American Roulette – Should We Always Avoid the Double-Zero Variant?

Author: Luke Holmes, Last Updated: 27th October 2023

American Roulette, or double-zero roulette, is notoriously considered one of the worst roulette variations for the player and, therefore, a casino game that you should avoid playing. Well, while this is true for the classic American version of the game, we’re here to tell you that there are some really nice innovative variations that are close to American Roulette that you might enjoy more than any other variation, and furthermore – win sums which are unimaginable when playing other roulette variations. Here are three perfect examples of such games:

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Though these games are not what you would classically consider ‘American Roulette’, they are the closest thing to that game that is actually worth playing. That’s because they offer some additional opportunities for a win and an interesting theme. But in order to fully appreciate why we’re recommending these three more unconventional games and not some classic variation, you need to know the reasons why American Roulette has such a bad rep.

Rules, Payouts, Layout and House Edge

American Roulette is particularly popular at the best online casino USA sites. So, the rules of American Roulette are pretty similar to the rules of the European Roulette and the French Roulette gameplay features – you have a spinning wheel with numbered slots in which you throw a small ball to determine the winning number and you have a table with the numbers and number groups on which you can place your bets. Everything is pretty much identical to the other classic variations with one small but crucial difference – you have one additional slot – the double zero slot. This makes the advantage of the casino almost twice as big – while in European Roulette rules the house edge is merely 2.7%, American Roulette has a house edge of 5.26%. The American Roulette RTP is also slightly lower. Also, it means that you can bet on 38 numbered slots and not on 37.

Something else that sets apart American Roulette from the other classic variations is the roulette wheel numbers sequence. Since here we have two zero slots, the numbers are arranged in different way – starting from the zero clockwise they are: 0, 28, 9, 26, 30, 11, 7, 20, 32, 17, 5, 22, 34, 15, 3, 24, 36, 13, 1, 00, 27, 10, 25, 29, 12, 8, 19, 31, 18, 6, 21, 33, 16, 4, 23, 35, 14, 2. There’s also, of course, one additional betting spot on the table – the one for the double zero which is located next to the single zero. Luckily, the best UK roulette bonuses apply to all game variations. Check out the layout of the game, as well as how much each bet pays in the table below:

American Roulette Layout, Bets, Payout and Odds
American Roulette Wheel Type of Bet How Much the Bet Pays: The Odds in Favour of the Player:
American Roulette – Table and Wheel Layout Single Number (Straight) 35:1 2.6316%
Two Numbers (Split) 17:1 5.2632%
Three Numbers (Street, Trio) 11:1 7.8947%
Four Numbers (Corner) 8 to 1 10.5263%
Five Numbers (Basket in US Roulette) 6:1 13.1579%
Six Numbers (Six Line) 5:1 15.7895%
Dozens/Columns 2:1 31.5789%
18 Numbers 1:1 47.3684%
‘Even’ Odds 1:1 47.3684%

If you want to learn more about the differences in the probability to win in roulette, please also check our roulette odds and payouts page. There we take a look not only at the standard roulette bets but also at the probability for a win of the called bets.

Available Classic American Roulette Games

Though it’s the worst possible roulette variant you can play in terms of odds for the player, each casino offers at least one American Roulette game in its classic form. Here are the ones that you can play at the top British roulette sites:

Game Min. Bet Max. Bet Announced Bets Fast Play AutoPlay Mobile Software Where to Play
Neighbours Finales
American Roulette £1 £300 . . . . . Dragonfish 888Casino
High Limit American Roulette £5 £2000 . . . . . Dragonfish 888Casino
American Roulette £1 £1000 . . . . . Playtech Mansion
Premium American Roulette £1 £1000 . . . . . Playtech Mansion
American Roulette £1 £2000 . . . . . Microgaming Griffon
American Roulette £1 £500 . . . . . NetEnt Ladbrokes

All of the above-mentioned games are, in fact, RNG ones. Players that are so advanced as to want to play live dealer games online know all too well to steer clear of American Roulette. Probably that’s exactly why the software houses that offer live dealer games have decided not to invest in live tables that follow the American rules – nobody would play there. American Roulette fans will be able to find this variations at some of the best iSoftBet roulette casinos that also offer generous casino bonuses.

