American Roulette

American Roulette is the version of roulette most people picture from United States casino floors - a fast table game where you bet on where a ball will land on a spinning wheel. It looks a lot like European Roulette at first glance, but one detail changes the math in a big way: the American wheel has two green pockets, 0 and 00.

That extra green pocket increases the house edge, which is why American Roulette usually pays the same prizes as other roulette variants but returns less to players over time.

American Roulette, Explained in Plain English (And the One Detail That Matters)

In roulette, you’re not “playing against” the dealer. You’re placing bets on outcomes (a number, a color, a range, a column, and so on), and the wheel decides the result.

The key difference with American Roulette is simple and easy to spot once you know it - the double zero (00) sits alongside the single zero (0). Those two green pockets are why American Roulette has a higher house edge than European Roulette.

Where Roulette Came From - And How the American Wheel Changed

Roulette traces back to Europe, with the modern game taking shape in France. Early roulette wheels used a single zero, and that format became the standard across much of Europe.

After roulette spread to the United States, operators adopted (and popularized) the double zero wheel. The 00 wasn’t added to give players new betting options - it mainly increased the casino’s advantage while keeping the familiar payouts that people already understood.

The American Roulette Wheel Layout: 38 Pockets and Two Greens

An American Roulette wheel has 38 pockets total:

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

The numbers 1-36 are split into red and black pockets, arranged in a specific order around the wheel. The 0 and 00 are green, and they don’t count as red or black, odd or even, or high or low.

That’s important because many “safe-feeling” outside bets (like red or black) still lose when the ball lands on either green pocket.

The American Roulette Table Layout: How the Betting Grid Works

The roulette table shows a betting layout (the grid) where you place chips before the spin. Most of the grid is the inside area - a numbered map from 1 to 36 arranged in three columns and twelve rows.

Around the outside are larger group bets, often labeled clearly:

• Red/Black
• Odd/Even
• High/Low (1-18 and 19-36)
• Dozens (1-12, 13-24, 25-36)
• Columns (the three vertical columns)

Where you place your chips matters. A chip placed directly on a number is a different bet than a chip placed on the line between two numbers, or on the intersection of four numbers.

How to Play American Roulette: Step by Step

American Roulette is easy to follow once you see one or two spins. The typical flow goes like this:

First, choose your chip value. In online roulette, you usually select a chip denomination on-screen.

Next, place your bets on the table layout before the betting window closes. You can make one bet or combine several, depending on your budget.

Then the dealer spins the wheel and releases the ball (or, in digital versions, the game triggers the spin animation). The ball bounces and eventually settles into a numbered pocket.

Finally, winning bets are paid based on the payout table, and losing bets are cleared. Then a new round starts.

Inside Bets: Higher Payouts, Tougher Odds

Inside bets sit within the numbered grid and cover specific numbers or tight groupings. They’re appealing because the payouts are bigger, but you’ll hit them less often.

Straight Up: Bet on a single number. Split: Bet on two adjacent numbers (chip on the line between them). Street: Bet on three numbers in a row (chip at the end of the row). Corner: Bet on four numbers that meet at a corner intersection. Six Line: Bet on two adjacent streets (six numbers total).

Inside bets can be fun for taking shots at a bigger payout, but they swing your bankroll more quickly because long losing streaks are normal.

Outside Bets: Simpler Choices and Slower Swings

Outside bets cover large groups of numbers and are usually the first stop for beginners because the odds are better (even though the house edge remains the same).

Red or Black: Bet on the color of the winning number (green loses). Odd or Even: Bet on whether the winning number is odd or even (green loses). High or Low: Bet 1-18 or 19-36 (green loses). Dozens: Bet on 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36. Columns: Bet on one of the three columns on the grid.

Outside bets pay less, but they tend to produce steadier results session to session, which many players prefer for casual play.

American Roulette Payout Table (Typical)

Here are the standard payouts you’ll see in American Roulette:

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

These payouts are “typical” because they’re the standard for roulette, but the important part is this: the presence of 0 and 00 is what makes the returns worse for players compared to a single-zero wheel, not a change in the payout table.

