The first thing you will notice when entering in a casino and checking the roulette tables, is that there is a big difference between the European and the American style. The biggest and the most visible difference and also the one which affect players the most, is the zeros.
American or Double Zero Roulette Table
The American wheel presents both a “00″ and a “0″ space and this means that the American style roulette wheel has 37 numbers (0 – 36). On the other hand, the European wheel, provides only a “0″ space, meaning it has 37 numbers (0 – 36). This big difference determine whether the house edge will be in the player’s or the house’s favor. Maybe you would think that adding a slot would not make such a huge difference, but it actually does.
The fundamental mathematical odds of one specific number in the European Roulette game are 37 to 1, while in the American type of roulette wheel, the mathematical odds are 38 to 1. Without considering which type of roulette you prefer to play, this game’s payout for a bet on a single number is always 35 to 1. Let’s try to understand how casinos profit from basic numerical odds: in the American roulette type of game, as we said, there is a chance of 1/38 that a gambler will actually win the 35 times payout, therefore 37/38 is the probability that the gambler will lose everything. Having said that, it is quite obvious to see how easily casinos gain a lot of money. In fact doing a simple calculation, you end up with 5.26% house edge, meaning that if a player makes a bet of $100, he is going to lose $5.26.
Since the European roulette offers one less pocket to bet on, the mathematical odds are better. In fact, players have a 1/37 opportunity to win the 35 times payout, therefore a 36/37 probability to lose and as a consequence you end up with 2.7% house edge, meaning that a player investing $100, is going to give up $2.70. Adding the “00” to the America roulette is without any doubt the easiest way to increase the casino profits and the house edge.
European or Single Zero Roulette Table
Be a smart player and bet only on the European roulette style wheel! There is really no good reason for the house edge to be almost double and for a player to increase so much his chances to lose. But, if you are betting only for fun, it is not really important what the casino profit or house edge is. Always remember that, at the end, gambling is about excitement and a great way to enjoy your free time. Before any deposit, lean which is the best online bonus and then use it to win!