Understanding the different versions of roulette It offers an attractive payout of 6/1, but with a house edge of 7.9% has the worst odds of any bet in the game. It’s a bet that is only available on American roulette tables and includes 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3.

If American roulette is the only version available, be sure to steer clear of the Top Line/“First Five” bet, which is undoubtedly the worst bet in the game. The general rule is that when you have the choice, single-zero roulette should always be played over double-zero American roulette. When playing American roulette, you’re taking on more of a risk without the added benefit. The allure of American roulette is that it’s fast and exciting, but a higher house edge means that single-zero roulette offers significantly better odds for the player. It might seem insignificant, but that extra zero in double-zero roulette decreases your chances of winning yet has the same payout as single-zero roulette at 35/1. This is how we determine the house edge.ĭouble-zero American roulette has 38 numbers, so with a payout of 35/1, the house edge is 5.26%, compared to 37 numbers and a 2.63% house edge in single-zero roulette. However, both single-zero European roulette and double-zero American roulette have additional numbers, so the house has more opportunities to win, whereas the player’s payout stays at 35/1. In all roulette variants, the payout is 35/1 for straight up bets on one of the numbers, which would be fair if there were 36 pockets. On average, the casino makes a profit on all bets placed over time. It provides a predictable long-term advantage to the casino (“house”), meaning that when you win, the payout from that win is never the “true odds”. Most casino games have a built-in profit for the casino, which we call the house edge.

Before we talk about how double-zero American roulette increases the house edge, it’s important to understand what “house edge” actually means.

Roulette double zero wheel card