Pocket Roulette Wheel
Table Of Contents
- American Roulette and European roulette are two similar yet very different games
- The Roulette table layout changes in each version of the game
- You should always choose the single zero roulette over the double zero wheels
During the spin, the ball will eventually land in one of the roulette wheel’s pockets. Your wins will be calculated instantly and paid out. You can play again as the game resets and choose to rebet with the same stakes of the previous spin or bet with new stakes altogether. Any roulette wheel may have one or more slightly-loose frets (separators) between the ball pockets as a result of mishandling during wheel maintenance, or if the wheel has been tampered with deliberately. No matter what may have been the cause for this pocket separator issue, a cunning player could take advantage of it.
No. More. Confusion. Do you want to know what is the real difference between American and European Roulette?
That's what you find on this guide.
Roulette is one of the most played Casino games, and such popularity comes (also) from the invention of many variants of the game.
The most popular versions are the American and European Roulette.
On this article, you find clear and easy to understand answers to questions like:
- What do the American and European wheel have in common?
- What is the difference between American and European Roulette?
- What Roulette strategy is best on American vs European Roulette?
The Main Difference Between American and European Roulette
A quick look at the Roulette table layouts and at each Roulette wheel should be enough for you to notice the most important difference between American and European Roulette.
It doesn't matter whether you play Roulette online or you are standing next to a Roulette table at a brick-and-mortar Casino.
The difference is subtle yet clear. And the same difference affects both the design of the wheel and the house edge.
The Difference in Roulette Wheels
The American wheel has 38 pockets for the Roulette ball to rest in. Those are black and red numbers, from 1 to 36. And two extra green pockets for a single 0 (0) and a double 0 (00).
If you glimpse at European Roulette (often referred to as French Roulette), you will also see 36 numbered pockets that are either red or black. But only one green pocket for zero.
Also, you may notice that the numbers on the wheels are not in the exact same order. But that's a less relevant difference between European and American Roulette.
The main difference between an American and European Roulette wheel is the number of green pockets / zeroes. The European roulette wheel features one green pocket (0) whereas the American Roulette wheel (more popular in Las Vegas) features two of them: 0, 00.
The Difference Is in the House Edge
Although this subtle difference may seem irrelevant, it is one that can have an enormous impact on the outcome of your games.
American Roulette vs. European Roulette: the House Edge
The odds of winning when betting on particular numbers at American Roulette are lower. 1 in 38 compared to 1 in 37 when playing European Roulette.
In some games, when the odds are lower, the payouts are bigger. And that's logical, right?
But it's not the case with American Roulette.
Even with lower odds, for betting on the winning number you get paid the same - 35 to 1. Just like in European Roulette.
Having that extra green pocket was not the American Roulette designer's whim. It was a strategic move for the house to have a higher edge.
All in all, when you play American Roulette, the House Edge is 5.26%. And that's a lot. In the case of European Roulette, the House Edge is only 2.7%.
That's a huge difference, considering you are playing the same game, with exactly the same payouts, and the same level of excitement.
Which Variant of Roulette is Better?
Better odds, lower house edge… Do I need to spell it out?
The difference between American and European Roulette may be subtle. But the odds make European Roulette a better option.
Don't get me wrong.
I am not saying you should never ever play American Roulette. If you put a good Roulette strategy in place, you can lower the House Edge significantly no matter which variant you play.
Plus, playing American or European Roulette for free doesn't make that much of a difference to your bankroll, does it?
And finally, there are more variants of European Roulette to try online. Don't limit yourself to only American or only European Roulette.
There are so many Roulette variants for you to choose from, that you can alternate between the games where you get better chances (European Roulette) and the ones you want to play to try something new.
For example, you can try the Double Ball Roulette (free, on this page) where you play with two balls at the same time. And you know how they say, 'double the action, double the fun!'
Where to Play American and European Roulette
No matter which version of Roulette you choose, you need a place to play it. And that should be a good place, too. Especially, if you want to play Roulette for real money at an online Casino.
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| Roulette Game | Demo | Play |
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| Single-Zero Roulette | Demo | Play Game |
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| Roulette | Demo | Play Game |
| Astro Roulette | Demo | Play Game |
| French Roulette | Demo | Play Game |
| American Roulette | Demo | Play Game |
| Chinese Roulette | Demo | Play Game |
| Multi-Wheel Roulette | Demo | Play Game |
| Common Draw Roulette | Demo | Play Game |
| Zoom Roulette | Demo | Play Game |
| VIP European Roulette | Demo | Play Game |
| American Roulette | Demo | Play Game |
| European Roulette | Demo | Play Game |
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A selection like that one is great to discover the game, understand the differences between European Roulette and American Roulette, and enjoy even the craziest single-number bets.
