All Posts By Roulette 30

KNOWLEDGE – INGENUITY – INSPIRATION

Mastering roulette is a long and lonely road. We will help you keep going. With original ideas, well-thought-out strategies, truthful confessions and experienced guidance, we will be your companion in your pilgrimage to randomness.

Roulette 30 is more than just a source of knowledge with ready made recipes. It’s about creative thinking and developing a new attitude. To understand not only probability or the physics of the wheel, but also the underlying philosophy and psychology of the game. And find the inspiration to move forward in your exciting journey.

Roulette 30 is different than any other roulette site. It’s personal, it’s real, it’s witty and it sticks its neck out. We say it like it is and put our money where our mouth is. We are true roulette players. We played, tested, lost and won. And we are still here to tell the story, share the knowledge and inspire you to take your game to the next level. Free.

Whether you are a novice who wants to learn the rules of the roulette or an experienced player who wants to become a pro gambler, we have you covered. As for December 2018, Roulette30 has officially join 888casino family and you will be able to find all of our posts here or at the roulette strategy section. 

How we stay alive

Ioannis Kavouras created Roulette 30 in 2010 first and foremost as a project of love and passion. Monetary gains were never a concern. This is still our philosophy: “for the love of the game”. However, although we would prefer from an aesthetics point not to, we do run casino ads on our site. We do this for two reasons.

  1. They provide us with some income to compensate the ever increasing time, effort and resources we invest on this project.
  2. They promote really good online casino venues. Honest companies with a great selection of fair live and 3d roulette games and fast withdrawal times. We constantly review and evaluate our advertisers so we can offer you the best choices if you want to play roulette online.

How we are different

Most roulette sites out there are in essence casino portal sites that provide some basic info about roulette as an afterthought and as an excuse to appear in search results. They were created with the sole purpose of making money with affiliate casino links. Their owners have no idea about roulette and their contents are copied and paraphrased from somewhere else. And there are also those “roulette expert sites” in which all the content serves only one purpose: to convince you to buy their “winning system”.

There’s nothing wrong trying to make a buck from your site. Everyone would like that, me included. But when your driving force is making money from roulette players and you have no real knowledge or love for the game, then naturally your site will be either a casino promotion prospect with thin real content or even worse a sales pitch about your method of winning full of misinformation and false promises.

Roulette 30 is different. Thanks for reading.

Roulette 30 Articles

December 13, 2018
Roulette Strategy

By Ioannis Kavouras

Ioannis Kavouras
Body

I am a roulette player. Neither an “editor” nor a “mathematician”. The difference is that I put my money where my mouth is. Most roulette sites are written by editors who have never placed a bet. They recycle knowledge and recite Wikipedia. And they are paid to write. I have paid dearly for every single word I write. I have invested money, time, aspirations and grey matter in roulette.

In my 20 years as a roulette player, I have played everywhere, I have tried innumerable of roulette strategies, studied, created or dismissed countless ideas and done all the mistakes you could possibly do. I learned and I’m here to tell you about it. I can’t fight luck and i can’t control randomness. But I do know what works and what doesn’t, what mistakes you should avoid and what you need to win.

Ioannis Kavouras
factcheck
Off
hidemainimage
show
Hide sidebar
show
Fullwidth Page
Off

Roulette wheel numbers explained

The European and American roulette wheels look identical at first glance, but one difference changes the entire game: the American wheel has an extra zero pocket (00), which nearly doubles the house edge.

This guide explains the layout of each wheel, the full number sequence, why the numbers are arranged out of order, and how wheel design affects the house edge.

How Many Numbers Are on a Roulette Wheel?

A European roulette wheel has 37 numbers (0 through 36). An American roulette wheel has 38 numbers (0 through 36, plus 00).

On both wheels, the 36 numbered pockets are split equally between 18 red and 18 black. The zero and double zero pockets are always green.

