Zero meaning, in casino terms: the green 0 pocket on a roulette wheel, the one result that is neither red nor black, odd nor even, high nor low. It is where the house edge comes from. A single zero gives the casino about 2.70%, a second zero (00) raises that to about 5.26%, and zero also names the value of tens and picture cards in baccarat.
Zero is the green pocket that makes roulette pay slightly less than true odds.
One zero means a 2.70% edge; 0 and 00 together mean 5.26%.
Outside bets lose on zero unless la partage or en prison applies.
You can bet on zero directly; it pays 35:1 like any single number.
Colour
Green
Single-zero edge
About 2.70%
Double-zero edge
About 5.26%
Straight-up payout on 0
35:1
Outside bets on zero
Lose (unless a French rule applies)
Zero meaning: the green pocket on a roulette wheel
A roulette wheel carries the numbers 1 to 36, alternating red and black, plus at least one green pocket marked 0. On the betting layout, zero sits at the head of the three number columns. It belongs to no colour, no dozen, no column and none of the even-money groups. That isolation is the whole point: zero is the result that most bets on the table do not cover.
Every standard version of online roulette has at least one zero. Some have two, and a few have three. The number of zeros is the single biggest factor in how much a roulette game costs you over time.
How the zero creates the roulette house edge
Payouts in roulette are calculated as if the wheel had only 36 numbers. A straight-up bet pays 35:1, which would be a fair price on a 36-pocket wheel. Add a zero and there are 37 pockets, but the payout stays the same. The gap between true odds and paid odds is the house edge.
Here is the cleanest way to see it. Put £1 on every number from 1 to 36, a total of £36. If any of those numbers lands, you receive £36 back (£35 profit plus your £1), so you break even. If zero lands, you lose all £36. Zero lands once in 37 spins on average, so the average loss per spin is £36 ÷ 37, about 97p on £36 staked, or 2.70%. The Wizard of Odds roulette page (opens in a new tab) reaches the same figure.
Single zero, double zero and triple zero wheels compared
How the number of zeros changes roulette’s cost
Wheel
Zeros
Pockets
Typical house edge
European
0
37
About 2.70%
French (with la partage)
0
37
About 1.35% on even-money bets, 2.70% on others
American
0 and 00
38
About 5.26% (7.89% on the five-number bet)
Triple zero
0, 00 and 000
39
About 7.69%
On £500 of total stakes, those edges translate to an expected cost of roughly £13.50 on a European wheel against about £26 on American roulette. Our European vs American roulette comparison goes through the layouts side by side.
Ways to bet on zero
Zero is not only something to fear; you can back it like any other number. The payout depends on how many numbers your chip covers.
Straight up on 0: one number, pays 35:1.
Split with 0: 0 and 1, 0 and 2, or 0 and 3, pays 17:1. See the split bet entry.
Trio or basket: 0, 1 and 2 or 0, 2 and 3, pays 11:1 on single-zero tables.
First four: 0, 1, 2 and 3, pays 8:1 where offered, working like a corner bet.
Zero game (jeu zéro): a call bet on the seven numbers nearest zero on the wheel, placed with four chips.
Top line (American wheels): 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3, pays 6:1 and carries the worst edge on that table, about 7.89%.
Backing zero does not dodge the edge. A zero bet has the same 2.70% cost as any other single-number bet on a 37-pocket wheel, except the American top line, which is worse.
What happens to outside bets when zero lands
Red, black, odd, even, 1 to 18, 19 to 36, dozens and columns all lose on zero in standard rules. Two French rules soften the blow on even-money bets: la partage returns half the stake, and en prison holds it for another spin. If you mostly play even-money bets, finding a table with either rule halves your expected cost.
Zero in baccarat and in bonus terms
Zero turns up in other corners of a casino too. In baccarat, tens, jacks, queens and kings all count as zero, and a two-card total of 10 also scores 0, the worst possible hand. The game’s name is often said to come from an Italian word for zero for that reason; see baccarat rules for scoring.
