What Is American Roulette?

American roulette is the version of roulette most commonly found in casinos across the United States, Canada, South America, and parts of Asia. Its defining feature is the double-zero (00) pocket, which sits opposite the single zero on the wheel and creates 38 total pockets instead of 37.

That extra pocket might not sound like much, but it nearly doubles the house edge compared to European roulette. Where European gives the house a 2.70% advantage, American roulette pushes it to 5.26%. The payouts stay exactly the same on both wheels, so you're effectively getting worse odds for the same bets.

So why play it? American roulette is what you'll find on most casino floors in the US, and it introduces the unique top line bet. Our free simulator lets you experience the full double-zero game, learn the differences from European, and practice strategies without spending real money.

How to Play American Roulette

The core rules are identical to all roulette variants. Place your chips on the betting grid before each spin. You can bet on individual numbers, groups of numbers, colours, odd/even, high/low, dozens, or columns. Combine as many bets as you want on a single spin.

Hit the Spin button and the ball drops onto the wheel. When it lands in a pocket, winning bets are paid and losing chips are cleared. A new round starts immediately.

The key difference from European roulette is the presence of both 0 and 00 on the table layout. Both count as house numbers. You can bet on either one individually, split between them, or include them in combination bets like the top line.

American Roulette Bet Types

American roulette offers all the same bets as European, plus one exclusive:

Inside Bets: Straight Up (35:1), Split (17:1), Street (11:1), Corner (8:1), Six Line (5:1). These cover specific numbers and pay well but win less often.

Outside Bets: Red/Black (1:1), Odd/Even (1:1), High/Low (1:1), Dozens (2:1), Columns (2:1). These cover larger groups and win close to half the time on even-money bets.

Top Line / Basket Bet (6:1): Exclusive to American roulette. Covers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. Pays 6:1 but carries a house edge of 7.89%, making it the worst bet on the entire table. Most experienced players avoid it.

The American Roulette Wheel Layout

The American wheel has 38 pockets: numbers 1 through 36 in alternating red and black, plus a green 0 and green 00. The number arrangement is completely different from the European wheel. On the American wheel, the 0 and 00 sit directly opposite each other, and the remaining numbers are distributed to balance high/low and odd/even across both halves.

The full 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. If you're used to European roulette, the number positions will feel unfamiliar at first.

American Roulette Payouts and House Edge

The payouts in American roulette are identical to European: a straight-up number pays 35:1, splits pay 17:1, even-money bets pay 1:1. But because there are 38 pockets instead of 37, the probability of winning each bet is slightly lower. The payouts were designed for a 36-number wheel, but there are 38 numbers. That's where the 5.26% house edge comes from.

To put it in real terms: for every 100 coins you wager on American roulette over time, you can expect to get back about 94.74. On European roulette, you'd get back 97.30. Over hundreds of spins, that adds up fast.

The top line bet is the one exception to the uniform house edge. Covering 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3 at 6:1 gives the house a 7.89% advantage. It's the only bet on either wheel where the house edge differs from the standard.

American vs European Roulette: The Honest Comparison

If pure odds are your priority, European roulette is the better choice. The maths is straightforward: 2.70% vs 5.26% house edge. Over 1,000 spins at 100 coins per bet, you'd lose roughly 2,700 on European and 5,260 on American. That's nearly double.

American roulette does have its place though. If you're planning to visit a US casino, practising on the American wheel makes sense because that's what you'll find on the floor. The table layout is slightly different (the 00 adds another betting position), and getting comfortable with it beforehand is worthwhile.

Try both on our simulator and see the difference for yourself. Switch to our European roulette simulator to compare the experience directly.

Strategies for American Roulette

All the standard roulette strategies work on American roulette: Martingale, D'Alembert, Fibonacci, Labouchere, James Bond. The systems are identical; only the expected outcomes shift slightly because of the higher house edge.

The most important strategy tip for American roulette is simple: avoid the top line bet. At 7.89%, it's significantly worse than every other bet on the table. Beyond that, the same principles apply as European: manage your bankroll, set a budget, and don't chase losses. Read our full strategy guide for more.

Why Play on Our Simulator?

Our American roulette simulator uses a cryptographically secure random number generator for every spin. Results are fair, unpredictable, and generated server-side. You get 1,000,000 free coins daily with no deposit required.

Play on any device. Desktop, tablet, or smartphone. No download, no app. The simulator runs entirely in your browser. You can also join multiplayer tables or enter tournaments once you're comfortable with the game.

Play Responsibly

This simulator uses virtual coins only. No real money is involved and no real money can be won. If you decide to play American roulette for real money, always set a budget and stick to it.

Frequently Asked Questions