European vs American vs French Roulette Wheel

The three main roulette wheel variants differ in the number of zero pockets and the rules that apply when the ball lands on zero.

 EuropeanAmericanFrench
Pockets373837
ZerosSingle (0)Double (0,00)Single (0)
House Edge2.7%5.26%1.35%
Special Rules--La Partage / En Prison

*On even-money bets with La Partage or En Prison in play.

European roulette wheel

The European wheel is the standard format used in most online casinos and in European land-based casinos.

With a single zero and a house edge of 2.7%, it offers better odds than the American version. The 36 numbered pockets alternate red and black around the wheel; the zero sits in its own green pocket.

American Roulette Wheel

The American wheel adds a double-zero (00) pocket, raising the house edge to 5.26%, nearly double that of the European wheel. Most US land-based casinos use the American format.

The extra pocket also changes the number sequence entirely; the two wheels share no common arrangement beyond the colours.

French Roulette Wheel

The French roulette wheel is physically identical to the European wheel: 37 pockets, single zero, same number sequence. The difference is in the rules.

La Partage returns half your stake if the ball lands on zero during an even-money bet. En Prison keeps your bet on the table for the next spin under the same condition.

Either rule effectively halves the house edge on even-money bets to 1.35%, making French roulette the best option for the player.

The Full Number Sequence on Each Roulette Wheel

The numbers on a roulette wheel do not follow arithmetic order. The sequence on each wheel is deliberately engineered to distribute values, colours, and odd/even numbers as evenly as possible around the circumference.

European roulette wheel – clockwise from 0

 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25, 17, 34, 6, 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33, 1, 20, 14, 31, 9, 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26

American roulette wheel – clockwise from 0

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

Roulette Wheel comparisons

Why Are Roulette Wheel Numbers Not in Order?

The roulette wheel number layout follows four design rules. Together, they make the wheel as balanced as possible in theory while making it harder for players to visualise sectors or detect bias.

Colour alternation

No two adjacent pockets share the same colour. Every number on the wheel is flanked by two numbers of a different colour. This rule applies without exception to both wheel types.

High/low alternation

Low numbers (1-18) and high numbers (19-36) must alternate around the wheel as consistently as possible.

The European wheel achieves this more cleanly than the American: the only breaks in the pattern are 5 next to 10, and 26 next to 32 (the latter separated by the zero).

The American wheel has multiple sectors where low and high numbers cluster together.

Odd/even distribution

No more than two odd or two even numbers may sit adjacent to each other anywhere on the wheel.

Sector disorientation

The non-sequential layout makes it hard for players to build a mental picture of where specific numbers sit relative to each other. This complicates any attempt to identify bias or bet systematically on wheel sectors, particularly for less experienced players.

Two notable asymmetries on the European wheel

Split the European wheel into two halves, starting from zero. The left half contains all black low numbers and all red high numbers; the right half contains all black high numbers and all red low numbers.

In the nine-number sector 29-7-28-12-35-3-26-0-32, none of the numbers belong to the second dozen (13-24). This creates an asymmetry that affects strategies combining dozen bets with wheel sector bets.

Anatomy of a Roulette Wheel

A roulette wheel is a precision instrument. Any deviation from its construction standards (through wear or deliberate manipulation) creates a biased wheel that advantage players can, in principle, exploit.

Structural requirements

Weight must be distributed evenly across the entire wheel. The cylinder must spin freely, and all other components must remain fixed. Neither the wheel nor the ball may contain magnetic materials. Every pocket must have identical dimensions and spacing, and the ball must be able to settle in any pocket cleanly.

Ball deflectors

Between the ball track and the numbered pockets, there are typically 8 to 16 deflectors, also called diamonds or canoe stops. When the ball leaves the track, it strikes one or more deflectors, altering its speed and direction before dropping into a pocket. Deflectors increase randomness and make trajectory prediction harder.

Frets and pocket design

Frets are the metal separators between pockets. Their height and shape determine how much the ball scatters on landing.

