The American roulette wheel uses a 38-pocket layout with numbers 1 to 36 plus 0 and 00. That extra double zero changes the math; it pushes the long-term house edge on most bets close to 5.26 percent instead of the 2.70 percent typical on a single-zero European wheel.
Some measurable variables—edge, spin rate, and stake velocity—also determine long-term results on American roulette.
The American Roulette Wheel Layout
On a standard double-zero wheel, 0 and 00 sit opposite each other. The remaining numbers alternate red and black around most of the rim while high and low values stay mixed. Neighboring pockets on the wheel differ from neighbors on the felt grid, so simple “section” cover on the layout does not line up with obvious clusters on the rim.
The American roulette wheel and table layout form a single system. Every pocket on the wheel has a matching box on the felt, and chip placement tells the dealer which parts of the wheel a player wants to cover.
The numbered grid runs from 1 to 36 in three columns of twelve, with 0 and 00 at the top. A chip placed directly on a number is a straight-up bet. Chips on lines between numbers or on the corners of boxes group pockets together. Around the grid sit the outside zones for red and black, odd and even, high and low, dozens, and columns.
Live-dealer and online American roulette copy this same layout. A streamed wheel or RNG title still uses the 38-pocket American roulette wheel model and a table that mirrors what appears in a physical pit, just with taps or clicks instead of hand signals.
How to Play American Roulette: Odds and House Edge
The table below shows how the main American roulette bets link pockets, payouts, and house edge. Figures assume a double-zero wheel with standard Las Vegas odds and no special rules such as half-back on zero.
Bet type Numbers covered Payout Hit probability House edge Expected loss over 100 spins at $5 | Straight-up 1 35:1 1/38 ≈ 2.63% ≈ 5.26% ≈ $1.38 | Split 2 17:1 2/38 ≈ 5.26% ≈ 5.26% ≈ $1.38 | Street (row of 3) 3 11:1 3/38 ≈ 7.89% ≈ 5.26% ≈ $1.38 | Corner (4) 4 8:1 4/38 ≈ 10.53% ≈ 5.26% ≈ $1.38 | Line (6) 6 5:1 6/38 ≈ 15.79% ≈ 5.26% ≈ $1.38 | Dozen or column (12) 12 2:1 12/38 ≈ 31.58% ≈ 5.26% ≈ $1.38 | Red/black, odd/even, high/low (18) 18 1:1 18/38 ≈ 47.37% ≈ 5.26% ≈ $1.38 | Five-number “basket” (0, 00, 1, 2, 3) 5 6:1 5/38 ≈ 13.16% ≈ 7.89% ≈ $2.08 |
Almost every standard bet on an American roulette wheel shares the same 5.26 percent edge. The exception is the five-number basket, which covers 5 of 38 pockets yet pays only 6 to 1. Its expected value for a one-unit stake is
(5/38 × 6) − (33/38 × 1) = (30 − 33) / 38 ≈ −3/38 ≈ −7.89%
The presence of 0 and 00 creates 38 outcomes while payouts treat the game as if it had 36. Every green result sweeps away even-money bets and most inside bets; that gap between true probability and the posted payout table is the house edge.
Triple-zero and Special American Roulette Rules
Some Bitcoin roulette casinos now offer triple-zero wheels with 0, 00, and 000. The payout schedule usually matches double-zero roulette, but the game has 39 pockets. That change lifts the house edge on standard bets to about 7.69 percent.
Single-zero roulette keeps one green pocket and the same payouts, so European layouts sit near a 2.70 percent edge on most bets. Rules such as la partage or half-back on zero can cut that to about 1.35 percent on even-money wagers when a spin ends in zero and the house either returns or holds half the stake.
Two players who each make a $10 red bet for 100 spins face very different long-term expectations:
- On an American roulette wheel at 5.26 percent edge, expected loss sits near $52.60.
- On a triple-zero game at 7.69 percent edge, expected loss rises to about $76.90.
- On a la-partage-style single-zero game at roughly 1.35 percent edge, expected loss drops to about $13.50.
Same stake, same bet type, completely different cost profile driven only by wheel structure and rules.
Theoretical Edge vs Real Results
The 5.26 percent figure describes the built-in edge on most American roulette game bets under perfect randomness and a balanced mix of wagers. Real casino data shows how players actually perform on those wheels.