In promotions, zero wagering means winnings from a bonus or spins are paid as cash without a playthrough condition. Our no wagering entry explains how those offers work.
Is zero due? Myths about the green pocket
Zero has the same chance, 1 in 37 on a single-zero wheel, on every spin, however long it has been since it last landed. There is no overdue number and no hot one. Systems that bet on zero after it has been absent for a while do not change that, as our can you predict roulette answer explains. RNG roulette has had to run at least 5 seconds per round with no autoplay since 17 January 2025, under the Gambling Commission’s speed of play rules (opens in a new tab). If you want a firm stop, GAMSTOP (opens in a new tab) self-exclusion runs from 6 months to 5 years and cannot be cancelled early.
Single-zero roulette at licensed UK casinos
Coral and PlayOJO are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. Coral’s casino app lists roulette and live casino; PlayOJO lists live casino. Check each lobby for single-zero European or French tables if the number of zeros matters to you. Both welcome offers apply to slots, not roulette. Coral: 18+, new players, valid 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027; deposit (some methods excluded) and bet £10 on slots to receive 100 free spins on selected games at 10p each, accept within 48 hours, use within 7 days, no wagering on spin winnings. PlayOJO: 18+, new UK customers excluding Northern Ireland; first deposit of £10 or more for 80 free spins at 10p on Big Bass Bonanza, no wagering, winnings paid in cash. Terms apply. Browse the roulette bonus explainer, the Coral live casino guide or the full glossary.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Coral reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the PlayOJO reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, UKGC account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What does zero mean in roulette?
Zero is the green pocket on a roulette wheel that is neither red nor black, odd nor even. When it lands, most bets on the table lose, which is how the casino earns its edge. A single-zero wheel has 37 pockets and a house edge of about 2.70%. You can bet on zero directly at 35:1, the same as any number. See European roulette and roulette odds for the full layout and payouts.
Is zero odd or even in roulette?
Neither: in roulette, zero counts as neither odd nor even, and neither red nor black. That is why a bet on odd or even loses when the ball lands on 0, unless a French rule like la partage or en prison applies. Mathematically zero is even, but the game treats it as its own category. The even money entry and our outside bets page explain which bets zero beats.
What is the difference between 0 and 00 in roulette?
A wheel with 0 and 00 has two green pockets, making 38 in total, while a single-zero wheel has 37. Payouts are the same on both, so the extra pocket raises the house edge from about 2.70% to about 5.26%. On £100 staked, that is roughly £5.26 against £2.70 in expected cost. Double-zero wheels are known as American roulette. The American roulette guide and best roulette bet answer cover this.
Does zero pay 35 to 1?
Yes, a straight-up bet on zero pays 35:1, the same as any single number. A £2 chip on 0 returns £70 profit plus your £2 stake if zero lands. Splits that include zero pay 17:1, and the first four bet (0, 1, 2, 3) pays 8:1 where it is offered. The house edge on these bets is the same 2.70% on a single-zero wheel. Our straight up and inside bets entries list every option.
How often does zero come up in roulette?
On a single-zero wheel, zero has a 1 in 37 chance on every spin, about 2.7%. Over 370 spins you would expect around 10 zeros on average, but it is perfectly normal to see none in 100 spins or two in a row. Each spin is independent, so past results never make zero more or less likely next. The RNG entry explains how online results are generated, and can you predict roulette tackles patterns.
What does zero mean in baccarat?
In baccarat, zero is the value given to tens, jacks, queens and kings, and to any total that adds up to 10 or 20. Only the last digit of a hand counts, so a 4 and a 6 make 0, the weakest total. A hand of 0 is sometimes called baccarat. Hands are then improved by fixed drawing rules. The baccarat rules guide and the player bet entry show how totals decide each round.
Is there a roulette game with no zero?
Standard roulette always has at least one zero, because without it the game would have no house edge on standard payouts. Some promotional or novelty versions change payouts or add features, but they recover the edge another way, such as lower base payouts on numbers. Treat any no-zero claim with care and read the help screen. Our Lightning Roulette guide shows how feature games adjust payouts, and RTP explained covers return figures.
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