We’re all familiar with roulette, arguably the definitive game to play at any casino. No matter if you’re playing at a land-based location or a casino site, roulette is the classic wheel-spinning game of chance that has endured for centuries. However, one might notice how it comes in two varieties, European and American. What are the differences between these two, you might ask? The quick and dirty answer to this one boils down to the layout of the wheel, but this actually makes quite the difference to the game. So join us as we explain all you need to know about the differences between the European and American roulette wheel layouts so that you’ll make the right choice of game next time you’re at the casino.
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A Brief History of Roulette
The origins of roulette have been lost to history, but some suggest it originated from the Italian game known as Biribi. This was a game similar to keno played using a board divided into 70 numbers. A dealer would pull out a numbered ticket from a bag, and whoever bet on the number on the ticket would win a prize. From this one can imagine how someone could have come up with a version of Biribi played using a spinning wheel holding the different numbers.
What we do know about historical roulette is that it came from France, where its early forms were invented in the 18th century. In fact, it's been recorded that a roulette wheel mechanism was created in 1720, while in the 17th century the inventor and mathematician Blaise Pascal was said to have come up with a spinning wheel mechanism as part of his quest for a perpetual motion machine. In any case, the French were playing a form of modern roulette by 1796, as described in the novel “La Roulette, ou le Jour” by Jaques Lablee.
Interestingly the 1796 version of roulette had two zero pockets, one in red and the other in black. In later years these were coloured in green in order to avoid confusion. In 1843 Frenchmen François and Louis Blanc came up with a single zero version of roulette in order to compete with other casinos in the German spa town of Bad Homburg. Once the German government abolished gambling in the country in 1860 the Blanc brothers moved their operation to Monaco, where they built an elite casino that established the single zero roulette as the European standard. The version with two zeros, meanwhile, remained popular in the United States where it became American roulette.
The Modern Roulette Wheel, European and American
The Modern Roulette Wheel, European and American
While the early roulette games would have any number of, well, numbers, this has been standardised in all modern versions of the game. Starting with the European wheel, this features the numbers 1 to 36 in alternating red and black colours, together with a single zero pocket in green. This makes for a total of 37 pockets and a house edge of 2.7% brought about by the zero (this is because the dealer takes all bets if the ball falls in the green pocket, unless someone placed their bet on it).
The layout of the numbers on the wheel actually balances between the high and low numbers, ensuring each spin leads to an unpredictable result and is, as a result, fair. The sequence of the numbers on the European roulette wheel is as follows, starting from the zero and moving clockwise:
0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25, 17, 34, 6, 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33, 1, 20, 14, 31, 9, 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26.
The American roulette wheel features 38 pockets - the numbers 1-36 plus two zero pockets. Both zeroes are green but one is labeled “0” and the other “00”. The presence of two zeroes essentially doubles the house edge, bringing it up to 5.26%. The sequence of the numbers on the American wheel differs from the European version, since it is as follows (again starting from the 0 and moving clockwise):
0, 28, 9, 26, 30, 11, 7, 20, 32, 17, 5, 22, 34, 15, 3, 24, 36, 13, 1, 00, 27, 10, 25, 29, 12, 8, 19, 31, 18, 6, 21, 33, 16, 4, 23, 35, 14, 2.
Differences on the Betting Table Layout
The wheel is not the only thing that differs between European and American roulette - there are also key changes in the layout of the table where you place your bet. Starting with the European table, this tends to be more streamlined compared to the American version, with the single zero sitting on top of the number grid. One can place bets directly on single numbers on the grid (inside bets), or bet on groupings of numbers labeled on the table such as red/black, odd/even, and high/low (outside bets).
European roulette also has a racetrack section. This is a curved area that allows one to place special bets, namely neighbour, voisins du zéro, tiers du cylindre, and orphelins. These are sets of numbers grouped according to their position on the wheel that make for popular wagers among experienced players.
American roulette tables feature the same grid layout as the European, if with the 00 next to the 0 on top of the grid. This creates a unique bet known as the “five-number bet,” which covers the 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. In land-based casinos American roulette tables tend to be bigger, allowing for more players at a time. As a result many of these tables actually have two dealers running the game!!
Special European Rules
Apart from the above differences, European roulette may have special rules in play. These are known as French roulette rules, and involve the green zero pocket. The first is La Partage, which has the dealer give back half of all even-money bets (as in bets that pay 1:1) in case the ball lands in the zero. This softens the house edge of the game to a neat 1.35%! The second is En Prison. Here any even-money bets are “imprisoned” on the table if the ball lands on the zero. Come the next spin one will then either win the bet back or lose it to the banker, depending on its result.
Take a Spin on Your Favourite Roulette Layout!
Take a Spin on Your Favourite Roulette Layout!
Is European the best roulette layout, or is American superior? That depends on one’s taste, although the maths don’t lie here - European roulette has the best house edge at 2.7% compared to the American house edge of 5.26%. That said American roulette does have a unique flair that makes one think of big Las Vegas tables, while European roulette brings a touch of Monte Carlo class that is just as difficult to resist, so go for whichever version tickles your fancy!
That said, as fun as roulette is, one should always play it responsibly. After all this is a game of chance, and losing spins will quickly drain your wallet. Always set a bankroll for playing roulette, and stick to it. Remember that there are no such things as hot or cold streaks, so don’t chase your losses. Play to have fun, not make a profit. With all of this in mind you’ll be all set to enjoy this most classic of casino games with flair and style.
