Roulette is universally recognized as one of the most iconic and popular games in casino history.

European and American roulette may look nearly identical to the untrained eye, but the math differs wildly.
The Difference is in the Zeros
The American wheel, however, has 38 pockets: numbers 1 through 36, a single zero (0), and a double zero (00).

This single extra pocket on the American wheel drastically alters the mathematical probabilities of the game.
The extra number changes all probability calculationsThe betting layout is slightly larger on the American tableEuropean tables often use a different chip system Why the House Edge Matters
With a house edge of 2.70%, European roulette is relatively fair compared to many other casino games.

This means you will lose money almost twice as fast playing the American version over the long term.
Special European Roulette Rules
The "En Prison" rule "imprisons" your bet for the next spin if the zero hits, giving you a second chance.

This makes French roulette one of the most mathematically favorable table games on the entire casino floor.
GameWheel NumbersEdge with La PartageFrench371.35%American38N/A
The conclusion is incredibly simple: you should always seek out and exclusively play European or French roulette.