If you’ve ever found yourself staring at the green zeros on a roulette wheel and wondering what makes them so important, you’re definitely not alone. Those pockets change the maths of the game and influence how often different bets pay out.
Understanding what happens when the ball lands on 0 or 00 helps you make clearer choices at the table and prevents unpleasant surprises. Read on to learn how zeros affect payouts, how the two main wheel types compare, and what to keep in mind before you place your next bet.
What Is the Difference Between Roulette 0 and 00?
Roulette wheels come in two main types: those with a single zero and those with both a zero and a double zero.
European roulette uses a single zero and contains 37 pockets, numbered 0 to 36. That single green pocket is the reason the house edge is lower on this wheel. American roulette includes both 0 and 00 and has 38 pockets in total. The extra pocket increases the house edge, so the odds for individual bets are slightly worse than on the single-zero wheel.
If you have a choice, single-zero roulette usually gives better value because there is one fewer pocket working against the player. This difference appears in the probability of every bet, not in the listed payout rates.
How Do Standard Roulette Payouts Work?
Roulette offers a range of bets with fixed payouts that reflect how many numbers each bet covers. The more numbers you cover, the smaller the payout relative to stake.
A straight-up bet on a single number pays 35 to 1. For example, a £1 stake on number 15 that wins returns £36 in total. A split bet covering two adjacent numbers pays 17 to 1, a street bet covering three numbers pays 11 to 1, a corner bet covering four numbers pays 8 to 1, and a line bet covering six numbers pays 5 to 1. Outside bets such as red/black, odd/even and high/low pay 1 to 1, while dozens and columns pay 2 to 1.
These payout rates are the same on single- and double-zero wheels, but as noted earlier the underlying probabilities change when an extra zero is present. That difference in probability, not a change in payout, is what affects expected returns over many spins.
What Are the Payouts for 0 and 00 Bets?
A bet placed directly on 0 or 00 is treated exactly like any other straight-up number and pays 35 to 1. For example, a £1 straight-up on 0 that wins returns £36 in total.
Zeros can also be part of split, street or corner bets where they sit next to ordinary numbers on the layout. For instance, a split between 0 and 1 pays 17 to 1, and a corner including 0, 1, 2 and 3 pays 8 to 1. Because zeros are not red or black, odd or even, or high or low, they cause outside bets to lose when they appear. That is the practical effect which reduces the success rate of many common wagers.
A brief note on responsible play: set limits and stick to them. This keeps play controlled and prevents unintended losses.
How Do Odds Differ Between Single Zero and Double Zero Roulette?
The odds depend on the total number of pockets. In single-zero roulette there are 37 pockets, so a straight-up bet has a 1 in 37 chance. In double-zero roulette there are 38 pockets, so a straight-up bet becomes 1 in 38.
This shift affects every bet. An outside bet like red or black covers 18 pockets; in single-zero roulette that is 18 out of 37, and in double-zero it is 18 out of 38. The added 00 reduces the probability of winning any given bet without changing the payout, and that is why the house edge is higher on the double-zero wheel.
The important takeaway is that a single extra pocket changes the long-run expectation. Over many spins, that additional pocket makes a measurable difference to average returns.
Why Do 0 and 00 Affect Your Potential Winnings?
Zeros matter because they sit outside the common groupings used in many bets. When the ball lands in a green pocket, a range of wagers lose even though their payouts remain unchanged. This imbalance is one of the main ways the house maintains its edge.
When additional zeros are added to the wheel, the proportion of winning pockets for those group bets falls. Because payouts stay fixed while the number of losing pockets increases, the expected return per bet decreases when extra zeros are present.
When the ball lands on a zero, it is typically treated as neither of the following:
- red nor black
- odd nor even
- low nor high
Those exclusions mean that many even-money and outside bets fail to win on a zero, reducing their long-term frequency of wins and so lowering average returns over time.
In short, the zeros reduce the frequency of winning outcomes for most bets, and that reduces average payouts over many spins. Different wheel types, such as single-zero and double-zero wheels, therefore produce different long-term expected returns because they change how often those green pockets appear.
Are There Any Myths About 0 and 00 Roulette Payouts?
Several misconceptions circulate about zeros. One frequent idea is that past results influence future spins. In reality, each spin is independent; outcomes are governed by the wheel and the layout, not by previous results. Another is that special betting systems can overcome the influence of 0 and 00. While different staking plans alter short-term variance, they do not change the mathematical expectation set by the wheel’s pocket count.
You may also hear claims that certain tables are “due” to land on zero more often. Tables can vary in physical wear or manufacturing tolerances, but reputable venues maintain equipment so spins remain within normal performance. Focus on the objective differences explained earlier: the pocket count, the payouts and the resulting probabilities.
Choosing Between European and American Roulette: Which Offers Better Payouts?
When deciding between European and American roulette it helps to separate payout rates from probability. Both versions use the same payout schedule for identical bets, but the likelihood of those bets winning differs because of the number of pockets.
Payout structures are identical: a straight-up pays 35 to 1, splits pay 17 to 1, dozens pay 2 to 1 and so on. The difference is the house edge. European roulette with one zero has a house edge of about 2.7 percent. American roulette, with both zero and double zero, has a house edge of about 5.26 percent. That higher edge means the casino keeps a larger share of stakes on average in the American version.
Choosing the single-zero game generally gives slightly better probability of winning each bet, and that is the main practical reason many experienced players prefer European layouts. Whichever wheel you play, remember the payouts are fixed and these are the objective factors that determine long-term results.
You’ll find the rest of the table details and betting options on the site, and if you move between wheels it helps to glance at the layout so you know whether you’re dealing with one or two zeros. This awareness keeps the maths clear and helps you make informed choices at the table.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.