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The promotion presented on this page was available at the time of writing. With some Casino promotions changing on daily basis, we suggest you to check on the site if it still available. Also, please do not forget to read the terms and conditions in full before you accept a bonus.The Basic Rules of Roulette
Roulette is a game played with a large wheel that contains either 37 or 38 pockets. These stops are numbered from 0 to 36, while the American roulette wheel also contains a 00 pocket. All the pockets are all colored; the zeroes are green, while the other spots are evenly divided between 18 red and 18 black pockets.
The dealer spins a ball on the outer rim of the wheel, after which it will eventually fall into one of the numbered spaces. The object for the player is to guess what number the ball will land in.
Before each spin, players have the opportunity to place bets around the roulette table. Players can bet on individual numbers or virtually any combination of numbers.
Once the ball falls into a pocket and rests there, the dealer will call out the winning number as well as the color of the pocket it landed in. Markers are typically used to protect winning bets, after which all losing bets are swept off the table. The dealer will pay all winning bets and, once all of the payouts are completed, players may place bets for the next spin.
Playing Roulette
Pocket Roulette Wheel
The way you choose to play roulette will depend on a number of factors, not least your bankroll and your betting strategy. Put simply, if you don’t have much to play with, it isn’t wise to wager a large proportion of your bankroll at a time: if you think it’s impossible for a roulette wheel to land on red five times in a row, you’ve never played roulette. In other words, don’t count on certain bets coming in ‘sooner rather than later’. This might sound obvious, but remember that the outcome of any particular spin of the wheel is not affected by anything that’s gone before.
Placing Roulette Bets
If you’re playing roulette in a casino, there are all kinds of betting areas where you can place your chips. The only thing limiting you is your number of chips and the available space; if there are a lot of players involved, it may be a struggle to physically find the space to place your chips. You’re spared all that when you’re playing at an online casino of course, be it virtual roulette or a live dealer game.
Calculating Your Odds
There are basically two types of bets you can place in roulette: inside and outside. Outside bets have a greater chance of success because your odds are close to 50/50, whereas inside bets have greater odds but greater risk too. If you ever hear stories of individuals selling all their possessions, travelling to Vegas and betting everything on a spin of the roulette wheel, you can bet they’re putting it all on black or red. They could alternatively bet on Evens/Odds or 1 to 18/19 to 36 (also known as High or Low), which would give the same odds as red or black, but is perceived as being less romantic. ‘All on black’ just sounds more emphatic.
Other bets you could place are 1st Dozen, 2nd Dozen or 3rd Dozen, which offer odds of 2 to 1, the same as you’ll be offered for 1st Column, 2nd Column, 3rd Column. Six Line is any six numbers from two rows, Corner is any four numbers in a block and Street is any three numbers horizontal. Basket is 0, 1, 2 or 0, 2, 3 and Split is any two numbers vertical or horizontal, odds for which will come in at 17 to 1. That just leaves Straight Up, where you wager on a single number but are rewarded with the most handsome odds of all – 35 to 1.
The House Edge
The casino has to take its cut, because nothing in life comes for free, and that cut comes when the ball lands on zero. When that happens, the casino makes its cut. When you’re playing American roulette, there are two zeroes to contend with (that’s why it’s also sometimes called double zero roulette) and thus the house edge is increased. The zero and double zero sit opposite one another on the American roulette wheel and are usually marked in green.
Fun fact: when you’re playing European roulette on the other hand, sometimes also referred to as French roulette, you don’t automatically lose when the ball lands on zero: instead the ball is classified as being “in prison” and your wager remains fixed in place for another spin. If this one fails to win, the chips go to the casino. The casino might profit when the ball lands on zero or double zero, but players are still allowed to bet on this position.
Choosing Your Strategy
Pocket Roulette Wheel Vintage
If you’re averse to risk, or to high degrees of risk at least, it stands to reason you’ll want to avoid inside bets as these have the lowest chance of success. Although you don’t need to memorise the odds and bet names to be successful at roulette, it’s good to have a rough idea of what your approximate return will be.
Wheel Of Names
Don’t simply place scattershot bets and hope for the best: master your strategy and then make every spin count. Get your strategy right and those rewards can be substantial.