American Roulette

American roulette is the double zero roulette variant found in virtually every casino across the United States. The American roulette wheel has 38 numbered pockets — 1 through 36 in alternating red and black, plus a green 0 and a green 00. That extra double zero pocket is what distinguishes the American roulette wheel from European roulette, which uses a single-zero wheel with 37 pockets.

The double zero roulette layout creates a house edge of 5.26% on most bets — nearly double the 2.70% edge on European wheels. Despite the higher house edge, American roulette remains the dominant format in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and most US-based online casinos. Understanding the American roulette odds, rules, and bet types is essential for anyone who plays roulette in the United States or at casinos that feature the double zero wheel.

The American roulette wheel arranges its 38 numbers in a specific sequence designed to distribute odd, even, red, black, high, and low numbers as evenly as possible around the wheel. The number sequence on a standard American roulette wheel, starting from 0 and moving clockwise, is: 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.

On the American roulette table layout, the 0 and 00 sit side by side at the top of the number grid. The remaining 36 numbers are arranged in three columns of twelve. Outside bets — red/black, odd/even, high/low, dozens, and columns — surround the number grid. The double zero roulette wheel is immediately recognizable: if you see two green pockets instead of one, you are playing American roulette.

American roulette rules follow the same core mechanics as all roulette variants. Players place bets on the table layout before the dealer spins the wheel. The ball lands in one of 38 numbered pockets and all bets covering that number win their respective payouts. Bets that do not cover the winning number lose.

The key rule that sets American roulette apart is the presence of both 0 and 00 on the wheel. When the ball lands on either zero pocket, all outside bets (red/black, odd/even, high/low) lose entirely — there is no La Partage or En Prison rule as in French roulette. This is the primary reason the American roulette house edge sits at 5.26% compared to 2.70% on European wheels.

One exception exists: the five-number bet (also called the basket bet or top line bet) covering 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. This bet is unique to American roulette and carries the worst odds on the table with a house edge of 7.89%. Most experienced players avoid this bet entirely.

The American roulette odds for each bet are determined by the 38-pocket wheel. Every bet pays the same as on a European wheel, but the extra 00 pocket slightly reduces the win probability on every wager. Here is the complete American roulette payout table:

Notice that every bet on the American roulette table carries a 5.26% house edge except the five-number basket bet at 7.89%. This uniformity means your choice of bet type does not change the long-term edge — only choosing a different roulette variant (European or French) can reduce the house advantage.

The American roulette house edge of 5.26% comes from a simple calculation: the payouts are structured as if there were 36 numbers on the wheel, but there are actually 38. On a straight-up bet, the true odds are 37 to 1 against winning, but the payout is only 35 to 1. That gap of 2/38 equals 5.26% — the casino advantage on every spin.

Over 100 spins at $10 per bet, a player at an American roulette table will statistically lose around $52.60 compared to $27.00 at a European table and just $13.50 at a French table with La Partage. When you have the choice, playing European roulette or French roulette gives significantly better expected value.

No American roulette strategy can overcome the house edge, but smart bet selection and bankroll management can extend your sessions and reduce variance. Here are the most practical tips for playing the double zero wheel:

The key difference between American and European roulette is the double zero pocket. This single extra pocket changes the odds on every bet, the house edge, and the long-term expected return. Here is a direct comparison:

From a pure odds perspective, European roulette is the better choice every time. The only reason to play American roulette is when no European alternative is available — which is common in US land-based casinos. Online, you almost always have the option to choose a single-zero wheel.

You can play American roulette online free directly in your browser at CasinoCrux. Our free American roulette games use the same software and RNG as their real money counterparts — the double zero wheel spins identically, the payouts match, and the statistical outcomes are the same. The only difference is that you play with virtual credits instead of real cash.

Playing free American roulette is the best way to experience the double zero layout, test roulette strategies on the 38-pocket wheel, and compare the American roulette odds to European roulette first-hand before committing real money. No download and no registration required — browse our free roulette collection to get started.

All American roulette games on CasinoCrux are fully responsive and optimized for mobile play. The double zero table layout adapts to smaller screens with touch-friendly chip placement and wheel controls. Whether you play on an iPhone, Android phone, or tablet, the American roulette experience is identical to the desktop version — no app download needed.