European vs. American roulette — one pocket changes everything
The single biggest decision in roulette isn't your bet — it's which wheel you sit down at. European Roulette has one green "0" pocket alongside 36 numbers, giving the house a 2.70% edge on every bet. American Roulette adds a second green pocket, "00", which nearly doubles the house edge to 5.26%. French Roulette uses the same single-zero wheel as the European version but often adds the "La Partage" or "En Prison" rule, which refunds half your stake (or lets it ride) when the ball lands on zero for even-money bets — bringing the effective house edge on those specific bets down to around 1.35%, among the best odds on the casino floor.
None of this depends on which site you're playing at — it's determined entirely by the wheel layout and ruleset, so the fastest way to improve your odds is simply picking European or French over American whenever you have the choice.
| Variant | Zero pockets | House edge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| European | Single "0" | 2.70% | The standard, widely-available baseline |
| Americano | "0" and "00" | 5.26% | Avoid when a European table is available |
| French (La Partage) | Single "0" | ~1.35% on even-money bets | Best odds, less commonly offered |
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Perguntas frequentes
Why is American roulette worse for players than European?
American wheels have both a "0" and a "00" pocket, so there are 38 possible outcomes instead of 37. That extra pocket doesn't pay out on any standard bet, which nearly doubles the house edge from 2.70% to 5.26%.
What is the "La Partage" rule?
On a French roulette table with La Partage, if the ball lands on zero, even-money bets (red/black, odd/even, high/low) get half the stake back instead of losing everything. It roughly halves the house edge on those bets.
What's the difference between inside and outside bets?
Inside bets (straight up, split, street, corner) are placed on or between specific numbers and pay higher odds for lower probability. Outside bets (red/black, odd/even, dozens, columns) cover more numbers at once and pay lower odds with a better chance of winning.
Is live dealer roulette common on crypto sites?
Yes — live dealer roulette streamed from licensed studios is widely available and can typically be funded with a Bitcoin deposit at the cashier, same as live blackjack.