The Real Cost of the Double Zero: American Roulette House Edge

American Roulette has a house edge of 5.26%. That number comes directly from the two green pockets on a 38-pocket wheel.

European Roulette, which uses a single zero on a 37-pocket wheel, has a house edge of about 2.7%. Same basic game, same familiar payouts - but the math is noticeably better for players on the European wheel.

Smart Strategy Tips That Actually Help (Without Fake “Systems”)

There’s no betting pattern that can change roulette into a beatable game in the long run. Still, you can make choices that fit your goals and reduce unnecessary risk.

Start by understanding what your bet really means. A straight-up number bet can feel “close” when the ball lands nearby, but the odds don’t care - it’s still one pocket out of 38.

Outside bets are a reasonable default for many beginners. They won’t remove the house edge, but they often lead to less volatile sessions than stacking inside bets early.

Bankroll management matters more than people think. Decide your session budget upfront, keep your bet sizes consistent, and avoid chasing losses by doubling up just because you’re frustrated.

Skip any system that promises guaranteed wins. Roulette outcomes are random, and past spins don’t “set up” the next result, even if it feels like red has been “due” for a while.

American Roulette vs European Roulette: The Quick Comparison That Changes Your Pick

The biggest differences come down to wheel design and where each version is most common.

American Roulette uses 38 pockets (0 and 00), and that’s why it carries a 5.26% house edge. European Roulette uses 37 pockets (single 0), leading to a lower 2.7% house edge.

In physical casinos, American Roulette is widely seen across the United States, while European Roulette is more common in Europe. Online, you’ll often find both, so it’s worth checking the rules before you place your first bet.

Online American Roulette vs Live Dealer Roulette: What “Online” Really Means

Online American Roulette usually comes in two formats.

RNG roulette uses a random number generator to determine outcomes. It plays quickly, and you’ll often get helpful features like bet replays, auto-spin options, and clearer betting history.

Live dealer roulette streams real wheels from professional studios. You place bets through the interface, but the spin is physical and handled by a dealer on camera. If you like the pace and rituals of a real table - “no more bets,” the ball drop, the callouts - live dealer is the closest match.

Top Game Studios Behind American Roulette Tables

A lot of the online roulette quality comes down to the studio that built it - especially in live dealer games, where video quality, table limits, and interface clarity really matter.

Well-known developers with roulette titles include Evolution, Playtech, Pragmatic Play Live, NetEnt, and Ezugi. If you’re browsing casinos that carry multiple studios, it’s worth trying the same variant from two different providers to see which layout and pacing you prefer.

Where to Find American Roulette at Popular Online Casinos

Game libraries vary by casino, but roulette is often easiest to spot by filtering for table games or live casino providers.

If you’re comparing casinos that list major roulette studios such as Evolution and Ezugi, you’ll see those names included at places like Qzino Casino and LuckyBear Casino. Other sites carry wide mixes of providers, which can mean more roulette variants and table limits across different studios - LuckyWands Casino is one example of a platform listing a long provider roster.

Before committing, check the specific roulette title. Some lobbies label games clearly as “American,” while others require a quick look at the wheel to confirm the presence of 0 and 00.

Mobile American Roulette: Built for Phones and Tablets

Most modern American Roulette games are optimized for mobile play, including both digital and live dealer versions. On a phone, the main difference is how the betting grid is displayed - many apps and browser games use zoom, tap-to-place chips, or simplified chip placement to keep the table readable on smaller screens.

If you plan to play longer sessions on mobile, pay attention to table readability, bet confirmation prompts, and how easy it is to clear or repeat bets.

Responsible Gambling Reminder

Roulette is entertainment, not a way to make money. Set a budget you can afford to lose, take breaks, and stop if the game stops being fun. If a casino offers tools like limits, time-outs, or self-exclusion, using them early can help keep play under control.

Frequently Asked Questions About American Roulette