Double zero exists because it gives American roulette a larger casino advantage. European roulette has one green pocket and a standard 2.70% edge. American roulette adds 00, giving the wheel 38 pockets while most payouts stay the same. That raises the usual house edge to 5.26%.
Quick Facts
- American roulette has 38 pockets: 1–36, 0, and 00.
- Red and black still cover only 18 numbers each.
- Zero and double zero both lose for red/black, odd/even, and high/low.
- The standard American roulette edge is 5.26%.
- A straight-up bet wins 1 out of 38 spins but still pays 35 to 1.
- Double zero does not add strategy depth; it adds cost.
- Some American layouts include a top-line basket bet with a different edge.
Plain Talk
Double zero is the most important difference between American and European roulette. The table still looks familiar. The bet names are mostly the same. The payouts are mostly the same. But the wheel has one extra losing pocket for most bets.
That extra pocket matters. On a European wheel, red wins 18 out of 37. On an American wheel, red wins 18 out of 38. The payout is still 1 to 1. The shortfall is bigger.
The Wizard of Odds roulette basics lists the common American roulette house edge and notes the special treatment of certain bets. The Nevada roulette rules of play describe roulette wheels with 36 numbers plus zero and/or double zero. Equipment rules such as 205 CMR 146.10 also distinguish single-zero and double-zero roulette wheels.
Scope guard: this page explains why 00 changes the cost of American roulette. For the broader comparison, read European vs American Roulette. For triple-zero, read Triple-Zero Roulette.
How It Works
The extra pocket raises the denominator in every probability calculation.
| Bet | European wheel | American wheel | Payout | Main effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight-up | 1/37 | 1/38 | 35 to 1 | Lower hit chance, same payout |
| Red/Black | 18/37 | 18/38 | 1 to 1 | Two green losing pockets |
| Dozen | 12/37 | 12/38 | 2 to 1 | More losing outcomes |
| Column | 12/37 | 12/38 | 2 to 1 | Same payout, worse probability |
| Split | 2/37 | 2/38 | 17 to 1 | Lower hit chance |
The player does not receive a better payout for accepting 00. That is why the edge increases.
Roulette Table Example
A player has two choices in the same casino: a $15 American roulette table and a $25 European roulette table. He assumes the $15 table is cheaper because the minimum is lower.
If he makes twenty $15 spins on American roulette, his total action is $300. At 5.26%, the expected loss is about $15.78.
If he makes twelve $25 spins on European roulette, his total action is also $300. At 2.70%, the expected loss is about $8.10.
The lower minimum did not make the American wheel cheaper per dollar wagered. It only made entry easier.
From the Casino Side:
Double-zero roulette is attractive to casinos because it creates more theoretical win per dollar wagered. The game procedure is not dramatically harder to run than single-zero roulette, but the table earns more in long-term expectation if betting volume is similar.
Floor managers also think about table minimums, customer mix, space, game speed, and market expectations. In some markets, players are used to American wheels and do not object to 00. In other markets, single-zero is the standard and double-zero would be seen as a worse product.
Surveillance and supervisors do not treat 00 as special beyond correct settlement. It is just another green result with a large effect on player value.
Common Mistakes
- Thinking American and European roulette are basically the same game.
- Choosing the lower table minimum without comparing house edge.
- Assuming double zero only matters if 00 lands.
- Forgetting that both 0 and 00 lose on even-money outside bets.
- Treating the top-line bet like any other American roulette bet without checking rules.
- Believing a system can compensate for the extra pocket.
Hard Truth
Double zero is not a harmless American decoration. It is the pocket that nearly doubles the normal cost of the game.
FAQ
Is double zero only found in American roulette?
It is the defining feature of standard American roulette, though layouts and variants can vary by casino and jurisdiction.
Does double zero make every bet worse?
Most standard bets become worse because the wheel has 38 pockets while payouts remain based on the older structure. Some special bets may have their own edge.
What is the house edge on American roulette?
The standard house edge is 5.26% on most bets.
Is 00 the same as 0?
It is a separate pocket. A straight-up bet on 0 does not win on 00, and a straight-up bet on 00 does not win on 0.
Should beginners avoid double-zero roulette?
If a single-zero wheel is available with acceptable limits, yes. The single-zero game normally gives better value.
Can double-zero roulette still have short-term winners?
Yes. Any roulette wheel can produce short-term winners. The house edge describes the long-term price, not the result of one session.
Deeper Insight
The double-zero issue is not emotional. It is arithmetic. A one-number bet on European roulette has 1 winning outcome and 36 losing outcomes. A one-number bet on American roulette has 1 winning outcome and 37 losing outcomes. The payout remains 35 to 1.
That means the casino gets one more losing outcome without paying more when the player wins. The same structure applies to red/black, odd/even, high/low, dozens, columns, and most inside bets.
Players often underestimate this because 5.26% sounds small. It is not small when repeated across hundreds of spins and thousands of dollars in total action.
Formula / Calculation
American straight-up probability:
P(win) = 1 / 38 = 2.6316%
Expected Value on a $1 straight-up bet:
EV = (1/38 × $35) - (37/38 × $1)
EV = -2/38 = -0.052631
House Edge = 5.26%
Formula Explanation in Plain English
You win $35 profit only when your number hits. You lose $1 on every other pocket, including zero and double zero. Because there are 37 losing pockets and the payout is only 35 to 1, the extra two units are the casino edge.
Related Reading
Compare wheel types in European vs American Roulette and check the numbers on roulette odds. For long-term cost, read roulette house edge and American Roulette House Edge. If you want to see the next step in worse wheel design, go to Triple-Zero Roulette. Tools that help here include the roulette odds calculator and expected loss calculator.