American Roulette

American Roulette is the version of roulette most closely associated with casinos in the United States. It plays like the roulette most people recognize - a spinning wheel, a bouncing ball, and a felt layout covered in betting options - but it comes with one built-in twist that changes the math.

The defining difference is the wheel’s two green pockets: 0 and 00. That extra 00 is what separates American Roulette from European Roulette and is the main reason American Roulette carries a higher house edge.

What American Roulette Is (and Why the 0 and 00 Matter)

American Roulette is a table game where you bet on where a ball will land on a numbered wheel. You can wager on a single number, a small cluster of numbers, or broader groups like red, black, odd, even, and more.

That second green pocket (00) doesn’t just add another outcome - it slightly reduces the chance of winning every standard bet type, because your wager is still paid at the same traditional odds, but there are more possible results.

Roulette’s European Roots and How the American Version Emerged

Roulette traces back to Europe, where early forms of the wheel and betting layout developed over time into what most players now call European Roulette - the single-zero game.

After roulette made its way to the United States, casinos adopted a wheel with an added double zero (00). The American wheel became the dominant format in many United States gambling rooms, and it’s also the version you’ll often see labeled simply as “Roulette” on older casino floors and in some online lobbies.

Inside the American Roulette Wheel: The 38-Pocket Setup

An American Roulette wheel has 38 pockets total:

• Numbers 1-36
• Single zero (0)
• Double zero (00)

Numbers 1-36 are split between red and black, and they alternate around the wheel (with some exceptions in sequence depending on wheel order). The 0 and 00 are green, and they’re the only green pockets on the wheel. When the ball lands on either green pocket, it typically breaks a lot of the common “even money” bets players like to use (such as red/black or odd/even).

The American Roulette Table Layout: How the Betting Grid Works

The table layout looks like a big grid of numbers (1-36) arranged in rows and columns. That numbered grid is where inside bets happen - wagers tied to exact numbers or tight groupings.

Along the outside of the grid are larger “group” betting areas. These sections are labeled for bets like red/black, odd/even, high/low (1-18 and 19-36), dozens (1-12, 13-24, 25-36), and columns. Chips are placed directly on the felt in the relevant area, and the exact placement determines what you’re betting.

How to Play American Roulette in 5 Simple Steps

1. Choose your chip value.
2. Place bets on the table layout (you can make more than one bet per spin).
3. The dealer spins the wheel and releases the ball.
4. The ball settles into a numbered pocket.
5. Winning bets are paid based on the standard payout rules, and losing chips are collected.

In online versions, the same flow applies. The difference is whether the spin is generated by software (RNG) or performed by a live dealer on camera.

American Roulette Bets, Explained Clearly

American Roulette bets are usually grouped into inside bets and outside bets. Inside bets cover fewer numbers and can pay more. Outside bets cover more numbers and hit more often, but pay less.

Inside Bets: Higher Payouts, Lower Hit Rate

Inside bets are placed on the number grid.

Straight Up A bet on one number. The chip goes directly on a single number.

Split A bet on two adjacent numbers. The chip sits on the line between them.

Street A bet on three numbers in a row. The chip is placed at the end of the row.

Corner A bet on four numbers that meet at a corner. The chip sits on the intersection point.

Six Line A bet on two adjacent rows (six numbers total). The chip is placed on the outside line where the two rows meet.

Outside Bets: The “Steadier” Options Many Beginners Use

Outside bets are placed in the labeled areas around the grid.

Red or Black Covers all red numbers or all black numbers (18 numbers each).

Odd or Even Covers all odd or all even numbers (18 numbers each).

High or Low Low is 1-18, and high is 19-36 (18 numbers each).

Dozens Choose 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36 (12 numbers).

Columns Bet on one of the three vertical columns on the grid (12 numbers).

