If you have ever wondered why two roulette tables can look almost identical yet produce very different long-term results, the answer is simple: the zeros. In the European vs American roulette debate, the biggest difference is the wheel layout: European roulette has a single zero (0), while American roulette adds a double zero (00). That one extra pocket meaningfully increases the house edge, lowers your expected return (often described as RTP), and makes many bankroll-based strategies work worse over time.
This guide breaks down European vs American roulette in practical terms: the exact odds, what the house edge means in dollars, how French roulette can improve results with La Partage and En Prison, and what to look for when choosing a table.
European vs American Roulette at a Glance
Both games share the same familiar betting layout and payouts (straight-up 35:1, splits, streets, corners, dozens, columns, and outside bets like red/black). What changes is the number of pockets on the wheel, which changes the probability of every outcome.
| Variant | Wheel pockets | Zeros | Typical house edge | Typical RTP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European roulette | 37 | 0 | About 2.70% | About 97.30% |
| American roulette | 38 | 0 and 00 | About 5.26% | About 94.74% |
| French roulette (European variant) | 37 | 0 | About 2.70% (standard) or about 1.35% on even-money with La Partage / En Prison | About 97.30% (standard) or about 98.65% on eligible even-money bets |
Key takeaway: when you compare single zero vs double zero, European roulette is the higher-RTP option, and French roulette can be even better for certain bets.
Single Zero vs Double Zero: The Math Behind the House Edge
The house edge is the casino’s built-in advantage over the long run. Roulette is designed so that payouts are slightly lower than the true odds, and the difference comes from the zero pockets.
European roulette house edge (single zero)
European roulette has 37 equally likely outcomes: numbers 1 to 36 plus 0.
- Probability of landing on 0: 1 / 37
- On even-money bets (red/black, odd/even, 1–18/19–36), you win on 18 numbers, lose on 18 numbers, and the zero makes you lose.
That extra losing outcome is why the European roulette house edge is:
House edge (European) = 1 / 37 ≈ 2.7027%And the corresponding RTP is:
RTP (European) = 1 - (1 / 37) ≈ 97.2973%American roulette house edge (double zero)
American roulette has 38 equally likely outcomes: 1 to 36 plus 0 and 00.
- Probability of landing on 0 or 00: 2 / 38
- Those two pockets act as additional losing outcomes for most bets.
So the American roulette house edge becomes:
House edge (American) = 2 / 38 ≈ 5.2632%And the corresponding RTP is:
RTP (American) = 1 - (2 / 38) ≈ 94.7368%In plain terms, American roulette roughly doubles the casino advantage compared to European roulette. That is why “find a single-zero table” is one of the most practical tips in roulette.
Roulette Odds and Payouts: Same Payouts, Different Probabilities
A common surprise is that the payout schedule is basically the same across European, American, and French roulette:
- Straight-up (single number): pays 35:1
- Split (two numbers): pays 17:1
- Street (three numbers): pays 11:1
- Corner (four numbers): pays 8:1
- Six line (six numbers): pays 5:1
- Dozens / columns (12 numbers): pays 2:1
- Outside even-money bets (18 numbers): pays 1:1
What changes between variants is the roulette odds (the probability of winning) because of the total number of pockets.
Probability examples: European vs American roulette
| Bet type | Payout | Win probability (European, 37) | Win probability (American, 38) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight-up (1 number) | 35:1 | 1 / 37 ≈ 2.7027% | 1 / 38 ≈ 2.6316% |
| Split (2 numbers) | 17:1 | 2 / 37 ≈ 5.4054% | 2 / 38 ≈ 5.2632% |
| Street (3 numbers) | 11:1 | 3 / 37 ≈ 8.1081% | 3 / 38 ≈ 7.8947% |
| Dozen / column (12 numbers) | 2:1 | 12 / 37 ≈ 32.4324% | 12 / 38 ≈ 31.5789% |
| Even-money (18 numbers) | 1:1 | 18 / 37 ≈ 48.6486% | 18 / 38 ≈ 47.3684% |
The probabilities look close at first glance, but over hundreds of spins, the extra zero adds up fast. This is why players who prioritize expected return tend to prefer European (single-zero) and, when available, French roulette with player-friendly rules.
Expected Value in Dollars: What the House Edge Really Means
House edge is a long-run average, not a prediction of what happens in the next 10 spins. Still, it is extremely useful for comparing games because it tells you the expected loss per unit wagered.
Example 1: $10 on red (even-money)
European roulette (37 pockets):
- Win probability: 18 / 37
- Lose probability: 19 / 37 (includes the 0)
Expected value (EV) for a $10 bet:
EV = (18/37 * +$10) + (19/37 * -$10) = -$10 * (1/37) ≈ -$0.27 per $10 betAmerican roulette (38 pockets):
- Win probability: 18 / 38
- Lose probability: 20 / 38 (includes 0 and 00)
EV = (18/38 * +$10) + (20/38 * -$10) = -$10 * (2/38) ≈ -$0.53 per $10 betSame bet, same payout, but the expected cost per $10 wager is about twice as high on the double-zero wheel.
Example 2: $5 straight-up bet on a single number
Assume the common payout of 35:1 (profit $175 on a $5 win, loss $5 otherwise).
European roulette:
EV = (1/37 * +$175) + (36/37 * -$5) ≈ -$0.14 per $5 betAmerican roulette:
EV = (1/38 * +$175) + (37/38 * -$5) ≈ -$0.26 per $5 betAgain, the extra zero increases the average cost of play. This difference is the core of the “European vs American roulette” decision for value-focused players.
French Roulette: Why La Partage and En Prison Can Lower the Casino Advantage
French roulette is typically a single-zero (European-style) wheel, but it may include special rules that improve outcomes on even-money bets (red/black, odd/even, 1–18/19–36). Two famous rules are La Partage and En Prison.
