The Roulette wheel is one of those instantly recognisable features of casino games, standing out among other table games that use cards or dice as their central mechanic. But the specifics of the wheel’s design have changed over time, adapting to changes in gameplay and house rules.
While the most commonly seen Roulette wheel is the European one, the American wheel has plenty of fans of its own, whether that’s in online or live Roulette games. But what is it that makes the wheel so different in American Roulette compared to other classic variations of the game?
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The double zero pocket
The single biggest difference between the American Roulette wheel and the European designs is in the number of pockets featured. While European Roulette wheels feature 37 total pockets the American wheel has a total of 38.
This is thanks to the addition of an extra green pocket, the double zero (00). Where other wheels only have one green pocket, the American wheel doubles the number to increase the game’s house edge.
In European Roulette games, the house edge stands at 2.7%, but in a game of American Roulette, that jumps to 5.26%. The presence of the double zero dramatically impacts the chances of the ball falling in a green pocket, decreasing the chances of players receiving a payout on any given spin.
The number sequence
The order in which each of the numbers appears on the Roulette wheel varies depending on the format you’re playing. This makes the layout of an American Roulette wheel distinct from that of a European or French game.
Of course, the numbers still alternate between red and black around the rim of the wheel, but the exact sequence of numbers is different. For players who are used to the European layout, it might take a bit of adjustment, as numbers won’t appear in quite the same places that they’re used to.
While this difference in number sequence doesn’t have as large an impact as the addition of the double zero, it does affect the weighing of wagers based on neighbouring numbers or sections of the wider wheel.
Betting options
Most of the available wagers in a game of American Roulette are the same as they would be in a European game. Inside and outside bets still function the same way, but there are some additional options created by the presence of the double zero pocket.
You’ll only find the five-number bet – or top line bet – in American Roulette games. This wager is placed on the numbers double zero, zero, one, two and three, with a payout of 6:1. But it’s worth noting that the house edge on this particular wager is higher than average at 7.89%.
The higher overall house edge of a game of American Roulette is one of the biggest divisions between it and the other classical formats of European and French Roulette.
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The long and short of it is, the American Roulette wheel is distinct thanks to the addition of the double zero pocket. This has an impact on both the house edge and the betting options that players have to choose from.