Roulette is one of the most iconic and visually thrilling games available on any casino floor.

Knowing which wheel to choose is the single most important decision a roulette player will ever make.

The Extra Number That Changes Everything

On a European table, the presence of the single zero is what prevents the even-money bets from being perfectly 50/50.

That extra double zero on the American wheel might look harmless, but it drastically increases the operator’s profit margin.

• The single zero is the only reason the casino makes a profit on Red/Black or Odd/Even wagers
• Adding a second zero effectively doubles the speed at which you will statistically lose your bankroll
• The visual layout of the numbers on the wheel itself is also completely different between the two versions

The ‘En Prison’ and ‘La Partage’ Rules

Certain high-end European tables utilize the ‘La Partage’ rule, which further reduces the house advantage.

These rules effectively cut the house edge in half again, dropping it to a phenomenally low 1.35% on outside bets.

There is absolutely no strategic reason to ever play the double-zero variation if a single-zero table is available.