The extra pocket changes the arithmetic before you place a bet
Walk up to an American roulette table and the first thing you notice is the wheel itself. The numbers run in a different order from the European layout, and there is an extra green pocket marked with a double zero. That second zero is not a cosmetic difference. It changes the payout structure on every single wager, and it is the main reason two roulette tables in the same room can have different odds.
Roulette wheels are built around a fixed set of numbered pockets. A European wheel has 37 pockets: the numbers 1 through 36 plus a single zero. An American wheel has 38: the same numbers 1 through 36, a single zero, and a double zero. The zero pockets are green and are not part of the red or black outside bets. When the ball lands in either zero pocket, most outside wagers lose outright.
The double zero exists because of how the game travelled. Early roulette wheels in Europe carried the single zero. When the game crossed the Atlantic, some operators added a second zero pocket as a way to increase the house's mathematical advantage without changing the payouts printed on the table. The player still receives the same odds on a winning number, but the wheel now has one more losing pocket for most bets. That is the whole story: the second zero is a structural change to the wheel, not a rule change to the payouts.
How the two wheels compare
The difference between the two layouts is easiest to see when you compare the same bet on each wheel. The payouts are identical. The number of pockets is not.
| Feature | European wheel | American wheel |
|---|---|---|
| Total pockets | 37 | 38 |
| Zero pockets | Single zero only | Single zero and double zero |
| Straight-up payout | Same printed odds | Same printed odds |
| Winning pockets for a straight-up bet | 1 of 37 | 1 of 38 |
| Outside bet exposure to zero | Loses on single zero | Loses on both zero pockets |
The payout for a straight-up bet is the same on both wheels. But the chance of that bet winning is lower on the American layout because the wheel has one more pocket that does not pay. That is the mechanism behind the higher house edge on the American game. The operator does not need to change the payout table; the wheel itself does the work.
A round from buy-in to settlement
Understanding the double zero is easier when you follow one complete round. You buy in at the table, and the dealer converts your cash into roulette chips. These chips are often a distinct colour so the dealer can tell which stack belongs to which player. You place your chips on the layout before the dealer closes betting. The dealer spins the wheel in one direction and sends the ball travelling the other way. When the ball drops into a pocket, the dealer marks the winning number and settles every bet on the layout.
Losing wagers are collected first. Winning wagers are then paid according to the printed odds. A straight-up bet on the winning number pays a fixed multiple of the stake. A split bet, which covers two adjacent numbers, pays a smaller multiple. The odds are printed on the table or available in the game information panel, and they do not change between spins. What changes is which pocket the ball finds.
On an American wheel, the ball can find either of two green pockets. If you have bet on red or black, odd or even, or high or low, both zero pockets count as losing outcomes. Some tables offer a rule variation that softens this, but it is not standard. The table rules posted at the venue or in the game's information screen state exactly how zero pockets are treated for outside bets.
What the main bet types mean
Roulette bets fall into two broad groups. Inside bets cover specific numbers or small clusters of numbers. Outside bets cover large sections of the wheel. The two groups have different payout structures and different rates of loss, and the difference between them is not a matter of skill. It is a matter of how many pockets each bet covers.
| Bet type | What it covers | How it behaves |
|---|---|---|
| Straight-up | One number | Highest payout, lowest hit frequency |
| Split | Two adjacent numbers | Moderate payout, modest hit frequency |
| Street | Three numbers in a row | Lower payout than a split, higher hit frequency |
| Corner | Four numbers meeting at a corner | Lower payout again, broader coverage |
| Red or black | All pockets of one colour | Near-even payout, loses on both zero pockets |
| Odd or even | All odd or all even numbers | Near-even payout, loses on both zero pockets |
Every bet on the table carries the same underlying disadvantage on an American wheel, because every bet is settled against a wheel with 38 pockets and two green zeros. The payout for each bet type is set so that the house edge remains in place across the layout. Choosing between bets changes how often you win and how much you receive when you do; it does not change the built-in edge of the wheel.
Why the second zero matters more than it looks
A single extra pocket can seem trivial. But the effect compounds across a session. The double zero does not just add one more losing number for straight-up bets. It adds one more losing outcome for every outside bet, which are the bets most players make most often. A player betting red or black on an American wheel faces two green pockets that defeat the bet, while the same player on a European wheel faces only one.
This does not mean the American game is unwinnable in any given session. Roulette is a game of independent spins, and short-run results can diverge sharply from the long-run average. The important point is that the second zero changes the long-run rate of loss on every bet, and it does so without changing a single payout printed on the layout. When you compare two roulette tables, the number of zero pockets is one of the first things to check, because it tells you which arithmetic you are playing against.
Procedural mistakes that cost new players
The double zero is a design feature, not a trap you can outsmart. But new players make a handful of procedural errors that have nothing to do with the wheel and everything to do with how the table runs.
The first is betting after the dealer has closed wagering. The dealer announces when no more bets are allowed, and any chip placed after that point will be returned or pushed back. The second is misreading the payout for a bet. A straight-up bet pays a high multiple, but it covers only one pocket. A player who expects a frequent return from a single-number bet has misread what the bet is for. The third is assuming that a colour or number is due because it has not appeared recently. Each spin is independent, and the wheel has no memory. A number that has not appeared in a long time is no more likely to appear on the next spin than any other number.
The fourth mistake is specific to the American layout: forgetting that both zero pockets defeat outside bets. A player who bets red and sees the ball land in the double zero has lost the bet, even though the pocket is not black. The table rules and the printed layout both make this clear, but it is easy to forget in the moment.
Where to find the exact rules for your table
Roulette rule variations exist, and they can change how a bet settles. Some tables offer a rule where outside bets lose only half their stake on a zero, or where the player's stake is held for the next spin. These variations are not universal, and they are always stated in the table rules. Before you buy in, check the posted rules at the table or the information panel in the online game. The number of zero pockets, the treatment of outside bets on zero, and the payout table are the three things that define the arithmetic you are playing against.
The double zero on an American wheel is not a secret and not a scam. It is a deliberate design choice that increases the house edge by adding a losing pocket to every spin. Once you see it that way, the rest of the game is just procedure: buy in, place your bets before the close, and let the wheel settle the round.
FAQ
Does the double zero change the payout for a winning number?
No. The payout for a straight-up bet is the same on an American wheel as on a European wheel. What changes is the chance of the bet winning, because the wheel has one more pocket that does not pay. The payout table stays the same; the number of losing pockets increases.
Why do some players prefer the European wheel?
Players who compare the two layouts often prefer the European wheel because it has one fewer zero pocket. That single difference means outside bets lose on one green pocket instead of two, which changes the long-run rate of loss on every wager. The preference is about arithmetic, not about the wheel being easier to beat.
Can I bet on the zero pockets themselves?
Yes. The zero and double zero are numbers on the layout, and you can place a straight-up bet on either one. You can also cover them as part of a split or other inside bet. Betting on a zero pocket does not change the house edge; it simply makes the zero a winning number for that specific wager instead of a losing one.
Play responsibly
Gambling should be treated as paid entertainment, never as a way to earn income or recover losses. 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738)
18+ or 21+ depending on where you are; follow the minimum age that applies to you.
This article is general information about how these mechanics work. It is not legal advice and not a recommendation to gamble or to use any particular operator. Availability and legality differ by jurisdiction — check the rules that apply where you are.