Charlie Whitehall | January 6, 2023 | Updated on: September 26th, 2024
American roulette is a variation of the original roulette game. This version of the game has distinct markers that set it apart from the other versions of the game. The American version of roulette has 38 pockets and numbers. The European version has only 37 pockets that players can place bets on.
The pay-out odds of American roulette also differ. The best way to go about winning this version of the game is to go in with a good strategy. Our guide below takes you through the ropes of playing American roulette. Our table below shows the best online casinos offering real money roulette games to play.
Play American Roulette Online
There are certain rules that you need to know in order to play real money roulette, this includes the American roulette wheel and the layout of the game.
- There is a 0 and 00 green pocket on the wheel.
- There are 38 numbers laid out on the roulette wheel. 18 numbers are covered in the black block and the other 18 are in red blocks.
- The extra 00 block raises the casino’s advantage of winning against the casino.
You can place straight-up bets or combination bets based on the payout table. When you’re playing online, you will be able to click the ‘spin’ icon which automatically spins the roulette wheel. The random number generator will produce the results. When it comes to gambling at a brick-and-mortar casino, it is a croupier that manages the wheel. If the numbers you select pop up on the screen, your winnings will be added to your online account at the casino.
Different American Roulette Online Bets
Below are the different types of bets available to players:
- Basket bet: a bet that covers the first 4 numbers. These are 1,2,3 and 0.
- Column bet: placing wagers on an entire column that has 12 numbers.
- Corner bet: betting on 4 numbers where the box intersects.
- Dozen bet: wagering on 12 numbers.
- Even or odd bet: wagering on all the even numbers on the roulette wheel.
- High number bet: bets covering numbers 19-36.
- Line bet: wagers covering two rows and 6 numbers.
- Low number bet: bets covering numbers 1-18.
- Black or red bet: wagering on red or black blocks on the roulette wheel.
- Split bet: placing wagers on the middle two numbers.
- Straight bet: placing wagers on a single number.
- Street bet: betting on three different numbers from differing columns.
Rules of American Roulette
The rules of American roulette are straightforward and easy to learn. There are also minor differences between playing online and at a land-based casino. When you’re playing at a brick-and-mortar casino, the croupier tells you when you should no longer play. You also need to place your own bets.
When it comes to playing online, you aren’t rushed into placing your bets or pressed against the spinning of the ball on the roulette wheel. Players place bets on where they believe the ball will end up on the roulette wheel.
There are minimum and maximum bets that players are allowed to place. The outside bets cost more than the inside bets on the roulette wheel online. So, experts advise players to place outside bets more often to increase their chances of winning.
Win Playing American Roulette
The 38 numbers on the roulette wheel impact the house edge of the game. As we mentioned earlier, having a good strategy that you use will improve your chances of winning. However, American roulette online is based on luck more than skill. Here are a few tips that can help you.
- Find good strategies: There are strategies that you can use to improve your odds of winning. Popular strategies include Fibonacci, D’Alembert, Martingale and others that can help you win.
- Play free American roulette games: Players can test out new strategies by playing for free. There are several casinos listed on our table that offer roulette games for free.
- Avoid straight numbers: Straight bet numbers run a higher risk of loss which means you will lose more by betting on them.
European and American Roulette Differences
Here’s how to identify the key differences between American and European roulette:
- American roulette has 38 pockets on the wheel. Two pockets carry one zero and the other a 00. Numbers 1-36 are coloured red and black.
- European roulette has 37 pockets from 1 to36 coloured blocks interchanging between red and black. There’s a single green pocket with a single zero.
- The house edge in American roulette is 5.36% while European roulette’s one stands at 2.7%.