- One extra pocket nearly doubles the edge, from 2.70% to 5.26%.
- At CA$10 × 40 spins an hour: CA$10.80 vs CA$21.04 per hour.
- Check for 00 on the wheel, or an RTP of 94.74%.
- Online, single-zero tables are easy to find at every brand we list.
One extra green pocket is the entire difference between European and American roulette, and it nearly doubles the price of the game. Because every payout is identical on both wheels, the choice between them is the single biggest decision a roulette player makes — larger than any bet selection and larger than any system.
The numbers
| European | American | |
|---|---|---|
| Pockets | 37 | 38 |
| Zeros | 1 | 2 |
| Straight-up probability | 2.70% | 2.63% |
| Straight-up payout | 35:1 | 35:1 |
| House edge (all standard bets) | 2.70% | 5.26% |
| RTP | 97.30% | 94.74% |
| Worst bet | none (all 2.70%) | Basket, 7.89% |
What it costs per hour in Canada
At CA$10 a spin and 40 spins an hour — a typical live-dealer pace — you wager CA$400 an hour.
- European: CA$400 × 2.70% = CA$10.80 per hour
- American: CA$400 × 5.26% = CA$21.04 per hour
- French with La Partage, even-money bets: CA$400 × 1.35% = CA$5.40 per hour
Over a 3-hour Saturday session that is CA$32 versus CA$63 versus CA$16 — for exactly the same entertainment.
Where you find each wheel
Land-based: most Canadian casinos run double-zero wheels on the main floor. Some — including the high-limit rooms at Casino de Montréal and certain BC properties — offer single-zero tables, often at higher minimums. Ask.
Online, provincially regulated: PlayNow, PlayOLG/Ontario private operators, Loto-Québec online and PlayAlberta all offer European and French RNG tables, with live European roulette from Evolution.
Online, crypto casinos: every brand we track defaults to single-zero live tables. American wheels exist in the RNG lobbies and are easy to avoid.
How to check which wheel you are on
- Look for a green 00 pocket on the wheel or a 00 box on the layout.
- Check the game name: "American Roulette" is honest; "Roulette" without a qualifier could be either.
- Open the game's help panel and read the RTP: 97.30% means single zero, 94.74% means double zero.
Verdict
Never choose American roulette when a single-zero table is available. If you enjoy the pace of a specific dealer or table and it happens to be double-zero, halve your bet size to bring the hourly cost back in line. Try both wheels free on our European and American demos and watch the balance curves.
Try it yourself
Every number in this guide can be checked on the site: spin the European and American demos side by side, run bets through the odds calculator, or test any system in the strategy simulator.
