American wheel: meaning in roulette

What an American wheel is

The American wheel, also called the double-zero wheel, is the roulette wheel used in American roulette. Wizard of Odds' roulette basics (opens in a new tab) describe it as having 38 slots: the numbers 1 to 36, a zero and a double zero. The European wheel has 37 pockets with one zero. Every bet is paid as if the wheel had 36 numbers, so each extra green pocket widens the gap between true odds and payout.

This glossary entry explains how the American wheel is laid out, what the double zero costs you in percentages and pounds, and where you are likely to meet one in the UK.

American wheel layout and number order

Going clockwise, the numbers on a double-zero wheel run 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. Red and black alternate round the wheel, and 0 and 00 sit directly opposite each other. Low odd numbers (1 to 17) are grouped on one side and high odd numbers (19 to 35) on the other, and most pairs of numbers with one pocket between them add up to 37 or 39.

The table layout is the familiar grid of 1 to 36 in three columns, with a 00 box added beside the 0 at the top. That extra box is what makes the five-number top line bet possible.

American wheel odds and payouts

The payouts below are identical on single- and double-zero wheels. Only the chance of winning changes, which is why the edge rises.

The 5.26% comes straight from the pockets. A straight-up bet has true odds of 37 to 1 but pays 35 to 1, so the house keeps 2 units in every 38 staked: 2/38 = 5.26%. The top line is worse: it pays 6 to 1 on 5 numbers out of 38, giving (5 × 6 − 33) / 38 = −3/38, or −7.89%. The Wizard of Odds house edge table (opens in a new tab) lists the same figures.

What the double zero costs in pounds

Expected loss is total stake multiplied by the house edge. At £10 a spin for 100 spins you stake £1,000. On an American wheel that costs £52.60 on average; on a single-zero wheel, £27. Over 60 spins at £5, the American wheel costs about £15.78 against £8.10. These are averages, and any one session can land far from them, but the gap never closes.

1. Count the green pockets: one zero means a single-zero wheel, 0 and 00 mean an American wheel.
2. Look for the 00 box at the top of the betting grid as a second check.
3. Read the game's help screen for its RTP: about 94.74% for double zero and 97.30% for single zero.
4. If both are available, choose the single-zero table for the same payouts at a lower cost.

Where the American wheel comes from and UK play

The single-zero wheel is credited to François and Louis Blanc at Bad Homburg in 1843 and went on to become the premier game at Monte Carlo, while in the United States the double-zero wheel stayed dominant after spreading up the Mississippi from New Orleans, according to the Wikipedia roulette article (opens in a new tab). Our history of roulette tells the full story.

At UK online casinos the American wheel turns up as an RNG game and as a live table. Evolution's American Roulette uses 0 and 00 and, the developer says, has lower betting limits than its other roulette games. UK rules require at least 5 seconds per game cycle on online roulette, and the £5 and £2 slot stake limits do not apply to it.

Related terms

See double zero, single zero, inside bet, outside bet and why American roulette has two zeros.

Roulette at UK partner casinos

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18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.