Pragmatic Play has added American Roulette to its selection of live dealer roulette games. Americans seem to prefer playing Roulette with a Zero and Double Zero pocket on the wheel, while Europeans prefer single zero Roulette because it offers better returns.
However, American Roulette is widespread, and not just in the United States, where finding a single zero wheel is almost impossible.
You only need to look at the live casino games lobbies to see American Roulette tables with impressive player numbers, so Pragmatic has almost been duty-bound to create this game for fans of its games.
In this review, I’ll explain the differences between European and American Roulette and offer insight into how to play. My Video Review shows the game in action, and I give my thoughts while placing a few bets.
Here are the quick facts and figures about Pragmatic Play’s American Roulette.
American Roulette is a version of Roulette that uses a wheel with thirty-eight numbered pockets, one to thirty-six, a Zero, and a Double Zero.
This version became popular in American land-based casinos in Las Vegas, but it was ironically first developed in Europe. European Roulette now refers to a game with a single zero—go figure!
The RTP of American Roulette is 94.74%, lower than European Roulette’s, at 97.30%. But this doesn’t deter people from playing!
Players love betting on Numbers & Colours and the range of Inside and Outside Bets, hoping they’ve got the winning number covered by one of their chips.
American Roulette follows the standard roulette game sequence.
There are 18 seconds of betting time with plenty of ways to place your bets.
Familiarise yourself with Inside Bets, where the result occurs less frequently but the payouts are higher and Outside Bets, where you have a better chance of winning with lower payouts.
| Bet | Description | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Column | A bet that covers one of the 3 vertical columns. 1-4-7-10-13-16-19-22-25-28-31-34 2-5-8-11-14-17-20-23-26-29-32-35 3-6-9-12-15-18-21-24-27-30-33- 36 | 2-1 |
| 1st 12 (Dozen) | A bet that covers numbers 1 to 12 | 2-1 |
| 2nd 12 (Dozen) | A bet that covers numbers 13-24 | 2-1 |
| 3rd 12 (Dozen) | A bet that covers numbers 25-36 | 2-1 |
| Odd | A bet that covers all odd numbers | 1-1 |
| Even | A bet that covers all even numbers | 1-1 |
| Red | A bet that covers all Red numbers | 1-1 |
| Black | A bet that covers all Black numbers | 1-1 |
| 1-18 | A bet that covers numbers 1 to 18 | 1-1 |
| 19-36 | A bet that covers 19-36 | 1-1 |
| Bets | Description | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Straight Up | A bet on any single number | 35-1 |
| Split | A bet placed on the line between any two numbers, either horizontal or vertical | 17-1 |
| Basket | A bet that covers 0-1-2 or 00-2-3 or 0-00-2 | 11-1 |
| Street | A bet on any 3 horizontal numbers in a row, e.g 1-2-3 or 7-8-9. | 11-1 |
| Corner | A bet placed at the intersection of 4 numbers, e.g 7-8-10-11 or 29-30-32-33. | 8-1 |
| Top Line | A bet covering 0, 00, 1-2-3 | 6-1 |
| 6 Line | A bet covering two adjoining Streets, so 6 numbers are covered. | 5-1 |
Five seconds before betting time closes, the dealer spins the wheel. The spin always starts at the point of the last result, and is always in the opposite direction. The dealer flicks the ball into the rim in the opposite direction from how the wheel is spinning.
Once the ball rests in a numbered pocket, there is a few seconds delay before the result is confirmed. If your bet was successful, you’ll receive a payout.
There are a few differences between American and European Roulette.
Extra Zero
The most important is the extra zero on the wheel, which takes the RTP from 97.30% to 94.74%! The difference the extra zero makes is enormous and one of the primary reasons why you shouldn’t play this version of the game.
The Wheel Layouts are Different
The sequence of numbers from Zero going clockwise around the wheel appears in different orders depending on the version you’re playing.
No Predefined Section Bets
European Roulette provides section bets using the Racetrack, but these have been omitted in American Roulette. If you want to play a section, you must use the neighbour function and decide what part of the wheel you want to cover and how many numbers.
No Special Rules
There’s no option to play the La Partage Rule in American Roulette, where you get half your stake back when you lose an even money bet to a Zero Win.
This is probably the most important question, and you should consider carefully the answer and its potential impact on your gambling.
If you’re a gambler playing Roulette to make a profit, you should avoid American Roulette at all costs. The reduced RTP and increased house edge due to the second zero puts you at a disadvantage compared to playing French or European Roulette.
So your first strategy should be to switch to a European Roulette game.
If you’re just gambling for enjoyment and like the challenge of winning a few bets, you should still ignore this game and play another version.
However, if you’re dead set on playing, here are some helpful ways.
Final Rules to adhere to:
I’m a fan of Auto Play, which helps manage your bankroll and is great if you like playing the same bet time after time. The feature on Pragmatic American Roulette can be configured to play between 5 and 100 games. The downside is that you play every game, and at an average of a game every 45 seconds, it will take about two hours to work itself down to zero from 100.
I think this is too long to play, so I advise playing no more than 10 auto spins before deciding on the next set.
Used sensibly, Auto Play can help you enjoy your sessions more.
The statistics panel and results data displays are familiar to Pragmatic roulette players as the core features are used across all roulette games.
Here’s a quick glimpse of what’s available.
I’m conflicted because on one hand my advice is never to play American Roulette. After all, there are better alternatives in European Roulette. But not withstanding that I’m here to summarise my thoughts on this version of the game.
The bottom line is that this game is presented very well. The statistics panels have all the information you need, and being able to bet using them is a nice bonus.
The game flows well, and the rounds are relatively quick at 45 seconds.
In terms of doing what it says on the tin, it does just that – no more or less.
It’s a game of roulette, with one extra zero.
Neil Walker
I’m Neil Walker, and I created this site to provide information on everything related to Live Dealer Games. I do extensive research, play and test all the games, and author all the content. I’ve appeared in the media and presented at conferences—you can read more about me on my About Page. I’ve been doing this full-time since 2014, and I am trusted for my straightforward reviews and honest opinions.
Where you can find me:
LiveCasinoComparer.com is an independent website that provides information, reviews, and recommendations about gambling at online Live Casinos. There are age & location restrictions on where you can gamble online. Ensure you meet these requirements by referring to the casinos’ Terms & Conditions. You must ensure you comply with all legal requirements for gambling online.
The content of this site is intended for visitors 18+ years of age. You are advised to gamble responsibly. If you are unsure what this means or think you have a problem controlling your gambling, please refer to www.gambleaware.org or www.gamcare.org.uk for further information and guidance.
Copyright © 2025 Live Casino Comparer, All Rights Reserved.
