The Zero Is Just Another Number, Until It Is Not
You are standing at the table, chips in hand, and you want to put money on the green pocket. The first thing to understand is that zero is a number like any other on the wheel when it comes to placing the bet, but it is not like any other number when it comes to the odds. On a European wheel, zero is one of 37 pockets. On an American wheel, zero and double zero are two of 38. That extra pocket is the single biggest difference between the two layouts, and it changes the rate at which every bet on the table loses over time.
Placing the bet itself is straightforward. You put a chip on the zero, either by placing it directly on the number on the felt or by handing it to the dealer with a clear instruction if the zero is out of your reach. The dealer will place it for you. The bet is called a straight-up bet, and it pays 35 to 1 when the ball lands in the zero pocket. That payout is the same on both wheel types. What changes is how often you can expect the ball to land there.
What a Straight-Up Bet on Zero Is
A straight-up bet is a wager on a single number. You are betting that the ball will come to rest in that exact pocket and no other. The payout of 35 to 1 is fixed by the table rules, not by the casino's mood or the time of day. If you bet one unit and win, you receive 35 units in winnings plus your original unit back, for a total of 36 units returned to you.
The reason the payout is 35 to 1 rather than 36 to 1 or 37 to 1 is the house edge. On a European wheel with 37 pockets, a fair payout for a single number would be 36 to 1, because there are 36 losing pockets for every winning one. The table pays 35 to 1 instead. That one-unit shortfall on every winning bet is the mathematical advantage the operator holds. On an American wheel with 38 pockets, the same 35 to 1 payout applies, but now there are 37 losing pockets. The shortfall is larger, which is why the house edge on an American straight-up bet is higher than on a European one.
| Wheel type | Pockets | Zero pockets | Straight-up payout | Effect on house edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European | 37 | 1 (single zero) | 35 to 1 | Lower house edge on the same bet |
| American | 38 | 2 (0 and 00) | 35 to 1 | Higher house edge on the same bet |
The table above is the core of the decision. The bet is identical in placement and payout. The wheel is not identical, and the difference is entirely in the extra green pocket. If you have a choice between a single-zero and a double-zero table, and you intend to bet on zero, the single-zero table carries the lower edge on that bet.
How to Place the Bet at the Table
The sequence is simple, but the details matter. You buy in first. You place cash on the table, never into the dealer's hand, and the dealer exchanges it for chips. Roulette chips are typically colour-coded to you alone at that table, so two players can use the same colour without confusion. If you are playing at an electronic terminal, you fund the machine and select the zero on the screen instead.
Once you have chips, you place the bet. On a physical table, the zero sits at the top of the layout, above the rows of numbers. You place your chip directly on that space. If you cannot reach, you tell the dealer the amount and the number, and the dealer places it. The dealer will repeat the bet back or place a marker on top of your chips so everyone knows whose bet it is. After the ball is launched, the dealer will call no more bets, and from that moment your wager is locked. When the ball lands, the dealer marks the winning number, clears losing bets, and pays winners. If zero won, you are paid 35 to 1 on that bet and any other bet that included zero.
Other Bets That Include Zero
A straight-up bet is not the only way to cover zero. You can also bet on combinations that include zero, and each has a different payout and a different probability. The simplest is a split bet, where your chip sits on the line between zero and an adjacent number, covering both. On a European layout, zero is adjacent to 1, 2, and 3. On an American layout, zero is adjacent to 1 and 2, and double zero is adjacent to 2 and 3. A split pays 17 to 1.
You can also bet a street, which covers three numbers in a row. On a European layout, the row containing zero is 0, 1, and 2, or 0, 2, and 3 depending on the table arrangement. A street pays 11 to 1. A corner bet, covering four numbers, can include zero on some layouts and pays 8 to 1. Finally, some tables offer a basket bet, which covers zero, double zero, and the top row of numbers, though this bet is specific to certain layouts and carries its own payout. The key point is that every one of these bets has a different house edge, and they are not interchangeable just because they all include zero.
| Bet type | Numbers covered | Payout | What changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight-up on zero | 1 (zero only) | 35 to 1 | Highest payout, lowest probability |
| Split with zero | 2 (zero plus one neighbour) | 17 to 1 | Higher probability, lower payout |
| Street including zero | 3 (zero plus two numbers) | 11 to 1 | Higher probability again |
| Corner including zero | 4 (zero plus three numbers) | 8 to 1 | Higher probability, lower payout |
None of these bets changes the house edge in your favour. They change the shape of the risk: a straight-up bet pays a lot but rarely, while a corner bet pays less but more often. The edge stays with the house on every one of them, and on an American wheel that edge is larger across the board because of the double zero.
