House Advantage Roulette
The zero space (s) represent the house edge. If there were none, it would be an even money game. The house advantage in single zero roulette is 2.7% and for the double zero game it is 5.26%. Roulette House Advantage. Here are the base house edge advantages in percentage for each roulette game: American Roulette House Edge: 5.26% due to double zero slots; European Roulette House Edge: 2.7% due to single zero slot; French Roulette House Edge: 1.35% due to half back rule (for even money bets only) The Best House Edge In Roulette For.
- The exception here is the five numbers bet where, in American roulette, the house edge is 7.89%. The special rules such as En Prison, Surrender etc. Usually reduce the house advantage with the equal chance bets till 1,35% in European roulette and till 2,63% in the American variant of the game.
- The house edge on a 00 roulette wheel is 5.26%. For every $1 million that's bet at the roulette tables in a casino, the management expects to pocket a profit of slightly more than $50,000.
A house advantage in roulette or in any casino game (also known as house edge, house average or expected value) is the difference between the player’s true odds and the payouts for the bets he/she wins. For instance, if a player has placed a bet on one number in American roulette, the probability of him winning the bet is 1/38, while the probability of him losing the bet is 37/38. In other words:
Compared to European roulette, if he places a bet on one number, there is a 1⁄37 chance that he wins the bet and there is 36 out of 37 probability of him losing the bet.
The house advantage depends on the number of zeros on the roulette wheel and this depends on the roulette variant you want to play. A bet is often lost if one or two zeros come up.
Additionally, there is also house edge on inside bets. The reason behind this is that if, for instance, you place a straight bet on single number, there is a 1 out of 38 probability of winning that bet and the payout is set at 35 to 1. To understand how this works, imagine that you have placed €1 wagers on all inside numbers. Having spent €38, winning will get you back 36 times your original bet. The exception here is the five numbers bet where, in American roulette, the house edge is 7.89%.
The special rules such as En Prison, Surrender etc. usually reduce the house advantage with the equal chance bets till 1,35% in European roulette and till 2,63% in the American variant of the game.
Having in mind the different variants of roulette, it is recommended that you play European roulette because it is two times more player-friendly compared to the American variant.
Like any other casino game, roulette holds a house edge, which comes from the green zero pockets.
American Roulette has two green pockets, including a single zero and double zero. These numbers both favor the casino and create a 5.26% house edge on the American wheel.
European Roulette only features a single zero pocket. It has just a 2.70% house advantage as a result.
With each roulette type, casinos have the stronger chance of winning. This situation might seem unfair, but gambling venues wouldn’t offer roulette if they couldn’t profit from it.
Interestingly enough, though, the UK essentially banned the roulette house edge at one point in time. Players were theoretically on even ground with casinos during this time.
Find out more on why UK politicians made this decision along with the reasons for the disappearance of this type of roulette.
History of Roulette in the UK
The Romans were the first ones to play roulette in the UK. Soldiers invented a rudimentary version, where they bet on sections of spinning wagon wheels.
But in the modern era, roulette games didn’t technically begin running in the UK until the 1960s. Before this time, casino games had been barred in the country.
However, the Betting and Gaming Act 1960 opened the way for certain types of wagering. It was designed to allow people to enjoy private gambling, skill games (e.g. bridge), and sports betting.
The legislature’s wording legalized any type of gambling where each player had an equal, or at least favorable, chance of winning. Soon, casinos began springing up to take advantage of this loophole.
These gambling establishments used various means to maneuver around the legal language. For example, they offered roulette games that didn’t have a green space.
Players and the house had an equal chance of winning due to the lack of a zero pocket. But casinos still found ways to make money.
One popular method involved charging gamblers an hourly or session rate to play. Another option was to allow players to act as the bank on a wheel that had one or two zero pockets.
Gambling venues that really wanted to test their luck rolled out French Roulette. This game is played on a European wheel.
But the player and casino technically share the loss on even-money bets when the ball lands on zero (a.k.a. la partage rule). This drops the house advantage down to 1.35%. However, the house edge is still present.
Scotland Yard Takes Action Against London Casinos
British lawmakers didn’t envision a bunch of casinos cropping up when they passed the Betting and Gaming Act 1960. They decided to take action against this trend in 1967.
As a result, Scotland Yard issued a warning that they’d shut down casinos that ran roulette games with one or more green pockets.
The police and politicians didn’t care if the house edge was reduced to 2.70% with a single zero, or 1.35% through la partage. They wanted the zero pockets gone completely.
Gambling establishments were either forced to comply or risk prosecution. Many closed up shop or switched gears and concentrated on legal forms of gambling.
The House Edge Never Truly Went Away
Again, the Betting and Gaming Act only made provisions for certain types of gambling. It wasn’t meant to allow commercial casinos.
