American Roulette Cheat Sheet
American roulette uses a wheel with 38 pockets: numbers 1 to 36 plus a single zero 0 and a double zero 00. The basic bet types and payouts are the same as European roulette, but the extra pocket changes the underlying probabilities.
- 38 pockets total
- House edge of 5.26% on almost every bet
- One unusual bet - the five-number bet (0, 00, 1, 2, 3) - actually carries a higher edge of 7.89% and is generally not worth taking
- Same inside and outside bet menu as European roulette
How to Play American Roulette
An American roulette round follows the same flow as European, with the extra 00 pocket adding one row to the betting layout:
- Exchange cash for chips. Each player gets a unique chip color so the dealer can tell whose bet is whose.
- Place your bets. Cover any combination of inside numbers, splits, corners, streets, six lines, dozens, columns or even-money sections. The American layout adds a second zero square (00) at the top.
- Dealer closes betting. When the dealer waves or calls "no more bets", the layout is locked.
- Wheel spin and ball drop. The dealer spins the wheel and rolls the ball in the opposite direction. The ball settles into one of 38 pockets.
- Dolly marks the winner. The dealer places a marker on the winning number, clears losing chips and pays winners at the standard payout table.
- Color up. When you leave the table, the dealer converts your colored chips back to regular casino chips at your seat's denomination.
American Roulette Rules
American roulette uses the same bet types as European roulette with one structural difference: the 00 pocket. The rules below apply to almost every American double-zero table.
- Wheel: 38 pockets, numbers 1-36 plus 0 and 00.
- Pocket colors: 18 red, 18 black, 2 green (0 and 00).
- Table layout: identical to European except for a 00 box at the top of the grid.
- Bet timing: all chips must be placed before the dealer announces no more bets.
- Five-number bet: a special inside bet on 0, 00, 1, 2, 3 paying 6:1. Statistically worse than every other bet at 7.89% house edge - generally not recommended.
- Zero rules: when 0 or 00 lands, all standard outside bets and most inside bets lose. La Partage and En Prison are uncommon on American tables.
- Table limits: posted on the table sign, separate for inside and outside bets.
- Color chips: as with European tables, each seat has its own chip color to avoid bet disputes.
American Roulette Odds and House Edge
The extra 00 pocket is the only structural difference between American and European roulette, but it is responsible for almost doubling the house edge.
Quick comparison on a straight-up bet:
- European: 1 win in 37 spins on average, payout 35:1. Expected loss per spin ≈ 2.70%.
- American: 1 win in 38 spins on average, payout 35:1. Expected loss per spin ≈ 5.26%.
The same logic applies to every other bet on the table. Payouts have not been adjusted to make up for the extra pocket, so the casino keeps a bigger slice on every spin.
American Roulette Payout Table
| Bet | Numbers | Payout | Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 1 | 35:1 | 1/38 | 5.26% |
| Split | 2 | 17:1 | 2/38 | 5.26% |
| Street | 3 | 11:1 | 3/38 | 5.26% |
| Corner | 4 | 8:1 | 4/38 | 5.26% |
| Five-number | 5 | 6:1 | 5/38 | 7.89% |
| Six line | 6 | 5:1 | 6/38 | 5.26% |
| Column | 12 | 2:1 | 12/38 | 5.26% |
| Dozen | 12 | 2:1 | 12/38 | 5.26% |
| Red / Black | 18 | 1:1 | 18/38 | 5.26% |
| Odd / Even | 18 | 1:1 | 18/38 | 5.26% |
| High / Low | 18 | 1:1 | 18/38 | 5.26% |
Chance to Win by Bet Type
The hit rate on each bet type, expressed as an approximate percentage:
- Even-money bets (red/black, odd/even, high/low): about 47.4%
- Dozens and columns: about 31.6%
- Six line: about 15.8%
- Corner: about 10.5%
- Street: about 7.9%
- Split: about 5.3%
- Straight up: about 2.6%
These numbers are slightly lower than the European equivalents because the denominator is 38 instead of 37.
Betting Systems on American Roulette
Negative progression systems like Martingale, D'Alembert and Fibonacci can technically be applied to American roulette, but the math is less forgiving.
- You are paying a higher house edge per spin (5.26%).
- Even-money bets hit slightly less often (47.4% vs 48.65%).
- Long losing streaks are marginally more likely.
None of these systems beat the house edge on any wheel. They look more reliable on American roulette only because losing sequences feel slightly more frequent - and that is exactly the problem when you are doubling up.
Responsible gambling note: Roulette is a negative expectation game. Cheat sheets and strategy guides help you understand bets, payouts and risk, but no system removes the house edge. Only play with money you can afford to lose, and stop when play stops feeling controlled.
When American Roulette Makes Sense
American roulette is dominant in US casinos and on many US-facing online sites. If that is the only table available, knowing the math is what protects you from over-betting.
If both versions are available, the practical choice is simple:
- Same payouts on every standard bet.
- Almost twice the house edge on American.
- One extra losing pocket on the wheel.
European or French is the better mathematical pick whenever you have access to it. For the physical pocket order on this wheel see the American roulette wheel sequence, for the felt grid see the American roulette table layout, and for every return on this table see the American roulette payouts chart.
Related Guides
For odds, payouts, wheel layouts and betting systems across every variant, return to the main roulette cheat sheet overview.