European vs. American Roulette: Which Offers Better Odds?
European roulette gives you the better odds. Its wheel has one zero instead of two, so the house edge sits at 2.7 percent against the 5.26 percent on an American wheel.
Wheel Setup and Real Results
Count the pockets yourself. European wheels carry 37 pockets: numbers 1 through 36 plus a single zero. American wheels add a second zero and reach 38 pockets.
| Element | European | American |
|---|---|---|
| Pockets | 37 | 38 |
| House edge | 2.7% | 5.26% |
| Straight-up win chance | 1 in 37 | 1 in 38 |
Place a $10 straight-up bet on number 17. On a European wheel you win $350 plus your stake back roughly once every 37 spins. On an American wheel the same bet wins once every 38 spins on average, so you lose an extra $10 per 38 spins over time.
- Stick to European tables when both versions sit side by side.
- Check the layout before you sit; the extra zero is usually printed in green twice.
- Track your session: after 50 spins at $5 each, the extra zero costs you about $6.50 more on average.
Many online casinos label the wheel type in the game lobby. Choose the single-zero version every time you see both options listed.