Roulette is universally recognized as one of the most iconic and popular games in casino history.

European and American roulette may look nearly identical to the untrained eye, but the math differs wildly.

The Extra Green Zero

A European roulette wheel features 37 pockets in total: the numbers 1 through 36, plus a single zero (0).

This single extra pocket on the American wheel drastically alters the mathematical probabilities of the game.

• The extra number changes all probability calculations
• The betting layout is slightly larger on the American table
• European tables often use a different chip system

Why the House Edge Matters

With a house edge of 2.70%, European roulette is relatively fair compared to many other casino games.

This means you will lose money almost twice as fast playing the American version over the long term.

Lowering the Edge Even Further

The "La Partage" rule dictates that if the ball lands on zero, you only lose half of your even-money bet.

If these special rules are in effect, the house edge on even-money bets drops to an incredible 1.35%.

Playing American roulette is a mathematical mistake that unnecessarily drains your bankroll twice as fast.