What the Zero Does to Other Bets
The zero pocket is not just a number you can bet on. It is also the pocket that makes outside bets lose. If you have bet on red or black, odd or even, or high or low, and the ball lands in zero, those bets lose on most layouts. Some European tables offer a rule where outside bets lose only half their stake when zero lands, or where the bet is held over to the next spin. That rule is called la partage or en prison, and it is printed on the table or in the game rules. It reduces the house edge on those outside bets, but it does not apply to a straight-up bet on zero itself.
This matters because many players use outside bets as a hedge while betting on zero. The logic is that a zero bet pays 35 to 1, so a small chip on zero can offset a losing outside bet. The arithmetic is straightforward: if you bet one unit on red and one unit on zero, and zero lands, you lose the red bet and win 35 units on the zero bet. The net is 34 units. If red lands, you win one unit on red and lose one on zero, netting zero. If black lands, you lose both. The zero bet does not make the outside bet safer. It redistributes the outcomes, and the house edge applies to each bet separately.
Procedural Mistakes New Players Make
The first mistake is placing the chip on the wrong line. A straight-up bet must sit entirely inside the zero's box on the felt. If the chip touches the line between zero and another number, the dealer will read it as a split bet, and you will be paid 17 to 1 instead of 35 to 1 if zero wins. The difference is enormous, and it is the kind of error that is only discovered after the ball lands. Place the chip deliberately, and if the dealer moves it, ask why before the spin.
The second mistake is betting after the dealer has called no more bets. Once the ball is in motion and the call is made, the round is closed. A late chip will be returned or set aside, and you will not have action on that spin. This is not a penalty; it is the table procedure. Wait for the dealer to clear the previous result and open betting for the next round before you place your chip.
The third mistake is assuming the zero is due. The wheel has no memory. A zero that has not appeared for fifty spins is no more likely to appear on the fifty-first spin than it was on the first. Each spin is an independent event, and the probability of zero landing is the same on every spin: one in 37 on a European wheel, one in 38 on an American wheel. No pattern of previous results changes that.
Reading the Table Before You Bet
Before you put a single chip on the felt, read the layout. The table will tell you the wheel type, the minimum and maximum for a straight-up bet, and whether any special rules apply to zero. The minimum is the smallest amount you may bet on a single number, and the maximum is the largest. These limits are printed on a placard at the table. If you intend to bet on zero, you need to know both, because a straight-up bet is the highest-paying bet on the table and some tables cap it lower than outside bets.
The table will also tell you whether the wheel is single-zero or double-zero. On a physical table, the wheel itself is visible, and you can count the green pockets. On an electronic game, the information panel or the rules screen will state the wheel type. If the game does not state it, do not assume. A single-zero wheel and a double-zero wheel look similar at a glance, and the difference is the single largest factor in the edge on your bet.
FAQ
What is the payout for betting on zero in roulette?
A straight-up bet on zero pays 35 to 1, meaning a one-unit bet returns 36 units total when zero wins. The payout is the same on European and American wheels, but the probability of winning is lower on an American wheel because of the double zero.
Can I bet on zero and another number at the same time?
Yes. You can place a straight-up bet on zero and separate bets on other numbers, or you can place a split, street, or corner bet that includes zero. Each bet is settled independently, and each carries its own payout and house edge.
Does the zero count as red or black?
No. The zero is a green pocket and is not part of the red or black outside bets. On most layouts, an outside bet on red, black, odd, even, high, or low loses when the ball lands in zero, unless the table offers a rule that returns or holds half the stake.
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