of Checking Wheel Type

That extra zero in American Roulette bumps the house edge from 2.7% to 5.26%. So, it’s not just about preference.

It’s also you choosing the kind of risk you’d like to take for your bets. But of course, if your goal is to stretch your bankroll or test out strategies, the best roulette version to play is the one with only a single zero (European).

The House Edge Problem

Roulette’s simplicity hides a subtle math issue: the house edge varies wildly depending on which version you’re playing.

But what exactly is it? Well, the house edge is the built-in advantage that the casino has over the player. The higher it is, the more likely you are to lose money in the long run (even if you’re playing smart).

Take a look at this roulette house edge comparison for the most common types of roulette games:

• European Roulette: 2.7%
• American Roulette: 5.26%
• French Roulette with La Partage: 1.35%

These percentages might seem tiny, but over time, they could have a serious effect on your bankroll.

Why the Extra Zero Hurts You

Adding a single slot shouldn’t hurt that much, right? But it does. Even if it may seem like the American version’s extra number means nothing, don’t forget that roulette is all about probability.

Every number added to the wheel slightly dilutes your chances of winning. On a European wheel, you’re playing against 37 numbers (0 to 36). On an American wheel, you’re up against 38 (0, 00, and 1 to 36). That small shift spreads your odds thinner across every bet.

More importantly, the payout structure stays the same, even though your odds are worse. So, you’re still getting paid 35 to 1 on a straight-up bet, but your actual chance of hitting it is lower on the American wheel.

Let’s say you bet $100 on red. On a European wheel, your expected loss (EV) is -$2.70. That means on average, you’ll lose $2.70 for every $100 bet. Meanwhile, on an American wheel, your EV is -$5.26. Nearly double.

So if you placed that same $100 bet over and over again, you’d bleed out twice as fast on the American table. That’s why experienced players give the 00 wheel a hard pass.

Roulette Odds Explained: What the Odds Actually Look Like Based on Roulette Bet Types

Roulette offers a wide range of bet types, and each one has different odds and payouts. Here’s a quick breakdown of what those bet names actually mean and how often you’re likely to win:

• Straight-up: This is just betting on a single number. If the ball lands exactly on that number, you win 35 to 1. This has the lowest win rate, which is about 2.7% on a European wheel.
• Split: For this, you’re betting on two adjacent numbers by placing your chip on the line between them. Pays 17 to 1, and the win rate is about 5.4%.
• Street: Betting on a row of three numbers (like 1-2-3). Pays 11 to 1 with an 8.1% chance to hit.
• Corner: This covers four numbers that touch (like 1-2-4-5). Pays 8 to 1 with around a 10.8% win rate.
• Even-money bets: These include red or black, odd or even, and high or low (1–18 or 19–36). They pay 1 to 1, and your win rate is about 48.6% on a European wheel or 47.4% on an American wheel.

The higher the payout, the lower your chances of winning. Straight-up bets are tempting because of the big reward, but they hit the least. Meanwhile, even-money bets are your best shot at consistent returns, especially on a European wheel.

So, What Makes European Roulette More Enjoyable?

The odds are just part of it. European roulette online platforms make the game more flexible, with adjustable table limits and multiple game modes. So, new players get a softer entry point, and veterans get a setup where long-term strategies can actually hold up.

The single zero roulette advantage also changes how you can strategize in the game. Martingale and other progressive systems break down quicker on American wheels because of that extra 00 pocket, so European wheels offer you a fairer shot.

If you’re playing online, sites like Bovada and Wild.io offer European roulette online with both live dealers and auto-spin formats. That lets you control the pace and pick based on how focused or casual you want to be.

Is It Better to Play Roulette Online or at Land-Based Casinos?

When it comes to where you should be playing roulette, this should really depend on what’s most convenient to you. Online casinos can give you instant access to different versions. You can jump between a traditional European table and a live Lightning Roulette session in seconds.

Land-based casinos rarely offer that much flexibility.

Online roulette also makes tracking bets and bankroll easier. Some platforms let you save patterns, view bet history, and even simulate spins before placing real money bets. That kind of data can help you strategize better.

However, we can’t deny that land-based casinos still win on atmosphere. You get the social angle and real-time dealer reactions. But if your main focus is how to win at roulette consistently, online has more tools to help.

Strategies for European Roulette

Before you even start playing European roulette, consider learning some strategies that could improve your odds of winning. Now, these roulette strategy tips can’t guarantee wins, but they can give you a clearer idea of how much to bet, when to adjust, and even manage your bankroll.

Martingale Strategy

Bet on even-money outcomes (like red or black). Every time you lose, double your next bet. The goal is to recover all losses and gain a profit equal to the original stake once you win. This works best with a large bankroll and a table that doesn’t cap your bets quickly.

The simplicity of the Martingale Strategy makes it appealing to some, but its aggressive nature makes it risky.

While the logic of eventually recovering losses with a single win seems sound on the surface, the exponential growth of required bets after consecutive losses can be financially devastating for those with limited funds.

