American Roulette vs. French Roulette: Comparison 2022
Thanks to modern technology, you can enjoy your favorite games of chance right at home without having to go to the casino. Roulette is one of the oldest, most sought-after and popular gambling games among casino users. And although this game has many variations, the rules remain the same both in offline casinos and online gaming platforms.
The word “Roulette” has French roots and translates as “little wheel”. The creator of this game is the French mathematician Blaise Pascal. Back in the 17th century, he did not abandon attempts to create a perpetual motion machine. It was these developments that became the basis for the creation of a primitive wheel, which soon became the most popular gambling game, which has a multi-million army of fans around the world.
For the first time this wheel was used for its current purpose as early as 1796. Then game lovers in Paris decided to play online roulette for real money on a wheel with two zeros. This trend was recognized, and by the end of the next century, roulette became the most popular game among representatives of high society.
Already in 1843, another innovation was added to this popular game. In Germany, the Blanc brothers decided to use the wheel with one zero for the game. It was invented in order to stand out from its French competitors. At that time, it was France that was the leader in the gambling industry. Soon the local government introduced a ban on gambling, so many French people moved their activities to Monte Carlo.
This place is now considered one of the most influential and sought after in the field of gambling. It was rumored that in order to master all the secrets of this game, the Blanc brothers made a deal with the devil. This is due to the fact that if we add up all the numbers on the wheel, we get 666 – the number of the devil.
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Features of American Roulette
The American variation of roulette is considered one of the most popular games in offline and online casinos around the world. The wheel is divided into 38 divisions, this includes zero, double zero and numbers from 1 to 36. Regular numbers through one are indicated in red and black, and zero and double zero are green. In order to win, you must predict which color the ball will fall on. The probability of winning is 50%.
Features of European Roulette
European roulette, also called French roulette, is most often used in European countries. It has a lot in common with American roulette. Here on the wheel you can still find the numbers from 1 to 36, which are marked in black and red, as well as zero in green. The main difference is that the numbers are in reverse order, except for zero, which is also located in the only green pocket.
Game layout
Unlike its American variation, French roulette does not have a double zero. That is, there are only 37 divisions on the game wheel. This is the only difference you can find. Both wheels have 18 black and 18 red spaces. Just pay attention that in American roulette the numbering is counterclockwise, and in European – clockwise.
Еdge of the house
It is in this aspect that the main difference between these two variations of the game lies. In American Roulette, the house edge is 5.26%. In European roulette, this figure is only 2.7%. This can be explained by the fact that in the American variation the game wheel has a double zero. Thanks to this, the house will have a significant advantage. Especially if you bet on pair money.
Rules of the game
In most stationary casinos or online gaming platforms, the rules of these two types of roulette will almost completely coincide. But by giving preference to European roulette, you can get more favorable conditions for playing. Users will be able to claim an extra spin, with the help of which the house advantage can be reduced to 1.3%.
In addition, it is worth noting that when playing European roulette, you will be able to make a “call bet”. This means that players will be able to announce a bet to the dealer instead of putting their chips on the table.
Chances of winning
Considering that European roulette has 37 divisions (one less), and the odds remain unchanged, we can conclude that the RTP here will be significantly higher than in the American variation of the game. This is especially worth considering for novice players who do not yet have enough experience and practice, because this will increase their chances of winning. The RTP in European Roulette is 97.35% and in American Roulette it is 94.7%. That is, it makes sense to give preference to French roulette in order to save your money.
There is another feature in the available rates. When playing American Roulette, you will be able to place a top line bet with the numbers 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. In European Roulette this is not possible due to the lack of a double zero. But in French roulette there are bets “trio” (0-1-2 or 0-2-3) and “basket” (0-1-2-3), but they are not in the American variation.
What option to choose?
At first glance, it may seem that the difference between these two games is minimal. But still, it would be reasonable to stop at European roulette with higher chances of winning.
You should not count on big winnings from the first minutes. In order to get a stable profit, you need to develop your gaming strategy and manage your budget wisely. You can get valuable gaming experience and improve your skill level with the help of free demo versions.
