The Short Answer: No, and the Difference Is the Zero
Walk up to two roulette tables in the same room and you may notice the wheels do not match. One has a single green pocket marked 0. The other has two green pockets, 0 and 00. That difference is not cosmetic. It changes the number of pockets on the wheel, the sequence of numbers around the rim, and the house edge on every bet you can place.
The two main wheel types are the European layout and the American layout. A European wheel has 37 pockets: the numbers 1 through 36 plus a single zero. An American wheel has 38 pockets: the same 1 through 36 plus a single zero and a double zero. The extra pocket is the entire reason the house edge differs between the two formats.
There is also a third format you may encounter, sometimes called a French layout. It uses the same 37-pocket wheel as the European game, but the betting cloth and certain rules around the table differ. We will get to that, because the wheel and the betting layout are two separate things, and new players often confuse them.
What Stays the Same on Every Wheel
Before looking at the differences, it helps to know what every roulette wheel shares. The numbers 1 through 36 are always present. They are always split between red and black, with 18 red numbers and 18 black numbers. The zero pockets are always green. The numbers are arranged so that no two consecutive numbers sit next to each other, and the sequence is designed to balance high and low, odd and even, and red and black as evenly as possible around the rim.
The wheel spins in one direction while a small ball travels in the opposite direction around a track. The ball loses speed, drops onto the wheel, and settles into one of the numbered pockets. The outcome of a spin is determined by where the ball lands, and every pocket has the same physical chance of catching the ball on a fair wheel. That equal chance per pocket is what makes the zero count matter so much.
European, American and French Wheels Compared
The table below sets out the structural differences between the three formats you are most likely to see. Notice that the French and European wheels are identical in pocket count; what changes is the table rules and the names printed on the betting layout.
| Feature | European | American | French |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of pockets | 37 | 38 | 37 |
| Zero pockets | Single zero (0) | Single zero and double zero (0, 00) | Single zero (0) |
| Number sequence on wheel | Distinct European sequence | Distinct American sequence, different from European | Same wheel as European |
| Betting layout language | Usually English or local language | Usually English | Often French terms on the cloth |
| House edge on a straight-up number bet | Lower of the two main formats | Higher, because of the extra pocket | Same as European |
| Special rules sometimes offered | None standard | None standard | La partage or en prison on even-money bets at some tables |
The house edge figures themselves are not printed here because they are not fixed across every casino. What is fixed is the relationship: the American wheel's extra pocket increases the house edge on every bet compared with the European wheel. That relationship holds regardless of the specific percentage a given operator publishes.
The Number Sequence Is Not the Same
Even if two wheels have the same number of pockets, the order of numbers around the rim can differ. The European sequence and the American sequence are not the same arrangement. This matters less for your odds than you might think, because every pocket is equally likely on a fair spin. But the sequence does matter if you study the wheel to track where the ball tends to land, and it matters for understanding why a wheel looks different from the one you saw at another venue.
The sequence is also not something you need to memorise to play. The betting layout, the printed cloth where you place chips, is arranged in numerical order in a grid. The wheel itself is a separate physical object with its own order. New players sometimes assume the numbers run in order around the wheel. They do not, on any standard wheel.
How to Read a Roulette Table Before You Sit Down
When you approach a table, you can identify the wheel type in a few seconds. Look at the wheel itself. If you see a single green pocket marked 0, you are at a European or French table. If you see two green pockets marked 0 and 00, you are at an American table. The betting layout will also show the zero or zeros at the top of the number grid.
The table rules are usually printed on a small sign or on the layout itself. That sign is where you will find the minimum and maximum bet, any special rules like la partage or en prison, and sometimes the payout schedule. Payouts for standard bets are widely standardised, but the table sign is the authoritative source for the table you are at.
One more thing to check before you buy in: the value of the chips. Roulette tables often use special coloured chips that have no denomination printed on them. Each player at the table gets a different colour, and the dealer assigns a value to that colour when you buy in. If you do not know what your chips are worth, ask before you place a bet.
The Main Bet Types and Where the Edge Sits
Roulette bets fall into two broad groups: inside bets and outside bets. Inside bets are placed on the numbered grid and cover specific numbers or small groups of numbers. Outside bets sit around the edge of the layout and cover larger categories: red or black, odd or even, high or low, dozens, and columns.