American Roulette Payout Table (Typical)

Payouts are generally standardized for American Roulette. Here’s the usual reference chart:

• Straight Up: 1 number, 35: 1 payout
• Split: 2 numbers, 17: 1 payout
• Street: 3 numbers, 11: 1 payout
• Corner: 4 numbers, 8: 1 payout
• Six Line: 6 numbers, 5: 1 payout
• Dozens / Columns: 12 numbers, 2: 1 payout
• Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low: 18 numbers, 1: 1 payout

These payouts are a big part of why the extra 00 matters - the payouts don’t increase to “compensate” for the added pocket, so the casino edge rises.

The House Edge in American Roulette: The 5.26% Reality

American Roulette has a house edge of 5.26%. That number comes directly from the wheel having 38 pockets, including both 0 and 00.

For comparison, European Roulette (single zero) has a house edge of about 2.7%. Same general bet types, similar payouts, but fewer pockets means slightly better odds for the player.

Beginner Strategy Tips That Actually Help (Without Fake Promises)

A good roulette session usually starts with understanding what the bets really mean.

Know the odds before you bet A straight up bet can pay 35: 1, but it’s still just a 1-in-38 chance on an American wheel.

Use outside bets to reduce swings Red/black or odd/even won’t beat the house edge, but they can help you avoid the “all-or-nothing” feeling that comes with single-number betting.

Set a bankroll limit and stick to it Decide what you can afford to lose before you place the first chip. If your session goes well, it can also help to set a win limit so you don’t give it back chasing “one more spin.”

Be cautious with systems that claim guaranteed wins Martingale-style progressions (doubling after losses) can look logical on paper, but table limits and bankroll limits tend to show up fast in real play.

Most importantly, roulette is a game of chance. No betting pattern changes the next spin, because each result is independent.

American Roulette vs European Roulette: The Differences That Change Your Odds

A quick side-by-side makes the choice clear:

Pockets American Roulette has 38 pockets (0 and 00). European Roulette has 37 pockets (0 only).

House edge American Roulette: 5.26%. European Roulette: about 2.7%.

Where you’ll see them American Roulette is common in casinos across the United States and appears widely online. European Roulette is more common in European casinos and is often offered as a separate online variant for players who want a lower house edge.

Online American Roulette vs Live Dealer Roulette: What You’re Really Choosing

Online roulette generally comes in two formats:

RNG (software-based) roulette The spin result is generated by a random number generator. It plays quickly, usually has flexible betting limits, and doesn’t require waiting for a dealer to complete a physical spin.

Live dealer roulette A real wheel is spun in a studio, and you place bets through a video stream. It’s slower than RNG, but many players prefer it because you can watch the ball and wheel in real time and follow a more traditional pace.

Software Providers Known for Roulette Tables

If you’re browsing online roulette lobbies, game provider names can be a helpful shortcut for what kind of presentation and features to expect. Well-known roulette developers include Evolution, Playtech, Pragmatic Play Live, NetEnt, and Ezugi.

Both StealthBet Casino and Duckysino Casino list multiple major studios in their catalogs, including live-dealer brands like Evolution and Ezugi, which are commonly associated with roulette tables in online casino libraries.

Mobile American Roulette: Built for Phones and Tablets

Most online American Roulette games are designed to run on mobile browsers, with betting grids that zoom or adjust so you can place precise inside bets without misclicks. Live dealer roulette is also widely available on mobile, though it’ll use more data because of the video stream.

Before playing on a phone, it’s worth checking whether the table view lets you toggle between inside and outside betting areas comfortably - that small UI detail can matter more than people expect.

Responsible Gambling Reminder

Roulette can move fast, especially online. Setting a time limit and a spending limit before you play is one of the simplest ways to keep the game entertaining rather than stressful. If a casino offers session reminders, cool-offs, or self-exclusion tools, they’re worth using when you need them.

FAQ: Quick Answers About American Roulette

American Roulette stays popular because it’s simple to learn, quick to play, and flexible enough to support everything from cautious outside betting to high-variance single-number shots. Just keep the 0 and 00 in mind, because that one extra pocket is the reason the game’s odds look the way they do.