But it was poorly worded and gave gambling venues the ability to offer certain types of roulette. In theory, these wheels didn’t have a house advantage due to the lack of a zero.
In truthfulness, though, the house edge never went away. It was always there in some form or another.
If casinos were charging gamblers for session, then they were making money through fees. If they offered players the chance to bank games on zero wheels, then those who weren’t banking faced a house edge.
French Roulette was the most obvious example of a house-banked game at the time. But casinos felt they were in the right by “sharing” the losses when the ball landed on zero.
Confusion Is Cleared With Gaming Act 1968
Parliament realized their original gambling act wasn’t working. So, they went back to the drawing board and came up with the Gaming Act 1968. This legislation allowed casinos in “permitted areas.”
With the Gaming Act, politicians recognized that the state of UK gambling had already changed. Therefore, they sought to minimize the spread of casinos and create a safe and regulated environment.
Casinos were now allowed to run roulette games with one to two green spaces. Other house-banked games were also allowed within reason.
A House Edge Doesn’t Make Winning Impossible
Nowadays, there are no illusions about whether or not casinos have an edge in roulette. Every wheel you see will either have a zero pocket, or both a zero and double-zero pocket.
You may feel like the game is hopeless as a result. However, you still have a chance to win in roulette by following the tips below.
Look for a European Wheel
Earlier, I explained how the American wheel features two zero pockets. With two out of the 38 numbers on this wheel being house-friendly, American Roulette gives the casino a 5.26% edge (2/38).
Therefore, your first task should be finding European Roulette. With just one out of the 37 numbers favoring casinos, this game only has a 2.70% house advantage (1/37).
You can find the European version at a number of land-based casinos in Europe. Unfortunately, this game isn’t as prevalent throughout the rest of the world.
Assuming your local casino doesn’t offer this wheel, then you needn’t worry. European Roulette is widely found at many online casinos.
French Roulette Is Even Better
European Roulette compares favorably to many other casino games regarding your odds. But the French version offers an even better chance of winning.
This game features the la partage rule, which pays half back on even-money bets when the ball falls on zero. As long as you make even money wagers, you’ll enjoy a favorable 1.35% house edge.
The catch, though, is that French Roulette games aren’t in abundance. They’re not even found in European land-based casinos on a regular basis.
However, you can find this game at online casinos with Microgaming and RealTime Gaming (RTG) software. These are two of the biggest online gaming suppliers. Therefore, you shouldn’t have too much trouble enjoying online French Roulette.
Make Bets With Low Volatility to Win More Often
What’s exciting about the rules in roulette is its vast array of bets. This game offers plenty of both “outside” and “inside” wagers.
The latter includes longshot bets, such as single number, split, street, and corner. These wagers are enticing, because they deliver large payouts for a relatively small bet. But they also have lower odds of winning.
Unless you like turning roulette into a lottery, then you should mostly stick to outside wagers. These bets, including columns, dozens, high/low, odd/even, and red/black, give you the best opportunities to win.
You’ll lower volatility if you routinely place outside bets. Low volatility gives you a better chance of preserving your bankroll.
Take Advantage of Rewards and Bonuses
Both land-based and online casinos offer roulette players rewards. You should take advantage of these deals whenever possible.
Brick and mortar casinos feature comp programs and promotions. You need to sign up for the comp program at the player’s desk or online.
You’ll then receive a player’s card, which you can give to the roulette dealer or pit boss to have your play rated.
Internet casinos offer deposit bonuses and VIP rewards. You’ll be able to clear deposit bonuses by playing online roulette in many cases.
As for VIP benefits, these work just like land-based comp programs. The only difference is that the vast majority of your roulette rewards revolve around cashback.
Conclusion
Roulette was illegal in the UK for decades. It was supposed to stay this way after the Betting and Gaming Act was passed.
But entrepreneurs found loopholes in this legislation and used zero-house edge roulette to circumvent the law. They’d either let players bank games or charge a session rate.
The general idea was that gamblers were on even par with casinos. However, the reality is that the average player still lost money due to session fees or other factors.
House Advantage American Roulette
Scotland Yard eventually backed these casinos off with threats. Parliament followed up by passing the Gaming Act 1968.
This law cleared up the confusion and allowed casinos to operate in specific areas. Gambling establishments were finally able to offer roulette with a true house edge.
The 1960s in the UK may have been one of the first times in history that roulette didn’t carry a house advantage. This period was short-lived as the laws changed.
Of course, UK roulette games never truly put players on equal footing. Casinos used various loopholes to continue making their money.
In the end, French Roulette is the only way to truly boost your chances of beating this game. European Roulette is a worthy runner-up in terms of your odds.