Aria Brown
Roulette may be the common name for our favorite game. But it's going to look slightly different depending on where you play. There's French roulette, European roulette, and the subject of this article – American roulette.
The main difference between the American version and its European counterparts is the added 00 pocket on the wheel, as opposed to the traditional single 0 slot.
Interestingly, the game actually originated in Paris with this very "two slots reserved for the bank" setup, that gives the house a higher edge. Only later did it evolve into a single zero pocket game, when a casino in Germany wanted to compete against other operators by giving players an edge. Overtime, other casinos adapted their wheels to keep pace, and so it's remained ever since.
When roulette made its way overseas, the game likewise evolved, taking on a few different forms - including an eagle pocket at one point - until the double zero format became standardized in the US.
Today, this tweaked version of roulette is most popular across North America and South America, although some casinos offer it in Europe as well. And of course, it is extremely prevalent online thanks to the international nature of operators.
Table of Contents
- Best American Roulette Online Casino 2024
- American Roulette Basics
- Try American Roulette for Free
- American Roulette Game Rules
- American Roulette vs European and French Roulette
- American Roulette Payouts and Winning Odds
- Inside and Outside Bets in American Roulette
- Special Combinations and Racetrack Bets in American Roulette
- American Roulette Tips & Tricks
- American Roulette FAQs
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American Roulette Basics
The basics of any roulette game are the same. You approach a table, place your bets, and the croupier spins the wheel. If you guessed right you win; guessed wrong, you lose.
There are, however, a few differences in terms of the wheel set up, the betting table, and the types of wagers you can place.
The most obvious difference in an American roulette wheel is that there are two green pockets facing each other - labelled 0 and 00 respectively. The other less obvious difference is that the numbers on the wheel are displayed in a different order than on a French roulette wheel, though both types of wheels follow a red/black alternating pocket color pattern.
In brick-and-mortar casinos, American roulette is generally characterized by a smaller gaming table as well. It is therefore not common for the croupier to place call bets for classic betting options, as participants can easily reach the betting table to place their own chips.
Bets can be placed on the racetrack, which is essentially a replication of the wheel, or on the betting table (aka layout), which better accommodates multi-number bets like black/red, even/odd, or columns.
The table layout and racetrack of American Roulette.MoreLess
The game itself is usually played standing up, so there are no clearly defined seats. Unless you're playing online, which gives you the advantage of sitting or even lying down.
Since there are fewer betting options than in French roulette, the American version is generally considered a faster paced game. The croupier calls out to players to place their bets. You place your chips. The wheel spins. Bets are quickly settled. And the next round begins.
Special features
- The wheel has two green pockets labelled 0 and 00 respectively, on opposite sides of the wheel.
- There's a higher house edge due to the double zero.
- The number sequences on the wheel are different than in French roulette.
- Tables are usually managed by a single croupier (in a land-based casino).
- Bets can be placed on the layout or the racetrack areas.
- Game play is quicker than in French roulette.
- Typical call bets aren't available.
Just to clarify, the call bets typical of French roulette are not possible on an American table for one practical reason. And that is that all the numbers are arranged differently on the wheel. There are still some call bets however in some versions, and the basket bet, which is unique to the American style of play.
American Roulette options at Lucky Dreams CasinoMoreLess
Try American Roulette for Free
If you're new to roulette, or simply the American version, we bring you the opportunity to demo it for free on this very page.
This is the perfect way to get a first impression and familiarize yourself with the differences from other variants. The American roulette simulation is ideal for learning the rules and special features that are common at the table, without registering or making a deposit, making it pressure free.
Of course, many online casinos offer free American roulette, which is also recommended, as each game will have a slightly different twist, even if it's simply in the small details of the graphical interface.
American Roulette - Demo
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American Roulette Game Rules
The rules of American roulette are fairly simple. At the beginning of each round the croupier calls out to the players to place their bets.
You'll then need to place your chips on the bets you'd like to place - either individual numbers or combinations. There are, remember, a total of 38 numbers, including 1 through 36, 0 and 00. You can make multiple bets per round.
American Roulette wheel and table.MoreLess
If there is a racetrack, the chips can also be placed there. Sometimes the racetrack only applies to number combinations, for example neighboring numbers. It is therefore particularly important to look at the characteristics of the casino you're visiting to understand how chip placement should be carried out.