Innovative Roulette Games with 38 Slots

It is true that American Roulette is the worst possible roulette variation but some of its derivatives are actually pretty nice. There are great games that also have an additional slot on the wheel, making them 38 in total, but instead of that being a double zero slot, it might be a bonus or a jackpot slot. A great example for that is the Key Bet Roulette which has the special ‘bonus’ slot that, if won, will take you to a bonus game. In the bonus round, you’ll have the chance to multiply your bet by 50 times or win the Pot – the jackpot which can reach up to 100 times the bet you’ve placed. In case you want to find more attractive gambling opportunities, don’t hesitate to check out the top low stakes roulette casinos in the UK too.

Key Bet Roulette Gameplay

Another game that features 38 slots and, therefore, is quite similar to American Roulette is the other jewel in the portfolio of SG Interactive – Monopoly Roulette. You can play it at many online casino PayPal sites in the US, as well as at other offshore gambling operators. Similarly to Key Bet Roulette, it features a special additional slot which might win you amounts way higher than the ones offered by standard roulette games. Monopoly Roulette features the ‘Hot Properties’ slot which, if won, will take you to a Bonus Game of Monopoly. It’s pretty much a combination of two of the most popular games in the world – Monopoly and Roulette. The game has an RTP of 94.70%. You can learn more about this exciting game in our Monopoly Roulette review.

Mobile-Friendly American Roulette Games

As it is not the most popular game among the players, software providers don’t invest too much time in developing American Roulettes, especially ones that are also mobile-friendly. Still, there are some examples of mobile roulette games that are available at online casinos. For more details, you can check the 888 Casino mobile roulette propositions.

This game doesn’t really stand out with the best graphics and animations but is exactly what you can expect from a mobile-friendly American Roulette. Also, you will be happy to know that the three innovative roulette variations that we’ve recommended as good alternatives to the classic American Roulette variation are also available on mobile.

American Roulette – RTP and Chances to Win

American Roulette is, without a doubt, one of the most popular and interesting roulette games but have you ever wondered what are your chances to win? Theoretically, they could be estimated through the average RTP of the game. American Roulette has an estimated RTP of 94.74%. Therefore, for every £100 wagered, the player can expect a return of £94.74. The aforementioned percentage, however, should only be taken as theoretical orientation, as in practice, the luck factor is an important part of each players’ chances to win. We should also mention that statistically, American Roulette has a slightly lower RTP than European and French Roulette, but this does not necessarily mean that the player would have a lower chance of winning. To reduce your possible losses during the game, however, we recommend you play RNG or Live American Roulette with one of the lucrativе Griffon roulette bonuses or the interesting promotions at Great Britain casino and Grand Mondial Casino.

FAQs Related to American Roulette

If there are still some questions that arise regarding the features of the American Roulette, you can check the section below. Here we have given answers to the most frequently asked questions about American Roulette that other players also ask. The section may help you if you have missed some details about the game.

📈 What is the American Roulette house edge?

Unlike the European Roulette, for example, the American Roulette’s house edge is estimated at 5.26%. This, together with the additional double zero slots is a major difference in the American Roulette rules. This a slight but rather significant element that is in favour of the casino.

💰 How much the single number bet pays in American Roulette?

Among the other specific differences in the American Roulette variations are the single bet number payout which It pays 35:1. The game also offers other types of bets with different ratios. Good news is that you can enjoy all the features on the mobile version of the game too.

♾️ How many games variations the American Roulette has?

American Roulette has several game variations that differ slightly in some details. They vary depending on the software provider and also have different bet limits. The Premium American Roulette, for example, has limits form £1 to £1000, while the High Limit American Roulette from £5 to £2000.

❓ What is the American Roulette RTP?

The return to player rates are an important part of the game features. Together with the other game rules, they can help you make certain calculations or tho predict any possible winnings. The American Roulette RTP is 94.74%, which is reasonably good enough, compared to other roulette variants.

🎰 What is the slots number of the American Roulette?

An interesting feature of this roulette variation is the number of slots. American Roulette has 38 slots, not 37 as in some other roulette variations. There are also some interesting innovative game types with 38 slots that can also attract players’ attention.