American Roulette

American Roulette is the version of roulette most closely associated with land-based casinos in the United States. It looks and feels like classic roulette, but it carries one change that affects everything from your odds to the casino’s advantage - the wheel has two green pockets: 0 and 00.

That extra green pocket is the real reason American Roulette plays differently than European Roulette, even though the betting layout and core rules will feel familiar the first time you sit down.

American Roulette, Explained in Plain English

At its core, American Roulette is a wheel-and-ball game with numbered pockets. You place chips on a betting grid, the dealer spins the wheel, and a ball settles into one pocket. If your bet matches the outcome (or the group your bet covers), you get paid based on the bet type.

The defining detail is simple: American Roulette uses both 0 and 00. Those two green pockets increase the house edge compared to roulette variants that only use a single zero.

A Quick History: From European Origins to American Tables

Roulette traces back to Europe, where versions of the wheel game developed and spread through popular gambling venues. As the game reached the United States, the American wheel evolved into its modern form by adding the 00 pocket.

That adjustment helped casinos increase their mathematical edge, and it became the standard wheel format commonly found across the United States, especially in traditional casino settings.

The American Roulette Wheel Layout (38 Pockets)

An American Roulette wheel has 38 pockets total:

• Numbers 1-36
• Single zero (0)
• Double zero (00)

The numbers 1-36 are split between red and black pockets. Red and black alternate around the wheel (not in perfect numerical order), while 0 and 00 are green. Those green pockets aren’t just cosmetic - they’re what pushes the house edge higher.

How the American Roulette Table Layout Works

The table is where strategy and preference show up. The betting grid is a map of the numbers and groups you can bet on.

Most of the grid is the numbered area (1-36), arranged in rows and columns. Around it, you’ll see larger group bets like red or black, odd or even, and high (19-36) or low (1-18). You place chips directly on the area that matches your bet:

• On a single number for a straight-up bet
• On the line between two numbers for a split
• On outside sections for group bets like dozens or colors

In live games, dealers typically ask players to place bets before announcing “no more bets.”

How to Play American Roulette Step by Step

American Roulette is quick to learn because every round follows the same rhythm:

1. Choose your chip value (either the table minimum in a casino, or your selected chip denomination online).
2. Place bets on the table layout (one bet or several).
3. The dealer spins the wheel and releases the ball.
4. The ball lands in a numbered pocket (including 0 or 00).
5. Winning bets are paid according to the standard payout schedule.

Online, the software handles payouts automatically. On a live dealer table, the dealer places a marker on the winning number and pays out winning positions before clearing losing chips.

Inside Bets: Where Bigger Payouts Come With Bigger Swings

Inside bets sit on the numbered grid and cover specific numbers or tight groups. These are the bets people usually mean when they say they’re “picking numbers.”

Straight Up A bet on one exact number. It’s the highest typical payout on the table, but also the hardest to hit.

Split Placed on the line between two adjacent numbers. You’re covering two outcomes instead of one.

Street Covers three numbers in a row (for example, 1-2-3). Chips are placed at the end of that row.

Corner Covers four numbers that meet at a corner point (like 8-9-11-12).

Six Line Covers six numbers across two neighboring streets (for example, 1-2-3-4-5-6).

Inside bets don’t change the house edge - they change volatility. You’ll see longer dry spells, but the payouts are larger when you connect.

Outside Bets: Simpler Wins, Smaller Payouts

Outside bets cover bigger groups of numbers, so they hit more often, but they pay less.

Red or Black A color bet covering 18 numbers.

Odd or Even Covers 18 numbers (excluding 0 and 00).

High or Low Low is 1-18, and high is 19-36.

Dozens Bet on 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36.

Columns Bet on one of the three vertical columns on the grid, each containing 12 numbers.

Outside bets are a common starting point because they’re easy to understand and help pace your bankroll, even though the underlying math still favors the house.

American Roulette Payout Table (Typical)

Here’s the standard payout structure you’ll see for American Roulette:

• Straight Up: 1 number, 35: 1 payout
• Split: 2 numbers, 17: 1 payout
• Street: 3 numbers, 11: 1 payout
• Corner: 4 numbers, 8: 1 payout
• Six Line: 6 numbers, 5: 1 payout
• Dozens / Columns: 12 numbers, 2: 1 payout
• Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low: 18 numbers, 1: 1 payout

These payouts are “typical” because roulette rules are widely standardized, though individual casinos can offer special side bets or rule tweaks in certain formats.