The higher speed of play synonymous with American roulette comes from the fact that the croupier quickly throws the ball into the wheel and soon afterwards announces "no more bets". With these words the round is closed, and all that's left to do is wait and see which number the ball lands on. Once the ball settles in a slot, the number, color as well as other attributes, including high or low, are announced. And bets are settled.
The croupier then marks the winning number with a dolly to avoid confusion. This marker remains in place until all losing bets have been manually swept in, and payouts for all bets have been distributed. Only once the dolly is removed by the croupier can players collect their winnings off the table, and a new round can begin.
A couple other important rules to note are:
- If the ball lands on zero, all even money bets are automatically lost.
- There is usually no la partage or en prison rule in American roulette that allows players to get half their stake back.
Tip: For online versions of American roulette, hot and cold numbers are often listed at the top the screen. These show the previous results, but have no influence on which numbers will land next; so while interesting, likely not worth following.
Hot and cold numbers (highlighted by the green square frame) at Stake Casino.MoreLess
American Roulette vs European and French Roulette
American differs from French and European roulette in several ways.
In an actual casino, this can be in physical ways, as much as in the game mechanics. For example, French roulette is played on a bigger table, due to the larger range and complexity of betting options. With the bigger table, French roulette often employs two or more croupiers per table, while the American version can usually suffice with just one.
Players physically position themselves around the table differently too. An American roulette table has no seats, so players stand around the table. This means there is usually no limit to the number of participants in American roulette. The French counterpart, on the other hand, can often only be played while seated, which limits the number of participants accordingly.
People sitting down, playing French RouletteMoreLess
Other differences are in the game itself, and apply whether you're playing online or at a land-based casino.
In the American version there are 38 numbers on the wheel, with the addition of a double zero pocket. This is opposed to the French version which has 37 numbers, with only a single zero space.
Also, in American roulette you'll rarely find the la partage or en prison rules in place, which are used in French roulette to reduce your potential losses.
These two differences result in the American version's higher house edge. That is a jump from a 2.7% house edge in French roulette, up to 5.26% in the American variant.
There are also modifications in terms of the actual bets that can be placed, particularly in regards to the call bets so popular in French and European versions of the game, like voisins du zéro or orphelins.
Basket Bet
American roulette makes up for this a bit with the addition of the basket bet, which spans five numbers (0, 00, 1, 2, and 3). Sometimes the basket bet can be placed as an announced bet but usually players will place their own chips on either the main betting table or on the racetrack.
American Roulette Payouts and Winning Odds
With American roulette, like its French counterpart, the winning percentage depends on the betting option chosen. Bets on both individual numbers and combinations of up to 18 numbers can be placed. A larger span of numbers leads to a higher probability of winning, although the payouts are smaller than on single numbers, or combinations with fewer numbers.
Payout Chart – Overview of the odds and probabilities:
| Bet type | Probability of winning | Payout ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Straight up bet - single number | 2.63% | 35:1 |
| Split bet - two numbers | 5.26% | 17:1 |
| Street bet - three numbers | 7.89% | 11:1 |
| Corner bet - four numbers | 10.53% | 8:1 |
| Basket bet - five numbers | 13.16% | 6:1 |
| Line bet - six numbers | 15.79% | 5:1 |
| Column bet / dozens - 12 numbers | 31.58% | 2:1 |
| Even money bet - high/low, even/odd, red/black (18 numbers total) | 47.37% | 1:1 |
The basket bet is a special feature of the American variant. While it pays out at a rate of 6:1, keep in mind it also significantly increases the house edge from the usual 5.26% to a full 7.89%.
Inside and Outside Bets in American Roulette
As with all roulette variants, the American form differentiates between inside and outside bets. Inside bets are wagers which are placed on either individual numbers or on small groups of numbers, physically on the inside of the table. Outside bets cover larger number ranges, and are placed on the exterior edges of the table.
Outside bets
Outside bets offer a higher probability of winning, though with lower payouts. These are the main ones to consider.
Even money bets
Even money bets are simple to understand and easy to place, as follows:
- Red/ black - Here you bet on one of the two colors on the wheel, that is, either red or black.
- Even / odd - Even and odd numbers, like colors, are present in a balanced ratio in American roulette, so it's the same odds whichever you choose.
