The Difference Between the American and European Roulette

Since roulette is one of the most famous games played by casino visitors, many people began to alter some of the rules and design of the roulette wheel. The modifications in the design and mechanics of the game cause the development of different versions of roulette. Two of the popular versions of the game are the american roulette and the European roulette.

The major and most prominent difference in these kinds of roulette is the number of pockets found in each version. The European roulette has 37 colored and numbered pockets while the American roulette has 38 pockets. The European roulette has pockets with numbers ranging from 0-36. On the other hand, the American roulette has pockets with numbers ranging from 00-36. The inclusion of the 00 digit in the pockets only shows that casinos using the American roulette have greater house edge as compared with gambling establishments that use the European roulette.

Aside from the difference in the number of pockets, the two versions of roulette also differ in the distribution of chips used by players in placing bets in the game. Players of the European roulette have the same color of chips used in betting, while the players of the American roulette have distinct colors of chips used in the game.

Due to the addition of the 00 digit in the American roulette, many people believed that the odds of players betting in this game are lesser as compared with European roulette players. According to studies, casinos using the European roulette have a 2.7 per cent house edge. On the other hand, gambling establishments offering the American roulette have a 5.3 per cent house edge. This fact might have caused many roulette players to play the European roulette than the American roulette.

But whether the European roulette has a greater house edge and odds of winning, the American roulette offers a greater intensity of excitement and thrill as compared with the European roulette. The lesser winning odds of players playing this version challenge gamblers and most of the time cause them to eagerly try their luck in the game.

In addition the difference in the odds of winnings and house edge in these versions of roulette are believed to have not affected the interest of gamblers in playing the American Roulette. This is due to the reason that players practice and master different strategies that would enhance their chances of winning in the game.