Tall, even frets keep the ball in the first pocket it enters. Low frets cause erratic bouncing across several pockets before the ball settles, producing wider scatter.

Roulette Wheel Frets

Sloped frets (declining toward the centre) were common on early wheels and behave similarly to low frets. Curved frets allow the ball to move between pockets without visible bouncing.

The scatter is real, but players don't see the jumps. Shallow pocket pads, a more recent development, increase scatter regardless of fret type.

Deceleration

As a wheel ages, the ball track degrades, and the ball loses speed faster. This affects where the ball tends to land and is one reason some advantage players prefer older equipment.

Modern manufacturers design wheels to resist deceleration. In online roulette, this is not a factor because the wheel is software.

European Wheel Call Bets: Voisins, Tiers and Orphelins

Some bets are defined by position on the European wheel rather than on the table layout.

In land-based casinos, these are announced verbally to the dealer. Every chip in the bet must be of equal value.

Live Dealer vs Online (RNG) Roulette Wheels

In a live dealer game, a real physical wheel is used, built to the same manufacturing standards as a land-based casino wheel, operated by a croupier, and streamed in real time.

The live roulette experience replicates the physical game as closely as possible, including the unpredictability introduced by deflectors, fret design, and ball material.

RNG (Random Number Generator) roulette uses software to simulate the wheel. Each spin is determined by a certified random number generator, independently audited to ensure outcomes are statistically equivalent to a physical wheel.

There are no deflectors, no ball materials, no deceleration, just a mathematically verified random result. Licensed operators are required to use certified RNG software, so concerns about rigged outcomes do not apply to regulated online casinos.

Both formats offer the same bets, the same payouts, and the same house edge for a given wheel variant.

Roulette Wheel Manufacturers

Three manufacturers dominate the professional roulette wheel market:

  • Cammegh, based in Ashford, Kent, is an independent manufacturer and one of the market leaders.
  • TCS John Huxley (formerly John Huxley, acquired by TCS) is known for the Starburst wheel design.
  • Paul-Son, acquired by Gaming Partners, completes the major three.

It’s possible to combine components from different manufacturers on the same wheel.

One notable development from Cammegh is Random Rotor Speed (RRS) technology on the Mercury 360 wheel.

RRS uses a contactless mechanism to vary the rotor's speed during play, disrupting techniques used by advantage players, including roulette computers and dealer signature exploitation.

Roulette Wheel and Table

Some casinos using RRS-equipped wheels have reportedly had them fitted with TCS John Huxley turrets, concealing the technology in use.

FAQ – Roulette Wheel Numbers

How many numbers are on a roulette wheel?

A European wheel has 37 numbers (0-36). An American wheel has 38 (0-36 plus 00).

What is the highest number on a roulette wheel?

36 is the highest number on both European and American roulette wheels.

How many red and black numbers are on a roulette wheel?

Both wheels have 18 red and 18 black numbered pockets. The zero (and double zero on American wheels) is green.

Which roulette wheel has the best odds?

French roulette with the La Partage rule offers the best odds, with a house edge of 1.35% on even-money bets. The European wheel is the next best at 2.7%. The American wheel, at 5.26%, is the least favourable for the player.

What is the difference between a European and American roulette wheel?

The American wheel adds a double zero (00) pocket. That single extra pocket nearly doubles the house edge, from 2.7% to 5.26%, and changes the entire number sequence.

Are online roulette wheels random?

Licensed online roulette uses certified RNG software audited by independent testing labs. Each spin is statistically random and independent of all previous spins.

