American vs. European Roulette: The House Edge Difference
Last reviewed: June 2026
The only meaningful difference between American and European roulette is a single extra zero pocket. That one pocket nearly doubles the house edge — from 2.70% to 5.26% — and costs you roughly twice as much per dollar wagered.
Everything else about the two games is identical: same felt layout, same bet types, same payouts, same spin-and-wait experience. The wheel is the variable that matters.
The Wheels Compared
| Variant | Zeros | Total Pockets | House Edge | Cost per $1,000 wagered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European (single-zero) | 1 (0) | 37 | 2.70% | ~$27 |
| American (double-zero) | 2 (0, 00) | 38 | 5.26% | ~$53 |
| Triple-zero | 3 (0, 00, 000) | 39 | 7.69% | ~$77 |
Same bets, same payouts — but the American wheel's extra 00 pocket nearly doubles the house edge on every bet. Where you place the chip changes the swings, not the edge.
| Bet | Numbers | Pays | European edge | American edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight upa single number | 1 | 35:1 | ||
| Split2 numbers | 2 | 17:1 | ||
| Street3 numbers | 3 | 11:1 | ||
| Corner4 numbers | 4 | 8:1 | ||
| Six line6 numbers | 6 | 5:1 | ||
| Column / Dozen12 numbers | 12 | 2:1 | ||
| Even-moneyred/black · odd/even · 1–18/19–36 | 18 | 1:1 | ||
| Top line ⚠️0-00-1-2-3 · American only | 5 | 6:1 | — |
The cost column is the clearest way to internalize this. Every $1,000 you run through an American wheel costs you about $26 more than the same $1,000 on a European wheel — not because you made different bets, but because you chose a different wheel.
Why the Second Zero Matters So Much
The math is straightforward. In roulette, every bet pays as if the zeros do not exist. A straight-up bet on a single number pays 35:1 regardless of which wheel you are on.
On a European wheel (37 pockets):
- True probability of hitting your number: 1 in 37
- Payout if you win: 35:1 (you receive your $1 stake plus $35 profit = $36 returned)
- On $37 wagered across all 37 numbers, the casino returns $36 — keeping $1
- House edge: 1 ÷ 37 = 2.70%
On an American wheel (38 pockets):
- True probability of hitting your number: 1 in 38
- Payout if you win: still 35:1 — nothing changed on the felt
- On $38 wagered across all 38 numbers, the casino returns $36 — keeping $2
- House edge: 2 ÷ 38 = 5.26%
The payouts stayed the same. The number of losing outcomes increased by one. That gap — one extra losing pocket that never gets compensated in the payout — is the entire story.
This edge applies uniformly to every standard bet on the wheel. It does not matter whether you bet red/black, a column, a street, or a single number. On a European wheel every bet carries 2.70%; on an American wheel every bet carries 5.26%. The bet selection affects how often you win and how large the swings are — it does not change the house edge.
The one exception on the American wheel is the five-number bet covering 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. That bet carries its own edge of 7.89% — worse than everything else on the board. Avoid it. See roulette’s five-number worst bet for the full breakdown.
La Partage and En Prison
Some European wheels offer a rule that improves the math further on even-money bets (red/black, odd/even, high/low).
La Partage — French for “the sharing” — returns half your stake when the ball lands on zero. Instead of losing your full even-money bet to the zero, you get 50 cents back on every dollar. This cuts the house edge on even-money bets from 2.70% down to 1.35%.
En Prison works the same way mechanically but with a different delivery: instead of returning half your stake immediately, your bet is “imprisoned” on the layout for the next spin. If it wins, you recover the full amount. If it loses, the casino keeps it. The expected value is identical to La Partage — both reduce the edge on even-money bets to 1.35%.
Neither rule applies to American roulette. The double-zero wheel never offers La Partage or En Prison under standard rules.
At 1.35%, even-money bets on a La Partage wheel sit in the same range as the baccarat Banker bet (1.06%) and craps Pass Line (1.41%) — solid table-game territory. If you play primarily red/black or odd/even and a La Partage wheel is available, it is almost always your best roulette option.
Which Wheel to Choose
The practical guidance is simple: always choose European roulette (single-zero) over American roulette (double-zero) when both are available. There is no strategic argument for the American wheel. It does not offer better payouts, more interesting bets, or any compensating feature. It just costs more.
In practice:
- Online: European roulette is almost universally available. Look for “French Roulette” if you want La Partage specifically.
- Las Vegas: European wheels exist but may be in high-limit rooms or less prominent locations. Ask the floor staff before assuming the visible wheel is your only option.
- If only American roulette is available: Inside bets (straight-up numbers, splits, corners) are no worse than outside bets — the edge is 5.26% across the board. Your bet selection affects variance, not the edge. If La Partage or European roulette genuinely are not available and you want a lower edge, consider switching to a different game: baccarat Banker at 1.06% or blackjack with basic strategy at roughly 0.5%.
- Triple-zero: Walk away. At 7.69%, there is no circumstance in which triple-zero is the right choice if any alternative exists.
Common Misconceptions
“American roulette is more exciting.” The number of zeros does not change the variety or frequency of bets. Both wheels offer the same bet types, the same number of spins per hour, and the same range of experiences. The only thing that changes is how much each spin costs you in expected value.
“You can compensate for the double zero by betting differently.” No. Because the 5.26% edge is uniform across every standard bet on an American wheel, there is no bet combination that brings the effective edge down to European levels. You cannot bet your way out of a wheel with an extra zero.
“Single-zero wheels must have higher minimum bets.” Sometimes, but not always — especially online. The minimum bet on a European wheel is a table policy, not a rule of the game. Many online platforms offer European roulette at the same minimums as American.
“The zeros come up too rarely to matter.” Over a session, the zeros appear roughly 1 in 37 times (European) or 2 in 38 times (American). In a 100-spin session at $10 per spin, the expected difference in cost between the two wheels is about $26. That is real money, and it is purely a function of which wheel you chose — not the bets you made.
Sources & Further Reading
- Wizard of Odds — Roulette House Edge by Bet — independent verification of all edge figures cited here
- Roulette Variants: European, American, and Triple-Zero — LearnTheOdds overview of all three wheels
- House Edge by Game — how roulette compares across the full casino floor
- Lowest House Edge Bets — where roulette fits in the full ranking
Educational explanation only. No real-money gambling happens on LearnTheOdds.
Responsible gambling: Play for entertainment, not income — the math favors the house over time. Set limits, never chase losses, and if it stops being fun, take a break. 21+. Need help? Call 1-800-MY-RESET (1800myreset.org).