Fibonacci Strategy

For this strategy, you need to follow the famous number sequence: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, etc. This sequence is what will dictate the size of your wagers.

So, start by betting one unit. If you lose, move forward in the sequence. If you win, move back two steps. This is designed to slow down the accumulation of losses and is notably less aggressive compared to the Martingale strategy’s doubling approach.

It is particularly well-suited for cautious players who prefer a more controlled betting progression and typically yields the best results when applied to even-money bets, which offer nearly 50/50 odds.

D’Alembert Strategy

Named after a French mathematician, this system works by adjusting your bet size by one unit at a time. After a loss, increase your bet by one. After a win, decrease it by one.

The idea is that wins and losses eventually balance out. It’s easier on your bankroll than doubling, like in Martingale. On a lower house edge roulette game like the European version, D’Alembert gives you a steadier ride with less risk of running out of funds.

Reverse Martingale (Paroli)

Instead of chasing losses, this method builds on wins. After a win, you double your next bet. If you lose, go back to your base bet.

The goal is to take advantage of short winning streaks and lock in profit before a loss resets the cycle. It’s a solid strategy on European wheels where fewer house-friendly outcomes (like 00) mean your streaks have a better shot at continuing.

Labouchere Strategy

This one looks complex at first, but it’s just a way to chase a specific profit goal. You need to write down a sequence that adds up to how much you want to win.

Say it’s 1-2-3; you bet the sum of the first and last numbers (1+3 = 4). Win? Cross both off. Lose? Add your lost amount to the end. It’s methodical and works better on European wheels, where fewer losses throw your sequence off.

James Bond Strategy

The James Bond strategy is a way of betting in roulette that aims to cover many numbers at once. Typically, this involves betting $140 on the group of high numbers (19 to 36), $50 on the group of numbers from 13 to 18, and $10 on the single zero.

This combination costs you $200 per round and covers 25 of the 37 possible outcomes on a European roulette wheel. The idea behind this approach is to achieve frequent, smaller wins, while the bet on zero provides some protection if the ball lands there.

Now, the amount ($140) is often cited when explaining how this strategy works, and it’s based on a $200 total bet. You’re free to adjust the individual amounts as long as they maintain the general proportions of the strategy.

How To Win at Roulette: More Tips for Roulette Players

Winning at roulette isn’t just about betting patterns and strategies. Sometimes, your edge comes from what others overlook, like how you manage your session, read the game flow, or set conditions before a single chip hits the felt.

Here are five underrated but effective ways to improve your chances, no strategy chart required.

Use Tables That Show Spin History, But Don’t Rely on It

Live dealer games often show the last 10 to 20 outcomes. Use that data to spot general patterns or wheel bias over short sessions.

Don’t fall for the “due number” trap. A red streak doesn’t mean black is next. Instead, use spin history to track the game’s volatility. If a table feels too random, consider switching.

Take Breaks When the Table Goes Cold

Even without emotion, playing through a dry run can drain you fast. Instead of waiting for luck to shift, recognize when outcomes lean heavily against you.

This “cold streak” might just be random, or it could be the house edge in roulette playing out. The longer you continue playing with a losing pattern, the more likely you are to lose more money. Know when to take a break and reset.

Cap Your Sessions by Rounds, Not Time

Roulette spins happen fast. Playing for 30 minutes can mean burning through 100+ bets. A round cap (like 50 spins) gives you more control. It can help you avoid falling into the trap of chasing just one more win.

Furthermore, setting a round limit provides clearer milestones for evaluating your strategy and bankroll. After 50 spins, you have a tangible data point: you’ve placed 50 bets and experienced 50 outcomes.

This allows for a more objective assessment of whether your chosen approach is working or if adjustments are needed.

Test Risk Levels Using Demo Mode First

Many online casinos offer demo roulette with real mechanics but no money involved. Use this to explore tables with different layouts and speeds.

Try high volatility moves or odd bet patterns and see how they feel. This low-stakes testing is useful for seeing how small changes affect the roulette house edge comparison.

Play Multiple Wheels With Caution

Multi-wheel roulette sounds like a way to increase wins, but it multiplies risk just as fast. Betting on eight wheels means placing eight bets at once.

Unless your bet size is scaled down, this setup can wreck your bankroll in minutes. If you’re curious, test it using demo mode first and pay close attention to the numbers. It can show how the house edge stacks up across rapid results.

So, Ready to Play European Roulette Online?

European and American roulette might look the same on the surface, but you’ve seen how much the rules and wheel layout change the way the game plays. The addition of the double zero is one of the glaring American roulette disadvantages, that’s for sure.

That’s why, if you care about your odds, bankroll, and experience, go with the single zero European roulette wheel as it gives you better ground to stand on.

Just remember that there’s no secret formula or guaranteed path to profits when it comes to playing roulette games. Still, knowing what roulette version you’re playing and how to approach it already puts you ahead of most players at the table.

Good luck out there, and whatever table you sit at, keep it fun, stay in control, and always gamble responsibly.