Are you familiar with the popular game of French Roulette, even though you might have never personally played it inside a brick-and-mortar casino in Las Vegas so far? You wouldn’t be the only one. Whether you are simply curious to know if you would need to buy a plane ticket to France to play the game or you would like to find out what’s the difference between French and American Roulette, read on.
How Popular Is The Game of Roulette in the US?
Roulette can be played in the French, American, and European forms, with lots of variants for each of them. As expected, American Roulette is the most popular type of roulette game played in the US. Is it the version that also, unfortunately, carries the smallest winning odds for players, as the house edge is huge at 5.26%. Compared to other types of casino table games, to say American Roulette odds are not the greatest would be an understatement. However, the little wheel game continues to enjoy large levels of popularity in the country even today, after the first form of a game of roulette was invented in beautiful Paris, France, originally dating back to the 17th century. Both skilled mathematicians and passionate gamblers in Paris soon embraced the game for its rich plethora of outcomes.
Fast forward to 2021, the fun and exciting casino pastime continues to be so frequently played by Americans who like a good punt due to a number of reasons. How frequently? In 2018 alone, more than 45 percent of Americans of the legal age of gambling have engaged in a game of roulette in a casino. Why? Thanks to:
- the mesmerizing wheel-spinning action
- the beautiful, shiny, silvery ball rolling and dropping, preferably on your chosen color and number
- the instant burst of joy and adrenaline experienced when sitting behind a luxurious casino table with attractive croupiers and fine drink around you, seeing the ball land on your number
- the chance to win a significant prize in just a few seconds, once the wheel is done spinning, without having to worry about any complicated strategies or lengthy gameplay
The game is truly one gorgeous treat for your eyes and there is no wonder numerous Hollywood movies have portrayed numerous roulette scenes over the decades. In the world-famous Diamonds Are Forever movie part of the James Bond series, we see Agent 007 played impeccably by Sean Connery getting involved in numerous heated roulette scenes at the Whyte House Mansion Casino. Bond has a very unique roulette strategy that his fans are dying to watch him show off, as the rest of the nail-biting action unfolds.
The attraction for the game is also visible in the large number of mobile roulette games that can be currently accessed on the go. You can easily engage in a captivating game of wrist roulette, with the help of yo
ur favorite smartwatch, be it Apple Watch, Android Wear, Motorola, or Huawei. You can also look for a smartwatch casino that accepts players from the US and choose your favorite variant, be it American, European, or French.
Can You Play European and French Roulette In the US?
The European version of Roulette is far more decent from a house edge point of view, with 2.7%, placing the game at the middle of the ranking in terms of table games. French Roulette counts a house edge of only 1.35%, which is why the game is considered one of the most advantageous as well as highest-paying games at any casino. Can you play French roulette in an American casino? Let’s find out.
French Roulette is played using an European wheel it allows players to use the so-called la partage rule, which is responsible for dropping the house edge to 1.35%. The European wheel counts 37 pockets and that includes the zero pocket, which triggers the 2.7% house edge. The American wheel counts 38 pockets, including the zero and the double zero pockets. The French game is considered a better version of the European game, displaying a 50% cashback when the ball lands on the zero marked pocket. To enjoy more chances of winning, players should focus on making even-money bets.
French roulette started being played in casinos located in France, and it continues to be more predominant here than in any other country on the globe. Nonetheless, you can play it in some parts of Italy, Germany, or Monte Carlo, and less in the US. The country has never truly been the friendliest realm for passionate roulette bettors, but it does offer a limited number of French and European roulette tables, mostly found in Sin City. The game is called Euro there and you can find it at Bellagio, Mirage, ARIA, Treasure Island, MGM Grand, and other casinos, for minimum bets ranging from $50 to $300.
Finally, the game can be played online for much smaller stakes of only $1 per spin, with RTH and Microgaming counting among some of the most popular providers of French roulette games in the industry. Despite its popularity, French Roulette is not on the list of the most addictive phone games.