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The game of Roulette is played the same in both North America and Europe. The two games both consist of a wheel divided into several numbered compartments coloured red, black and green. The wheel is spun in one direction and the ball is released in a manner that causes it to spin in the opposite direction. The ball travels around the wheel several times and then drops into the wheel itself where it bounces around until finally settling in one of the numbered pockets.
Players can place a wager on a single space, on several spaces, or on groups of spaces. If the ball settles in a pocket that contains the number that matches the space or spaces that they have wagered on, either as a single number or part of the group selected the player wins. The wheel also has green pocket(s) that if the ball settles in cause all group bets to lose.
The one major difference between European and American Roulette wheels is the presence of a double zero pocket on the American wheel.
The American wheel has 38 compartments that are numbered 1 to 36, 0 and 00. The European wheel contains 37 compartments numbered 1 to 36 and 0, there is no 00 pocket. The American Roulette wheel with the double zero pocket has a casino edge of 5.26% while the European wheel has a smaller casino advantage of 2.7%.
The European game offers the players even better odds by offering a betting option, called "En Prison" that reduces the house edge to 1.35%.
When the ball lands in the zero (green) pocket the "En Prison" option is offered. The "En Prison" option gives any player who has made an even number bet two options: They can give up one half of the bet, or they can "imprison" the bet. This means that the bet is set aside until the next spin of the wheel. If on the next spin the players bet wins the player's bets are returned but without the usual payoff. If on the next spin the players' bet loses the bet is lost for good. In the rare case when the next spin results in zero the bets remain imprisoned and spinning continues until the winning number is not zero.
This difference in house advantage explains why Roulette is less popular in North America than in the rest of the world. In European casinos Roulette accounts for 50% of total casino revenues, while in North America it accounts for less than 5% of total casino revenues.
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