Why Roulette is More Popular in Europe

Roulette is a game that was basically developed in Europe. It appeared in the casino in Monte Carlo in 1842 with a single zero on the roulette wheel. This is the European version of roulette with its 2.7% house advantage. When the game came to the United States it was not popular with the Las Vegas casinos . European Roulette, with En Prison is very popular in Europe with systems players, for its leisurely pace and low edge are very appealing. The American version generally moves faster, which is another drawback that compounds the penalty of the higher edge, for it compels players to react faster, to the benefit of the house. But the American versions are not beyond redemption;

They wouldn’t allow the game, until the double zero slot was added to the wheel. This made the house advantage 5.26%. The Vegas free casino games could live with the 5.26% house advantage, but not the 2.7% at that time. Many Vegas casinos now offer both versions of the game.



Even though roulette is still a popular casino table game, it is more popular in Europe than in the United States. There are other games available like bingo, blackjack, baccarat The single zero in the European game made it a more winnable game for the players.The house advantage for American roulette games is 5.26%; for the European version 2.70%, and if the latter has the En Prison rule, that edge is reduced to a very respectable 1.35%. This rule allows you either to surrender half your wager, or leave it there for the next spin. (Your wager is in fact held captive).


The game in Europe is considered an exciting and elegant game. All kinds of people are attracted to its play. The existence of the internet and online casinos has exposed many more Americans to both versions of the game. The only difference between the free bingo games is the extra double zero entry on the American wheel. The European game is much more winnable with its more favorable house advantage.

The winner in this competition is European Roulette, which has half the house edge of the American counterparts, and, with a certain rule in effect, that (lower) edge can be cut in half yet again. But we are not without hope, for many of the online casinos offer the European version, although the ones with the wagering options printed in French may take some getting used to. And, there are some casinos in the U.S. which offer European Roulette, but these usually have very high bet minimums. One exception to this is the Monte Carlo casino in Las Vegas, which offers European Roulette with $10 minimums during non-peak periods.