American Roulette Strategy Guide: Stack the Odds in Your Favour

Whether you’re a seasoned casino player or a beginner, roulette must have been on your radar at some point. It’s one of the industry’s most well-known and most exciting games. American roulette, a 19th-century New Orleans variation of this French game, is particularly popular among modern casino goers.

This game is so widespread that you can find it at most land-based and online gambling establishments. If you’d like to play it, all you need is a working computer or mobile device and a strategy. The following article comprises an overview of American roulette rules, gameplay, features, and tricks that can help you out.

How Does American Roulette Work?

American roulette has all the characteristics of the original version of this game. It makes use of a roulette wheel, a marble ball, and a betting table. Its goal is to predict the number on the wheel where the ball will land. 

Players bet on one or more numbers by placing their chips on designated bet fields on the roulette table. Various bets are available — from single-number and colour bets to combination bets like Street or Column. The dealer controls the flow of the gameplay — as they spin the American roulette wheel, they fling the marble ball in the opposite direction. Once the ball comes to a stop in one of the red or black numbered pockets, they call out the result and pay out the winners.

So, what makes American roulette different from any other roulette game? The answer lies in the wheel. This variation uses a wheel equipped with 38 instead of 37 traditional pockets. The additional pocket is the double zero (00), which grants a new bet type to players — the First Five Numbers bet. This is the American roulette version of the First Four Numbers bet you’d find on the European roulette table. It covers the 00, 0, 1, 2, and 3 slots on the wheel.

Essential Aspects of American Roulette

To fully understand American roulette games, we must consider factors such as house edge, RTP, and bet probability. If you’re unfamiliar with these terms, house edge stands for the fixed advantage the casino has over players in American roulette. On the other hand, RTP — Return to Player — represents the percentage of bets the players can expect to win playing this game over the long haul.

Because of the variations in their wheels, these factors significantly differ between American and European (standard) roulette. The 2.7% advantage players face in the European variant almost doubles with the double zero addition, while the RTP lowers from 97.3% to 94.74%.

The situation isn’t much different regarding bet probability. The double-zero pocket expands all the most popular bets roulette offers — red/black, odd/even, and high/low. Theoretical calculations show it negatively affects your success rate for each of them. In traditional roulette, these bets feature an average winning probability of 48.64%. The 00 pocket in American roulette takes this figure down by almost 2%.

So, what does this data mean for your gameplay? American roulette’s higher house edge and lower RTP and bet probability offer worse winning odds in the long run. The differences may not seem too significant on paper, but you’d notice them over a couple of sessions. 

How to Win at American Roulette

Strategy is the key to making the most of your American roulette playtime, despite the unfavourable odds. Start with the tips and tricks we’ve provided below, and you’ll be well on your way to winning at American roulette. 

• Create a bankroll — Don’t start playing American roulette before you decide on a betting budget. Calculate the amount of money you can set aside for this game and treat it as a gaming fee — cash you can afford to lose. This practice will help you relax and play to your best ability.
• Choose a reliable strategy — The internet is packed with strategies for popular roulette games, as can be read in this article. Browse these tips and use the American roulette game free-play mode in your favourite casino to test the strategies you like best.
• Start with smaller bets — Your betting system should be tailored to your preferences and budget. Still, smaller bets might be a good way to start, regardless of the previous two factors. Your gaming session will last longer, giving you enough space to learn the ropes.

Conclusion

American roulette is one of the most exciting table games you can play at online casinos. It features classic roulette gameplay and a rich betting system, but its double zero pocket throws a spanner in the works. If you’re up for a challenge and enjoy studying and experimenting with strategies, you’ll have a whale of a time with this variant. Pick a game, follow our advice, and give yourself time to practise.