Why European Live Roulette is Wiser to Play
By Sofia Hill
There are two different types of roulette versions offered by casinos. The first is European Roulette which has 37 number slots on the roulette wheel. The second and most recent roulette wheel is American Roulette which has 38 number slots on the wheel. European Roulette only has a single zero number slot and the American version has a single zero number slot and a double zero number slot on the wheel. The added double zero makes a huge difference when it comes to the casino?s house edge. Luckily for us online players the standard live roulette game is the European roulette wheel, which is the wiser choice.
Before explaining why there is such a large difference for the player when playing on an American roulette wheel compared to a European roulette wheel we need to go over some general ideas. There are three common variables when gambling for any kind of online casino game. They are the following:
1. How much is being bet or put in the pot.
2. The expectedness or certainty of the outcome of the casino game.
3. The odds which are legally set between the house and the player.
The odds are always in favor of the house. Now you know why the word "house edge" came about. The house edge should not be mixed up for the online casino?s "hold". The hold is the total amount of currency the roulette table changes for gambling chips, minus the chips the casinos wins and takes away form the online players. In other words, it is what the online casino earns. The house edge (or expected value) is a mathematical calculation using the three common variables I mentioned above.
In an American roulette game the wheel has 38 different slots where the ball may end up landing. Each number slot has an equal chance of becoming the winning number. A winning bet on one single number (an example of an inside bet) has a 35-1 payout. This means that the original bet is not lost and 35 times that amount is earned. So you end up receiving 36 times what you wagered. In a European live roulette game the wheel has 37 different slots where the ball may land and each number also has an equal chance of winning. The payout of a single number bet also has a 35-1 payout. The odds of the bet are what determine the payout (if succeeded). In an American roulette game the odds of landing on a single number bet are 37-1, compared to the European wheel which is 36-1. However, the payout for both is 35-1. What is important to know is by playing with a live dealer casino on a European roulette wheel online players have better odds at winning and thus have more fun!
In American roulette there is a probability of 1/38 that the player wins 35 times the wager, and a 37/38 chance that the player loses their bet. The house advantage is: −1?37/38 + 35?1/38 = −0.0526 (5.26% house edge)
For European live roulette, a single number wins 1/37 and loses 36/37. The house advantage is: −1?36/37 + 35?1/37 = −0.0270 (2.70% house edge)
Taking into consideration the house edge for each type of roulette wheel and taking into consideration the odds for each roulette variation, one can plainly see that playing European live roulette has a much better chance of winning. As I mentioned earlier, luckily for us online players the standard live dealer roulette game is the European version. Of course, winning isn?t everything (fun is part of the equation), but it sure does help. Wouldn?t you say so yourself?