American Roulette is one of the most popular roulette variants, whether you play it in a land-based casino or at a live dealer table online.
If you want to know about the rules, types of bets of American Roulette, and how it measures up to other variants, don’t go away. Read on for all the ins and outs of this exciting casino game.
Where to play the best American roulette online?
If you’re keen to try your hand at American Roulette online, here are some American Roulette casino sites for UK players that are completely legal.
Master the rules & odds of American roulette
To get the best out of your experience, you should have some knowledge of the basic American Roulette rules. It’s not a complicated game, but the more you understand how it works, the more success you are likely to have.
While the rules are important, so too are the odds. These indicate your chances of winning on any given bet. If you understand the odds, you can bet with confidence and less risk of depleting your bankroll.
The objective
The objective of American roulette is straightforward. You must predict which numbered pocket the ball will settle in when the wheel stops spinning.
If you play a live dealer version of American Roulette, every player competes against the house and not each other.
Make sure to check also out some of the Roulette variants that the renowned game provider Evolution Gaming offers players.
Types of bets in American roulette
As with most casino games, you can place several different bets on American roulette. We categorise these bets into two groups, inside bets, and outside bets.
Inside bets for American roulette
- Straight-up bet – This is a bet on a single number, where you place your chip directly on that number.
- Split bet – You bet on two numbers positioned next to each other and place your chip on the line between the numbers.
- Street bet – A bet on three numbers in a row. You put your chip on the line at the end of the row.
- Corner bet – In a corner bet, you wager on a square of four numbers. Your chip goes in the middle of the numbers where all four touch.
- Five bet – Here, you bet on the numbers at the top of the board: 0, 00, 1, 2 & 3. You place your chip on the edge of the board where the 0 and 1 meet.
- Line bet – You bet on two adjacent rows of three numbers and put your chip at the end of the rows on the line between them.
Outside bets in American roulette
- Column bet – You bet on a whole column of numbers. Your chip goes on the 2:1 block at the base of the column.
- Dozen bet – A bet on a group of 12 numbers, either the first 12, second 12, or third 12 on the American Roulette table. Place your chip on the corresponding block.
- Color bet – A bet on either red or black to win. You place your chip on the red or black block.
- Odd/Even bet – You bet on the ball landing on either an odd number or even number, and put your chip on the relevant block.
- Low/High bet – Choose between low numbers (1 to 18) or high numbers (19 to 36) to win and put your chip on the corresponding block.
Your betting strategy could determine how much you walk away with at the end of a game of American Roulette.
RTP, payouts, and house edge in American roulette
We’ve summarised the payouts and house edge for all bet types in the table below for your convenience.
| Bet Type | Bet Payout | Bet Probability | House Edge | Return to Player |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight-Up | 35/1 | 2.63% | 5.26% | 94.74% |
| Split | 17/1 | 5.26% | 5.26% | 94.74% |
| Street | 11/1 | 7.89% | 5.26% | 94.74% |
| Corner | 8/1 | 10.53% | 5.26% | 94.74% |
| Five | 6/1 | 13.16% | 7.89% | 92.11% |
| Line | 5/1 | 15.79% | 5.26% | 94.74% |
| Column | 2/1 | 31.58% | 5.26% | 94.74% |
| Dozen | 2/1 | 31.58% | 5.26% | 94.74% |
| Red/Black | 1/1 | 46.37 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
| Odd/Even | 1/1 | 46.37 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
| High/Low | 1/1 | 46.37 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
RTP in American roulette
RTP, or Return to Player, is the term used for the percentage paid back to players over a substantial number of spins. For example, the RTP for a straight-up bet is 94.74%. This means that over thousands of spins, you can expect 94.74% of funds to be paid back to players in winnings.
Payouts in American roulette
Payout refers to how much you win when your bet comes in, and we express it as a multiple of your bet value. For example, the payout on a straight-up bet is 35 to one. If you bet £1, you win 35 times this amount, so £35.
Inside bets pay out more than outside bets. Straight-up bets have the highest payout, with red/black, high/low, and odd/even bets, all with a low payout of one times your bet.
House edge in American roulette
House edge is the opposite of RTP and is also expressed as a percentage. It’s the amount the casino keeps from all wagers. It averages 5.26% in American Roulette, which is on the high side for casino games.
American roulette vs. other roulette variants
American roulette uses a different wheel to the French and European variations of the game. All three variations feature numbers 0 to 36. However, the American Roulette wheel includes a double zero and has 38 numbers compared to 37 on the wheels used in French roulette and European roulette.
