american wheel painful

Had a buddy invite me over for some “classic roulette action” last weekend, and I was thinking hey, sure, what’s the worst that could happen? Turns out we were playing on the American wheel. I usually stick to blackjack, so maybe I’m missing something, but wow, those double zeros sneak up on you. Hit my wallet harder than the tax man in April.

Honestly, it feels brutal compared to the European setup. I get that it’s all luck and house edge and all, but does anyone here actually play the American wheel on purpose, or is it just a case of “that’s what the local spot has and you deal with it”? Never felt so betrayed by a green pocket in my life. I know you can’t always pick your poison but still, that extra zero feels like playing with a joker in the deck. Curious how others see it since I left with nothing but crumbs and a story.