If you walk into a casino in Las Vegas, or log into almost any online casino site, you are going to see two types of roulette wheels.
They look almost identical. Same red and black numbers, same spinning white ball, same betting layout. But if you look closely at the green numbers, you’ll spot the difference that completely changes the math of the game.
One wheel has a single 0.
The other has a 0 and a 00.
Most players think, “What’s the difference? It’s just one extra number. It can’t matter that much.”
It matters. That extra pocket is essentially a tax on your winnings. It transforms a game with a manageable house edge into a mathematical woodchipper. Here is why you should never, ever sit at the American table if you have a choice.
The Math of the “Sucker Game”
To understand why the American wheel is so bad, you have to understand why the casino wins in the first place.
If the wheel had numbers 1-36 and no zeros, the game would be 50/50. If you bet on Red, you’d win half the time. The casino would make zero profit.
The zero is the house edge. It’s the number where all the Red/Black and Odd/Even bets lose.
- European Wheel (Single Zero): There are 37 pockets. One is green. The house edge is 2.7%.
- American Wheel (Double Zero): There are 38 pockets. Two are green. The house edge jumps to 5.26%.
You are paying nearly double the price for the exact same entertainment. Imagine going to a bar where a beer costs $5, and the guy next to you is paying $9 for the exact same beer just because he sat on a different stool. That is American Roulette.
The “Five Number” Trap
The American wheel doesn’t just hurt your even-money bets (like Red/Black); it enables the single worst bet in the entire game of roulette.
It’s called the “Top Line” or the “Basket Bet.” This is a bet on 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3.
On a European table, this bet doesn’t exist (because there is no 00). On the American table, the casino loves it when you play this. Because of the awkward payout structure (6 to 1) and the low probability of hitting it, the house edge on this specific bet rises to 7.89%.
It is arguably the worst bet you can make on the casino floor, statistically worse than most slot machines.
Why Does It Even Exist?
Greed and history.
Roulette started in Europe with the single zero. When it crossed the ocean to America in the 1800s, US casino operators felt the 2.7% edge wasn’t high enough. They wanted more profit. So, they added the Double Zero (and essentially the American Eagle symbol for a while, which was an automatic loss for players).
Today, it persists simply because people play it. In Las Vegas, it’s standard. In online casinos, it’s usually offered right alongside the European version. You can see this clearly on sites like rouletteuk.co.uk, where both versions are often available. The interface looks the same, the graphics are the same, but the underlying math on the American version is simply hostile to the player.
The Only Exception: “Surrender”
Is there ever a time to play American Roulette? Yes, but it’s rare.
Some casinos (mostly in Atlantic City or specific high-limit online rooms) offer a rule called “Surrender.”
If you bet on Red/Black or Odd/Even, and the ball lands on 0 or 00, the dealer only takes half your bet. They return the other half to you. This rule actually lowers the house edge down to about 2.63%, which makes it slightly better than standard European roulette.
But unless you see that specific rule written on the felt? Run.
The Verdict
Gambling is already hard enough. You are fighting negative variance, bad luck, and a mathematical disadvantage.
Don’t make it harder on yourself. Always check the wheel before you put a chip down. Count the green zeros.
- One zero: Pull up a chair.
Two zeros: Keep walking.