- High / low - This type of bet covers either the numbers 1 through 18, or 19 through 36, depending on your personal preference.
All three options are all simple chance bets, with identical odds and the same 1:1 payouts if you win. The probability of winning on any of these types of bets is 47.37%, slightly down from the French format because American roulette uses two zeros for its own house edge.
Dozen bets
Another outside bet in American roulette is the dozens bet, just like in its French and European counterparts. There are three separate fields for placing these bets as follows:
- 1st 12 - The first dozen includes the numbers 1 to 12.
- 2nd 12 - The second dozen starts at 13 and ends at 24.
- 3rd 12 - The third dozen covers all numbers from 25 through 36.
Column bets
As with dozens, there are three column bets. These outside bets are placed on the field next to the column beginning with 34, 35, or 36, depending on which combo you want. Each of these bets covers 12 numbers, and offers 2:1 payouts.
Inside bets
Inside bets cover between one and six numbers. The following inside bets are available in American roulette.
Straight up bet
If you want to bet on your lucky number, place your chips directly on it. Straight up bets have the highest payout percentage, but also the greatest risk of loss.
Split bet
Want a high payout ratio, but with better odds? The split bet allows you to bet on two numbers next to each other, or one below the other on the table. The chip is placed on the center line between the desired numbers.
Street bet
The street bet consists of three consecutive numbers, for example 7, 8, and 9. To make this bet, place your chip on the outer grid line at the bottom of either the high or low number in the threesome, in our case that would be 7 or 9.
Corner bet
This type of inside bet covers a square of four numbers, such as 4, 5, 7, and 8. The white cross in the middle where all the numbers meet is where you'd place your chip for this one.
Basket bet
Also known as the top line bet, this special wager is only available on American roulette as it includes the 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. To make it, place your chip on the intersection where the 0 and 1 meet.
Line bet or double street
Two rows of three numbers each can be covered with the line bet. For this type of bet, the chip should be put on the bottom line where two numbers touch; the remaining four are then included. For example, 10 and 13 would then include the numbers 10, 11, 12 as well as 13, 14, and 15.
Special Combinations and Racetrack Bets in American Roulette
The basket bet covered above is unique to American roulette. But here's a tip: it's often called a sucker bet, as it has both a low probability of winning and a low payout. Combined, these two negative features give the house a 7.89% edge, making it a betting option not particularly recommended.
There is also something called a snake bet possible here. Basically, straight bets are placed in an S-shape, similar to a snake in format, covering 1, 5, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 23, 27, 30, 32, and 34. The synonym "red snake" comes from the fact that all the numbers included are red. Due to the shape, there are no split bets, so 12 chips are required.
Snake BetMoreLess
The odds of winning a snake bet are no different than picking any other 12 numbers and placing individual chips on them. The benefit perhaps is that such a bet looks good on the table. Keep in mind that while you'll be up for those high 35:1 odds on each chip, you could lose a whole lot in one spin too.
As for those French combo bets. While uncommon, you'll sometimes find American roulette with some French rules mixed in. And of course, many American casinos will have classic French roulette with all its special bets too.
American Roulette Tips & Tricks
The number one tip for American roulette, like with any gambling game, is bankroll management. Actually, it's even more important here than in say its European roulette counterpart, as the American variant has a significantly higher house edge. This means there's a greater risk of losses, so you need to set clear limits in advance for how much you're going to play.
You'll have to consider how much money you have and your goals to determine how you bet. For example, there's a serious difference between making consistent single number bets vs. the snake bet option in how long it's going to take you to burn through your bankroll before a win.
For most budgets, instead of placing straight bets, it might make sense to limit yourself to combinations. This saves money because the risk of loss is lower, with more potentially winning numbers per round. True the payout is lower, but it's ultimately about reaching a balance if you want to try and win some money and have some fun along the way.
The basket bet, again as we've said, is not recommended as it is one of the worst odds bets around, with a particularly high house advantage, and not a high enough payout to make it worth the risk.
In addition, it's helpful to set a time limit. That's because American roulette requires a particularly high level of concentration due to its speed. That's why it's recommended that you limit your playing time and take breaks in between. Otherwise, mistakes can happen that can cost you dearly.
American Roulette FAQs
- Are the American roulette odds worse than the French version?
- How do I place American roulette call bets?
- Is there an en prison or la partage rule in American roulette?
