American Roulette is a popular casino game and a specific variant of the roulette wheel and table layout. It is most commonly found in casinos in the United States and is distinguished primarily by the number of pockets on its wheel, which directly affects the house’s advantage.
Here is a full breakdown of what defines American Roulette:
### 1. The Wheel and Pockets
The most defining feature of American Roulette is its wheel, which contains **38 pockets** in total. These pockets are numbered as follows:
* **Numbers 1 through 36:** These are alternately colored red and black.
* **Two Zero Pockets:** This is the crucial difference. The wheel has a green **0** pocket and a second green **00** pocket.
The numbers on the wheel are arranged in a specific, non-sequential order around the wheel to ensure a random distribution of colors and odd/even numbers.
### 2. The Table Layout
The betting layout on the American Roulette table corresponds to the wheel. It includes a grid for the numbers 1-36 and separate betting areas for the 0 and 00. The layout is generally divided into two main types of bets:
* **Inside Bets:** These are placed on the specific numbers or small groups of numbers within the main grid. They have higher payouts but lower odds of winning.
* **Straight Up:** A bet on a single number (pays 35:1).
* **Split:** A bet on two adjacent numbers (pays 17:1).
* **Street:** A bet on a row of three numbers (pays 11:1).
* **Corner:** A bet on four numbers that meet at a corner (pays 8:1).
* **Six Line:** A bet on two adjacent rows (pays 5:1).
* **Basket (or Top Line):** A bet on the 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. This bet is unique to American Roulette and has the worst odds for the player (pays 6:1).
* **Outside Bets:** These are placed on the larger, outside areas of the betting layout. They cover larger groups of numbers and have lower payouts but higher odds of winning.
* **Red/Black:** A bet on the ball landing on a red or black number (pays 1:1).
* **Odd/Even:** A bet on the ball landing on an odd or even number (pays 1:1).
* **High/Low:** A bet on the ball landing on 1-18 (Low) or 19-36 (High) (pays 1:1).
* **Dozens:** A bet on one of the three groups of 12 numbers (1-12, 13-24, 25-36) (pays 2:1).
* **Columns:** A bet on one of the three vertical columns of 12 numbers (pays 2:1).
### 3. The House Edge: The “American” Disadvantage
The presence of the **00** pocket is what gives American Roulette its name and its significantly higher house edge compared to its European counterpart.
* How it works:
On all “even money” bets (like Red/Black or Odd/Even), the player loses if the ball lands on either 0 or 00. Since there are 38 pockets but the payout is calculated as if there were only 36, the casino has a built-in advantage.
* The Math:
The probability of winning an even-money bet is 18/38, and the probability of losing is 20/38. This creates a house edge of **5.26%**.
* The Basket Bet:
The “Top Line” or “Basket” bet (0, 00, 1, 2, 3) is the worst bet on the table. It has a probability of 5/38 but only pays 6:1, resulting in a much higher house edge of **7.89%**. This bet should always be avoided.
### Comparison: American vs. European Roulette
The main difference and the reason for the house edge variation is the number of zero pockets.
| Feature | American Roulette | European Roulette |
| :— | :— | :— |
| **Total Pockets** | 38 | 37 |
| **Zero Pockets** | 0 and 00 | 0 |
| **House Edge** | 5.26% | 2.70% |
| **Availability** | Dominant in the US, Canada, and parts of Asia/Caribbean | Dominant in Europe and most other parts of the world |
### Gameplay
1. Players place their bets on the table layout.
2. The dealer (croupier) spins the roulette wheel in one direction and then rolls a small ball in the opposite direction around the rim of the wheel.
3. As the ball loses momentum, it falls from the rim and bounces between the pockets until it settles in one.
4. The dealer marks the winning number, clears all losing bets, and then pays out the winning bets according to the payout schedule.
In essence, American Roulette is a game of chance that is mathematically designed to favor the casino more than other variants. While it can be exciting, knowledgeable players almost always prefer to seek out European Roulette or French Roulette (which has a “La Partage” rule that can lower the house edge to 1.35%) for better odds.
Disclaimer; This content was assisted by AI and reviewed by human.
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