The difference between single-zero and double-zero roulette might look small, but it has a noticeable effect on your chances of winning. Both games use the same basic betting options, follow similar rules, and offer almost identical payouts. Yet one additional green pocket changes the mathematical advantage the casino holds over every standard bet.
This is why understanding European Roulette vs American Roulette matters before choosing a table. A bet that pays 35:1 on one wheel pays exactly the same on the other, but the probability of winning isn’t equal. Knowing how the two wheels differ can help you understand roulette odds, compare games, and recognise what you’re risking before placing a wager.
Single Zero vs Double Zero Roulette: Key Differences at a Glance
The easiest way to compare these roulette versions is to look at their wheel layouts, winning probabilities, and house edges.
| Feature | Single-Zero Roulette | Double-Zero Roulette |
| Common name | European Roulette | American Roulette |
| Total pockets | 37 | 38 |
| Green pockets | 0 | 0 and 00 |
| Red numbers | 18 | 18 |
| Black numbers | 18 | 18 |
| Standard house edge | 2.70% | 5.26% |
| Red/black win probability | 48.65% | 47.37% |
| Straight-up bet payout | 35:1 | 35:1 |
| Standard even-money payout | 1:1 | 1:1 |
The most important difference isn’t the payout. It’s the additional losing outcome created by the double zero.
That extra pocket means American roulette has almost twice the standard house edge of European roulette.
How Many Numbers Are on a Roulette Wheel?
One of the most common questions beginners ask is How Many Numbers Are on a Roulette Wheel?
The answer depends on which version you’re playing.
Both European and American wheels contain the numbers 1 through 36. These are divided evenly between 18 red and 18 black pockets.
The difference comes from the green pockets.
European Roulette Wheel: 37 Pockets
The European Roulette Wheel contains numbers 1–36 and one green pocket marked 0.
That creates 37 possible outcomes.
Every pocket has the same probability of being selected on a fair wheel, meaning a wager on any individual number has a 1-in-37 chance of winning.
The numbers are arranged in a specific sequence around the wheel rather than following numerical order.
American Roulette Wheel: 38 Pockets
The American Roulette Wheel contains the same 36 numbered pockets but adds two green positions: 0 and 00.
That brings the total to 38 possible outcomes.
The double-zero pocket doesn’t replace an existing number. It adds another outcome that can cause most standard wagers to lose.
American roulette also uses a different sequence of numbers around the wheel.
However, it’s the additional pocket, rather than the physical number arrangement, that creates the main mathematical difference.
Why One Extra Zero Changes Your Roulette Odds
Imagine placing $10 on red.
On either wheel, there are 18 red pockets. If the ball lands on one of them, you win $10 in profit and receive your original $10 stake.
The payout doesn’t change.
But the total number of possible outcomes does.
On a European wheel, your probability of winning is:
18 ÷ 37 × 100 = 48.65%
On an American wheel, the calculation becomes:
18 ÷ 38 × 100 = 47.37%
You still cover the same 18 numbers, but the additional green pocket reduces your winning probability.
Now consider betting on one specific number, such as 17.
The European probability is approximately 2.70%, while the American probability is around 2.63%.
Although these differences may appear small during one spin, they become more significant when evaluating the casino’s expected advantage over repeated bets.
This is the central reason roulette odds are more favourable on a standard single-zero wheel.
How Casino Odds Work: Understanding the House Edge
To understand How Casino Odds Work, you need to distinguish between the probability of winning and the house edge.
The winning probability tells you how likely your selected outcome is to occur.
The house edge describes the casino’s mathematical advantage over the total money wagered across a large number of bets.
For standard European roulette, the house edge is:
1 ÷ 37 × 100 = 2.70%
For standard American roulette, it becomes:
2 ÷ 38 × 100 = 5.26%
These calculations reflect the effect of the zero pockets under standard roulette payouts.
Let’s put those percentages into a practical example.
Suppose you wager a cumulative $1,000 playing roulette.
On a European table, the theoretical expected loss is approximately $27.
On an American table, the expected loss increases to around $52.63.
