Complete Guide to American Roulette | How to Win Real Money in 2024
Do you want to learn how to beat the American roulette? A game of chance played with just a numbered spinning wheel and a ball, roulette is immensely popular around the world. As classic of a casino game as poker, it is one of the oldest casino games still played, and its popularity shows no sign of slowing down. Since its introduction, different variants of the game have cropped up, such as American roulette. If you want to learn how to play American roulette and how to beat the odds, then MySer-Gambling is the perfect choice!
American Roulette: A Brief History
It is said that the modern version of online roulette was introduced in the 18th century in France by a mathematician. Over the next century, it spread throughout Europe and was brought to the United States by French immigrants. Casino operators in New Orleans, unhappy with the low house edge, added the double zero to the wheel to increase the odds in favor of the house. Thus, American roulette was born.
American roulette is one of the most popular forms of roulette played. In North America, most casinos only have double zero tables, and it is rare to find European variants. Its domain of popularity has caught on abroad and spread to Asia, as well as the United Kingdom. You’ll now find American roulette played in Macau and other hot casino locales. However, in Europe, the preferred form remains European and French roulette. The question then becomes how different are the two and how to play roulette to win? While at first glance, the difference is miniscule, in context, it makes a huge difference on the players’ odds.
Differences Between American and European Roulette
The major difference between American roulette and other variants of Roulette is the additional 00 number on the wheel. This difference means that an American roulette wheel has 38 pockets of numbers, rather than the traditional 37 of European variants. Numbers 1 through 36 are randomized and lie on the periphery of the wheel. These are colored with alternating black and red, while numbers zero and double zero are green.
The table layout for American roulette is similar to the European, except there is an additional betting box. This additional box is representative of the additional double zero present in this roulette variant.
In addition, due to the extra double zero present on the wheel for American roulette, the house edge is greater than the European counterpart. For the latter, the house edge is 2.7%, while the former is 5.26%. While numerically, this is a subtle percentage difference, in the world of gambling this is a very significant difference. If a player plays a 5-line bet in American roulette, the house edge increases to 7.89%.
Due to the house edge being nearly double that of European variants, many experienced gamblers avoid American roulette. However, in some cases this may not be possible, as this is the most dominant form in North American land-based casinos. At online casinos, this limiting factor rarely exists, and players have greater flexibility to choose the style that suits their preference.
Set Up and Rules of the Game
In a traditional land-based game of roulette, the outer rim of the wheel is where the ball is spun. Pockets of numbers also line the edge of the wheel and are pockets into which the ball falls into. The wheel and ball spin in opposing directions. When the ball loses momentum, it falls into one of the numbered pockets. A player wins if their bet corresponds with the pocket where the ball lands.
In an online casino, the gameplay is of course digitized unless one is playing a live dealer roulette, but it is rare to find a live American roulette table. This means there is no croupier taking bets and spinning the wheel and ball. Instead, this is all done by the computer. Players will first place bets. If you want to change your bet, press the “Clear” button to clear any placed bets. Hit the “Spin” button to set the wheel and ball in motion. Once the wheel is spun, all bets are locked, and no reversals or changes can be made to any placed bets.
Surrender Rule
In roulette, there are “rules” that benefit the player. In American roulette, this is the “Surrender” rule and increases your odds of winning. At its core, it is essentially identical to the “Le Partage” rule in French Roulette, but with a minor difference.
How it works is if the ball lands on either zero or double zero, players receive half their bet back, while the other half is given to the house. When the surrender rule is in play, the house edge decreases to 2.63%, which is less than the house edge of European variants. American roulette games with this rule are available at online casinos, so take the time to locate these games for increased odds.
Types of American Roulette Bets
For the uninitiated, the most obvious bet type in roulette is a straight bet that is placed on a single number. However, there are many types of bets in a game, each having its own payout odds based on the probability of it landing in a single round.
