The American roulette wheel was discovered and perfected in the United States.  As with other things that come from Western culture, the Americans found a way to capitalize on something that has its roots in Europe.  The American game of roulette features the American wheel, which differs from its European counterpart in one important way – it has an added compartment which will reduce the payout to players by 3% over an extended play.

Anyway, both wheels can be found on the Internet today.  Actually, the American version was the predominant wheel when the online casino industry was unveiled in cyberspace nearly eighteen years ago.  These sites endeared themselves to the players and the American version received the backing of the American public, who far and away represented the majority of players at that time.

When the United States government banned Internet gambling in 2006, free online roulette sites began to emerge so that players could still enjoy one of the traditionally popular casino games in the States.   It was at that time that the European wheel began to catch on.  Players began testing out both wheels on free online roulette sites, and soon discovered that the “double zero” compartment found on the American wheel added a 3% advantage to the casino operators. 

It did not take long for real money sites to stick to the European wheel because the American wheel had been exposed as a money-making tool of casino operators on the Internet.   Free online roulette sites allowed players to test out their theories about the two wheels, and played an integral role in the establishment of the European wheel as the premier roulette mechanism today.

If you test out both wheels on free online roulette sites, you will discover that the European wheel has 37 compartments while the American wheel has 38.  Therefore, you should play the European wheel at all times, including your play on free online roulette sites.  Practice makes perfect, so it is important that you practice on the same wheel you will be playing in land-based casinos and online on play-for-pay sites.