CasinoMoneys · Est. 2017
American roulette is the dominant version found in Las Vegas and most North American casinos. It differs from European roulette in one critical way: the wheel contains 38 pockets — the numbers 1–36, a single zero (0), and an additional double-zero (00). Both zero pockets are green.
The American wheel uses a different number sequence than European roulette. The official clockwise sequence is:
0 · 28 · 9 · 26 · 30 · 11 · 7 · 20 · 32 · 17 · 5 · 22 · 34 · 15 · 3 · 24 · 36 · 13 · 1 · 00 · 27 · 10 · 25 · 29 · 12 · 8 · 19 · 31 · 18 · 6 · 21 · 33 · 16 · 4 · 23 · 35 · 14 · 2
Notice that 0 and 00 are placed opposite each other on the wheel. The number arrangement is different from European roulette and is designed specifically for the 38-pocket layout.
| Bet Type | Numbers | Win Probability | Payout | House Edge | EV on €100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Up | 1 | 2.632% | 35:1 | 5.263% | -€5.26 |
| Split | 2 | 5.263% | 17:1 | 5.263% | -€5.26 |
| Street | 3 | 7.895% | 11:1 | 5.263% | -€5.26 |
| Corner / Square | 4 | 10.526% | 8:1 | 5.263% | -€5.26 |
| Five Number Bet ⚠️ | 5 | 13.158% | 6:1 | 7.894% | -€7.89 |
| Six Line | 6 | 15.789% | 5:1 | 5.263% | -€5.26 |
| Column | 12 | 31.579% | 2:1 | 5.263% | -€5.26 |
| Dozen | 12 | 31.579% | 2:1 | 5.263% | -€5.26 |
| Red / Black | 18 | 47.368% | 1:1 | 5.263% | -€5.26 |
| Odd / Even | 18 | 47.368% | 1:1 | 5.263% | -€5.26 |
| Low / High | 18 | 47.368% | 1:1 | 5.263% | -€5.26 |
The five-number bet is unique to American roulette. It covers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3, paying 6:1. This sounds appealing but carries a house edge of 7.894% — significantly worse than any other bet on the table. It is the only bet in roulette where the house edge differs from the standard rate for that variant.
There is no strategic reason to place the five-number bet. Every other bet type on an American roulette table has a 5.263% house edge, which is already bad enough.
The addition of a single extra pocket (00) has a dramatic impact over many spins:
| Metric | European (37 pockets) | American (38 pockets) |
|---|---|---|
| House edge | 2.703% | 5.263% |
| Return to player | 97.297% | 94.737% |
| Red/Black win probability | 48.649% | 47.368% |
| Expected loss per 100 €1 spins | €2.70 | €5.26 |
| Expected loss per 1,000 €1 spins | €27.03 | €52.63 |
→ Learn about European roulette and its lower house edge | → Full odds comparison chart
Statistics & Calculations
All probabilities are based on mathematical models assuming a perfectly fair, unbiased roulette wheel with independent spins. Real-world results may deviate. CasinoMoneys makes no warranty regarding accuracy or fitness for any particular purpose.
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