If you only care about one thing, the answer is simple: European roulette gives you better odds than American roulette. European roulette carries a house edge of about 2.70%, while American roulette roughly doubles that to 5.26%. The games look almost identical and pay out exactly the same amounts, so the difference comes down to a single extra pocket on the American wheel. This guide explains how that one pocket changes your odds, what it costs over time, and how a third version — French roulette — can lower the edge even further.
Before we compare them, a quick definition. The house edge is the average percentage of each bet the casino expects to keep over the long run. A 2.70% edge means that, across thousands of spins, a player loses on average NZ$2.70 of every NZ$100 wagered. It is a long-term average, not what happens on any single spin.
Key Facts
- European roulette: single zero, 37 pockets, 2.70% house edge on all bets.
- American roulette: single zero plus double zero, 38 pockets, 5.26% house edge on most bets.
- French roulette: single zero with La Partage or En Prison, about 1.35% edge on even-money bets.
- Payouts are identical on European and American wheels — a single number pays 35 to 1 on both.
- Worst bet: the American-only five-number bet (0, 00, 1, 2, 3) at a 7.89% house edge.
The short answer: European roulette has the better odds
Every standard roulette bet on a European wheel faces a 2.70% house edge. Every equivalent bet on an American wheel faces 5.26% — and one American-only bet is even worse (more on that below). Because the payouts are the same on both wheels, there is no trade-off: the lower edge of European roulette is simply better value for the player. If a casino offers both, the European table is the stronger choice on the numbers alone.
The reason is the wheel layout, not the payouts, so it helps to see how the two wheels differ.
How the wheels differ: single zero vs double zero
A roulette wheel is divided into numbered pockets — the slots the ball can land in. The numbers 1 to 36 appear on both wheels. The only difference is how many green zero pockets sit alongside them.
European roulette (37 pockets)
A European wheel has the numbers 1 to 36 plus a single green zero (0), for 37 pockets in total. When you bet on a single number you have a 1-in-37 chance of winning. That one green pocket is where the house edge comes from.
American roulette (38 pockets)
An American wheel adds a second green pocket — the double zero (00) — next to the single zero. That gives it 38 pockets: 1 to 36, plus 0 and 00. A single-number bet now wins only 1 time in 38. The extra pocket does not change what you get paid when you win; it just adds another way to lose, and that is enough to double the house edge.
House edge explained: 2.70% vs 5.26%
Roulette payouts are calculated as if the wheel had only 36 numbers. A winning single-number bet pays 35 to 1, which would be a perfectly fair game on a 36-pocket wheel. The green zero pockets are the numbers the payouts ignore, and that gap is the casino’s margin:
- European wheel: 1 untaxed green pocket out of 37 → 1 ÷ 37 = 2.70% house edge on virtually every bet.
- American wheel: 2 untaxed green pockets out of 38 → 2 ÷ 38 = 5.26% house edge on virtually every bet.
So a second green pocket does not add a little to the edge — it almost doubles it, from 2.70% to 5.26%. The maths behind roulette odds is the same logic you see across casino games; our full breakdown of the wheel, the table and the bet types is in the guide to how to play roulette.
Comparison
| Feature | European | American | French |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green pockets | 0 only | 0 and 00 | 0 only |
| Total pockets | 37 | 38 | 37 |
| House edge (most bets) | 2.70% | 5.26% | 2.70% |
| House edge (even-money bets) | 2.70% | 5.26% | ~1.35% (La Partage / En Prison) |
| Single-number payout | 35 to 1 | 35 to 1 | 35 to 1 |
| Extra high-edge bet | None | Five-number bet (7.89%) | None |
The payouts are identical — so why does it matter?
A common surprise for new players is that both wheels pay exactly the same. A single number pays 35 to 1 on either wheel; red/black pays even money (1 to 1) on either wheel. Nothing in the payout table rewards you for taking the worse odds of the American game.
That is precisely why the choice of wheel matters. You are being paid the same prize for a lower chance of winning. On a single-number bet the true odds are 36 to 1 on a European wheel and 37 to 1 on an American wheel, yet both pay only 35 to 1. The shortfall is bigger on the American table, which is the house edge in action.
What the house edge costs you over time
The percentage sounds small, but it compounds with every spin. Imagine betting NZ$5 a spin at a table that averages 40 spins an hour — NZ$200 wagered per hour:
- European roulette (2.70%): expected loss of about NZ$5.40 an hour.
