Roulette Odds Explained: European vs American Wheels

The wheel

A European roulette wheel has 37 pockets: the numbers 1 to 36, alternating red and black, plus a single green zero. An American wheel adds a second green pocket, the double zero, for 38 pockets in total. Lucky Loco uses the European single-zero wheel.

Payouts versus true odds

A straight-up bet on one number pays 35 to 1. If the wheel had only 36 numbers, that would be a perfectly fair payout. The green zero is the 37th pocket, so the true odds are 36 to 1 against you. That small gap is the house edge: 1 ÷ 37 ≈ 2.7% on a European wheel.

On an American wheel the edge almost doubles to about 5.26%, because two green pockets sit on the wheel while the payouts stay the same. If you ever play roulette elsewhere, the single-zero wheel is always the better choice.

Outside bets

Red/black, odd/even and 1–18/19–36 each cover 18 numbers and pay 1 to 1. They win a little under half the time — 18 out of 37, or 48.6% — because the zero loses for all of them. Dozens and columns cover 12 numbers and pay 2 to 1.

Do betting systems work?

Systems such as the Martingale (doubling your bet after every loss) feel safe because they win small amounts often. But every spin is independent: the wheel has no memory, and a run of ten reds does not make black more likely. A long losing streak eventually hits the table limit or empties the bankroll, wiping out all the small wins. No staking system changes the 2.7% edge.

Enjoy the spin

Roulette is a game of pure chance, which is exactly why it is fun with free coins. Try different bet types on our free roulette table and watch how often each one actually lands.