Roulette tables can look almost identical, but there’s one detail that changes the maths of every spin: the number of zero pockets on the wheel. European roulette has a single zero. American roulette adds a double zero. That one extra pocket nearly doubles the house edge, which is why it’s the first thing worth checking before you place a chip.
The two wheels at a glance
| European roulette | American roulette | |
|---|---|---|
| Pockets | 37 (1 to 36, plus 0) | 38 (1 to 36, plus 0 and 00) |
| House edge on most bets | 2.70% | 5.26% |
| Straight-up payout | 35 to 1 | 35 to 1 |
| Extra bet | None | Five-number bet (0, 00, 1, 2, 3), house edge 7.89% |
| Common extra rules | La Partage or En Prison on French tables | Rarely |
Why the zero creates the house edge
Roulette payouts are set as if the zero didn’t exist. A straight-up bet on one number pays 35 to 1, which would be a fair price on a wheel with 36 pockets. But the European wheel has 37 pockets, so the true odds of hitting one number are 36 to 1. That gap between the payout and the true odds is the house edge.
On a European wheel, the edge works out to 1 in 37, or about 2.70%. Add the double zero and the American wheel has 38 pockets, raising the edge to 2 in 38, or about 5.26%. Same payouts, more ways to lose.
Roulette bets and what they pay
Payouts are the same on both wheels. Inside bets are placed on specific numbers; outside bets cover larger groups.
Inside bets
| Bet | Covers | Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 1 number | 35 to 1 |
| Split | 2 adjacent numbers | 17 to 1 |
| Street | 3 numbers in a row | 11 to 1 |
| Corner | 4 numbers in a square | 8 to 1 |
| Six line | 6 numbers across two rows | 5 to 1 |
Outside bets
| Bet | Covers | Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Dozen | 1 to 12, 13 to 24 or 25 to 36 | 2 to 1 |
| Column | 12 numbers in one column | 2 to 1 |
| Red or black | 18 numbers | 1 to 1 |
| Odd or even | 18 numbers | 1 to 1 |
| Low (1 to 18) or high (19 to 36) | 18 numbers | 1 to 1 |
Outside bets win more often but pay less. Inside bets win less often but pay more. On a European wheel, every standard bet carries the same 2.70% edge, so the choice is about how you like a session to feel, not about finding a “better” bet.
French roulette and La Partage
French roulette uses the single-zero wheel and often adds a rule called La Partage. If the ball lands on zero, even-money bets such as red or black lose only half their stake instead of all of it. That halves the house edge on those bets to about 1.35%. A similar rule, En Prison, holds the bet for the next spin instead. If you mostly play even-money bets, a table with either rule is worth seeking out.
Popular roulette variants online
- Speed or auto roulette: shorter rounds, sometimes with no dealer. The odds are the same, but you’ll play more spins per hour, so budget accordingly.
- Multiplier roulette: some live variants randomly boost straight-up payouts on selected numbers, usually paying for it by reducing the standard straight-up payout. Check the rules panel to see exactly how payouts change.
- Multi-wheel and mini roulette: novelty formats with their own rules and edges. Read the help screen before playing.
You can see the live tables currently running in TWIN’s live roulette lobby.
About betting systems
You’ll come across systems such as Martingale (double your stake after every loss) or Fibonacci. They change the pattern of your wins and losses, but they can’t change the house edge, because every spin is independent. Martingale in particular can push stakes up very quickly during a losing run and hit the table limit. The most useful “system” is a fixed budget and a planned stopping point.
The bottom line
If you have a choice, play European or French roulette. You get the same payouts as the American game with roughly half the house edge, and French tables with La Partage are kinder again on even-money bets. Whichever wheel you choose, every spin is random, so play for the spectacle and set your limits first.
Curious how other table games compare? Our blackjack basic strategy guide shows how player decisions affect the house edge.