- American roulette (5.26%): expected loss of about NZ$10.52 an hour.
Over a three-hour session that is roughly NZ$16 versus NZ$32 of expected loss for the same bets and the same payouts. None of this guarantees any individual result — you can win or lose far more in a single session — but across many spins the American wheel is designed to take close to twice as much. For comparison, the same “lower edge is better” logic is why a game like blackjack basic strategy chart play can bring the house edge under 1%, and why slow, low house-edge games stretch a bankroll further than fast, high-edge ones.
French roulette and the La Partage rule: the lowest edge of all
There is a third version worth knowing about. French roulette uses the same single-zero wheel as European roulette (37 pockets), but adds a player-friendly rule on even-money bets — the bets on red/black, odd/even and 1-18/19-36 that pay 1 to 1.
- La Partage: if the ball lands on zero, you lose only half of an even-money bet instead of the whole stake.
- En Prison: a variation where the bet is “imprisoned” for one more spin to try to win it back, rather than being half-returned immediately.
Either rule roughly halves the house edge on those even-money bets to about 1.35% — better than European and far better than American. The catch: the reduction applies only to even-money bets, and only if the table actually uses one of these rules. A table labelled “French” without La Partage or En Prison is just European roulette at 2.70%.
Watch out for the five-number bet and mislabelled wheels
Two things can quietly make American roulette worse than its headline 5.26%:
- The five-number bet: an American-only wager covering 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. It carries a 7.89% house edge — the worst bet on any roulette table. There is no reason to place it.
- Disguised double-zero wheels: some tables are presented as “European” layouts but still spin a wheel with both 0 and 00. Always confirm the wheel has a single green pocket before you assume you are getting the 2.70% edge.
Which should you play, and where NZ players find European roulette
On the numbers, the order is clear: French roulette (on even-money bets) is best, European roulette is next, and American roulette is the most expensive to play. If all you want is the better odds, choose a single-zero wheel and avoid American tables and the five-number bet.
Single-zero European roulette is the standard at most online and live casino tables available to New Zealand players, with real dealers streaming the spin in real time. American (double-zero) tables turn up mainly as a themed alternative. When you are choosing where to play, the house edge is one of the clearest signals of fair value a game can give you — the same way knowing the true odds matters for games such as Keno strategy. For a broader look at the regulated market, see our overview of a trusted online casino in New Zealand.
Responsible gambling
Roulette is a game of chance with a built-in house edge, which means the odds always favour the casino over time. No bet type, wheel or system changes that; a lower house edge reduces your expected loss but never removes it, and past spins have no effect on future ones. Treat any money wagered as entertainment you can afford to lose, set limits before you play, and never chase losses.
Online casino gambling in New Zealand is restricted to adults of legal gambling age. Under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 the government is introducing a licensing system for online operators, which is being phased in and is not expected to be fully operational until 2027. If gambling is causing harm to you or someone you know, free, confidential support is available 24/7 from the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655 or by texting 8006, and you can read more on our responsible gambling page.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which has better odds, European or American roulette?
European roulette has the better odds. It carries a house edge of about 2.70%, compared with 5.26% on American roulette, while both games pay out exactly the same. If both are offered, the European (single-zero) table is the better value on the numbers.
Why does American roulette have a worse house edge?
Because it has an extra green pocket. An American wheel adds a double zero (00) alongside the single zero, giving 38 pockets instead of 37. Payouts are still calculated as if there were only 36 numbers, so the second green pocket almost doubles the house edge to 5.26%.
Are the payouts different between the two versions?
No. The payouts are identical. A single number pays 35 to 1 and an even-money bet pays 1 to 1 on both wheels. The only difference is your chance of winning, which is lower on the American wheel because of the extra pocket.
What is French roulette and is it better?
French roulette uses the same single-zero wheel as European roulette but adds the La Partage or En Prison rule. When the ball lands on zero you lose only half (or get another chance to recover) an even-money bet, which cuts the house edge on those bets to about 1.35% — the lowest of the three. It only helps even-money bets, and only on tables that actually use the rule.
Can I play European roulette in New Zealand?
Yes. Single-zero European roulette is the standard version at online and live-dealer tables available to New Zealand players. Under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 the country is moving to a licensed online casino market, a change being phased in through 2026 and 2027. Always play within your limits and only with money you can afford to lose.