Roulette is a classic casino game that's widely played in many casinos, both online and in physical locations. The game's main appeal lies primarily in its simple gameplay and fairly friendly odds: you can bet on your favorite number from 1 to 36 or 0, and if it comes up, you win. And if you stick with its even-money bets, like Blacks or Reds, you roughly win 50 percent of the time. Also, there are plenty of bets to choose from; you can bet on a single number or a group of numbers, go for Red or Black, or even high/low!
Both games are popular on many crypto-betting sites, and some of the best bonuses and promos target these games. As such, beginners will benefit more if they study the key differences between European Roulette and American Roulette before wagering real money.
American and European Roulette- Comparing their table layouts
Classic roulette has French roots, and its name means 'little wheel.' Historical and anecdotal records show that Physicist Blaise Pascal is credited to have invented the game in 1655. One of the first public designs of the table game was the 'EO' or Even/Odd, played in England in the late 18th century, which inspired the design of modern roulette wheels.
Roulette was a popular casino game in French, hitting Monte Carlo casinos before crossing to the Americas. The game's popularity and its move into the Americas brought about changes in the betting rules, aesthetics, and layout, creating two popular variants - European Roulette and American. So, what makes the two variants different in terms of layout?
The European Roulette wheel features 37 numbers, from 0 to 36
American Roulette wheel boasts 38 numbers, as it includes an extra slot for '00 '
In both layouts, the roulette wheel number sequence is in alternating colors of red and black. From 1 and 19 to 28, the odd numbers are in red, and the even ones are black. In the series 11 to 18 and 29 to 36, the odd numbers are black, and the even ones are red. Pockets for zero and double zero are in green color.
A look at the game's RTP and house edge
As you can see, the primary difference between the European and American variants is in the layout, particularly adding an extra zero. European Roulette has an average house edge of 2.7%, while the American variant increases the house edge to 5.26% by adding an extra slot.
In European Roulette, you're betting on which pocket the ball will land after a spin. Since there are 35 pockets, each bet carries odds of 35/1 of winning and getting your stake back. This translates to a 2.7% house edge or a 97.3% RTP.
The same principle applies in playing American Roulette, but this time there are 36 numbers and two extra spots for single zero and double zero. Adding an extra pocket diminishes your chances of success, resulting in a house edge of 5.26% or an RTP of 94.74%.
For even-money bets, the same house edge and RTP applies. Wagering on an even-money bet on the European variant offers an RTP of 97.30%, while the same bet on the American variant boasts 94.74%.
So, which is the better variant to play?
American and European Roulette games have their attractions and share the same types of bets. Still, if you're looking at the odds of winning, we recommend the European variant as it offers you better chances. You'll even find another popular variant that's based on the European layout, French Roulette, with friendly rules such as the 'la partage' and 'en prison' that applies to even money bets where you can get half your money or let it stay for another spin if the ball lands in the zero pocket.
Make sure to explore and test each variant before you go all in. Most crypto betting sites carry both popular roulette variants, allowing you to test and check which one is best for you.
What's exciting about online roulette is that each spin is random, and the ball's slow movement as it settles into one of the pockets at drama to each round. And if you play in top Bitcoin casinos like Pasino with rewarding bonuses to grow your bankroll, playing your preferred roulette variant becomes even more entertaining!
