What is the difference between European, French and American Roulette?

Updated: February 19, 2025 at 4:09 pm GMT+0
Fact Checked by Scott Mcglynn Scott McGlynn

What is the difference between European, French and American Roulette?

To outsiders, the fact that there are so many roulette formats may seem excessive. It is easy to understand this perspective, as themed and live variations add diversity to typical online casino brands and clutter and extremely popular niche in the gambling sector.

At the heart of this range are three core roulette formats, however, each of which is subsequently adapted to create new and innovative variations. These are the European, French and American formats of the game and these variations have subtle differences that need to be understood by players before they make a selection.

So what exactly are the central differences surrounding these three roulette variations. The American format of the game is perhaps the most unique, given that it is played on an entirely different wheel than the other two. More specifically, the American wheel has an additional, double zero slot, which has a pivotal impact in terms of gameplay and the typical players’ chances of winning.  While the house edge associated with European and French roulette is 2.7%, for example, this rises to 5.2% during American gameplay.

CLAIM UP TO £50 WELCOME BONUS WITH CORAL CASINO

To secure a lower and more competitive house edge, the French and European roulette wheels have a single zero slot. These two formats are more uniform as they are more directly linked in terms of geography and heritage, with the European variation having evolved from the original French game in the 18th century. There is a core difference between these two scarcely distinguishable formats, however, with the French version more likely to include one or both of ‘la partage’ and ‘en prison’ rules.

These are essentially variations of the same rule, which enables players to recover their stake after a wheel spin where the ball lands in the zero groove (provided that the initial wager was placed on evens or odds, high or low, red or black). These rules dictate that the French format of the game is the most popular, as it helps players to minimise risk and optimise their returns over time.

At brands such as Coral Casino, you can access all three of these formats from a single platform. This makes it even more important that you choose the discipline that most suits your philosophy, playing style and level of experience, as the temptation to select a random format can damage your chances of enjoying success over time.

Latest Betting Offers

Check the latest free bets and betting offers from the best betting sites in the UK at Freebets.com.

Midnite Sign-Up Offer - Bet £10 & Get £20 in Free Bets Plus 50 Free Spins
CopyBet Sign-up Offer - Bet £20 and Get £60 in Free Bets
21Luckybet - Bet £20 and Get a £40 Free Bet
See More Betting Offers
Craig Jones

Craig Jones

Content Manager on Freebets. Experienced punter, from back street, smoke filled betting shops in the 2000s, to state of the art, dedicated betting apps of the 2020s. Covering the gambling industry with expert opinion and looking at the latest innovations.

Top Casino Bonuses

William Hill logo
William Hill Casino Sign-up Offer: Get up to £40 Casino Bonus on Big Bass Bonanza
Read Review
ladbrokes casino logo webp
Ladbrokes Casino £30 Welcome Bonus
Read Review
betfred casino logo webp
Betfred Casino - Betfred 200 Free Spins with £10 Stake
Read Review
mr vegas casino logo webp
Mr Vegas Bonus Code - Get 100% up to £200
Read Review
Hollywoodbets logo
Hollywoodbets Casino Review & Welcome Bonus
Read Review