There are three primary forms of roulette. They are French roulette, American roulette and European. The latter two are the most popular. European roulette is considered to be more player-friendly than the American version but less so than the French game because of certain rules that significantly decreases the house’s odds.  European roulette is played all around the globe, not just in Europe. It was dubbed European roulette because early on in the evolution of the game, and even today, the wheel contained a single zero. Today, that is the primary difference between European and American roulette. Besides that, the rules are largely the same, the layout is strikingly similar and the game is played in much the same way.

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Though at first glance the fact that the European wheel includes a single zero and the American wheel a single and double zero, doesn’t really seem to be a big difference, it in fact is. It drastically affects the quality of the game for the player. The house edge in the American version of the game is nearly double that of its European counterpart. It is widely recommended that when individuals have a choice, they not pick American roulette but European.

The wheel most utilized by those in the United States (American wheel), has 38 numbers. They include 0, 00 and 1-36. The European wheel has 37 numbers, 0-36. Each the numbers are painted either black or red, in an alternate pattern. Zeros are painted green. Half of the numbers are odd and the other, even.

As stated above, American roulette has the highest house advantage of all three versions of the game. It is double that of European roulette and even greater than that when compared to French roulette due to the La Partage rule. The house edge in an American roulette game is 5.26%. In European roulette it is 2.7%. This huge differential means a great deal to a player’s pockets. Instead of them losing $5.26 for every $100 dollar they spend at the roulette table, they lose only $2.70 if they chose to play the European version. These figures are admittedly calculated odds. A person who spends $100 at a roulette table is not guaranteed to lose the aforementioned amount of money. They could lose much more, less, or actually win money.

The presence of a double 00 is not the only difference between European and American roulette. The former’s option for players to use the En Prison rule further lowers the house advantage and greatly benefits the player.  When a person utilizes the En Prison rule, if they make an even-money bet and the roulette ball lands on the number 0, they get to request that half of their wager be returned to them. Their other option is for the bet to be imprisoned. In cases of the latter, if the next time the wheel is spun and the player wins, they are returned their initial wager by the house. He or she won’t win any more money but they do get their bet back. This simple rule cuts the house advantage to 1.35%, a great deal lower than the American version of the game.

European roulette is available at many online casinos. This gives players the option of playing either version. Some casinos will also offer French roulette. When given a choice between the two predominate versions of the game, American and European roulette, it is generally (if not always) recommended that individuals choose the latter. The lower house edge and the ability to utilize the En Prison rule are the primary reasons. The house edge in a European roulette game is 2.7%. The En Prison rule decreases it even further, to a more player friendly 1.35%. This is significantly smaller than normal European roulette play and much less than the 5.6% offered in American roulette.

European roulette is played mostly in land based casinos throughout Europe, though there are some American casinos which offer it. In Las Vegas, the following casinos offer single 0 roulette, CaesarsPalace, Monte Carlo, Stratosphere, Las Vegas Hilton Paris, Venetian and the NevadaPalace. However, they don’t give players the choice of using the En Prison rule. The Bellagio is the exception. They offer both single 0 (European roulette) and give individuals the option of utilizing the En Prison rule. As stated above, the internet makes it possible for almost anyone to play the European version. This gives players the opportunity to play the variation that gives them the best chance of winning or which at least minimizes the house’s edge.