American vs. European Roulette: Wheels, Bets, and Payouts

Roulette is one of the easiest casino games to understand at a glance and one of the easiest to misunderstand in detail. A small ball spins around a wheel, lands in a numbered pocket, and bets are settled accordingly. The most important difference between versions is the number of pockets, and it shapes the cost of playing.

The two wheels

A European wheel has 37 pockets: the numbers 1 through 36 and a single zero. An American wheel has 38 pockets, adding a double zero. The numbers are colored red and black in alternating patterns, while the zeros are green.

The arrangement of the numbers around the wheel also differs, but the key point for odds is the extra pocket. Payouts are the same on both wheels, yet the American wheel has one more way for the ball to land, which makes the game costlier. As explained in our overview of house edge, this gap between true odds and payout is exactly what creates the advantage.

Inside bets

Inside bets are placed on the numbered grid and usually carry bigger payouts and smaller chances:

• Straight up: one number, pays 35 to 1.
• Split: two adjacent numbers, pays 17 to 1.
• Street: three numbers in a row, pays 11 to 1.
• Corner: four numbers meeting at a point, pays 8 to 1.
• Six line: two adjacent rows, pays 5 to 1.

With more numbers covered, each wager has a better chance of winning, but the payout shrinks to match.

Outside bets

Outside bets sit around the edge of the layout and cover large groups:

• Red or black, odd or even, low (1 to 18) or high (19 to 36): pay 1 to 1.
• Dozens and columns: cover twelve numbers and pay 2 to 1.

These bets win more often, but zero (and double zero) is not part of any of them. When the ball lands there, outside bets generally lose. Some European venues apply a rule that returns half of an even-money bet when the ball lands on zero; check the posted rules, because this option changes the cost.

Comparing the cost

On a European wheel, the average cost is about 2.7 percent of money wagered on most bets. On an American wheel, it is about 5.26 percent on most bets, roughly double. Some American layouts also offer a five-number bet covering 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3 at 6 to 1, which has a higher cost still at about 7.89 percent. The simplest rule of thumb is to avoid it.

This math is the same whether you place one large wager or many small ones. No pattern of bets changes the average cost per dollar.

What to watch for at the table

Before you sit down, look for these things:

1. Whether the wheel has one zero or two.
2. The table minimum and maximum, so your budget fits the table.
3. Whether special rules on zero apply to even-money bets.
4. How quickly the game moves. Faster spins mean more wagers per hour, and therefore more total exposure to the edge.

A note on streaks

The ball has no memory. A wheel that has landed on red five times has the same chance of red on the next spin as it did on the first. Electronic boards that display recent results can make patterns look meaningful, but they are only records of what already happened.

Roulette is entertainment, not an income plan. Set a spending limit before you start and treat it as the price of the evening. Only adults of legal age should play, and rules differ by location.

Frequently asked questions

Which version of roulette is better for the player? The single-zero European wheel has a lower average cost than the American double-zero wheel, so it is the less expensive option when both are available.

Do any bets have better odds than others? On a given wheel, most bets share the same average cost. They differ in how often they win and how large the payouts are, not in their average cost.

Does the dealer or the ball speed affect where the ball lands? Professional wheels are built and maintained to keep outcomes random. Claims that you can predict spins are not reliable.