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 Extra Green Zero
The single most important difference between the two games lies entirely in the number of green zero pockets.

The addition of the 00 pocket effectively doubles the casino's built-in mathematical advantage over the player.
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.

There is absolutely no mathematical justification for ever choosing to play American roulette if European is available.
The En Prison and La Partage Rules
The "La Partage" rule dictates that if the ball lands on zero, you only lose half of your even-money bet.

American roulette essentially never offers these rules, further cementing its status as the inferior option.
TypeLong Term Loss per $100Player ValueSingle Zero$2.70ExcellentDouble Zero$5.26Terrible
Playing American roulette is a mathematical mistake that unnecessarily drains your bankroll twice as fast.