American Roulette Wheel Sequence
The American double-zero wheel uses the following clockwise sequence, starting from zero:
Numbers 0 and 00 sit directly opposite each other. Each numbered pocket also sits directly opposite its consecutive partner - 1 and 2, 3 and 4, and so on - which is a signature of American wheel design.
What 0 and 00 Change
The two extra design choices on the American wheel are simple but important:
- 38 pockets instead of 37. Every probability denominator changes from 37 to 38.
- 0 and 00 are both losing pockets for all standard outside and inside bets, except where the player has specifically bet on them.
The flat-rate consequence is a house edge of 5.26% on every standard bet. The one outlier is the five-number bet (0, 00, 1, 2, 3) at 7.89%.
American Wheel vs European Wheel
| Feature | European | American |
|---|---|---|
| Pockets | 37 | 38 |
| Zeros | 1 (0) | 2 (0 and 00) |
| House edge | 2.70% | 5.26% |
| Wheel symmetry | Designed for random alternation | Consecutive numbers opposite each other |
| Common in | Europe, UK, online | US casinos |
Table Layout vs Wheel Layout
The American table layout is almost identical to the European one - three columns of twelve, with one extra zero square added at the top so both 0 and 00 can be covered. Inside bets work the same way: a split joins two adjacent grid squares, a street covers a row of three, and so on.
The American wheel layout is different. The clockwise order is unique to the double-zero wheel and is unrelated to the table grid. Sector and neighbours bets, where offered, must use the wheel order.
American Roulette Wheel Sectors
American roulette does not use the named French call-bet sectors (Voisins du Zero, Tiers du Cylindre, Orphelins, Jeu Zero). The wheel sequence is different and the casino tradition is different. There are still useful groupings on the wheel that experienced players use for placement and for understanding payout coverage.
The five-number bet on 0, 00, 1, 2, 3. The only formal sector-style bet on the American table. Pays 6:1 and carries a 7.89% house edge - statistically the worst standard bet.
Five pockets centred on 0: 26, 9, 0, 28, 30. Not a named bet, but a useful reference if you want to play the 0 side of the wheel.
Five pockets centred on 00: 13, 1, 00, 27, 10. The 00 sits directly opposite 0, so its neighbours are an entirely different group.
Every numbered pocket has its consecutive partner directly opposite (1 opposite 2, 3 opposite 4, and so on). Signature of American wheel design.
Some online American tables also support generic neighbours bets where you pick a number and a count of pockets on each side. The placement follows the American sequence, not the European one.
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.
Related Guides
For odds, payouts, wheel layouts and betting systems across every variant, return to the central roulette cheat sheet.