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American Roulette Guide

James Smith
July 1, 2020
Modified: May 13, 2024
american roulette at Betiton

If you’re new to American roulette or unfamiliar with roulette in general, my Betiton roulette guide will cover all the basics. I suggest reading through my quick guide before playing to ensure you understand the rules and the roulette bets.

Although American roulette online is a game of chance like any other roulette game, understanding the odds, payouts, and structure of the roulette wheel is essential. There’s no way to beat the house edge, but with the right knowledge, you can make informed betting decisions and manage your bankroll properly.

American Roulette History

Roulette originated in France in the 16th century, hence the French name. An interesting fact about the history of roulette is that it was invented by a French mathematician, Blaise Pascal, who wasn’t trying to develop a casino game.

The roulette wheel came from an experiment created by Pascal that was meant to invent a perpetual motion machine. It wasn’t before the 19th century that the game was introduced in America and became very popular. The first versions of the American roulette game had only 28 numbers and included symbols like the American eagle or the symbol of liberty.

What are the Rules of American Roulette?

american roulette rules

Roulette rules are similar between the variants, but there are a few notable differences due to which roulette wheel is being used. If you’re used to the European roulette rules, learning the rules that apply to the American version is important. You can also try an American roulette strategy once you’ve mastered the rules, which might help you manage your budget more efficiently.

Below are the essential American roulette rules:

  • The American roulette wheel layout has 38 pockets.
  • There are 36 numbers on the wheel, including ‘0‘ and ‘00‘ pockets.
  • The double zero pocket is only used in the American version and its 3D roulette variants.
  • The numbers on the wheel are red or black, in an alternating order.
  • The zero pockets are coloured green.
  • American roulette has a house edge of 5.26%.
  • To play, bet on where the ball will land by choosing from various bets on the American roulette table.
  • Bets can be placed until the dealer states, ‘no more bets’.
  • If your bet is successful, the relevant payout according to the paytable is immediately awarded.

Top 3 American Roulette Games You Can Play at Betiton

Although online American roulette is a well-known game variant, it’s not one of the most popular casino games amongst our UK players. Nevertheless, a few players still like to play American roulette, which is why we’ve ensured our platform offers this game variant as well.

Here are the top three American roulette games:

🎲 Game Name🖥️ Provider📅 Release Year
American RouletteMicrogaming2018
American RoulettePariPlay2023
Live American RouletteEvolution Games2018

American Roulette Wheels

american roulette wheel

The standard American roulette wheel is the double zero version, but other wheels are commonly used in online or live roulette casino games. In the following sections, we’ll introduce you to the different roulette wheel formats you may encounter.

Single-Zero Wheel

The single-zero roulette wheel is the European roulette variant. Instead of 38 pockets, this wheel has 37 slots with 36 numbers, including one green zero pocket. Other than the single zero, the rest of the roulette wheel is identical to the American roulette wheel.

The slots on the wheel are black and red in colour, while the numbers have a random order. Due to the missing double zero pocket, this roulette game has a much lower house edge of 2.70%. It’s also the roulette wheel used in French roulette games.

Double-Zero Wheel

The double zero wheel is the only one used in American roulette. It comprises 38 red and black pockets, with two green ones for the zero and double zero. The ’00’ pocket in the American roulette layout is solely responsible for the lower payout odds in the game.

Compared to a relatively low house edge of 2.70% in the European version, the American roulette table has a high house edge of 5.26%. The American roulette probability for some roulette bets, particularly even money bets, is also lower.

Triple-Zero Wheel

The triple-zero wheel is a relatively new roulette game that has been introduced in a few casinos around the United States. It doesn’t seem to be available at online casinos yet, nor has it proven very popular because another zero pocket has been added.

With a ‘000’ pocket in addition to the single and double zeros, the house edge goes up to a whopping 7.69%.

American Roulette Bet Types

American Roulette Bet Types

The roulette bets you can place in American roulette are mostly the same as the ones in the single-zero games, except for the French bets, which are only available in the French roulette version. American roulette payouts are also the same for the most part, and you can place both inside bets and outside bets.

Inside Bets in American Roulette

Inside bets make up most of the betting layout because they cover all the numbers on the wheel. These bets are the riskiest ones in roulette because while they offer high payouts, the probability of winning is low.

🎲 Bet Name📑 Description🫰 Bet Payout💯 Bet Probability
👉 Straight/Single Number betBetting on any number (including the 0 or 00 pockets) by placing a chip on it.35:12.60%
👉 Split betBetting on two adjacent numbers on the layout by placing a chip between them.17:15.26%
👉 Street betBetting on three adjacent numbers in a row by placing a chip at the end of the row.11:17.89%
👉 Corner bet/Square betA bet that covers four adjacent numbers in the form of a square. The chip should be placed at the point where all four corners meet.8:110.53%
👉 Trio betBetting on the pockets numbered 00, 2, and 3. The chips are placed between the two zeros and the number 2.8:110.53%
👉 Basket betA five-number bet covering the 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3 by placing chips on the line between the zero and the other numbers.6:113.20%
👉 Six Line betA bet similar to the street bet but covering two rows with three numbers each (six numbers in total). The chips should be placed on the corner of the two rows.5:115.80%

Outside Bets in American Roulette

Outside bets are more popular in roulette because they’re a lot safer than inside bets. New players tend to choose these bets because they offer improved chances of winning despite having lower payouts. Outside bets cover a broad group of numbers, making it more likely to get a successful bet.

🎲 Bet Name📑 Description🫰 Bet Payout💯 Bet Probability
👉 Red/Black betsBetting that the winning number will be a red or black pocket.1:146.37%
👉 Even/Odd betsBetting that the ball will fall into a pocket with an odd or even number.1:146.37%
👉 High/Low betsLow number bets cover all the numbers from 1 to 18, while high numbers range from 19 to 36. You can bet on either low numbers or high ones.1:146.37%
👉 Dozen betThe dozens bet covers a group of 12 numbers on the betting layout. This is done by placing your chips on the areas marked ‘1st 12′, ‘2nd 12′, or ‘3rd 12′.2:131.58%
👉 Column BetsA column bet also covers a group of 12 numbers. The betting area for the three columns is marked as ‘2:1’.2:131.58%

Live American Roulette vs Online American Roulette

You can play American roulette live or online at Betiton Online Casino. The rules and features are the same, but the game’s atmosphere, pace, and overall experience differ when comparing the two game modes.

▶️ Features💁‍♂️ Live American Roulette👨‍💻 Online American Roulette
🔢 RNG Mechanism
💻 Demo version
💸 Real money play
💯 Variety of games
📱Mobile access
🎁 Play with bonuses
🤵 Live dealer interaction
💬 Live chat access

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions about American Roulette

American roulette is the double-zero version of the classic roulette game. This game uses a 38-pocket wheel with numbers ranging from one to 36, a single zero, and a double zero pocket.

The only real difference between American and European roulette is that the latter uses a single-zero wheel. This difference influences the house edge and the overall winning probability for every roulette bet.

No, the American roulette odds are lower in comparison with European roulette. This is because American roulette has an additional zero pocket, increasing the casino’s advantage in the game.

American roulette has a house edge of around 5.26%. This percentage is quite high compared to a house edge of 2.70% in European roulette.

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James Smith

At the age of 28, James, an expert in technology and video gaming with a passion for online casinos, pursued studies in Creative Writing and Media Studies at the University of London. As an active contributor to the Gizmodo Twitter account, his goal is to share his knowledge of video game culture and technological advancements with you, the readers.

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