With its 00, American roulette is a very popular game in casinos in the Philippines, but in Europe it is a game almost exclusive to online casinos. The fact of having a number more than the French or the European makes it more difficult to win with it.
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Aunque la ruleta nació en Francia, no tardó en cruzar el charco y establecerse en América como uno de los juegos de azar más populares. Sin embargo, la propia evolución del juego propició el que se convierte en el rasgo más característico de la ruleta americana: el 00. Esta casilla con el doble cero es exclusiva de esta versión de ruleta, aumentando así la ventaja de la banca. Es una ruleta muy popular en los Estados Unidos, mientras que en Europa su presencia prácticamente se limita a los online casinos.
Basic features of American roulette
We have a roulette wheel with 38 numbers (red and black numbers from 1 to 36, plus 0 and 00 which are green), but its arrangement is radically different from that of the numbers in the European roulette. Thus, 0 and 00 are opposite each other on the wheel, 1 is opposite 2, 3 is opposite 4, and so on, and red numbers are opposite black numbers. This arrangement also means that an even number faces an odd number. American roulette is played standing up, so the table is higher than in French roulette which is played while seated, but both the table and the layout are smaller.
To play American roulette, the same cloth as in the European version is used, with the even money bets on one side of the table. This arrangement of bets on red/black, even/odd, and high/low is due to the fact that the dealer occupies the other side of the table. It's also worth noting that American roulette uses colored chips, each identifying a player, which can also have a value. Finally, it should be mentioned that the RTP of American roulette is 94.75%, slightly lower than that of its French and European counterparts.
american roulette rules
The mechanism of American Roulette is very simple: the player must guess where the metallic ball thrown by the croupier will fall, and for this, they can make several types of bets, either on a specific number or on a series of numbers. If the ball falls on that number or the circumstances the player bet on are met (for example, an even number), the bet is a winner. If not, it is a loser.
When we make a simple bet and the ball lands on 0 or 00, the bet is considered lost. This is an advantage that casinos have and a disadvantage for players compared to other types of roulette, but it is also the characteristic element of American roulette. This is a rule applied in casinos in the Philippines, although it is worth noting that there are some online casinos that offer the possibility of partially recovering the bet to the player. In any case, this is a decision made by the casino that goes against the spirit of American roulette.
Where to play American roulette
If you want to play American roulette in a physical casino, it's most likely that you'll have to travel to the Philippines, since French and European roulettes dominate practically the entire market. However, American roulette is a regular at online casinos, so you just have to go to the roulette section of your preferred online casino or gaming hall and check the availability of American roulette.
Beyond conventional American roulette, we find variations such as American premium, gold, multiplayer, etc., games with higher prizes, higher betting limits, etc. It is very important not to confuse American roulette with the wrongly named "single 0 American roulette", which is nothing more than European roulette. An American roulette always has 38 numbers including 00, anything else is not American roulette.
Differences between American roulette and French and European roulette
Logically, the major difference between American roulette and French and European roulettes is that American roulette has one more number, 00, which affects many other aspects of the game. For example, the RTP of American roulette is lower, and the arrangement of numbers on the roulette wheel is also different, with consecutive numbers facing each other compared to the more random arrangement of European and French roulettes.
With one additional number, the layout is also different. However, it is important to note that the only difference between the layout of American and European roulette is the presence of the 00, while in the case of French roulette, the differences are greater. For example, on the layout of American roulette, only outside bets are allowed on one side, while on the French roulette, they are allowed on both sides. Finally, it should be noted that the pace of the American roulette game is faster than that of its French or European counterparts.
Types of American roulette bets
As a general rule, bets - and their payouts - in American roulette are similar to those in European and French roulette. So, we have straight bets (paid 35 to 1), where we bet on a single number; split bets or horse bets (17 to 1), in which two numbers are covered; street or line bets (11 to 1), which covers three consecutive numbers on the table; corner or square bets (8 to 1), which covers four numbers that share a corner on the table) or six-line bets (5 to 1), covering the six numbers of two adjacent lines.
We can also bet on columns or dozens (2 to 1), covering 12 numbers, or make simple bets (2 to 1), such as betting on red/black, even/odd or high/low, which covers 18 digits, half of those on the table not including 0 and 00. However, American roulette has an exclusive bet that is not found in other types of roulette due to the exclusive presence of 00: the five numbers (8 to 1), which covers numbers 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3.
Strategies and tricks to play American roulette
Is there a foolproof strategy or trick to play American roulette and win? The answer is no, as we are talking about a game of chance. In the French and European versions of the game, an almost always successful strategy is to keep our bet on simple bets, but the presence of 00 in American roulette and the absence of the En Prison and Le Partage rules reduces its effectiveness.
Something similar can be said about strategies like La Martingala - doubling the bet after losing - or the D'Alembert method - adding one unit if we lose and subtracting it if we win - strategies that could work in the long run but require a large bankroll. These two strategies are the most recommended, although their inverse versions can also be found. In any case, none of them is a guarantee of success.
But if we talk about American roulette, we have to mention the strategy of betting on 0 and 00, or alternatively, making bets such as the Five Number Bet which covers those two numbers. It is a strategy based on conspiracy theories that say if 0 and 00 come up frequently, it's because the roulette is rigged to favor the house in simple bets and increase the incidence of these two numbers in the game. Needless to say, this is a strategy without any basis, since if it were true, it would go against the fair play criteria and the roulette tables would be shut down.