The table below sets out the common bet types. The payout column shows the standard odds paid on a win. These payouts are the same on European and American wheels, which is exactly why the American wheel's extra pocket hurts the player: you get paid the same amount for a win, but the win is less likely because there is one more losing pocket.
| Bet type | What it covers | Standard payout | Inside or outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | One single number | 35 to 1 | Inside |
| Split | Two adjacent numbers | 17 to 1 | Inside |
| Street | Three numbers in a row | 11 to 1 | Inside |
| Corner | Four numbers meeting at a corner | 8 to 1 | Inside |
| Six line | Six numbers in two adjacent rows | 5 to 1 | Inside |
| Red or black | All red numbers or all black numbers | 1 to 1 | Outside |
| Odd or even | All odd or all even numbers | 1 to 1 | Outside |
| High or low | 1-18 or 19-36 | 1 to 1 | Outside |
| Dozen | 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36 | 2 to 1 | Outside |
| Column | One of the three vertical columns | 2 to 1 | Outside |
Different bets on the same table carry different house edges on the American wheel. The five-number bet covering 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3 is the one to watch: it is only available on the American layout, and it carries a higher edge than the other standard bets. On a European wheel, all standard bets share the same house edge because the single zero is the only pocket not covered by any outside bet.
The Sequence of a Round
A round of roulette runs through a fixed sequence, and knowing it will keep you from making procedural mistakes. First, you buy in. You place cash on the table, never directly into the dealer's hand, and the dealer exchanges it for coloured chips. The dealer announces the value of your colour so the table knows what your chips are worth.
Second, the betting window opens. The dealer will call for bets, and players place chips on the layout. You may place multiple bets in a single round. There is no rule against covering many numbers, but every chip you place is a separate wager with its own payout and its own exposure to the house edge.
Third, the dealer closes betting, usually by announcing that no more bets are allowed and moving a hand over the layout. From that moment, nothing on the table may be touched until the round settles.
Fourth, the dealer spins the wheel and launches the ball. The ball travels opposite the wheel's direction. When it drops and settles, the dealer marks the winning number on the layout with a marker, often called a dolly.
Fifth, the dealer clears losing bets first, then pays winning bets. Your chips stay on the table until the dealer pays you. Do not reach for your winnings while the dolly is on the number; the dealer will push them to you or add them to your stack.
Procedural Mistakes That Cost New Players
The first mistake is buying in at the wrong time. You cannot buy in while the ball is spinning or after the dealer has called no more bets. Wait for the round to settle, then place your cash on the table and ask for chips.
The second mistake is touching chips after the betting window closes. If you move a bet after the dealer calls no more bets, the dealer will stop you, and repeated attempts can get you removed from the table. If you want to change a bet, do it before the call.
The third mistake is confusing the coloured chips with cash-value chips. Roulette colour chips are only valid at that table. When you leave, the dealer converts them back to standard casino chips or cash. If you walk away with colour chips, another table will not accept them.
The fourth mistake is assuming the wheel type does not matter. A player who sits at an American table without noticing the double zero is playing a game with a higher house edge on every bet. The wheel type is the single most important thing to check before you buy in.
What the Wheel Type Does and Does Not Change
The wheel type changes the house edge. It does not change the payouts, which are standard across both main formats. It does not change the physical fairness of the wheel, assuming the wheel is properly maintained and the casino follows its own procedures. It does not change the fact that every spin is independent: the ball has no memory, and a number that has not appeared for fifty spins is not more likely to appear on the next spin.
The wheel type also does not change the basic structure of the game. You place bets, the wheel spins, the ball lands, and winning bets are paid according to the fixed payout schedule. What changes is the number of pockets the ball can land in, and that single difference is enough to alter the long-run expected loss on every wager.
FAQ
How can I tell which roulette wheel I am looking at?
Look at the green pockets. A single green pocket marked 0 means a European or French wheel with 37 pockets. Two green pockets marked 0 and 00 mean an American wheel with 38 pockets. The betting layout will also show the zero or zeros at the top of the number grid.
Does the number sequence around the wheel affect my odds?
No. On a fair wheel, every pocket has the same chance of catching the ball regardless of where it sits in the sequence. The sequence matters for players who study wheel behaviour, but it does not change the probability of any single number appearing on a given spin.
Are the payouts different on an American wheel?
The standard payouts are the same on both main wheel types. A straight-up number pays 35 to 1 on either wheel. The difference is that the American wheel has one extra losing pocket, which means the same payout is harder to hit and the house edge is higher on every bet.
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