Expressed as expectation, each $1 in roulette handle yields $0.17 in observed win versus $0.05 under theory — a rough Expected Hold Ratio ≈ 3.2 × the theoretical edge, confirming the disparity between model and live data.
In the Nevada Gaming Win 2024 report compiled from Nevada Gaming Control Board revenue data, statewide roulette recorded a win percentage of roughly 17 percent across 430 to 440 reported units — more than three times the 5.26 percent theoretical edge built into the 38-pocket wheel.
The gap likely reflects a mix of factors: triple-zero adoption at some properties, heavy use of high-edge wagers such as the basket bet, and betting patterns that chase streaks or concentrate action in volatile zones.
Roulette also generates a larger share of table revenue than its footprint alone would suggest, especially where live pits, stadium setups, and online lobbies feed the same game category. In practice, the modest theoretical edge turns into a strong earner because of how players use the American roulette wheel.
Inside and Outside Bets
Inside and outside zones show how the wheel splits into risk bands.
Inside bets sit on the number grid. A straight-up covers a single integer from 1 to 36 or one of the green pockets. A split straddles a line between two neighbors on the felt. A street runs along a row of three, a corner touches four numbers at a shared corner, and a line bet links two adjacent rows for six-number coverage. These bets trade narrow coverage for high payouts.
Outside bets frame that grid and cover larger sections of the wheel. Red and black, odd and even, and high and low each reach 18 of the 38 pockets. Dozens and columns cover 12 numbers each with 2-to-1 payouts. These wagers trigger more often and deliver smaller returns on hits yet carry the same long-term edge as most inside bets on an American roulette wheel.
That parity matters. A red or black wager does not carry a lower percentage edge than a corner bet under standard rules; both sit near the 5.26 percent house advantage. What changes is hit rate, volatility, and how quickly a stack swings up or down across a session.
At a 5.26 percent house edge, every $1,000 cycled through any standard bet on the American roulette wheel implies about $52.60 in expected loss — identical for red/black or straight-up wagers; only variance differs.
How to Win on American Roulette?
No staking system removes the edge that comes from the 38-pocket structure and the payout schedule. American roulette wheel strategy focuses on rule selection, exposure management, and staying away from the worst bets.
- Prioritise lower-edge variants: A double-zero wheel already gives the house a bigger share than single-zero formats. Triple-zero wheels raise that cost again without improving payouts.
- Avoid the basket bet: The five-number basket on 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3 reads as a convenient way to cover a busy section at the top of the layout. The 7.89 percent edge makes it the worst standard bet on the American wheel. Over 1,000 spins at $5 per spin, that edge translates into a long-run average loss near $394 on basket bets compared to about $263 on standard 5.26 percent wagers at the same stake.
- Match stake, speed, and edge: Spin rate matters as much as posted edge. A live pit that averages 45 spins per hour at $5 per spin and a 5.26 percent edge produces an expected loss near $11.85 for that hour. An online RNG game at 120 spins per hour with the same stake and edge pushes expected loss above $31 for the same time window.
Live, Hybrid, and Online American Roulette Formats
Live roulette in state-regulated US casinos runs at a measured pace because dealers handle chip buy-ins, payouts, and spin procedures under surveillance.
Online lobbies split American roulette into live-dealer streams and RNG tables. Live streams mirror pit tables with real wheels, game histories on screen, and chat tools. RNG formats use software to generate outcomes, reach spin counts well over 100 per hour, and often allow stakes below one dollar, which makes bankroll sizing more flexible.
Hybrid stadium setups link a physical wheel to many digital terminals, with each station listing limits and rule notes such as triple-zero status or side bets before any wager goes down.
Playing Responsibly on an American Roulette Table
Understanding the structure of the American roulette wheel does not turn it into a positive-value game.
Over a 100-spin session at $5 per bet, even an optimal sequence on a 5.26 percent American roulette wheel carries an expected loss of $26 to $27, which shows why roulette is best treated as entertainment, not income.
The edge is fixed by the combination of pockets and payouts. Math and regulator data help set expectations and guide table selection, stake sizing, and session length.
Gambling should stay optional entertainment, not a source of stress; any player worried about control can reach the National Council on Problem Gambling helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
