American Roulette Mentioned to Casino Players

American Roulette is one of the classic variations of the King of Casino Games that has more than stood the test of time. It takes the European version of the game and adds a few twists of its own.

Played online, the iconic wheel and betting table are brought to life in lifelike graphics, animations, and sound effects.

The two biggest differences between the American and European variations of the centuries-old game is the American’s addition of the double zero or 00 to the wheel, and its allowance of a bet called the Top Line Bet.

Basics of Playing American Roulette

To the inexperienced, the wheel and betting table of online American Roulette, as well as the reputation that often precedes, can be daunting. This is mostly smoke and mirrors.

On closer inspection, the game is actually quite simple. Basically, players bet on the colour and/or number of the wheel pocket in which they think the ball will come to rest once the wheel has stopped spinning.

The game allows for many different betting options, including Outside bets, which make for fairly broad betting and better odds, and Inside bets, which can be far more tricky than Outside bets.

Playing online editions of American Roulette by reputable software developers is usually as simple as setting the value of the chips, selecting the appropriate betting area on the table, and then selecting the Spin or Play button.

The wheel will be spun and, once it has come to rest, the winning colour and number will be announced. If the player has won, they will be paid out.

American Roulette’s Double Zero

One of the most noticeable differences between American Roulette and other versions is the wheel’s double zero. When the King of Casino Games developed in France in the 17th century, the wheel had 37 numbered pockets. One of those pockets was numbered zero, while the rest were numbered from one to 36.

It wasn’t long before the game spread from the Old World to the New, and after it had arrived in the USA, an extra zero pocket, the double zero, was added to the wheel, bringing the number of pockets up to 38.

European and French Roulette still make use of the wheel with 37 pockets.

The addition of the extra zero to the wheel in American Roulette had two main effects. The first was an increase of the house edge, which means the casino has a slight advantage over players. The second was an increase in betting options and, by extension, winning opportunities for players.

A Few American Roulette Bets

The different bets that can be placed in a game of online American Roulette can generally be classed as either Outside bets or Inside bets. Of these, the Outside bets are better suited to beginners and inexperienced players, and feature much better odds.

Examples of Outside bets include High or Low, Odds or Evens, Columns or Rows, and Red or Black.

Inside bets tend to be far more specific, such as Betting on red 17 or black 7. Players can also group the zero and double zero into a single bet, bet on multiple outcomes, or place a Top Line Bet.

This bet covers the zero, the double zero, one, two, and three, and it usually pays out at six to one. The European variation of Roulette does not feature this betting option.