Online roulette games can be found in any casino’s catalogue. They are available as software emulators, where the outcome of a bet is determined by a random number generator, as well as in the live dealer section. Live roulette casino are very popular amongst players. European and American roulette are the most in demand. French roulette is also considered a classic variant, but, in essence, it is a specific type of European roulette.
The key—though by no means the only — difference between European and American roulette is the number of ‘zero’ pockets on the wheel. In American roulette, there are two—0 and 00—whilst in European roulette, there is one (0). The extra ‘zero’ pocket alters the players’ odds and the casino’s edge, which influences the choice of game format. In this article, we’ll discuss the characteristics of each variant, the types of bets available, and explain why the presence of an extra ‘zero’ is so important. We’ll also examine whether the best roulette strategy can help you succeed.
American vs European roulette online: the main differences
The additional zero pocket changes the number of pockets on the wheel: in European roulette there are 37 — from 1 to 36 plus 0 — whilst in American roulette there are 38 — from 1 to 36 plus 0 plus 00. But the implications go beyond pure mathematics: the extra zero almost doubles the house edge, which reduces the player’s chances of winning.
In figures, it looks like this: the odds of picking a specific number in European roulette online are 1 in 37 (2.7 per cent), whilst in American roulette they are 1 in 38 (2.63 per cent). At the same time, the casino’s mathematical edge in American roulette increases from 2.70% to 5.26%. Put simply, in the long run, you can lose all your money twice as quickly in American roulette as in European roulette.
Therefore, from a mathematical point of view, it is more advantageous to place bets on European roulette.
What types of bets can you place in online roulette games
To make it easier to understand the available types of bets, let’s first briefly recap the general rules of the game:
- the wheel is marked with numbered sectors: 0 and 00 on a green background, and the rest on red and black;
- once the players have placed their bets, the croupier launches the wheel spin and then drops a ball onto it;
- the player’s aim is to predict which pocket the ball will land in; various types of bets can be placed, for example, on a specific pocket, colour, or whether the number is even or odd;
- winnings are paid out according to a special table – the lower the probability of the outcome, the higher the payout multiplier.
If the ball lands in the zero pocket, all the players’ bets are lost, and the casino makes the biggest profit. In French roulette, as well as in some variants of European roulette, the rules of La Partage and En Prison apply. Under La Partage, half of a player’s unsuccessful even-money bet (e.g. on a colour) is returned. Under En Prison, the bet is ‘frozen’ until the next round – if that round results in a win, the amount staked is returned to the player’s balance.
In a land-based casino, the betting table consists of a spinning wheel with pockets and a playing area where players place their bets by laying out their chips. In online roulette games, players place their bets on their devices — the size and type of bet are displayed on the screen. Unlike in a live roulette casino, in a software emulator (virtual slot machine), the role of the croupier is performed by the software, and the process of the ball landing in a particular sector is controlled by a random number generator.
Now let’s look at the bets available to players.
Common types of bets for American and European online roulette
Each bet pays out to the player at a specific odds ratio. Bets are divided into inside and outside bets.
Inside bets
Inside bets are placed by those who want to predict which specific sector or combination of numbers the ball will land on. These are the highest-paying bets, but the probability of them winning is not particularly high. Below are the main types of inside bets and the odds of such an outcome in European roulette (in American roulette, these odds will be lower):
- Straight up — a bet on a specific number (2.7% chance of winning);
- Split — on two adjacent sectors on the roulette layout (5.4%);
- Street — a bet on three consecutive numbers (8.1%);
- Corner — a bet on four neighbouring numbers forming a ‘square’ (10.8%);
- Six Line — a bet on a sequence of six numbers (16.2%).
Outside bets
The distinctive feature of these bets is that they cover a wider range of numbers. Consequently, the chances of winning are higher, but the payout odds are significantly lower. Popular types of outside bets:
- Column — on one of the three columns of 12 numbers on the roulette board (32.4%);
- Dozen — on one of the three sequences of 12 numbers, for example, from 1 to 12 (32.4%);
- Red/Black — on the colour of the sector, i.e. red or black (48.6%);
- Odd/Even — on whether the number is odd or even (48.6%);
- High/Low — on numbers in the range 19–36 or 1–18 (48.6%).
