| Feature | American Roulette | European Roulette |
| Total pockets | 38 (1 to 36, 0 and 00) | 37 (1 to 36 and 0) |
| Green pockets | 2 | 1 |
| Standard house edge | 5.26% | 2.70% |
| Standard RTP | 94.74% | 97.30% |
| Straight-up win chance | 1 in 38 (2.63%) | 1 in 37 (2.70%) |
| Even-money win chance | 18 in 38 (47.37%) | 18 in 37 (48.65%) |
| Straight-up payout | 35:1 | 35:1 |
| Five-number bet | Yes: pays 6:1, 7.89% house edge | Not available |
| En Prison or La Partage | Not part of standard rules; check each game | Offered on some games only; check each game |
All figures assume standard rules and payouts. Matching bets pay the same on both wheels; only the chance of winning and the house edge change.
The Key Differences Between American and European Roulette
The key differences between American and European roulette are the zero pockets and the house edge. A few optional rules and one extra bet also separate them. Each one is covered below, starting with the wheel itself.
Wheel Layout: 38 Pockets vs 37
Both wheels carry the numbers 1 to 36, split evenly between red and black. The only physical difference is the green section. American wheels have a 0 and a 00, while European wheels have a single 0.
The numbers don’t run in order around either wheel, and the two sequences are different. On an American wheel, the 0 and 00 sit directly opposite each other. Our guide shows how the numbers are arranged on a roulette wheel for both versions.
The betting layout shows the difference too. If the top of the table has a 00 box, you’re at an American table. For game-specific detail, see our American roulette guide and our page on single-zero European roulette.
House Edge: 5.26% vs 2.70%
The house edge is the share of each bet the casino expects to keep over many spins. RTP (return to player) is the other side of the same figure: the share paid back on average.
Roulette payouts are priced as if the wheel had only 36 pockets. A straight-up bet pays 35:1, which would be a fair price on a 36-number wheel. The green pockets are extra outcomes that the payout ignores, and that gap is the house edge.
To illustrate, picture a $1 straight-up bet on every one of the 37 European pockets. One bet wins and returns $36 (your $35 win plus your $1 stake). You’ve staked $37 and got $36 back, so you lose $1, or 1 in 37 (2.70%).
Now run the same test on an American wheel. You stake $38 across all 38 pockets, and the winning number still returns $36. The loss is $2, or 2 in 38 (5.26%).
That gives these standard figures:
- European roulette:70% house edge, 97.30% RTP
- American roulette:26% house edge, 94.74% RTP
In dollars, $100 in total bets costs about $2.70 on average at a European table. At an American table, it costs $5.26. Those are long-run averages. A single session can swing well above or below them.
En Prison and La Partage Rules
En Prison and La Partage are optional rules that soften the blow when the ball lands on zero. They apply only to even-money bets: red or black, odd or even, and 1 to 18 or 19 to 36.
- La Partage: if the ball lands on 0, you get half of your even-money bet back.
- En Prison: if the ball lands on 0, your bet stays on the table for the next spin. If it wins then, you get your stake back without winnings; if it loses, the bet is gone.
Either rule cuts the house edge on even-money bets to about 1.35%. Both are standard features of French roulette, which uses the same single-zero wheel. Some European roulette games include one of them, but many don’t, so check the rules screen before you play. Standard American roulette rules don’t include either one.
Players who want the full details of how a bet is held after a zero can read about the En Prison rule before picking a table.
Bets and Payouts: Where the Wheels Differ
Inside bets cover individual numbers or small groups on the main grid. Outside bets cover large groups, such as red, odd or a dozen. Both wheels offer the same inside and outside bets at the same payouts.
The one betting difference is the five-number bet, which exists only on American tables. It’s explained in full further down.
Some European games also add a racetrack for call bets, which cover a section of the wheel. Call bets are bundles of standard bets, so they carry the same 2.70% edge.
Roulette Odds and Winning Probabilities
Roulette odds come from one simple calculation: the pockets your bet covers, divided by the total pockets on the wheel. The table below applies that to every standard bet on both wheels.
| Bet | Numbers Covered | Standard Payout | European Win Probability | American Win Probability |
| Straight-up | 1 | 35:1 | 2.70% | 2.63% |
| Split | 2 | 17:1 | 5.41% | 5.26% |
| Street | 3 | 11:1 | 8.11% | 7.89% |
| Corner | 4 | 8:1 | 10.81% | 10.53% |
| Five-number (American only) | 5 (0, 00, 1, 2, 3) | 6:1 | Not available | 13.16% |
| Six line | 6 | 5:1 | 16.22% | 15.79% |
| Column | 12 | 2:1 | 32.43% | 31.58% |
| Dozen | 12 | 2:1 | 32.43% | 31.58% |
| Even-money bets (red/black, odd/even, 1 to 18/19 to 36) | 18 | 1:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% |
A higher win chance doesn’t make a bet better value. Outside bets win more often but pay less, and the payouts are set so the edge stays the same. Except for the five-number bet, every bet here carries a 2.70% edge on a European wheel. On an American wheel, it’s 5.26%.