La Partage (share)
With French roulette La Partage, if you place an even-money bet and the ball lands on 0, you lose only half of your bet instead of the full amount.
- Without La Partage (standard European): 0 is a full loss on even-money bets.
- With La Partage: 0 is a half-loss on even-money bets.
This reduces the house edge on even-money bets to about:
House edge (La Partage, even-money) = (1/37) / 2 = 1/74 ≈ 1.3514%That means an even-money bet under La Partage has an RTP of about:
RTP ≈ 98.6486%En Prison (in prison)
En Prison is similar in spirit: when 0 appears on an even-money bet, your stake is “imprisoned” for the next spin instead of being immediately lost. If your bet wins on the next spin, you typically get your stake back (often without additional profit). If it loses, you lose the stake.
In many standard implementations, En Prison yields a house edge comparable to La Partage on even-money bets (about 1.35%), though the exact experience differs because the resolution can take an extra spin.
Practical payoff: longer play, better value
If your goal is to maximize entertainment per dollar (or simply keep the math as player-friendly as possible), French roulette with La Partage is one of the most value-positive rule sets you can realistically find on a standard roulette table. The improvement applies specifically to even-money bets, not to straight-up or other inside bets.
Does the Extra Zero Increase Volatility?
Many players use “volatility” to mean how swingy the results feel session to session. The key factual point is this: the extra zero in American roulette reduces the chance of winning on every bet type while keeping payouts the same. That combination generally makes the ride feel harsher because losses occur slightly more often.
- On even-money bets, the win rate drops from about 48.65% (European) to about 47.37% (American).
- On dozens/columns, win rate drops from about 32.43% (European) to about 31.58% (American).
- On straight-up numbers, win rate drops from about 2.70% (European) to about 2.63% (American).
So while roulette is always high-variance on inside bets, the double zero nudges results in a less favorable direction across the board, lowering expected return and often increasing the feeling that “the wheel is cold” simply because there are more losing outcomes.
How European vs American Roulette Affects Martingale and Other Bankroll Systems
Bankroll-based systems like Martingale (doubling after a loss) are popular because they can produce frequent small wins on even-money bets in the short run. However, they do not change the underlying math of the game, and the house edge still applies to every unit wagered.
Why double zero makes systems perform worse over time
- More frequent losing outcomes: With American roulette, you are more likely to hit 0 or 00 on even-money bets, which increases the chance of extended losing streaks.
- Higher average cost per wagered dollar: Because the house edge is higher, the expected loss grows faster as total wagered volume increases (and systems like Martingale can create very high wagered volume quickly).
- Table limits matter: Martingale requires bigger and bigger bets to recover losses. Real tables have maximum bets, which can stop the progression before the “recovery” bet is allowed.
If you enjoy structured staking for entertainment, choosing a single-zero table (or a French roulette table with La Partage) is one of the few straightforward ways to make the same style of play mathematically less expensive over time.
Choosing the Best Table: Practical Guidance to Maximize RTP
If you want a clear, actionable approach, use this checklist for black jack online.
1) Prioritize single-zero wheels
- Pick European roulette (single 0) over American roulette (0 and 00) whenever you can.
- This single decision improves the house edge from about 5.26% to about 2.70%.
2) If available, pick French roulette with La Partage for even-money betting
- If you mainly play red/black, odd/even, or 1–18/19–36, La Partage can reduce the house edge on those bets to about 1.35%.
- That is a meaningful jump in RTP for the exact same style of wagering.
3) Match bet type to your goals (not just the payout)
- Outside bets (even-money, dozens, columns) tend to produce more frequent wins, which many players find smoother for bankroll management.
- Inside bets (straight-up, splits, streets) offer bigger payouts but much lower hit rates, so sessions can swing dramatically.
4) Treat “systems” as structure, not an advantage
- No staking system removes the house edge.
- Your best lever is still the game variant: single zero vs double zero makes a bigger difference than most tweaks to bet sizing.
Quick Reference: Which Roulette Variant Should You Play?
- Best all-around RTP: European roulette (single zero)
- Best for even-money bets: French roulette with La Partage (or, depending on rules, En Prison)
- Lowest RTP among the three: American roulette (double zero)
When you zoom out, the European vs American roulette choice is less about style and more about math. The wheels look similar, the bet types are the same, and the payouts are the same, but the extra 00 in American roulette increases the house edge to about 5.26% and lowers RTP accordingly. If your goal is to maximize value, extend play time, and give bankroll-based approaches the best possible conditions, choosing single-zero (and ideally French roulette La Partage for outside bets) is the most practical move you can make.
FAQ: European vs American Roulette
Is European roulette better than American roulette?
From a math perspective, yes: European roulette has a lower house edge (about 2.70%) than American roulette (about 5.26%) because it has a single zero instead of both 0 and 00.
Are the payouts different between European and American roulette?
Typically, no. Most standard tables pay the same (for example, straight-up 35:1). The difference is the probability of winning because American roulette has one extra pocket.
What is French roulette La Partage?
La Partage is a rule on some French roulette tables where, on an even-money bet, if the ball lands on 0 you lose only half your stake. This reduces the house edge on those bets to about 1.35%.
Does En Prison always give the same advantage as La Partage?
En Prison is often comparable to La Partage for even-money bets, but details can vary by table rules (for example, how the next spin resolves and whether profits are paid in certain outcomes). The key is that both rules are designed to soften the impact of 0 on even-money bets.
What is the simplest tip to improve roulette odds?
Choose a single-zero roulette wheel whenever possible. If you like even-money bets, look for French roulette with La Partage to push RTP even higher on those bets.
