DoubleZero Roulette vs SingleZero: Comparing House Edge And Payouts

Roulette is among the most iconic casino games, combining simplicity with an enticing mix of odds and volatility. Two common variants dominate casino floors: single-zero roulette (often called European roulette) and double-zero roulette (commonly called American roulette). Surface differences are small — one extra slot on the wheel — but that extra pocket materially changes the mathematics: house edge, win probabilities, and your expected return. This article compares the two variants in practical terms, explains why the house edge exists, shows numeric examples for common bets, and offers guidance for players.

How the wheels differ

- Single-zero (European/International) roulette typically has 37 pockets: numbers 1–36 plus a single 0.

- Double-zero (American) roulette has 38 pockets: numbers 1–36 plus 0 and 00.

That single extra pocket (00) is what increases the casino’s advantage on the American wheel.

Why there is a house edge

Most roulette payouts are expressed as “n to 1” (for example, a straight-up number pays 35 to 1). If roulette paid true odds according to the number of pockets, the payout for a straight-up bet on a 37-pocket wheel would be 36 to 1. Casinos instead pay 35 to 1, so the payout is slightly less favorable than the true probability of winning — that discrepancy is the house edge. Because the casino’s payout doesn’t match the true odds, every wager has a negative expected value for players.

House edge: numbers you need to know

- Single-zero wheel (37 pockets): house edge = 1/37 ≈ 2.70%

- Double-zero wheel (38 pockets): house edge = 2/38 = 1/19 ≈ 5.26%

These figures apply to almost all standard roulette bets (straight-up, split, street, corner, six-line, dozens/columns, and even-money bets) except for one special American bet discussed below.

How the payouts work (common bets)

- Straight-up (single number): pays 35:1

- Split (two numbers): pays 17:1

- Street (three numbers): pays 11:1

- Corner (four numbers): pays 8:1

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- Six-line (six numbers): pays 5:1

- Column/Dozen: pays 2:1

- Even-money bets (red/black, odd/even, high/low): pays 1:1

Despite identical payouts across wheel types, the differences in pocket counts change the true win probabilities and therefore the expected returns.

Expected value examples

1) Straight-up bet (single number):

- Single-zero: Probability of winning = 1/37. Expected return per $1 bet = (1/37 × $35) + (36/37 × −$1) = ($35/37 − $36/37) = −$1/37 ≈ −$0.02703. That’s a 2.70% house edge ($2.70 expected loss per $100 wagered).

- Double-zero: Probability of winning = 1/38. Expected return = (1/38 × $35) + (37/38 × −$1) = (35/38 − 37/38) = −$2/38 ≈ −$0.05263. That’s a 5.26% house edge ($5.26 expected loss per $100 wagered).

2) Even-money bet (red/black, approximate since 0 and 00 are neither red nor black):

- Single-zero: Win probability = 18/37 ≈ 48.65%; expected return = (18/37 × $1) + (19/37 × −$1) = −$1/37 ≈ −2.70%.

- Double-zero: Win probability = 18/38 ≈ 47.37%; expected return = (18/38 × $1) + (20/38 × −$1) = −$2/38 ≈ −5.26%.

In short: whatever the bet, the single-zero wheel gives roughly half the house edge of the double-zero wheel (2.70% vs 5.26%).

American wheel quirk: the 5-number bet

American roulette offers a special 5-number bet that covers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3 and pays 6:1. This is the worst bet on the American wheel:

- Probability of winning = 5/38.

- Expected return = (5/38 × 6) + (33/38 × −1) = (30/38 − 33/38) = −3/38 ≈ −7.89%.

This 7.89% house edge is significantly worse than the standard 5.26% and should be avoided.

Special rules that affect house edge

Some European casinos apply rules such as “La Partage” or “En Prison” on even-money bets. These rules reduce the house edge for even-money wagers:

- La Partage: if the ball lands on 0, half the even-money bet is returned to the player. This reduces the house edge on even-money bets from 2.70% to 1.35% on single-zero wheels.

- En Prison: if the ball lands on 0, the bet is “imprisoned” for the next spin; if it wins the next spin, the stake is returned. This also effectively halves the house edge for even-money bets on single-zero wheels.

These rules are generally not offered on American (double-zero) wheels.

What this means for players

- Always prefer single-zero roulette when possible. The house edge is materially lower, which improves your expected outcome over time.

- Avoid the American 5-number bet — it has the worst house edge on the table.

- Be aware that betting systems (Martingale, Fibonacci, etc.) cannot change the house edge. They may affect short-term variance, but over many spins the expected loss rate remains the same.

- Look for tables that offer La Partage or En Prison if you frequently make even-money bets; these rules halve the house edge on those bets.

- Manage bankroll and bet sizes. Higher house edge means faster expected erosion of your bankroll. With the American wheel you lose on average nearly twice as quickly as on the European wheel (5.26% vs 2.70% expected loss per dollar wagered).

Practical examples (loss per $1000 of action)

If you place $1 bets for 1000 spins (total $1000 in action):

- On single-zero: expected loss ≈ $27.00.

- On double-zero: expected loss ≈ $52.63.

These are expected values — real sessions will vary widely because roulette outcomes are highly volatile.

Conclusion and quick recommendations

- Single-zero (European) roulette is mathematically superior to double-zero (American) roulette because the house edge is lower (2.70% vs 5.26%).

- All standard bets share the same edge on a given wheel, so choose the wheel first, then pick bets based on your risk tolerance.

- Avoid the American 5-number bet; it has a 7.89% house edge.

- Look for La Partage or En Prison rules to reduce the edge on even-money bets.

- Remember that no betting system beats the house edge over the long run; treat roulette as entertainment with a known negative expected value.

Knowing the math behind the two wheels helps you make smarter choices: play on single-zero wheels when available, avoid sucker bets, and set limits to keep your play fun and affordable.