If you’ve played roulette at land-based or online casinos for any length of time, you will know that American Roulette gets a bad rep. It is, after all, the single roulette game that has the worst house edge out of the three main variants. Nonetheless, does this mean that our American readers are only ever going to be able to play American Roulette at US casino sites? Join us as we look at the question and reveal all.
Why Is American Roulette Bad for Business?
American Roulette (as you’re probably aware) is one of the worst roulette games you can play in terms of the house edge. There is a very simple reason why. The American gambling game has a house edge of 5.26%, which is double that of European Roulette. Of course, any game that has a high house edge is advantageous for the casino supporting it, but not so much for the players gambling.
Two Zeroes, As Opposed To…
Many players know that they should stay away from American Roulette, but they aren’t sure why. The main reason that the house edge is so disadvantageous is the use of two zero pockets. Yes, American Roulette utilises two zero pockets instead of the one found in European Roulette. Given that landing in the zero pockets often means an instant defeat (unless you’re playing French Roulette), then playing this game effectively doubles your chances of losing. That’s not great.
American Casinos Obviously Favour American Roulette
A casino – be that a land-based, brick-and-mortar one or an online casino – is designed to make money for the house. They aren’t permitted to rob roulette players blind, but they can adjust the way games are played. One of these adjustments is the use of the double zero pocket. Naturally, this makes the house more likely to make a profit, and so many US casinos offer this game over others.
Most Offer an Alternative
Most online casinos aiming their services at US players do offer an alternative for you. It is not uncommon to see European Roulette provided as an option. Of course, this is a game you are going to want to play over American Roulette – it does, after all, have but a single zero and, therefore, half the house edge of American Roulette. We’d always recommend playing European Roulette over American Roulette as it also comes with racetrack bets.
French Roulette Is Not Commonly Offered, Though
There is an arguably more favourable game to play, though. Not many US casinos offer it, but you may wish to try your hand at high roller French Roulette. This game is near-identical to European Roulette, but it comes with extra rules, such as La Partage and En Prison. These can see your bet remain in prison for a second spin, and if that is successful, you could get the entire bet back. Alternatively, players are simply given half their bet back immediately if they land in the zero pocket. This reduces the house edge from European Roulette’s 2.7% to French Roulette’s 1.35%. If you can find French Roulette at American casinos, we suggest opting for it.
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