Best American Roulette Casinos

The standard roulette game found in U.S. casinos is American Roulette. The major difference in American Roulette versus other variations is that American Roulette wheels have double-zero (00) and single-zero spots, whereas other versions have only a single-zero (0). While this may seem like a minor nuance, it actually doubles the house edge. The best option for players from the United States is to play roulette for money at online casinos with a single-zero roulette wheel. We’ve found the best online roulette games for U.S. players and have listed them below.

History of American Roulette

Roulette originated in France in the late 18th century, but would eventually make its way to American casinos and gambling dens in the 1880s. When it first arrived in the United States, the wheel only had slots for numbers 1 through 28, 0, 00, and an American Eagle. Included as a symbol of American liberty, The American Eagle was used as house slot to give the casino a greater edge. This didn't last long, however. Only a few years after its introduction, the Eagle slot was removed, and roulette wheels from then on featured only numbered slots.

As the game made it's way up Mississippi River from Louisiana,  and into the western territories, a few other changes were made. The American wheel would eventually expand to include 36 numbers, similar to the French wheel.

Gambling continued to grow in popularity and by the 1970s there were casinos all over the world offering one variation of roulette or another. These days, there are hundreds of casinos that offer roulette games across the globe. Online casinos have even joined in, most offering a choice between American double zero and European single zero wheels.

An American roulette wheel has 36 numbered slots (labeled 1 through 36), a 0 slot, and a 00 slot, for a total of 38. The layout is set up with two betting areas: inside bets and outside bets. Outside bets allow players to bet on number ranges, colors, evens or odds, and are pretty self explanatory. Inside bets allow players to bet on single numbers or a range of numbers. Bets are made by placing chips at specific positions on the table layout.

American Roulette Compared to other Roulette Variations

The major difference between American roulette and other varieties of the game is the double zero (00) slot. It grants a greater edge to the house and makes it more difficult for players to get a big win. The table layout is sometimes different, as well, with a roulette wheel at the top of the table and a single layout underneath.

French style tables often have the wheel in the center of the table with two layouts on either side, though this style is rarely seen outside Monte Carlo. When possible, avoid roulette tables that have a (00) spot.

The best roulette variations to play are French Roulette and Royale roulette (mainly available online). At a minimum you should look for a European Roulette game (single zero), which cuts the house edge in half.