Guide
AK44 European vs American Roulette Compared
Quick Summary
- European wheels have 37 pockets with one zero; American wheels have 38 with two.
- The payouts are the same, so the extra pocket raises the house edge.
- On standard rules, the edge is about 2.7% on European and about 5.26% on American.
- Some European-style tables add zero rules that lower the edge on even-money bets further.
European and American roulette look almost identical on screen. Same numbers, same colours, same payouts. The difference is one small green pocket, and it roughly doubles the house edge. This guide walks through the maths in plain numbers, explains the special zero rules some tables use, and shows how to tell the wheels apart in a lobby. It is a companion to our live roulette checklist, which covers bets and table play.
Before you start: count the zeros
A European wheel has the numbers 1 to 36 plus a single 0, for 37 pockets. An American wheel has 1 to 36 plus 0 and 00, for 38 pockets. The pocket order on the wheel also differs, but that has no effect on the odds.
Look at the top of the betting layout. One green box means a single-zero wheel; two green boxes, labelled 0 and 00, mean a double-zero wheel.
| Feature | European | American |
|---|---|---|
| Pockets | 37 | 38 |
| Zeros | 0 | 0 and 00 |
| Straight-up payout | 35 to 1 | 35 to 1 |
| House edge, standard bets | About 2.7% | About 5.26% |
| Extra bet | None | Five-number bet on some tables |
Why one pocket matters so much
Roulette pays as if the zeros did not exist. A straight-up bet pays 35 to 1, which would be fair on a wheel with 36 pockets. Every zero pocket added is a spin the house wins on almost every bet.
Worked example: bet ৳100 on a single number for 37 spins on a European wheel. On average you hit once, winning ৳3,500 plus your ৳100 stake back, total ৳3,600 returned from ৳3,700 staked. The average loss is ৳100, or about 2.7%. On an American wheel over 38 spins, you get the same ৳3,600 back from ৳3,800 staked. The average loss is ৳200, or about 5.26%.
The five-number bet
Some American tables offer a bet covering 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. It pays 6 to 1. That payout is lower than the fair price for five numbers, and the house edge on this bet is higher than on any other standard roulette bet, at about 7.9%.
If you play on a double-zero wheel, skip this bet.
Zero rules that help the player
Some single-zero tables add rules for even-money bets such as red or black. Under 'la partage', you get half your stake back when the ball lands on zero. Under 'en prison', your stake is held for the next spin instead.
Both rules halve the house edge on even-money bets, to about 1.35%. They do not apply to inside bets. The table information panel says whether either rule is in force.
- La partage: half the even-money stake returned on zero.
- En prison: stake held for one more spin.
- Both: only on even-money bets.
- Neither: standard single-zero edge applies.
Watch out: lookalike tables
Some tables use a single-zero wheel but add side features or multipliers that change the payouts. A table can be 'European' in layout and still carry a different edge because of reduced straight-up payouts.
Before you bet, read the info panel for payouts, not only the wheel. Our table limits guide explains how stake ranges interact with your budget.
Picking a wheel on AK44
We could not confirm which roulette wheels or studios AK44 carries. When you log in, check each roulette table's info panel for the number of zeros, any zero rules and the payout list. If both single- and double-zero tables are available, the single-zero table costs less on average for the same bets.
For other table games, return to the live casino checklist.
Do this
Choose the right wheel in 3 steps
- 1Count the zeros
In the AK44 roulette lobby, check each table's layout for one green zero or two.
- 2Read the zero rules
Open the info panel and look for la partage, en prison or changed straight-up payouts.
- 3Pick the lower edge
Choose a single-zero table with standard payouts, and skip the five-number bet on any double-zero wheel.
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Common questions
Which is better, European or American roulette?
On standard rules, European roulette has the lower house edge, about 2.7% against about 5.26% for American. The payouts are the same, so the single-zero wheel costs less on average for the same bets.
Does the wheel order change the odds?
No. The numbers are arranged differently on European and American wheels, but each pocket has the same chance of being hit. Only the number of pockets changes the house edge.
What is la partage?
La partage is a rule on some single-zero tables that returns half of an even-money stake when the ball lands on zero. It halves the house edge on those bets. Inside bets are not affected.
Why does the five-number bet have a high edge?
It covers 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3 and pays 6 to 1. The fair payout for five numbers out of 38 would be higher. That gap gives it the highest house edge of any standard bet, about 7.9%.
Can a betting system change the edge?
No. The house edge is fixed by the wheel and the payouts. Systems change how stakes rise and fall, not the average cost per bet. Fixed small stakes and a session limit work better.