Payout table
The payout amounts for popular types of bets are shown in the table.
| Stake | Odds |
| Straight Up | 35:1 |
| Split | 17:1 |
| Street | 11:1 |
| Corner | 8:1 |
| Six Line | 5:1 |
| Column | 2:1 |
| Dozen | 2:1 |
| Red/Black | 1:1 |
| Odd/Even | 1:1 |
| High/Low | 1:1 |
Additional bets in online roulette games
In European roulette online bets can be placed on specific sections of the wheel:
- Voisins du Zero — on the pockets adjacent to zero;
- Tiers du Cylindre — this bet covers one third of the wheel;
- Orphelins — on the remaining sectors, which is why this type of bet is also known as ‘orphans’.
In the American variant, such complex bets are not available. Instead, there is the Basket Bet or Top Line — a bet on 5 numbers: 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. The payout is substantial, but experienced players refer to this bet as a ‘sucker bet’. The fact is that, mathematically speaking, this is the least favourable bet in the game: the house edge here increases from 5.26% to 7.89%.
How effective are various strategies and mathematical models in online roulette games?
Experienced players know that even the best roulette strategy cannot guarantee a win. This applies to all variants of roulette. Let’s examine this issue in more detail using the Martingale system as an example — arguably the most popular system today. The principle is simple: after every loss, the player doubles their stake until a win covers all losses and yields a profit equal to the initial stake.
Let’s use an example to explain how this works:
- We bet $20 on an even number. The ball landed in a red pocket — we lost $20.
- We now bet $40 — another loss. Our loss has increased to $60.
- We double the stake again and bet $80. Red comes up. We’ve now lost $140.
- We double the stake once more to $160. Finally, black comes up. Our winnings amount to $160, as the Odd/Even bet pays out at 1:1.
When we tally up the results, it turns out that we’ve recouped all our losses and won $20! Now we can bet the same amount or a different sum and carry on playing. Have we really found a foolproof best roulette strategy?
Let’s not get carried away just yet. In practice, it’s not quite that simple. The Martingale system only works flawlessly in theory: if a player has an infinite bankroll and the live roulette casino hasn’t set any limits on the maximum bet. Unfortunately, your bankroll isn’t limitless, and there’s a betting ‘ceiling’ in all online roulette games.
So, in the long run, the casino will always come out on top. After all, due to the presence of the zero pocket, the probability of landing on the desired colour in European roulette is 48.6 per cent, not 50 per cent. In American roulette, the odds are even lower – just 47.3 per cent. So the probability of a player losing is higher than that of winning. What’s more, it’s entirely possible to hit a long losing streak in roulette.
In the Martingale system, stakes rise rapidly, whilst the expected profit remains minimal. If, starting with a bet of $20, we lose 9 times in a row, our loss will amount to $20,460, and we will have to bet $10,240 next time. However, if the maximum bet in a particular game is capped at a lower amount, then, alas, it will no longer be possible to recoup our losses. It is worth bearing in mind that most online roulette games have stricter limits, so a significant loss will be realised much sooner. Although, more likely than not, we will simply run out of money before we can double our stake again.
Summary table of differences between American and European roulette online
For clarity, we have set out the differences between these two types of roulette in the table below.
| Specification | European roulette | American roulette |
| Number of zero pocket | 1 | 2 |
| Number of pockets | 37 (1-36, and 0) | 38 pockets (1-36, 0, and 00) |
| House Edge | 2,7% | 5,26% |
| Wheel Design (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 | 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 |
| Payouts | From 1:1 to 35:1 | From 1:1 to 35:1 |
| Odds | From 2.7 to 48.6% | From 2.63 to 47.3% |
It is worth noting that on the American wheel, the number opposite each number is usually the one that follows it in sequence, for example, 3 opposite 4.
Which type of online roulette games should you choose?
From a player’s perspective, it is more advantageous to place bets on European roulette online. In American roulette, the house edge is higher, so this option is riskier. However, most casinos offer both variants of the game. The fact is that many players enjoy the heightened risk, and in certain regions, players are already accustomed to betting tables with two zero pockets. After all, historically, American roulette has been the dominant form of the game in casinos across North and South America. Experienced operators understand that the wider the range of games on offer, the more customers they can attract.
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