Roulette is one of the most iconic and visually thrilling games available on any casino floor.
Knowing which wheel to choose is the single most important decision a roulette player will ever make.
Understanding the Wheel Layouts
The European roulette wheel features 37 slots in total: numbers 1 through 36, plus a single green zero.
Conversely, the American layout adds an extra green slot—the double zero—significantly altering the math of the game.
- The payouts for hitting a single number are exactly the same (35 to 1) on both wheels
- Because the payouts are identical but the American wheel has an extra number, your odds of winning decrease
- You are taking on more risk for the exact same potential reward when playing the American version
Why French Roulette is Even Better
In addition to the better wheel layout, some European (often called French) tables offer incredibly favorable special rules.
These rules effectively cut the house edge in half again, dropping it to a phenomenally low 1.35% on outside bets.
| Game Type | Special Rules? | House Edge (Even-Money Bets) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard European | No | 2.70% |
| French (La Partage) | Yes (Half-back on Zero) | 1.35% |
There is absolutely no strategic reason to ever play the double-zero variation if a single-zero table is available.
