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American Roulette – Is It Worth Your Time And Effort Playing? /

American Roulette – Is It Worth Your Time And Effort Playing?

When you compare the European and American roulette wheels, which one is better to play is a no-brainer. With half the house edge, then the European wheel is a much better bet for all gamblers. That extra zero on the US wheel lessens your winning odds considerably. But here's the thing; US players have very little choice as the European wheel is a rarity on US soil. This means that the only wheels your average US gambler has ever played on, are the American ones. With awful odds.

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Reasons to Love American Roulette

Looking at the title of this article you’re probably thinking, “wait what!” Haven’t we always been writing articles saying just how much the American roulette wheel is inferior to the European version? Are we not contradicting our own advice? The short answer is both “yes” and “no.” What we’re really trying to do here is to find the positives with the American version of roulette.

As we previously mentioned, it’s a sensible choice to choose the European or French wheel over the American one. But having said that, it doesn’t mean that the American version of roulette is without any merits whatsoever. Depending on your point of view, there are some factors within the American roulette game that are arguably superior. In fact, you’ll find a sizeable number of players who go to casinos to win the jackpot, yet consider the American roulette wheel the only one worth playing on. So let’s have a look and compare the American wheel with the European one.

European vs American Roulette Wheels

For those of you non-gamblers, the American and European roulette wheels have a major difference between them. The American wheel has an extra zero slot on it which isn’t present on the European version. In real terms, this means that a European roulette wheel has 37 slots in total. These are made up of numbers 1 to 36, plus a single green zero space. On an American wheel, there are 38 numbered slots. Numbers 1 to 36, plus one green zero and also one green double-zero space. So in real terms, you have double the possibility of hitting a zero with the American roulette wheel. This means that for American roulette the house edge is around 5.26%. In sharp contrast, the European version of the house edge is approximately 2.7%. In practical terms, this means that the American roulette wheel has almost double the house edge. Gulp!

The European House Edge is Lower

Then you have to consider that the European version is much more favourable in terms of the house edge. But thanks to the “en prison rule”, many European roulette tables will return up to 50% of the original wager if the ball happens to fall into the zero slots. This reduces the European house edge even more, down to a mere 1.3%. Once you know these numbers, then you’ll be asking yourself why on earth would any gambler want to make use of the American roulette wheel? Then there’s the follow-up question, as to why does the American roulette wheel even exist? To answer these questions, we need to focus on three major factors that affect American roulette. Hint: it’s all down to business.

The Availability of American Roulette

This essentially revolves around a business decision involving all US-based casinos. You have to consider that in America, the European wheel is a rarity. For example, there are something like 180 casinos in Las Vegas. But only 7 of them have a European roulette table. Obviously, casinos are not in the business of choosing jackpot games that will give any advantage to players. So in practical terms, this means that the majority of gamblers who head over to the casino in America, will only ever have access to the American roulette wheel. And if you’ve never gambled anywhere else in the world, then you probably have never come across any other type of roulette wheel. The concept of a single zero is totally alien to you.

So it could be argued that Americans are simply familiar with their own American roulette wheel. And therefore, are ignorant that anything else exists, which could give them possibly better odds. If you want to experience the difference between the roulette wheels, then head over to Bovada Casino. Not only can you try them both out, but as a new player, you’ll receive a monster welcome bonus of 300% up to $3000!

The High Costs of European Roulette

American casinos have another trick up their sleeves to be sure that gamblers don’t start to favour European wheels. After all, the last thing casinos want are gamblers demanding better odds. To ensure that the European wheels remained relatively unknown and played American casinos, they have made the European version much, much more expensive to play.

For example, in all Las Vegas casinos that feature European wheels, you’ll find the table minimum bet is a whopping $25! This Compares with the $5 minimum bet when playing the American version. By the way, this is the same story with US-facing online casinos. This high European minimum bet can be even more than $25. And it works out at more than 500% more expensive than if you had just started with the American roulette wheel.

Even though the odds on the European wheel are 100% better, making the minimum bet so high, it makes the American version the preferred option. Let’s be frank here, most gamblers attending casinos across the United States do not have enough money to play at over $25 per bet.

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American roulette – The Potential for Bigger Prizes

You’ll find that American casinos that offer both versions of the roulette wheel will often go that extra step to ensure that the American version is the one being played most often. This often involves giving slightly bigger prizes to those who are playing on the American roulette wheel. In our humble opinion, this doesn’t justify the elevated house edge. But the undeniable fact is that Americans still happily play on the American version of the roulette wheel. Meaning that they don’t really care.

Tracking Down the Best Online Roulette

If you’re gambling to win the jackpot online, then you can find both versions of the roulette wheel. And they will all offer all sorts of options and incentives to encourage players to play and continue playing. Here at jackpotfinder.com, we decided to take some time out and look at all the different factors you should be looking out for to help you choose the casino best suited to your gambling style and gameplay.

Introductory Bonuses

One of your most important jackpot winning strategies is to always check out the welcome bonuses that are in place for new players. But before you take any, always check the terms and conditions of the website in full. First and foremost, you want to discover their wagering requirements for the bonuses in question. These can sometimes be harsh as to make acquiring the bonus almost impossible.

Licensing and Regulation

Please ensure that the casino you are thinking of playing at has a reputable licence. And that it comes from a reputable licensing authority. Two of the best in the world are the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority. Otherwise, there’s always a chance that you’re risking putting your personal and banking details into the hands of the wrong people. Having a proper licence means that the casino has its games audited for fairness. Along with offering all sorts of safety and security features. This is a very important consideration for players when they’re sharing their personal or banking information online.

American roulette – Range of Games Available

Although you may well have come to the casino to play European or American roulette, we’re sure that there will be some downtime. Use this to see what else they have to offer in terms of other casino games. That’s why it’s important to choose a casino with plenty of gaming options. You never know what you’d like to try, what you’ll find, and what new games you might enjoy. And be sure to check out the live dealer games, as these offer a very similar experience to the bricks and mortar casino.

Quality Customer Support

Customer support isn’t just there for when you have a problem. You should be able to call them up anytime, 24/7, to enquire about any issues or queries you might have about the website you’re playing on. You want to ensure that they are polite, knowledgeable, and can be contacted across multiple channels.

Positive Feedback

Last but not least, we always urge gamblers to spend some time and effort doing research into a casino’s track record. A quick Google search will bring up any number of gambling forums and public social media spaces. Here you should look for gamblers who comment on the casinos they have experienced. This will allow you to ascertain the reputation of the online casino. Ensure that the reviews you’re reading are from real players. And not from visitors or bots who are promoting a website as affiliates.

When you’re gambling in the United States, then your options for playing either the European or French roulette wheel are incredibly limited. That’s because it’s so much harder to find any other wheel than the American roulette one. Nevertheless, if you feel like giving the roulette wheel a spin, visit Bovada Casino. They have a huge selection of casino table games and slots. Also you should play at their live dealer tables. It’s as close to the real casino experience you’re likey to find.

Conclusion: European vs American Roulette Wheels

So, should you stop playing roulette simply because you cannot find a European wheel? We think that would be foolish and unnecessary. There’s so much more to casino games than being obsessed about winning all the time. Like having a good time and being entertained for a few hours. So go ahead and play American roulette. But at the same time, keep one eye on your bankroll.