What Makes the American Roulette Wheel Unique?
Hardly any other casino game carries such an iconic status in gambling as roulette does. Even playing cards come second to the unmistakable image of a roulette wheel. While there are several roulette variations, most differ mainly in their rules — but only one stands out in wheel design: the American roulette wheel. What sets it apart, and how does it impact gameplay?
What Is the American Roulette Wheel?
The American Roulette Wheel is a popular roulette variant commonly found in casinos across the United States and on many online gaming platforms. At first glance, it closely resembles the European wheel, but there is one important difference that significantly affects the odds: it has both a single zero (0) and a double zero (00).
This extra pocket is what sets it apart from European Roulette and other roulette variants found across the top roulette casinos in the US, all of which feature only a single zero. The double zero is a uniquely American roulette characteristic.
Origins of the Double Zero
Roulette as a game traces back to 18th-century France, when the mathematician Blaise Pascal, while attempting to create a perpetual motion machine, unintentionally laid the groundwork for the game.
Roulette made its way to the United States in the 19th century, primarily through French settlers. It quickly became popular in riverboat casinos and frontier gambling halls, where it was adapted to fit local gambling environments. At this stage, roulette began to split into different versions depending on where it was played.
The invention of the double zero likely occurred in the early-to-mid 1800s. The exact origin isn’t linked to a documented inventor, but rather to crafty gambling operators looking to increase the house edge. Regardless of whoever first got the idea, the double zero feature spread across the US, leading to the establishment of the now iconic American roulette wheel.
American Roulette Wheel Layout and Number Setup
The American Roulette Wheel contains 38 pockets in total:
- Numbers 1 to 36
- One green 0
- One green 00
The numbers are arranged in a specific non-sequential order and alternate between red and black, with two green pockets breaking the pattern. The single and double zero are placed on opposite sides of the wheel, directly across from each other.
The American roulette wheel layout is carefully designed to maintain randomness and prevent predictable outcomes. Because of the additional double zero, players face slightly worse odds compared to European versions of the game.
House Edge: The Key Difference
The most important thing to understand about American roulette is its house edge of 5.26%. This is higher than the European version, which sits at 2.70%. That difference comes entirely from the additional 00 pocket.
When the roulette ball lands in a pocket you have bet on, it pays out 36x the bet on that number. On the European wheel, dividing that multiplier by the total number of pockets, gives an RTP of 97.3%, one of the highest among casino games, leaving a 2.70% house edge. On the American roulette wheel, the same 36x payout applies, but there are 38 pockets in total. Dividing 36 by 38 results in an RTP of 94.7%, and therefore, a house edge of 5.26%.
While this difference may seem minor, it has a noticeable impact on long-term expected returns. In simple terms, it means the casino wins slightly more often over time. For casual players, this doesn’t take away the fun, and roulette remains among the most popular casino games in the US – but it does make the game mathematically less favorable.
How American Roulette Is Played
Despite the difference in odds, gameplay on the American wheel remains straightforward and easy to follow, just like other roulette variants. Players place their bets before the wheel spins, choosing from a wide range of options. These bets are typically divided into two categories — inside bets and outside bets.
Inside Bets
- Straight up (single number)
- Dozens (1-12, 13-24, 25-36)
- Street
- Corner
- Line Bets
Outside Bets
- Red or black
- Odd or even
- High or low numbers
- Dozens (1-12, 13-24, 25-36)
Roughly speaking, inside bets offer higher payouts but lower chances of winning, while outside bets are safer but pay less.
At online casinos, roulette comes in two main forms: RNG-based roulette, where outcomes are determined by a software, and live roulette, which is available at leading live casinos in the US, where a dealer hosts the rounds which are streamed in real time for players to follow.
Try American Roulette Free
Want to see how the double zero changes the game? Play free American roulette below and test different betting strategies without risking real money.
American Roulette Wheel FAQs
The main difference is that American roulette has two zero pockets: a single 0 and a double 00, while European Roulette has only one zero.
The house edge in American roulette is 5.26%, which is higher than the European 2.70%. This is due to the extra double zero pocket, while the payout multiplier remains the same.
There are 38 American roulette wheel numbers in total: numbers 1-36, plus a single zero (0) and a double zero (00).
Outside bets like red/black, odd/even, or high/low offer better chances of winning, but they come with lower payouts compared to inside bets.
Casinos in the US prefer the American roulette wheel because the extra double zero increases their profit margin over time.
