Index → American wheel
American roulette numbers: the 38-pocket wheel
American roulette uses the same numbers 1 to 36 as every other wheel, in the same red and black, with the same payouts. It then adds a 38th pocket, the double zero, and that single addition nearly doubles what every bet costs. The wheel is common in online lobbies because the games are cheap to license and some players do not look. This page is what to look for.
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The numbers
1 to 36 in eighteen red and eighteen black, exactly as on a European wheel. Plus 0 and 00, both green. The betting layout puts the two zeros side by side at the top of the columns; the wheel puts them directly opposite each other.
The wheel order
Clockwise from 0:
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
Unlike the European wheel, consecutive numbers sit directly across from each other: 1 opposite 2, 3 opposite 4, and so on. Colours alternate around the rim. The French section bets do not apply to this layout and most American tables have no racetrack.
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What the extra pocket costs
| Bet | European wins | American wins | Payout | European edge | American edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight-up | 2.70% | 2.63% | 35:1 | 2.70% | 5.26% |
| Dozen | 32.43% | 31.58% | 2:1 | 2.70% | 5.26% |
| Red | 48.65% | 47.37% | 1:1 | 2.70% | 5.26% |
| Basket (0, 00, 1, 2, 3) | — | 13.16% | 6:1 | — | 7.89% |
At £5 a spin for an hour of 60 spins: about £8 expected loss on the European wheel, about £16 on the American. Same bets, same payouts, one more green pocket.
The basket
The five-number bet exists only on the double-zero layout. It covers 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3 and pays 6:1. A fair payout for five numbers out of 38 would be 6.6:1, so the shortfall is larger than on any other bet: 7.89%. It is the worst standard bet in roulette and there is no reason to place it.
Why it still exists
The double-zero wheel is the older design and remained standard in the United States while Europe moved to the single zero. Online, American tables are licensed from the same providers as European ones and cost the operator nothing extra to list, so most lobbies have both. Some players pick it out of familiarity, some by accident. Neither is a good reason.
Spotting it quickly
Two green boxes at the top of the layout. "American" in the game name, though not always. A 00 on the wheel graphic. If any of those is present, the table costs 5.26% and the European table next to it costs 2.70%. The payouts shown will be identical, which is exactly how the difference hides.
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Asked and answered
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How many numbers does American roulette have?
- The numbers 1 to 36 plus a single zero and a double zero, both green. One more pocket than the European wheel, with the same payouts.
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Is 00 a different bet from 0?
Yes. They are separate pockets, each a straight-up at 35 to 1, and they can be split together. They also both sit in the five-number basket bet with 1, 2 and 3.
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Why is American roulette worse?
Payouts are identical to the European wheel but there are 38 pockets instead of 37. The house edge rises from 2.70% to 5.26% on every bet, and to 7.89% on the basket.