American roulette

What makes American roulette different

Put an American wheel next to a European one and the first thing you notice is a second green pocket marked 00. Everything else about the game looks familiar: the same red and black numbers 1 to 36, the same betting grid with an extra box at the top for the double zero, and the same payout list. That is exactly the problem. The casino has added a pocket that none of the outside bets cover, without paying any more when you win.

The double-zero wheel became the standard in American casinos, which is where the name comes from. In the UK it is a minority choice; most British tables, online and land-based, use a single zero. You will find it in the roulette sections of many UK casino lobbies as both RNG software and live tables. Our casino games hub links to every roulette variant we cover, and the online roulette UK guide sets out how the versions compare.

The American roulette wheel and layout

The numbers on a double-zero wheel run in a different order from the European wheel. Clockwise from 0, the sequence is 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. The two zeros sit directly opposite each other, and pairs of consecutive numbers are placed across the wheel from one another.

On the betting layout, 0 and 00 sit side by side above the 1, 2 and 3 row. You can bet each zero on its own, split them, or take the five-number bet across the top. Because the wheel order is different, the French call bets (voisins, tiers and orphelins) designed for the single-zero wheel are not usually offered. For a picture of where inside and outside bets go, see roulette bets explained.

How to play American roulette online

1. Find a table marked American or double zero in the roulette section, and read the table card for minimum and maximum stakes.
2. Open the help screen to confirm the payouts and the RTP for that game.
3. Choose a chip and place it on the layout: numbers, lines between numbers, the zero boxes, or the outside areas.
4. If you want the top line, place the chip on the corner where the zeros meet the 1-2-3 row; check the help screen, as some games label this the 'five bet'.
5. Confirm your bets before the timer runs out or press Spin on an RNG table.
6. Collect any win; outside bets lose on both 0 and 00.
7. Place the next round's bets yourself; autoplay is not available at UK-licensed sites.

American roulette payouts and odds of winning

Payouts match the European game. What changes is the chance of each bet winning, because every probability is now measured out of 38 rather than 37.

Our page on roulette odds and payouts explains how each figure is worked out and gives the single-zero equivalents.

The five-number bet: the costliest bet in American roulette

The five-number bet, also called the top line or basket, covers 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. It pays 6 to 1. To see why that is poor value, imagine betting £1 on it 38 times. On average it wins 5 times, returning £7 each time (£6 winnings plus the £1 stake), so £35 comes back against £38 staked. You lose £3 per 38 spins, an edge of 3 ÷ 38 = 7.89%.

To match the other bets, the five-number bet would need to pay 6.2 to 1, and casinos do not pay fractional odds like that. Any other way of covering those numbers, such as a split on 0/00 and a street on 1-2-3, keeps you at the standard 5.26%. A quick primer on the concept is in our house edge guide.

American roulette vs European roulette in pounds

The clearest way to compare the wheels is to price the same session on each. The table assumes identical bets; only the wheel changes.

There is also a difference in how often even-money bets win. On a European wheel red lands 48.65% of the time; on an American wheel it lands 47.37% of the time. That gap sounds small, but it is the whole reason the edge nearly doubles. Our full European vs American roulette comparison adds side-by-side examples, and the dedicated European roulette page covers the single-zero game.

American roulette online: live and RNG versions

RNG American roulette works like any other software table: the result is generated when you spin, the animation shows the ball, and the software pays out. Since 17 January 2025, UK-licensed RNG casino games must allow at least 5 seconds per game cycle and must not offer autoplay, as the Gambling Commission confirmed in its speed of play consultation response (opens in a new tab).

Live American roulette uses a physical double-zero wheel and a croupier. Evolution's game description for its live American Roulette notes a double-zero wheel with lower betting limits and an extra 'Five Bet', so check the stake range on any table you join. Auto versions also exist: Evolution lists European, French and American versions of its dealerless auto roulette. For the general difference between formats, see live vs RNG casino games.

American roulette myths and strategies

• 'Covering both zeros protects you.' Betting on 0 and 00 alongside your other bets just adds two more bets at 5.26% each. It does not cancel the edge on the rest.
• 'The double zero comes up more online.' Each pocket has the same 1 in 38 chance on every spin, whether the game is RNG or live.
• 'Doubling up will recover losses.' Progressive systems such as the Martingale face a steeper climb here: six losses in a row on red happen about 2.1% of the time on a double-zero wheel, against about 1.8% on a single-zero wheel.
• 'Lower limits make it the beginner's wheel.' Lower minimum stakes may suit a small budget, but a European table at the same limit costs less per pound staked.

No pattern-reading or staking plan changes the 5.26% edge. Our page on gambling myths covers more of the common beliefs.

Bankroll example for American roulette

Suppose you play £1 bets for an hour at a live American table that runs about 40 rounds. You stake £40 and the expected cost is about £2.11. Move the same budget to an RNG table where you might play 200 rounds in an hour and you stake £200, with an expected cost of £10.53. The edge has not changed; the number of bets has. Our guide to casino bankroll management shows how to set a budget and a stop point before you start, and our gambling budget guide helps you size it.

UK rules and safer play for American roulette

American roulette at a UK-licensed site follows the same rules as any other online casino game. You must be verified as 18 or over before you can deposit or play demos, credit cards cannot be used to fund play, your net position and session time stay on screen, and you will be asked to set a financial limit before your first deposit. The £5 and £2 stake caps apply to slots only, so roulette limits are set by the table.

If you want to step away, you can take a short time-out in your account or self-exclude from every GB-licensed site through GAMSTOP. Free, confidential support is available from GamCare (opens in a new tab), which runs the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, and through NHS gambling services (opens in a new tab).

Where to find American roulette at licensed UK casinos

Our partners are all licensed by the Gambling Commission. We do not say which of them currently lists an American wheel, as lobbies change; check the roulette section and the table card for 'double zero' or '00'. Remember that a single-zero table at a similar limit is better value. The profiles of Coral's live casino and Casumo's live casino summarise what each operator publishes.

Offer terms, checked 5 October 2026: Casumo gives new customers a 50% bonus up to £100 on a first deposit of at least £20 (10x wagering within 7 days, £5 maximum bet, game restrictions apply). PlayOJO's 80 spins on Big Bass Bonanza need a £10+ first deposit and carry no wagering. Coral gives 100 spins at 10p when you bet £10 on slots. The spin offers are for slots, not roulette. 18+, terms apply.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set deposit limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.