Roulette is one of the most iconic and visually thrilling games available on any casino floor.
Knowing which wheel to choose is the single most important decision a roulette player will ever make.
On a European table, the presence of the single zero is what prevents the even-money bets from being perfectly 50/50.
The American wheel, however, features 38 slots: numbers 1 through 36, a single zero, AND a double zero (00).
In addition to the better wheel layout, some European (often called French) tables offer incredibly favorable special rules.
These rules effectively cut the house edge in half again, dropping it to a phenomenally low 1.35% on outside bets.
| Game Type | Special Rules? | House Edge (Even-Money Bets) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard European | No | 2.70% |
| French (La Partage) | Yes (Half-back on Zero) | 1.35% |
There is absolutely no strategic reason to ever play the double-zero variation if a single-zero table is available.