From the grand Monte Carlo casino, to the lavish streets of Vegas, and even in some local casinos all over the world, you will always find one staple: roulette. The red and black wheel with numbered pockets decorates the halls of some of the most grandiose casinos, as well as the average gambling halls. It was only a matter of time before game developers brought us an online version.

In the early 2000s, online roulette first blew up in the mainstream. This was the era when Wi-Fi was first introduced to the average household, giving players an opportunity to test out online roulette at christchurchcasino.com and other platforms. The first thing that they learned was that there are different versions of the classic game. In this article, we’d like to examine how you can play American and French roulette online.

French Roulette

The term “roulette” is rooted in the French language. It means little circle, and it is quite an apt name for this incredible game. But the reason the game carries a French name is because it originated in French casinos centuries ago. To this day, the original version of roulette is often called “French roulette.” Some may also refer to it as European roulette, but at its core, it is the same game.

French roulette is likely the game that most players are familiar with. It uses a wheel that is comprised of 37 pockets. Eighteen of these pockets are red, eighteen are black, and one extra pocket is green, labelled with “0.” Most of the time, French roulette has an RTP between 97 and 98%. It is one of the most popular games in casinos all over the world.

American Roulette

The American version of the game arose in Las Vegas, during the early 20th century. On the surface, American roulette does not differ from the French version. Both use the same wheel, the same table, and rely on the same rules of engagement. So, then why do we make a distinction? Well, it is because one needs to closer inspect the wheel itself, to find the difference between French and American roulette.

In American roulette, the wheel has 38 pockets, rather than the standard 37. There is an additional green pocket marked with a double zero. Does this play a huge role in the gameplay? No, however, it does significantly impact the RTP. American roulette has an average RTP of 94% to 95%. That means the house edge is nearly doubled from that of the French version.

Playing Them Online

The good news is that, whether you like the riskier challenge of American roulette or the mellower option of French roulette, you can find both versions online. In some instances, online casinos will even let you choose between the two games. If not, then certainly the game will specify whether it is using the American rules, or the older, and much more noteworthy French ones. Whatever the case may be, it the number one rule is to stay safe, and have fun.