That’s a difference of roughly $25.60 for the same total amount wagered.
These figures don’t predict exactly what will happen during your session. You could win, lose more than expected, or finish close to your starting balance.
They simply explain why the casino has a larger long-term advantage on a double-zero wheel.
Do Roulette Payouts Change Between European and American Wheels?
Surprisingly, most standard roulette payouts remain identical across both versions.
The payout depends on how many numbers your bet covers, not whether the wheel contains one or two zeros.
Here’s how the common wagers compare.
| Bet Type | Numbers Covered | Standard Payout |
| Straight-up | 1 | 35:1 |
| Split | 2 | 17:1 |
| Street | 3 | 11:1 |
| Corner | 4 | 8:1 |
| Six-line | 6 | 5:1 |
| Dozen | 12 | 2:1 |
| Column | 12 | 2:1 |
| Red/black | 18 | 1:1 |
| Odd/even | 18 | 1:1 |
For example, a successful $5 straight-up bet returns $175 in profit, plus the original $5 stake, on either standard wheel.
The payout is the same, but the chance of landing on the selected number is slightly lower on American roulette.
That’s why comparing payouts alone can be misleading.
A game may advertise the same potential winnings while offering less favourable probabilities.
Which Roulette Bets Have the Best Winning Chances?
The answer depends on whether you’re looking for a higher probability of winning an individual spin or a smaller mathematical disadvantage.
Even-money bets such as red, black, odd, even, 1–18, and 19–36 cover 18 numbers each.
These provide a greater probability of winning an individual spin than inside bets covering one or two numbers.
However, larger coverage doesn’t automatically mean better mathematical value.
A straight-up bet offers a much smaller winning probability but a larger payout.
On standard European roulette, both straight-up and even-money bets have the same 2.70% house edge.
On American roulette, their standard house edge is 5.26%.
The wheel version therefore matters more than choosing between most standard inside and outside betting options when comparing house edges.
The American Five-Number Bet: An Important Exception
American roulette includes one betting option that deserves special attention.
It’s called the five-number bet, basket bet, or top-line bet.
This wager covers five specific numbers: 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3.
Its standard payout is 6:1.
Since the American wheel contains 38 pockets, the probability of winning is:
5 ÷ 38 × 100 = 13.16%
However, its house edge is approximately 7.89%, which is higher than the standard American roulette house edge of 5.26%.
This happens because the 6:1 payout is less favourable than the true probability would justify.
For someone comparing roulette bets, this is an important exception to the usual rule that standard wagers on the same wheel carry the same house edge.
If you’re learning roulette, don’t assume every bet on the table offers identical mathematical value.
French Roulette: Can a Single-Zero Wheel Offer Better Odds?
There’s another roulette variation worth understanding before deciding which wheel offers more favourable conditions.
French roulette normally uses a single-zero wheel, just like European roulette.
However, some French roulette tables offer special rules that change what happens when the ball lands on zero.
Two common examples are La Partage and En Prison.
La Partage Rule
Under La Partage, a player who places an eligible even-money wager loses only half the stake when the ball lands on zero.
For example, suppose you bet $20 on black.
If the ball lands on zero, you receive $10 back instead of losing the entire $20.
This rule reduces the house edge on eligible even-money bets to approximately 1.35%.
En Prison Rule
En Prison works differently.
When zero appears, an eligible even-money bet can remain on the table for another spin.
Under a common version, if the bet wins on that next spin, the original stake is returned without additional profit. If it loses, the stake is forfeited.
Rules for repeated zeros can vary between games, so players should check the specific table instructions.
Depending on the implementation, En Prison can also provide a lower house edge than standard European roulette.
These special protections generally apply to even-money bets rather than straight-up, split, or other inside wagers.
Does the Wheel Difference Matter in Online Roulette?
Yes. The mathematical difference remains relevant whether you’re playing at a physical table or using an online roulette platform.
Most digital roulette games display the wheel type within the game information or rules menu.
Before selecting a table, look for the number of green pockets.
