At first glance, American, European, and French roulette look almost identical. Same wheel. Same bets. Same spinning ball. To casual players, the differences seem cosmetic.
Yet in practice, American roulette is consistently avoided by experienced players, while French and European variants dominate casinos across Europe and most serious online platforms.
This isn’t about tradition or aesthetics. It’s about math, rules, and how quietly small changes shift the odds.
1. The Double Zero Is the Real Problem
The biggest reason American roulette is less popular is simple:
It has an extra zero.
- European roulette: numbers 0–36 (37 pockets)
- French roulette: numbers 0–36 (37 pockets)
- American roulette: numbers 0–36 + 00 (38 pockets)
That extra pocket doesn’t look like much—but it has a significant effect.
House edge comparison
- European roulette: 2.70%
- French roulette (with La Partage): 1.35%
- American roulette: 5.26%
American roulette nearly doubles the house edge compared to European roulette and is almost four times worse than French roulette with La Partage.
That alone explains most of the popularity gap.
2. Payouts Don’t Increase to Compensate
This is where many players assume things are “balanced.”
They aren’t.
In American roulette:
- Straight-up bets still pay 35:1
- Red/black still pays 1:1
- Dozens still pay 2:1
Despite having worse odds, the payouts stay exactly the same as European roulette.
That means:
- You’re risking more
- For identical potential rewards
- With no upside
From a value perspective, American roulette is simply inferior.
3. French Roulette Adds Player-Friendly Rules
French roulette doesn’t just remove the double zero—it adds rules that reduce losses even further.
La Partage
When the ball lands on zero:
- You get half your even-money bet back
- Applies to red/black, odd/even, high/low
En Prison
Instead of losing immediately:
- Your even-money bet is “imprisoned”
- You get it back if the next spin wins
These rules:
- Cut the house edge on even-money bets to 1.35%
- Reward patient, structured play
- Make bankroll last longer
American roulette offers no equivalent protection.
4. American Roulette Feels Worse in Long Sessions
Even players who don’t know the math often feel the difference.
Why?
- Losses come faster
- Winning streaks feel shorter
- Bankroll drains more noticeably
- Variance feels harsher
This isn’t psychological—it’s statistical.
Over long sessions:
- The double zero shows up regularly
- Even-money bets lose more often
- Recovery becomes harder
Players naturally migrate toward games that feel less punishing.
5. European Casinos Don’t Need the Extra Edge
American roulette originated in the US, where casinos historically favored:
- Faster games
- Higher margins
- Less player education
In Europe:
- Casino culture developed differently
- Players expect lower house edges
- Regulation favored fairness and transparency
As a result:
- European roulette became the default
- French roulette became the premium option
- American roulette remained a niche variant
Online casinos followed the same logic.
6. Online Players Are More Informed Than Ever
Today’s players:
- Compare RTPs
- Read guides
- Understand house edge
- Choose games intentionally
Once players learn:
“American roulette has almost double the house edge”
There’s little incentive to play it—especially when better alternatives are one click away.
That’s why most online casinos:
- Promote European roulette by default
- Offer French roulette as a premium option
- Hide American roulette deeper in the lobby
7. American Roulette Has No Strategic Advantage
Some players believe American roulette offers:
- “More excitement”
- “More volatility”
- “Bigger wins”
In reality:
- Volatility is higher because odds are worse
- Wins aren’t larger
- Risk isn’t rewarded
There is no strategic scenario where American roulette becomes the better choice.
8. Why It Still Exists at All
So why hasn’t American roulette disappeared entirely?
Because:
- It’s familiar to US-based players
- Some casinos still rely on uninformed traffic
- Physical wheels already exist in land casinos
- Casual players don’t notice the difference immediately
But popularity doesn’t equal quality—and over time, informed players move on.
Final Thoughts
American roulette isn’t unpopular because it’s “bad.” It’s unpopular because better versions exist.
When given a choice:
- Players prefer lower house edge
- Longer sessions
- Slower bankroll erosion
- Fairer rules
That’s why European roulette dominates globally, French roulette is considered the gold standard, and American roulette remains a secondary option—played mostly by those who don’t yet know the difference. If you want to learn more about french roulette, you can read more about it here.
And in roulette, math always wins in the end.