Roulette has two main variations: European roulette and American roulette. The latter is slightly less common than the former, but it is still immensely popular in its own right. However, many players still wonder: what is the difference between the two?
In this Wizard Slots blog post, we will discuss the ins and outs of American roulette, so read on to learn more.
What Is American Roulette?
American roulette is incredibly popular in North America, hence the name. The game's exact origin remains a bit of a mystery, with some speculating that it evolved from the European Roulette introduced by French immigrants in New Orleans in the 19th century.
The distinguishing feature of American roulette is its inclusion of an extra green zero pocket, labelled '00'. This addition increases the number of pockets on the wheel to 38 and increases the house edge significantly to 5.26%, which is higher than its European counterpart.
American Roulette Wheel Layout
The American roulette wheel diverges from the European Roulette wheel in its layout. It features 38 pockets, comprising numbers 1 to 36, a single zero (0) pocket, and a double zero (00) pocket. The addition of the '00' pocket is what sets it apart and increases the house edge.
The numbers are not arranged sequentially on the wheel. Instead, they follow an order that tries to alternate between the different available outside bets, such as high/low, even/odd, and red/black numbers, to allow for a more balanced distribution.
The table layout is the same as in European roulette, with the numbers in numerical order, starting from the zeros at the top to number 36 at the bottom. The table also features the same layout of outside bets to divide the grid into sections, facilitating easy bet placement on groups of numbers.
How To Play American Roulette
Playing American roulette is quite straightforward and the same as most other roulette games. The objective is to bet on where you think the ball will land on the wheel.
To begin, you need to place your chips on the section or numbers you wish to bet on. Once all bets are placed, the dealer spins the wheel and drops the ball in. If the ball lands on a number or colour that you've bet on, you win. If it doesn't, you lose.
The betting options in American roulette are quite diverse. You can place bets on individual numbers, ranges of numbers, the colour of the pocket, or whether you think the number will be odd or even.
American Roulette vs European Roulette
Although both American and European roulette share the same objective, there are some significant differences between the two. The primary difference lies in the wheel layout. American roulette features an extra '00' pocket, which increases the number of pockets and the house edge to 5.26%, compared to the 2.6% house edge in European Roulette.
Furthermore, the odds for each bet in American roulette are slightly lower than those in European Roulette due to the additional pocket. For instance, the odds of winning a red/black bet in American roulette are 47.37%, while in European Roulette, the odds are slightly higher at 48.65%. However, the payouts remain the same.
American Roulette Payouts & Odds
In American roulette, the odds and payouts vary depending on the type of bet placed. The house edge stands at 5.26%, indicating the advantage the casino has over the player. Here's a quick rundown of typical American roulette bets and their respective odds and payouts:
Outside Bets
- Red/Black: Payout - 1:1 | Odds - 47.37%
- High/Low: Payout - 1:1 | Odds - 47.37%
- Even/Odd: Payout - 1:1 | Odds - 47.37%
- Dozens: Payout - 2:1 | Odds - 31.58%
- Columns: Payout - 2:1 | Odds - 31.58%
Inside Bets
- Line (6 numbers): Payout - 5:1 | Odds - 15.79%
- Corner (4 numbers): Payout - 8:1 | Odds - 10.53%
- Street (3 numbers): Payout - 11:1 | Odds - 7.89%
- Split (2 numbers): Payout - 17:1 | Odds - 5.26%
- Straight Up (1 number): Payout - 35:1 | Odds - 2.63%
American Roulette Strategies: Can It Be Beaten?
All variations of roulette are random games of chance, so there is no strategy or trick that can help you to beat it.
However there are several strategies that players use, but these are to structure and manage their bets rather than an attempt to beat roulette. If you choose to implement one of these strategies, it's crucial to remember that none of them can guarantee a win or reduce the house edge at all.
One popular strategy is the Martingale Strategy, which involves placing an even-money outside bet (e.g. red/black, high/low or odd/even) and doubling your bet after a loss. If you win, you return to the starting bet amount.
The idea is that you can recover the losses from the winning bet. However, this strategy can quickly lead to large bet amounts, which can be detrimental to your budget. You may also run the risk of hitting the table limit, which can prevent the strategy from working as intended.
Another strategy is the 666 Strategy, which involves betting on almost all numbers on the wheel, leaving only four. However, this method requires multiple different bets, and only one can win in a single spin, meaning even if you win, you lose the other bets.
Thoroughly research a strategy before implementing it so you know what to expect and know its limitations, and remember, there is no way to beat roulette.
Play American Roulette Online
You can play American roulette online, too. Instead of using a dealer, the game runs on a Random Number Generator (RNG) that produces random and unpredictable outcomes, just like a real roulette wheel.
There are also live online roulette games, which involve a real dealer spinning the wheel and dropping the ball just like in a brick-and-mortar casino, except the footage is live-streamed to players' devices. The players then make their bets using a virtual display on their screen.
You can play American roulette online here at Wizard Slots. All you need is an account with deposited funds to play with. Click the 'Join Now' button to get started.
Please play responsibly and remember that winning is never guaranteed.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins, etc.) mentioned in relation to this game are subject to change at any time.
