The Single Pocket That Changes Everything
You are standing at a roulette table and the wheel has an extra green pocket marked 00. That one pocket is the entire answer to your question. European roulette runs on a wheel with 37 pockets: the numbers 1 through 36 plus a single zero. American roulette, the layout many players call "0 roulette" because of the double zero, runs on 38 pockets: the same 1 through 36, a single zero, and a double zero. Everything else about the two games looks nearly identical at first glance, but that extra pocket quietly changes the arithmetic on every bet you place.
The reason it matters is that the zero pockets are where the house collects its advantage. When the ball lands in a green pocket, most outside bets—red or black, odd or even, high or low—lose outright. On a European wheel, the single zero is the only pocket that does this. On an American wheel, both the 0 and the 00 do it. You are not imagining the difference; the American layout gives the house two green pockets working against you instead of one.
What the Wheel Looks Like
Before you sit down, it helps to know what you are looking at. Both wheels alternate red and black pockets, but the arrangement of the numbers differs, and the green pockets are the giveaway. A European wheel places the single zero between 32 and 26, usually in a green pocket marked simply 0. An American wheel places the 0 and the 00 opposite each other, with the double zero sitting between 2 and 14 on most layouts.
The betting felt matches the wheel. A European table shows a single zero at the head of the number grid. An American table shows both 0 and 00 at the head. If you are ever unsure which game you are playing, look at the felt before you put chips down. The wheel and the felt always agree.
| Feature | European Roulette | American Roulette |
|---|---|---|
| Total pockets | 37 | 38 |
| Zero pockets | One (0) | Two (0 and 00) |
| House edge on most outside bets | Lower | Higher |
| Common table rule | La partage or en prison on some tables | Rarely offered |
| What to check first | Single zero on felt | 0 and 00 on felt |
How the Extra Zero Changes the House Edge
House edge is the mathematical advantage the operator holds on a given game, expressed as a percentage of each wager. House edge and RTP are complements: they sum to 100% for the same game. On a European wheel, the single zero means the house keeps an edge on most outside bets that is lower than on an American wheel, where the 0 and the 00 both work for the house. The exact percentage depends on the bet, but the relationship is fixed: the American layout always carries a higher edge on the same bet than the European layout.
This does not mean you will lose on every spin, and it does not mean the American wheel is rigged. It means that over a very large number of spins, the house keeps a larger share of the total wagered on an American wheel than on a European one. The difference shows up slowly, but it is real. If you have a choice between two tables and the only visible difference is the second zero, the European layout is the one that takes less from you over time.
How a Round Plays Out
The sequence is the same on both wheels. You buy in at the table, the dealer exchanges your cash for roulette chips, and you place bets on the felt. The dealer spins the wheel in one direction and launches the ball in the other. When the ball drops into a pocket, the dealer marks the winning number, clears losing bets, and pays winners. Then the next round begins.
What changes between the two games is not the flow but the settlement. A straight-up bet on a single number pays 35 to 1 on both wheels, but the presence of the extra zero means the American wheel has more pockets that beat that bet. The payout looks generous either way, yet the true odds of hitting a single number are 36 to 1 on a European wheel and 37 to 1 on an American wheel. The payout stays at 35 to 1 in both cases, which is exactly how the house edge is built in.
Bet Types and Where the Edge Sits
Roulette bets fall into two broad groups. Inside bets sit on the number grid and cover specific numbers or small groups of them. Outside bets sit around the grid and cover larger categories like red or black, odd or even, or the first dozen. Each bet type carries its own house edge, and on an American wheel every one of them is higher than its European counterpart because of the double zero.
| Bet | What It Covers | Payout | Edge on European Wheel | Edge on American Wheel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | One number | 35 to 1 | Lower | Higher |
| Split | Two adjacent numbers | 17 to 1 | Lower | Higher |
| Street | Three numbers in a row | 11 to 1 | Lower | Higher |
| Corner | Four numbers in a block | 8 to 1 | Lower | Higher |
| Red or black | 18 numbers of one colour | 1 to 1 | Lower | Higher |
| Odd or even | 18 numbers | 1 to 1 | Lower | Higher |
The table does not list exact percentages because the precise edge depends on the rule set in use, including whether the table offers a rule like la partage or en prison on even-money bets. What holds across all rule sets is the direction of the difference: the American wheel always carries the higher edge on the same bet. If you want the exact figure for the table you are playing, ask the dealer or check the table's posted rules, but the comparison between the two wheels does not change.
Rule Variants That Soften the Zero
Some European tables offer a rule that changes what happens when the ball lands in zero on an even-money bet. La partage returns half your stake immediately. En prison leaves your bet in place for the next spin, and if it wins you get the stake back without the winnings. Both rules reduce the house edge on those even-money bets. American tables rarely offer either rule, which widens the gap between the two games even further.
If you see a European table with one of these rules posted, it is worth reading the exact wording. The rule applies only to even-money outside bets, not to inside bets, and the dealer can tell you which bets qualify. The rule does not make the game profitable; it lowers the expected rate of loss on a specific group of bets under specific conditions.
What New Players Get Wrong
The first mistake is not checking which wheel they are sitting at. A player who assumes every roulette table is the same may place the same bets on an American layout without realising the extra zero is working against them. The fix is simple: look at the felt and the wheel before you buy in.
The second mistake is treating the 0 and 00 as just two more numbers. They are not. On most outside bets, the green pockets lose everything. A player who thinks red or black is a coin flip is ignoring the fact that the ball can land in a pocket that is neither red nor black. The green pockets are exactly where the house edge lives.
The third mistake is chasing a single number because the payout is large. A straight-up bet pays 35 to 1, but the true odds of hitting it are worse than the payout, and on an American wheel they are worse still. No bet on either wheel changes the built-in edge. The choice of wheel and the choice of bet only change how fast you lose on average, not whether the house holds an advantage.
FAQ
Is European roulette always the better choice?
On the same bet under the same rule set, yes, because the single zero gives the house a smaller edge than the double zero. But the better choice also depends on what is available where you are, the table minimums, and whether a European table offers a rule like la partage. The wheel type is one factor, not the whole decision.
Does the double zero change the payouts?
No. The payout for a straight-up bet remains 35 to 1 on both wheels, and the payouts for other bets stay the same as well. What changes is the number of pockets that can beat your bet, which is why the house edge rises on the American layout even though the payouts look identical.
Can I bet on the zero itself?
Yes. The zero is a number like any other on the inside grid, and on an American wheel the double zero is also available. A straight-up bet on either zero pays 35 to 1. Betting on the zero does not reduce the house edge; it is simply another inside bet with the same payout and the same unfavourable true odds as any other single number.
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