American Roulette Guide

Sometimes referred to as double-zero roulette, what sets this variation apart is that its roulette wheel features a double zero slot. Courtesy of this, this type of roulette is notorious for having a high house edge.

If beating the house is so hard, what makes this version of roulette so popular? We're about to take a look at everything you need to know, but first, we'll start you off with our list of the best casino sites to play roulette at.

American Roulette Table

This is the famous Vegas variation, which has a double zero added to the wheel, which was a strategic move to increase the house edge up to 5.26%.

To find out what sets this variation apart we're going to compare it to its European/American counterparts. The rules and the betting options for all variants are roughly the same with some minor changes, on the wheel and on the betting layout:

The Wheel

At first glance, the American wheel may seem identical to European and French roulette wheels. There is however a subtle difference in the wheel, which has lead to the creation of a whole new game type.

Compared to the European wheel, the American wheel has 38 pockets and a “regular” and "double" pockets, which are coloured in green. This roulette type is commonly referred to as double-zero roulette. 

The addition of the "double" zero pocket, is what makes this type of roulette less favourable to players, hence the higher house edge of 5.26%.

In general roulette wheels are laid out in a particular manner to balance certain factors out. Firstly, the numbers alternate between red and black pockets. In addition to this even and odd numbers are also balanced out although they do not always alternate as in the first case. The wheel also aims to balance out high (19 -36) and low (1 -18) number out.

Although in European roulette the balance between numbers is almost perfect, when it comes to the American type, the double zero slot makes balancing much harder. It is this lack of equilibrium, which bring us to the lower RTP.

The "double" zero is positioned between two red numbers, while the "regular" zero is located between two black numbers. Meaning, there is a higher average of red numbers around the double zero pocket as opposed to a higher average of black numbers around the regular zero.

Betting Table

Now that we looked into all the subtle differences, American Roulette wheels bring, it's no surprise that the betting table is different.

If we have to be honest here, the actual table is almost the same for all variations. Once again the biggest difference is the inclusion of the double zero. Apart from that, the table is almost an exact copy of the European Version. French roulette tables are the easiest to spot due to the inclusion of French bet names such as Passe and Manque.

The other difference is that French and European tables sometimes include a racetrack, a special betting section. Since American roulette does not feature announced bets, the racetrack is not included in this roulette game variation. 

Rules

Now that you know how to spot out the American version of roulette based on how it looks, we move on to the actual roulette rules. At this stage, it is important to make sure that you understand the general roulette rules of how to play for real money.

If you do understand the basics then you'll be pleased to know that the American version follows similar rules. Betters sit down at a table and are able to place roulette bets by means of casino chips. Once all bets are placed, the croupier will spin the wheel. Once the dealer calls out 'no more bets', players can no longer change or remove roulette chips. The difference in the American version is actually seen in the bets that can be placed and we take a look at this in the next section.

Types of Bets

As is the case for all variations, there are both inside bets and outside bets. Inside bets refer to bets made on a single number, adjacent numbers or small groups. Outside bets, on the other hand, refer to larger groups.

Whilst there are some special bets specific to the American version of the game such as the '5 number bet', while other bets are totally omitted due to the double-zero wheel. Whilst inside bets are for the more experienced players out there, those looking for fewer risks should opt for outside bets.

We underline the various American Roulette bet types in the lists below:

Inside Bets

• Straight bet - single number bet
• Split bet - placed on the line between two numbers
• Street bet - all three numbers in a row, chip placed at the end of the row
• Corner bet - group of 4 numbers, chip placed in the middle point of the numbers
• Five number bet - group of 5 numbers, chip is placed on the corner next to 0 and 1
• Six Line bet - two rows, chip placed at the end of the rows

Outside Bets

• Column bet - entire column
• Dozen bet- box of 12 numbers
• Colour bet - red or black
• Odd/ Even bet- all odd numbers or all even numbers
• Low/ High bet - all low numbers or all high numbers

If you're quite new to all bet types, then would suggest that you take a look at our guide on how to play roulette, where we cover each bet in detail.

If the ball lands on the single-zero or double-zero pocket then the house always wins. This is one of the reasons why this type of roulette is so hard to beat the house in. French roulette, on the other hand, is much easier to win at due to special rules such as 'La Partage' and 'En Prison', including special bets like the 'Voisins', 'Orphelins' and others.