Key Takeaways

  • A European roulette wheel has 37 numbers (0-36); an American wheel has 38 (adding 00); a French wheel shares the European layout but adds La Partage or En Prison rules.
  • The house edge is 2.7% on the European wheel, 5.26% on the American, and 1.35% on French roulette with La Partage on even-money bets.
  • Roulette wheel numbers are arranged out of arithmetic order by design, following rules for colour alternation, high/low balance, odd/even distribution, and sector disorientation.
  • Call bets (Voisins du Zéro, Tiers, Orphelins, Jeu Zéro) are referenced by position on the European wheel, not the table layout.
  • Fret height, pocket design, and ball material affect how much the ball scatters. Tall frets mean less scatter, low or curved frets mean more.
  • A regulation wheel must be evenly weighted, non-magnetic, and built to identical pocket specifications. Deviation creates a biased wheel.
  • Live dealer roulette uses a physical wheel; RNG roulette uses certified software. Both offer the same house edge for a given variant.

Now that you know how the roulette wheel works, why not put it to the test? Play roulette at 888casino.

April 14, 2026
Roulette Strategy
Body
A casino games enthusiast, Frederico brings engaging topics about casinos to our blog. You’ll find regular articles on strategy, tips, news, and fun curiosities here at 888casino.
Frederico Pereira
factcheck
Off
hidemainimage
show
Hide sidebar
show
Fullwidth Page
Off

Green Zero: The Roulette Pocket That Determines Your Odds at Every Table

Every roulette wheel has at least one green pocket, and that pocket is where the casino's edge comes from.

On a European single-zero wheel, zero pays 35 to 1 on a straight-up bet and lands with a probability of 1 in 37 (2.70%). The American version adds a second green pocket (00), pushing that combined probability to 2 in 38 (5.26%) while keeping the same 35 to 1 payout.

That gap – true probability versus payout – is the house edge in its simplest form. Fewer green pockets mean a lower edge and a better return for the player. Add La Partage on a single-zero wheel and the edge falls further to 1.35%, the lowest you will find in standard roulette.

Green Zero Payout Odds

The green zero pays 35 to 1 on a straight-up bet – the same payout odds as every other single number on the wheel. It does not pay a premium for being the house edge pocket. A straight-up bet on 17, 32, or zero all return 35 to 1; the difference is purely in probability, which varies by wheel format.

On a European wheel, zero lands 1 in 37 spins (2.70%). On an American wheel, each green pocket lands 1 in 38 spins (2.63% individually). The payout never changes, but the odds do.

To avoid becoming a zero chaser, it is worth noting that zero outcomes have no greater chance of occurring than any other numbered pocket on the wheel. Green stands out visually, and it’s easy to attribute significance to a colour that keeps costing you, but it carries no special statistical weight.

House Edge: Single, Double and Triple Zero Compared

The number of green pockets on a wheel is the single biggest variable in roulette house edge. Payout odds remain fixed at 35 to 1 across all formats, so the edge is created by the pocket count alone.

Wheel Format

Green Zero Pockets

Total Pockets

House Edge

With La Partage / Surrender

European (single zero)

1 [0]

37

2.70%

1.35%

American (double zero)

2 [0, 00]

38

5.26%

2.63%

Triple zero

3 [0, 00, 000]

39

7.69%

-

Single-zero wheels are standard across European land-based casinos and most online casinos. Double and triple zero tables are common in American casinos and tend to attract newer players partly because minimum bet sizes are often lower.

Roulette Table and Wheel

The trade-off is a house edge that is nearly double (or, in the triple-zero case, nearly triple) the European version. If you have a choice, always select a single-zero wheel.

How to Bet on Zero: Jeu Zéro

Beyond a straight-up bet on the green pocket itself, there is a specific call bet built around the zero: Jeu Zéro, or "zero game." It covers the green zero and six neighbouring numbers on the wheel (12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32 and 15) using four chips placed as follows:

  • One chip straight up on 26
  • One chip split covering 0–3
  • One chip split covering 12–15
  • One chip split covering 32–35

Jeu Zéro is placed on the racetrack betting area of the table. In land-based casinos, players call the bet and croupiers place it; in online casinos, players can place it directly on the racetrack layout.

