How to Play American Roulette: Rules, Odds & Strategy
American Roulette features a wheel with both a single zero (0) and double zero (00), creating 38 total numbers. This extra pocket increases the house edge to 5.26%—nearly double that of European roulette. While mathematically inferior, American roulette dominates US casino floors.
Table of Contents
- What Is American Roulette?
- The Wheel Layout
- Betting Options
- The Five-Number Bet
- Odds and House Edge
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is American Roulette?
American Roulette uses a 38-pocket wheel: numbers 1-36 plus both 0 and 00. Despite offering worse odds than European roulette, this version is standard at most American casinos.
Why the Double Zero?
The double zero was originally part of all roulette wheels. European casinos eliminated it in the 19th century to attract more players. American casinos kept it for higher profits.
The Wheel Layout
Number Sequence
American wheel arrangement:
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
Key Difference
0 and 00 are positioned opposite each other on the wheel. The sequence differs from European roulette entirely.
Betting Options
Inside Bets
| Bet | Description | Payout | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Up | Single number | 35:1 | 2.63% |
| Split | Two adjacent numbers | 17:1 | 5.26% |
| Street | Three numbers in a row | 11:1 | 7.89% |
| Corner | Four numbers | 8:1 | 10.53% |
| Five Number | 0, 00, 1, 2, 3 | 6:1 | 13.16% |
| Six Line | Six numbers (two rows) | 5:1 | 15.79% |
Outside Bets
| Bet | Description | Payout | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red/Black | Color | 1:1 | 47.37% |
| Odd/Even | Odd or even number | 1:1 | 47.37% |
| High/Low | 1-18 or 19-36 | 1:1 | 47.37% |
| Dozen | 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36 | 2:1 | 31.58% |
| Column | 12 numbers in a column | 2:1 | 31.58% |
The Five-Number Bet
American roulette offers a unique bet covering 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3.
Payout: 6:1
House Edge: 7.89%
Never make this bet. It has the worst odds on the table. The 6:1 payout on a 13.16% probability creates a significantly higher house edge than all other roulette bets.
Odds and House Edge
House Edge: 5.26%
The double zero increases the house edge significantly:
| Version | House Edge | Your Loss per $100 |
|---|---|---|
| American (00) | 5.26% | $5.26 |
| European (single 0) | 2.70% | $2.70 |
Why 5.26%?
- Straight-up true odds: 37:1 (37 ways to lose, 1 to win)
- Actual payout: 35:1
- Difference: 2/38 = 5.26%
The extra zero doubles the casino's advantage while payouts remain the same as European roulette.