Win probability and RTP also measure different things. An even-money bet wins 48.65% of spins on a European wheel, but its RTP is 97.30%. The first tells you how often you win; the second tells you how much comes back on average.
The American Five-Number Bet Explained
The American five-number bet, often called the top line bet, covers 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. It pays 6:1 and wins on 5 of the 38 pockets, a 13.16% chance.
The payout is lower than the math needs to match the other bets. Over 38 spins at $1, the bet wins five times and returns $7 each time, for $35 back. You’ve staked $38, so the loss is $3, or 3 in 38 (7.89%).
As a result, the five-number bet carries the highest house edge of any standard bet on either wheel. It only exists on American tables, because European wheels have no 00 to include.
Which Wheel Should You Play?
Choose European roulette whenever you have the option. It pays the same as American roulette on every matching bet, but each bet wins more often. Here is how the standard choices rank on house edge, from lowest to highest:
- Single-zero wheel with La Partage or En Prison: about 1.35%, on even-money bets only.
- European roulette: 2.70% on every standard bet.
- American roulette: 5.26% on every bet except the five-number bet.
- American five-number bet: 7.89%.
American roulette isn’t unfair or rigged. It simply costs more per spin on average. You might still play it because it’s the table in front of you. If so, skip the five-number bet, since it’s the most expensive bet on the layout.
No betting system changes these numbers. Our guide to roulette betting strategies explains what systems can and can’t do. To learn the layouts without risking money, try free roulette games first. Before you play for real money, set a spending limit and use the responsible gambling tools that casinos provide.
Where US Players Can Find Each Roulette Variant
American roulette is the most common wheel in US land-based casinos. Single-zero European tables do exist in some US casinos, but they’re harder to find. Some casinos have also introduced triple-zero wheels, which add a third green pocket and push the edge to about 7.69%.
Online, real-money casino game availability depends on where you live in the US. Where you can play, the game’s rules or help screen is the best place to confirm what you’re getting. Check three things before you bet:
- The number of green pockets on the wheel or betting layout.
- The payout table, especially straight-up and five-number payouts.
- Whether La Partage or En Prison applies to even-money bets.
For more on picking a table, our online roulette guide covers game types and where to play. You can also compare sites in our list of US online casinos.
Does Live Dealer Roulette Change the House Edge?
Live dealer roulette doesn’t change the house edge on its own. A live European wheel carries the same 2.70% edge as a digital one, and a live American wheel carries 5.26%. The edge depends on the wheel, the payouts and the rules, not on how the game is shown.
RNG roulette uses a random number generator, which is software that picks each result. Live dealer roulette streams a real wheel and a real dealer from a studio. You can compare the format at our live dealer casinos page.
Branded live variants are the exception to watch. Games that add random multipliers can pay less than 35:1 on standard straight-up wins to fund those multipliers. Their house edge can differ from a standard wheel, so read the game’s info panel before you play. Other variants change the spin itself, and Double Ball Roulette, which uses two balls, is one example.
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers cover the questions US players ask most about the two wheels.
Does 00 Pay More Than 0?
No. A straight-up bet on 00 pays 35:1, the same as any other number. The 00 pocket exists to add a second losing outcome for most bets, not to offer a bigger prize.
Is European Roulette Better Than American Roulette?
Yes, on standard odds. European roulette has a 2.70% house edge against 5.26% for American roulette. The payouts match, but every European bet wins slightly more often.
Can US Players Play European Roulette Online?
That depends on your state and the casino you use. Where you can play real-money casino games online, check the rules screen for a single-zero wheel.
Does Live Dealer Roulette Have Better Odds?
No. A live game uses the same wheel math as an RNG game with the same rules and payouts. Branded variants with multipliers can have a different edge, so check the game’s info panel.
Are En Prison and La Partage Available on American Roulette?
Standard American roulette rules don’t include either one. They’re more common on French roulette and appear on some European games. Always check the rules of the specific game.
What Is the Worst Bet on an American Roulette Table?
The five-number bet on 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. It pays 6:1 and carries a 7.89% house edge, the highest of any standard roulette bet.