It is a useful option for players who want broader coverage of the zero neighbourhood without committing to the larger Voisins du Zéro call bet.

Using Green Zero as a Timing Marker

For some experienced players, the green pocket serves a purpose beyond the bet itself – it's a timing marker. The technique works like this: you fix your gaze on the far side of the wheel and wait for the green zero to pass.

That's your reference point. While it goes by, you're already tracking the ball in your peripheral vision, reading how fast it's slowing. From that, you estimate how many revolutions it has left before it drops off the track and judge where on the wheel it's likely to land.

The window to act is tight. The goal is to get bets down (typically call bets like Voisins du Zéro, Tiers du Cylindre, Orphelins, or Neighbour bets) covering that estimated zone before the croupier closes the table.

In land-based casinos, players move chips near the croupier when calling bets because only croupiers can place bets on the racetrack. In online casinos, players can place their own bets directly.

This is a skill that improves with practice and relies on estimating ball revolutions and wheel speed rather than on intuition alone.

Roulette Wheel

If you correctly predict the area the ball will settle in, the advantage can be significant, although modern wheels increasingly incorporate ball deflectors and anti-prediction design features that make the technique harder to apply consistently.

La Partage and the Surrender Rule

La Partage is the most valuable of the roulette rules for even-money bettors. When it is in play on a single-zero wheel, the house edge drops from 2.70% to 1.35%, the lowest available in standard roulette.

The rule applies when zero is the outcome and there are active bets on any of the six even-money outside chances: Red/Black, Even/Odd, or Low/High (1–18 and 19–36). Instead of losing the full stake, the player loses only half. A $50 bet on Red, for example, returns $25 when zero lands.

The equivalent rule in double-zero American roulette is called Surrender, and it works identically: half the stake is returned on any even-money bet when zero or double-zero lands.

It reduces the American roulette house edge from 5.26% to 2.63%. This arrangement is most commonly found in Atlantic City and is not universal across American casinos or online platforms, though.

La Partage is found primarily in European casinos, both land-based and online, but it does not apply universally even on single-zero games.

Some progressive jackpot formats and electronic roulette terminals operate without it, in which case all even-money bets lose in full when zero occurs. If you are betting on the even-money chances, always check whether La Partage is in play before choosing your table.

Green Zero in Roulette: Key Takeaways

  • European single-zero roulette offers a 2.70% house edge – the best standard format available.
  • With La Partage on even-money bets, that edge drops to 1.35%.
  • American double-zero roulette runs at 5.26%, or 2.63% with the Surrender rule.
  • Triple-zero wheels should be avoided wherever possible.
  • Jeu Zéro provides structured coverage of the zero neighbourhood for players who want to bet around the pocket rather than directly on it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 0 and 00 in roulette?

The single zero (0) appears on European wheels, giving the casino a house edge of 2.70%. The double zero (00) is an extra green pocket found only on American wheels, raising the house edge to 5.26%. Both pay 35 to 1 on a straight-up bet, but the additional pocket worsens the true odds on every bet on the table.

What happens to my bet when zero lands?

A straight-up bet on zero wins at 35 to 1. Any other straight-up bet loses in full. Even-money outside bets (Red/Black, Even/Odd, Low/High) also lose in full, unless La Partage is in play, in which case half the stake is returned. All other bets lose regardless.

Is it worth betting on zero in roulette?

A straight-up bet on zero pays 35 to 1 but lands with a probability of 1 in 37 on a European wheel, identical to every other number. The expected value is the same as any other straight-up bet on the table. The payout looks attractive, but zero holds no statistical advantage over any other pocket.

April 1, 2026
Roulette Strategy
Body
A casino games enthusiast, Frederico brings engaging topics about casinos to our blog. You’ll find regular articles on strategy, tips, news, and fun curiosities here at 888casino.
Frederico Pereira
factcheck
Off
hidemainimage
show
Hide sidebar
show
Fullwidth Page
Off