American Roulette - Rules, Terms and Useful Information

What is American Roulette?

American Roulette is a variation of the traditional casino roulette game, particularly popular in US casinos but which is gaining ground in many other parts of the world. American Roulette's primary and distinctive feature is the presence of an additional green pocket on the wheel - the double zero (00). For reference, traditional European and French roulettes only have one zero pocket.

The American roulette wheel consists of 38 pockets, with numbers 1 through 36, plus one single zero (0) and a double zero (00). The numbers 1 to 36 alternate between black and red, while both zero pockets are green. The introduction of another zero increases the house edge to about 5.26%, which is higher than European roulette, where the house edge sits at 2.7%. Theoretically, this means larger profits for the casino in the long run.

Similar to other roulette variants, players bet on specially marked spots on the table that correspond to the numbers on the wheel. The ball is spun, and once it stops, the winnings are calculated based on the winning number and bets placed on the table.

American Roulette - History and Development Over the Years

The history of American Roulette dates back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries, when the game was brought from Europe and into the United States. It was first introduced by French immigrants who fled the French Revolution and found their new home in America.

Americans originally played the game in the standard European fashion with one zero. But in the 19th century, US casinos began adding the extra pocket to the wheel, the double zero (00), to increase their edge. This innovation is associated with New Orleans, the US capital city of gambling back in the day.

The reason was simple: the bookmakers were not happy with the profits they were generating from the standard roulette wheel, so they added another pocket and the American roulette wheel was born.

However, the original version of American roulette, which included numbers from 1 to 28, a standard 0, a double 00, and the American eagle symbol, had a house edge of 12.90%. The high edge and the negative response from gambling enthusiasts led to its swift abolition.

As a testament to the spirit of compromise, the numbers were increased from 28 to 36, with two green pockets of single and double zeros. This adjustment aimed to strike a balance between a higher house edge than European roulette and potentially better return for players, ensuring a fair and engaging gaming experience.

The addition of the double zero is a pivotal moment in the game's history, marking American roulette as a unique and distinct variation from all others.

Over the years, American roulette became a standard game in casinos across America, especially in Las Vegas, which established itself as the world's gambling capital of the 20th century. The game is also gaining popularity in other parts of the world, although the European version remains more popular in many countries, including India.

The development of online gambling in the 1990s led to the emergence of the first online casinos. American roulette quickly became part of the new way of playing, providing players with the opportunity to enjoy this exciting game from the comfort of their own homes.

Where Can I Play American Roulette?

You can play American Roulette online at most casinos available in India, each of which offers different bonuses and promotions. We've prepared a list of four best Indian online casinos that offer the best live and virtual American Roulette titles:

All four online casinos provide safe and internationally licensed environments to enjoy various games, American roulette included. They also boast of offering multiple bonuses for new and existing players alike.

How to Play American Roulette?

To play American Roulette, you must place bets on the numbers or groups of numbers on the table before the croupier spins the wheel and drops the ball, which eventually stops on one of the numbers.

There are different types of bets, such as straight up (a bet on one number), split (on two adjacent numbers), corner (on four adjoining numbers), and big number bets like black/red or even/odd.

After placing your bets, you wait for the ball to land on one pocket (number) and determine your and everybody else's winnings. On the next spin, the whole process is repeated, meaning that the croupiers will wait for all players to place their bets before spinning the wheel and dropping the ball again.

The betting time varies and depends on the table activity, but is usually around 60 seconds.

The Specifics of American Roulette Wheel

The American Roulette wheel is specific in that it has 38 pockets. It includes the numbers 1 to 36, which alternate between red and black, and two green pockets - zero (0) and double zero (00).

The presence of the double zero is a key feature that distinguishes American Roulette from all other variants, such as European or French Roulette, which have only one zero. This addition almost doubles the house edge in the game.

American Roulette Bet Types

In American Roulette, the probability of success depends on the type of your bet. In the following lines, we'll go over the basic bets once again to give an idea of your chances.

• Straight Up / Bet on one number: Probability of success - 2.63%.
• Split / Bet on two numbers: Probability of success - 5.26%.
• Street / Bet on a line of three numbers: Probability - 7.89%.
• Corner / Bet on four numbers: Probability - 10.53%.
• Six Line / Bet on two lines (6 numbers): Probability - 15.79%.
• Column - Dozen / Bet on a whole column or a dozen numbers: Probability - 31.58%.
• Even - Odd, Red - Black, High - Low / Bet on colour, even - odd or high - low number: Probability - 47.37%.

American Roulette Odds

The odds of playing American Roulette determine how many times your bet is multiplied in case of a win. For example, if you bet on one number (straight up bet), the payout odds are 35 to 1. This means that if you bet ₹100 on a number and you win, your payout will be ₹3,500 (₹100 bet x 35).

For outside bets such as black/red, even/odd, and high/low, the payout ratio is 1 to 1. So, if you bet ₹500 and win, you will receive a total of ₹1,000 (₹500 winnings plus your original bet).

Differences Between American and European Roulette

The main differences between American and European Roulette are as follows:

• Wheel Pockets: American Roulette has 38 pockets (numbers 1 tо 36, 0, and 00), while European Roulette has 37 pockets (numbers 1 to 36, and 0).
• House Edge: The casino edge in American Roulette is higher (5.26%) because of the additional pocket on the wheel (00), while in the European version, it sits at 2.7%.
• Rules: European Roulette often includes the "La Partage" or "En Prison" rule, which reduces the house edge on equal chance bets if the ball lands on zero. These rules are missing in American Roulette.

DID YOU KNOW..

According to Peter Olafson, betting on the colour red gives us the winning probabilities of 18/38, while the probabilities of losing are 20/38! To calculate these odds, he uses the following formula: (18/38 - 20/38) = -(2/38) = -(1/19) = -0.0526315789 ≈ -5%

Practical Tips for Playing American Roulette

Take the following practical tips to heart and become a better American roulette today:

• Understand the Rules: Before you begin the game, it is important to be aware of the rules, including the different types of bets and their payouts.
• Budget Management: Setting a budget for the game and sticking to it is a key strategy. Remember, never bet more than you can afford to lose. This discipline will help you enjoy the game without risking your financial stability.
• Avoid High-Risk Bets: In American Roulette, betting on a single number carries more risk. Consider bets with a higher chance of winning, such as red/black or odd/even.
• Practice with Free Games: If you're a beginner, practice with free online games to perfect your strategy without wasting money. This way, you will quickly and easily master all the rules of American Roulette.
• Get a Grip on the House Edge: Be aware that the casino always has an edge, and that game should be seen as fun, not as a surefire way to make money.

Our casino specialists, with their extensive knowledge and experience, have prepared the above-mentioned useful information for those who are new to American roulette. This information will help you prevent early losses and other unwanted scenarios.

Our Final Thoughts About American Roulette

American Roulette is a dynamic and exciting game but also a bit riskier that its European counterpart. The US variant of the classic roulette game is still great fun but it should be played wisely due to its double zero pocket and larger house edge (5.26%).

If you're on the fence, our experts advise that you try a game in free demo mode first to see if it suits your preferences. You can use the knowledge about American Roulette rules that you learned here.

Moreover, make sure to activate any of the attractive bonuses that online casinos shower their users with. Also, please play wisely because online gambling is and should be a form of entertainment!