The number of pockets is the primary difference between the versions. You will also come across anomalies in the rules, RTP and bet types between the three variations.
| American roulette | European roulette | French roulette | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layout | 38 pockets (0-36 + 00) | 37 pockets (0-36) | 37 pockets(0-36) |
| Bets | Inside bets, outside bets | Inside bets, outside bets, call bets | Inside bets, outside bets, call bets, |
| RTP | 94.74% | 97.30% | 98.65% – 97.30% |
| House Edge | 5.26% | 2.70% | 1.35% – 2.70% |
Difference between American and European roulette
The primary difference between American and European roulette is the number of pockets on the wheel. As we mentioned above, the American Roulette wheel has 38 numbers, whereas the European wheel has 37 numbers.
Because American roulette has an additional number, 00, it has a higher house edge than European Roulette. Additionally, due to this extra pocket, the odds are lower if you bet on a number. You have a one in 38 chance of winning rather than one in 37 on the European wheel.
Difference between American and French roulette
Like the European variant, the French roulette wheel also has 37 numbers, one less than the American Roulette wheel layout. This means that the RTP is better in French Roulette than in the American version.
French roulette also features two rules that you won’t find in the American variant. Both the En Prison and La Partage rules come into play when the ball lands in the zero pocket; this will affect you if you’ve placed an even money bet.
How to play American roulette – Breakdown of a round
Here’s a quick summary of what you can expect from a round of American Roulette.
- Choose your table
- In a Brick and Mortar casino, you are expected to buy Roulette chips for betting. Each player’s chips at the table are a different colour.
- If you’re playing online, make sure you have sufficient funds in your account.
- Position your chips on the blocks that correspond to the bets you are placing.
- The dealer spins the wheel and drops the ball into it.
- As the wheel slows, the ball sticks in one of the numbered pockets indicating the winning number.
- The dealer pays out all winners according to their bets.
Strategies for advanced players
Roulette is a thrilling game with a high degree of anticipation. It relies heavily on luck which is why so many people place their bets on a whim and hope for the best. However, there are ways in which you can increase your winning chances. Let’s take a quick look at some of the most popular American Roulette strategies.
The Martingale system
The Martingale strategy works on the premise that if you keep betting, you will eventually win. The best bet to place is a straight-up bet. This bet has the highest odds and can reap the most significant rewards.
Each time you lose a bet, you double the stake. By doing this, when you eventually do win, the amount should be sufficient to cover all your previously lost bets.
Reverse Martingale strategy
This strategy works the opposite way to the Martingale strategy. Instead of doubling up your bet each time you lose, you do this every time you win. By doing this, you can really capitalise on winning streaks while reducing the risk of losing large sums of money.
Fibonacci strategy
This American Roulette wheel strategy will appeal to the conservative bettors. It utilises the Fibonacci numbers, which is a sequence of numbers where each is the sum of the two preceding numbers. The sequence is as follows 1-1-2-3-5-8-13-21-34-55-89-144 etc.
To determine the stake of your next bet, you add the value of your two previous bets together and bet that amount. Start with your minimum bet of £1.
If you win, bet the same again to follow the Fibonacci sequence. If you register another win, your bet rises to £2.
D’Alembert strategy
The D’alembert strategy is a relatively safe playing method and involves you increasing and decreasing your bet by £1, depending on whether you win or lose.
Each time you win, you decrease your stake by £1, and every time you lose, you bet £1 more. If you win the same number of times that you lose, you can look forward to a rewarding payout.
The James Bond strategy
This strategy was developed by James Bond creator Ian Fleming. 007 himself uses it at the Roulette tables in several movies. You need £200 for this betting strategy, but if it works, then you’ll leave the table smiling widely.
Bet £140 on the high numbers (19-36), £50 on the middle numbers (13-18), and £10 on the 0. The risk is that you leave the low numbers uncovered, but if any of your bets come in, you’ll be up a sizable amount.
Conclusion
American Roulette is a very simple game that relies largely on luck. However, like any casino game, a basic knowledge of the rules and betting options can make your experience more profitable.
Test out some of the different strategies until you find one that works for you. To do this, play free American Roulette at UK casino sites with this option, rather than risk your bankroll on experimenting. Once you settle on a strategy, you’ll get to really enjoy the thrill of American Roulette.