Bet types are categorized into two types: inside and outside bets. Inside bets are inherently riskier and therefore have greater payout odds. Outside bets are safer and with better odds, but the payouts are much less. It can be generalized that players with greater skill level and experience, place more inside bets. Beginners and the less experienced are better off playing outside bets as they get started and learn the game.
Below is a table depicting the different types of bets in American roulette casino: their names, the description of the bet and how it is placed, and the payout odds. The further away from 1 the ratio of payout odds, the riskier the bet.
Inside Bets
| Bet Type | Bet | Payout Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Straight-Up Bet | Placed on single number | 35:1 |
| Split Bet | Placed on adjacent numbers | 17:1 |
| Street Bet | Placed on row of three numbers | 11:1 |
| Corner Bet | Placed on corner of four numbers | 8:1 |
| Sucker Bet (or Five-Line) | Placed on 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3 | 6:1 |
| Line Bet | Placed on two rows of three numbers | 5:1 |
Outside Bets
| Bet Type | Bet | Payout Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Columns | Placed on an entire column of twelve numbers | 2:1 |
| Dozens | Placed on group of 12 numbers | 2:1 |
| Red/Blacks | Placed on reds or blacks | 1:1 |
| Odds/Evens | Placed on odd or even numbers | 1:1 |
| High/Low | Placed on low numbers (1 through 18) or high numbers (19 through 36) | 1:1 |
Most Popular Strategies for Roulette
While roulette is a game of chance, players can employ a system or strategy to aid in their gameplay. These do not guarantee a payout or win, but they are nonetheless valuable in that they offer a tried-and-true process that offers a structure to play roulette online. The strategies we chose to share are the most common or popular strategies that gamblers use.
Martingale
The Martingale strategy for betting is one of the most popular and well-known. It is a negative progression betting system, which means you increase stakes when you lose.
With each loss, double your bet. The idea is that eventually a losing streak will end, and you will land a win. By doubling your stake with each loss, the win will be significant enough to recoup any losses and hopefully even make a profit.
Grand and Reverse Martingale
With this strategy, there are two variations: the Grand Martingale and Reverse. The Grand is essentially the same but with bigger stakes. The Reverse is the same as the Martingale, but reversed, so doubling your bet with each win.
D’Alembert
The D’Alembert system is similar to the Martingale, but more conservative. It is also a negative progression betting system, but rather than doubling your stake with each loss, you increase by one. And with any wins, you will multiply your stake by one.
Fibonacci
This is also a conservative system, perhaps one of the safest out there. It is a negative progressive system that utilizes the Fibonacci sequence as the guideline for increasing your stake. With each loss, increase your stake to the next number in the sequence. With a win, go back two numbers in the sequence.
James Bond
An homage to the movie, the James Bond is recommended for a short stay at the roulette table and the odds of a win are about 2 to 3, very favorable if you ask us. While the player may choose their own preferred value for their total bet, the original strategy that Bond uses requires £200 for the round. About 70% of your total bet goes to highs, numbers 19 to 36 (£140), 25% is placed on numbers 13 to 18 (£50), and the remaining 5% on the zero (£10).
Ready to Play
There you have it. We have taken an in-depth look at American roulette as it is played in the best online casinos, as well as traditional land-based casinos. By reviewing the history, set-up, rules, and strategy of the game, both amateurs and experienced players are in an empowered place to start playing this exceedingly popular game!
For those who are nervous to start, we recommend trying free American roulette online that are available at most online casinos, or right here at MySer-Gambling! Return to this guide for a review of the basics and information you won’t find anywhere else – we always have detailed reviews of the best online casino games!
FAQ: American Roulette Online
What is the probability of winning in American Roulette online?
It depends on the type of bet you place. A straight-up bet on a single number has the lowest probability at 2.63%, while an even money bet like odds/evens has a probability of 46.37%.
What is the best strategy to play American Roulette?
Unfortunately, there is no specific “best” strategy that we recommend. One can utilize the various strategies we have shared here like Martingale, but ultimately it is up to you and developing your own method and process.