The Math Behind It: House Edge in American Roulette

American Roulette has a house edge of 5.26%. The reason is the extra green pocket - the 00 creates an additional losing outcome for most bets without increasing payouts.

For comparison, European Roulette (with a single 0 and 37 pockets) sits at about 2.7% house edge. Over time, that difference matters, especially if you’re playing long sessions or placing lots of spins.

Strategy Tips That Actually Help (Without Magical Systems)

Roulette doesn’t reward “solving the wheel,” but you can make choices that fit your risk tolerance and budget.

Know what you’re paying for Inside bets can be fun, but they come with wider swings. Outside bets typically produce more frequent hits and smaller wins, which can feel steadier.

Start with outside bets if you’re learning Red or black, odd or even, and high or low are easy to track, and they keep the game moving without complicated chip placement.

Manage your bankroll like it’s the whole game Set a spend limit before you play, and decide what “done” looks like - a time limit, a win goal, or a loss limit.

Be skeptical of betting systems that promise guaranteed wins Martingale-style progressions can look convincing until a long streak shows up. Roulette is a game of chance, and no pattern changes the odds of the next spin.

American Roulette vs European Roulette: The Real Differences

The two games share the same basic betting menu, but the wheel changes the math.

American Roulette:

• 38 pockets (includes 0 and 00)
• 5.26% house edge
• Common in casinos across the United States

European Roulette:

• 37 pockets (single 0)
• About 2.7% house edge
• More common in European casino settings and in many online roulette lobbies

If you care most about reducing the house edge, European Roulette is usually the better option when it’s available.

Online American Roulette vs Live Dealer Roulette

Online American Roulette usually comes in two main formats:

RNG (digital) roulette The spin result is generated by software using a random number generator. It’s fast, consistent, and often includes helpful features like bet replays, hot-and-cold number trackers, and flexible table limits depending on the operator.

Live dealer roulette A real wheel is streamed from a studio, and you place bets through a digital interface. The pace is closer to a real table, and many players prefer the visual transparency of seeing the physical spin.

On sites with large live lobbies, you’ll often see American Roulette alongside European and French tables, so it’s worth checking the wheel type before you sit down.

Software Providers Known for Roulette Tables

A lot of roulette quality comes down to the studio or developer behind it. Some of the most recognizable names for roulette (including American Roulette tables) include:

• Evolution
• Playtech
• Pragmatic Play Live
• NetEnt
• Ezugi

Game libraries vary by operator, so the exact roulette titles you see depend on what that casino has integrated.

Where American Roulette Fits at Mexiwin Casino and Tonplay Casino

If you’re browsing roulette options at operators that list big-name studios, it’s usually a sign you’ll find multiple roulette variants, including American Roulette, European Roulette, and live dealer tables.

Mexiwin Casino lists providers such as Evolution Gaming, Playtech, Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, and Ezugi, and supports both card payments (Visa and MasterCard) and several crypto options, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, and Solana. Support includes live chat and email at "support@mexiwin.com". More details are available in the Mexiwin Casino review.

Tonplay Casino also lists roulette-friendly studios like Evolution Gaming, Playtech, Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, and Ezugi, with cashier options including Visa and MasterCard, plus methods like Skrill, Neteller, PaySafeCard, bank transfer, and multiple cryptocurrencies. Support includes live chat and email at "support@tonplay.com". You can compare the platform’s game mix and welcome offer in the Tonplay Casino review.

Before choosing a table, check which roulette wheel is being used (single-zero vs double-zero) and whether you’re joining an RNG table or a live dealer studio.

Mobile American Roulette: What to Expect on Phones and Tablets

Most online American Roulette games are built to run on mobile browsers, with the betting grid adapted for smaller screens. Typically, you’ll toggle between the racetrack view (for common bets) and the main grid, and chip placement is handled with taps rather than precise dragging.

Live dealer roulette also tends to work well on mobile, though it depends more on connection quality since you’re watching a stream in real time.

Responsible Gambling Reminder

Roulette is fast, and the results are random. Set spending and time limits before you play, take breaks when the game stops feeling fun, and use tools like deposit limits, time-outs, or self-exclusion if they’re available through your chosen casino.

American Roulette FAQ