Odds & Payout

Although a lot of the betting types mentioned in the previous section are similar to other versions, the payout shows the biggest difference.

Of course, this must be put into perspective alongside the return to player to see whether it is truly worth placing a bet. Here’s a breakdown of all types of bets we mentioned previously along with the payouts and relative odds.

As shown above, the longer the sequence of numbers you bet on, the easier it is to win, but the less you'll win each time. For instance, even-money bets come with the highest odds, but the payout isn't that good either. Then again, the straight-up bet offers the highest payouts, but the odds of winning are very low.

Choosing what type of bet to wager real money on will all come down to the type of player you are. Moreover, although a lot of it comes down to straight-up luck, there are some betting management systems in place such as the well-known, Labouchere system. Check back to our roulette systems guide for more information on this.

Popular American Roulette Games

In spite of the fact that this roulette variant has a higher house edge, American Roulette is very popular among casino players. This is why many software providers have incorporated at least a few versions of double-zero roulette games, which results in a great number of options to choose from.

Below we'll take a look at some of the best American Roulette variants:

Game	Bet Limits	Announced Bets?	Where To Play
	£10.10 – £500	Yes	LeoVegas
	£1 – £2,000	Yes	Betway Casino
	£1 – £1,000	Yes	Betfair Casino
	£1 – £1,000	Yes	888 Casino

Online American Roulette by NetEnt

At the heart of online casinos is top game provider Net Entertainment. Perhaps most known for its innovative slot array, the software developer also has great table games to its name. When it comes to the American version, this could be an ideal choice.

With an RTP of 94.75%, this may seem a little low but it is actually the same as a lot of other online versions from other providers. We also liked the background music which helps to provide a relaxed ambience, This, combined with crystal clear graphics, makes the provider a good option. 

Players will also have the chance to place neighbour bets using the racetrack, and check game stats. Besides this, they can take advantage of the autoplay function, where you can adjust the additional settings.

Besides this, you can also change the soundtrack and adjust other game settings. You can also use features like quick spin and auto-adjust bet.

American Roulette by RealTime Gaming (RTG)

If you are at an RTG casino like Bovada, then you'll be glad to know that you are in for just a good a gaming experience when it comes to roulette. Once again you'll be able to claim a good welcome bonus however at Bovada roulette games contribute to 5% of the wagering requirement.

What sets this version apart is the lack of background music which lets you fully focus. In terms of layout, it is also more cartoon-like than the NetEnt version. We like the fact that a lot of focus has been put on the roulette table as opposed to the wheel. All in all, this is a great option for players looking to play online roulette.

Double Bonus Spin Roulette by IGT

If the low return to player of the regular version puts you off then double bonus spin roulette may be the perfect option for you. Don't let the name fool you, this game follows the American version rules but adds in a bit of a twist. Although it may seem like a regular American wheel, a closer look will make it apparent that there is an additional yellow pocket. Although this decreases initial payouts, landing a ball in the yellow pocket will result in big wins.

What's more, the pocket is double the size of others meaning that it is much easier to hit. Once hit, the wheel will separate into two and this will now double your chances at hitting big wins. Land a yellow in both wheels and you could end up with a payout of 1,200 - 1! If you like the Vegas casino experience, then this is something else and we would suggest heading over to Jackpot City to try it out for yourself.

Live American Roulette by Evolution Gaming

If you are looking for a more realistic gaming experience, then live casinos are where you want to be heading to. Luckily a lot of the top providers have got you covered when it comes to Live American Roulette. Being one of the biggest names in live casinos, it is no surprise that Evolution Gaming has a liver dealer version of the game too. The croupiers are professionally trained and they use state of the art cameras to ensure the best real-time experiences you can expect.

They also have some great features like live chat to help you integrate with other players online too. If you're an adrenaline speaker then there is nothing more exciting than the live version of American Roulette. 

Conclusion

American Roulette is one of the most popular variations, alongside European roulette. It is widespread at both online and in land-based casinos.

In spite of the significantly higher house advantage, this roulette variant, is still a player-favourite, as the lower odds of winning make it even more compelling.

Online roulette variants offer various unique options and exciting betting opportunities, meaning there's a large number of American Roulette variants to choose from.

American Roulette FAQs