American vs European Roulette: Which is better?

American vs European Roulette: Which is better?

Roulette is a game of chance originating in France that has been enjoyed worldwide for centuries. It’s a simple enough game with two main variations: American and European. Both versions look similar at first glance as they feature the spinning wheel on a betting table with numbered pockets. The game’s objective is to predict where a ball will land on a spinning wheel.

However, both versions hold key differences that significantly impact gameplay. These differences will affect the potential payouts and odds of winning and allow the American and European versions to offer unique experiences to players. Whether you’re a pro at the game or just giving it a go, by looking at the advantages and disadvantages of either version, you can decide which style of gameplay best suits your personal gaming preferences.

The two main variations of roulette

The rise in popularity of online casino gaming has led to a positive shake-up in the variety of roulette games available to interested players. You’ve got some classic all-rounders like Super Stakes and casino-specific specialties like 888 Live Roulette, widening the roulette gaming opportunities available. However, the main two would be American and European, and both come with unique offerings to interested players.

As the game originated in France, the European version is the original version. It features 36 numbered pockets and a single green 0 pocket, giving 37 possible outcomes. The table consists of numbers arranged in three columns of 12 with various betting options.

American Roulette, on the other hand, has a total of 38 possible outcomes. This is because it offers two green pockets (0 and 00). Because of this extra pocket, American Roulette can provide players with different odds than its European counterpart.

Odds and Popularity

American and European Roulette are two of the most popular versions of roulette, and their main difference relates to the odds involved. Just as we provide resources on how to play bridge, detailed guide to roulette and its odds abound online. 

It’s a seemingly tiny detail, but due to American Roulette having the extra ’00’ green pocket, the odds of winning are slightly lower, and the house has a greater advantage of 5.3% than the European version, where it only has 2.7%.

The wheels consist of differing number placements which affect the odds of winning. European is balanced and allows for a better chance of winning, whereas American Roulette is less balanced due to the double 0 and adjacent numbers affecting symmetry. Therefore, winning on individual numbers in American Roulette is harder than in European.

Regardless of the opportunities to choose between different betting options to change your odds, roulette is ultimately a game of chance similar to many other popular casino games, like bingo.

Betting Patterns

You can enjoy both European and American versions of roulette either in land-based casinos or online casinos from the comfort of your own home. However, regardless of how you choose to play, the betting patterns will stay the same.

European Roulette arranges its numbered pockets in three columns of 12 to allow for various types of bets, like single numbers, grouped numbers, color focussed bets, and odds vs. evens. Both versions provide a range of betting patterns players can use to adapt to their strategies. This is much more complex than other casino-style games like bingo, for example, with less complicated betting patterns and significantly limited options.

Advantages and Disadvantages of European Roulette

European Roulette is the original version of France in the 17th century. It’s been played for centuries and comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. One of the main advantages of the European version is the lower house edge. Due to only having one 0 pocket, you’ll find your odds of winning a bit higher. 

The consistency of the European version is also a notable advantage. While the game is ultimately down to chance, the fact that there is just the solo ‘0’ pocket makes the odds of winning slightly more predictable. 

European Roulette also comes with some disadvantages. For example, while the lower house edge means a greater chance of winning, this leads to potential payouts being lower as a result. Furthermore, the simplicity of playing the European version is only for some, and more seasoned players might find it less appealing to get involved with. 

Advantages and Disadvantages of American Roulette

The main advantage of playing American Roulette is that it provides greater betting options with potentially higher payouts. This can elevate player engagement and overall experience.

In addition, the accessibility of the game helps build its popularity among players worldwide. Because it’s one of the more popular versions of roulette, you can usually find somewhere to easily play the game in many land-based and online casinos that will provide a range of bets to suit all budgets.

Like its European counterpart, American Roulette also has some potential disadvantages. For example, while the potential payouts can be higher, the higher house edge lowers your chances of winning. Another disadvantage would be the lack of consistency. Due to American Roulette consisting of two zero pockets, there’s a higher probability of the ball landing in a zero pocket. This can lead to less predictable outcomes in gameplay.

Which Version to Play?

If you lean more towards high-risk, high-reward games, you might be better suited to giving American Roulette a go. In addition, this might also be the better choice if you enjoy getting involved with games that involve more complex betting patterns and require the player to be ready for a bit more unpredictability in gameplay.

If your preferences lie more towards games that can provide more consistency and predictability, European Roulette might be more of a game for you. You’ll experience more straightforward gameplay while being met with greater odds of winning.

While both games provide their own set of benefits, it comes down to what option suits you best. You can stick to one or the other or give both a go. However, the most important factor to consider in making your ultimate decision would be to have fun and enjoy playing whatever version you choose.

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