A single-zero wheel contains 0, while a double-zero wheel contains both 0 and 00.
Live-dealer roulette follows the same underlying probability principles. The dealer operates a physical wheel, while players place bets through a digital interface.
Automated roulette uses software to determine results according to the game’s rules.
Some online games also include bonus features, multipliers, or modified payout structures.
These variations may change the game’s overall mathematical return, so don’t assume every roulette title follows the standard 2.70% or 5.26% house edge.
Always check the game rules and payout information.
Can Betting Strategies Overcome the Double-Zero Disadvantage?
Some players believe that changing their betting pattern can overcome the additional house edge on American roulette.
Popular systems such as Martingale, Fibonacci, and D’Alembert involve adjusting wager sizes after wins or losses.
However, these systems don’t change the probability of the ball landing on any particular pocket.
For example, if red appears five times consecutively on a European wheel, black still has an 18-in-37 chance of appearing on the following spin.
The wheel doesn’t remember previous results.
Doubling your wager after a loss may increase the amount of money you risk, but it doesn’t reduce the house edge.
Similarly, switching between inside and outside bets doesn’t eliminate the mathematical disadvantage.
The most meaningful difference comes from choosing a wheel with fewer zero pockets and understanding any special rules that apply.
Which Roulette Wheel Should Beginners Choose?
From a mathematical perspective, standard single-zero European roulette is generally more favourable than double-zero American roulette.
It offers a lower house edge without reducing the standard payouts.
For eligible even-money bets, French roulette with La Partage may provide an additional mathematical advantage.
However, a lower house edge doesn’t guarantee that an individual session will produce a profit.
Before playing, consider the minimum and maximum betting limits, game speed, rules, and amount you’re comfortable spending.
A lower minimum can help you keep individual stakes smaller, while a fixed session budget can prevent spending beyond your intended amount.
It’s also worth remembering that every spin is independent. Neither previous results nor betting systems can reliably predict the next outcome.
Final Thoughts
When comparing European Roulette vs American Roulette, the difference comes down to one additional green pocket.
European roulette has 37 possible outcomes and a standard house edge of 2.70%. American roulette has 38 outcomes and a standard house edge of 5.26%.
Both games offer similar betting choices and standard payouts, but the double-zero wheel gives the casino a larger mathematical advantage.
For players who want to understand roulette before wagering, checking the wheel type is one of the most useful starting points.
The goal isn’t to find a roulette game that guarantees wins. No standard version does that. Instead, it’s to understand the probabilities, recognise how different rules affect expected returns, and make informed decisions about spending and risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the main difference between single-zero and double-zero roulette?
Single-zero roulette contains 37 pockets, including one green zero. Double-zero roulette contains 38 pockets, including 0 and 00. The additional pocket increases the standard house edge from 2.70% to 5.26%.
2. Is European roulette better than American roulette?
European roulette generally offers more favourable mathematical odds because it has fewer pockets and a lower standard house edge. However, neither version guarantees a winning outcome.
3. How many numbers are on a European roulette wheel?
A European roulette wheel has 37 pockets, numbered 0 through 36. It includes 18 red numbers, 18 black numbers, and one green zero.
4. How many numbers are on an American roulette wheel?
An American roulette wheel has 38 pockets, including numbers 1 through 36, a single zero, and a double zero.
5. Does the double zero affect red and black bets?
Yes. Red and black each cover 18 numbers. Their winning probability is approximately 48.65% on European roulette and 47.37% on American roulette.
6. Are payouts higher on American roulette?
No. Standard payouts are generally identical. A straight-up bet pays 35:1 on both wheels, but American roulette has a slightly lower probability of winning that bet.
7. What is the house edge on French roulette?
Standard French roulette has a 2.70% house edge. When La Partage applies, eligible even-money bets have a reduced house edge of approximately 1.35%.
8. Can a roulette strategy reduce the house edge?
Betting systems cannot change the underlying house edge of a standard roulette game. Choosing a single-zero wheel or qualifying for favourable special rules can reduce the mathematical disadvantage, but losses remain possible.