- What function does the racetrack serve in American roulette?
- Is there a zero game in American roulette?
- What is the American roulette dolly?
- Can I play American roulette online?
- Where can I get an American roulette bonus?
1. Are the American roulette odds worse than the French version?
Yes. The house edge in American roulette is significantly higher than in French or European roulette. American roulette has a 5.26% house edge, while that's cut almost in half to 2.7% in the French and European varieties.
Similarly, when you look at the probabilities for each type of bet - i.e. a straight up single number bet, corners, or even high/low - the odds are still always going to be a little higher for the French version.
This is simply because the American roulette wheel has 38 numbers on it, while the French wheel has 37. This means that making a correct guess on the French wheel more likely.
2. How do I place American roulette call bets?
Call bets like voisins du zéro, le tiers du cylinder, orphelins, finals en plein, and finals à cheval refer to specific number sequences on the French roulette wheel and are usually not available in American Roulette.
On the rare occasion that call bets or other non-standard betting combinations be available in American roulette, you can place the chips on the layout or racetrack yourself.
3. Is there an en prison or la partage rule in American roulette?
While la partage and en prison are great for reducing house edge, neither of these options are available in traditional American versions of the game.
If the ball lands on a 0 or 00 in American roulette, you will simply lose your wager. That's it.
4. What function does the racetrack serve in American roulette?
In American roulette, the racetrack is used for placing bets on neighboring numbers, or on special bets that can cover up to five numbers in total.
The racetrack is oval in shape, replicating the numbers on the wheel. If French call bets are available, they'll also be printed on the inside. You place your chips on the racetrack yourself, within the limits set by the casino.
5. Is there a zero game in American roulette?
Although announced bets like the zero game are not common, many casinos offer American roulette with the French tableau. This in turn allows participants to bet on jeu zéro and voisins du zéro.
In fact, the zero game is more closely associated with European roulette variants. And placing the same numbers is also occasionally possible in American roulette.
6. What is the American roulette dolly?
The dolly is a small figure that the croupier places on the winning number. For example, if the ball lands on 13, the croupier will place the dolly on the number 13, so it's visible to all participants, where it will remain until all bets are settled.
This is slightly different from French roulette, in which the winning number is marked with a small rake that's used for sweeping in the losing chips.
7. Can I play American roulette online?
Yes, of course you can play American roulette online. There are dozens if not hundreds of options available, from pretty much all the providers out there who make online roulette games. You will have a lot of choice, incredible convenience, great selection in terms of table limits, and usually the option to play for free.
In addition, you will find many versions of live American roulette online, like those brought to you by Evolution Gaming as well as other providers. These give you the advantage of online convenience combined with real-time play, guided by an actual croupier to keep the action flowing.
8. Where can I get an American roulette bonus?
Most online casinos offer players an initial welcome offer as well as follow up bonuses along the way. In most cases, these bonuses can be used on any of the available games, with some limitations noted in the Terms & Conditions for specific titles.
American roulette is generally allowed for bonus play. However, it is important to check the bonus T&Cs for the playthrough contribution. While slots bets will usually contribute at a rate of 100%, roulette games are often lower, around 10% up to maybe 25% max, with the latter being an excellent find.
Our American Roulette Recommendation
Depending on where you live, American roulette may simply be roulette to you. But if you're an international player, and certainly one playing online, exposed to the full range roulette has to offer, then it's important to understand the distinction.
Overall, American roulette is very similar to French or European roulette in terms of the game basics. The main difference is the addition of a 00 pocket, which means the wheel now has 38, rather than 37 slots.
In addition, since the numbers are ordered differently on the American roulette wheel, call bets from the French version aren't relevant, making it a simpler, faster game.
While it's going to be the default game in many land-based casinos in the US, we'd say it's an excellent choice online for a slightly twist on the game. And since it can be played online for free, it's certainly worth checking out to see what you think.
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I am trained as a tax consultant, mostly because my father insisted that I get a normal job. Luckily, I listened to my heart and followed my passion in writing. Today I work as an online editor while traveling the world, which is why I'm rarely in my hometown, Toronto. By pure chance, I discovered the online casino review industry about ten years ago, and I have been testing and reviewing gambling sites since then. Personally, I prefer Blackjack and Roulette games. I think the skills and strategies involved make them much more interesting than slots.