The House Edge in Roulette: Probabilities for the Player
Roulette is a game of chance, but there’s maths behind every spin. The house edge, a small advantage for the casino, is always there. Knowing how it works is a key part of playing roulette.
This guide explains what the house edge in roulette means and how it varies between different roulette versions. You’ll also learn how to calculate it and why no strategy can overcome it.
What Is Meant By the House Edge?
The house edge is the built-in edge that casinos have over time. In roulette, it’s the percentage of each bet that the casino expects to keep in the long run. This is tied to the roulette casino advantage, which varies depending on the game you play.
The house edge isn’t about the game being rigged – it’s a mathematical fact of roulette. While short-term results can go for the player, in the long run, the house will win (statistically).
The House Edge in Each Version of Roulette
Knowing the house edge in each version of roulette is key to making decisions at the table. Here’s how it breaks down for each version:
- American roulette: American roulette has 38 pockets: 1-36, 0 and 00. The extra 00 increases the house edge so that it’s 5.26%. For every £100 bet, the house will win £5.26. This is less player-friendly than the European version, but is found in many casinos.
- European roulette: European roulette has 37 pockets: 1-36 and 0. No “00” means that the house edge is 2.7%, making it more player-friendly. The house edge in European roulette is better, which is why many players prefer this version.
- French roulette: French roulette uses the same 37-pocket wheel as European roulette but has unique rules such as La Partage and En Prison. These rules apply when you make even-money bets (such as red/black or odd/even), and the ball lands on 0. With La Partage, you lose half your bet. With En Prison, you get to keep your bet ‘in prison’ for the next spin. These rules can reduce the house edge on even-money bets to 1.35%, making French roulette the most player-friendly option.
The Impact of the House Edge for the Player in the Long Term
In roulette, this small percentage means that the longer you play, the more you will lose a portion of your bets based on the statistics.
For example, in European roulette, which has a house edge of 2.7%, a player betting £10 per spin for 100 spins will lose on average £27. In American roulette, which has a higher house edge, the expected loss is £52.60 over the same 100 spins. These are theoretical, and actual results will vary with chance playing a part. However, over thousands of spins, the results will be close to these averages.
How to Calculate the House Edge
The house edge on roulette is the casino’s advantage measured by comparing payouts to actual odds. It’s simpler than it sounds.
Take a straight-up bet in European roulette as an example. You’re betting on one number, which has a 1 in 37 chance of winning (2.7%). The casino pays out 35 to 1 if you win, but the real odds say that it should pay out 36 to 1. This is the 2.7% edge.
Here’s the quick maths: divide the losing probability (36/37) by the total outcomes, and subtract the winning payout from the actual odds. This is the house’s take of your bet.
In other words, the house edge is £2.70 per £100 bet in European roulette. This also gives you £5.26 in American roulette.
Can You Overcome the House Edge?
The short answer is no, you can’t beat the house. Roulette is completely random; each spin is independent, so you can’t predict or control the outcome.
The Martingale method or even money bets may seem like a structured approach, but they don’t change the odds. The house edge is 2.7% in European roulette and 5.26% in American roulette, regardless of how you play. These systems only change how you bet, not the maths of the game.
You may experience a run of wins occasionally, but this is simply what chance is, as with most casino games.
The best way to play roulette is to understand that it’s a game of chance and structure your game around this. Set limits, know the odds and play knowing that the house edge is always there.