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.

Understanding the Wheel Layouts

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

The American wheel, however, features 38 slots: numbers 1 through 36, a single zero, AND a double zero (00).

• 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

In addition to the better wheel layout, some European (often called French) tables offer incredibly favorable special rules.

The ‘En Prison’ rule allows your even-money bet to remain ‘in prison’ for the next spin if a zero hits, giving you a second chance.

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