Roulette percentages depend first on the wheel. Standard single-zero bets have a 2.70% house edge; double-zero bets usually have 5.26%. Bet type changes the chance of a hit and the payout, but not the house edge on the same wheel, apart from specific rule exceptions.
Best Percentage In One Check
Choose a single-zero wheel over a double-zero wheel when the payouts are otherwise standard. If a French single-zero table applies La Partage or En Prison to even-money bets, those bets can have a 1.35% house edge.
Wheel Percentages At A Glance
| Wheel or rule | Pockets | Typical house edge | Theoretical RTP |
|---|---|---|---|
| European single zero | 37: 1 to 36 plus 0 | 2.70% | 97.30% |
| American double zero | 38: 1 to 36 plus 0 and 00 | 5.26% | 94.74% |
| Triple-zero wheel | 39: 1 to 36 plus 0, 00, and 000 | 7.69% | 92.31% |
| French single zero with La Partage on even-money bets | 37 | 1.35% on qualifying bets | 98.65% on qualifying bets |
These figures assume standard payouts. Electronic and live games can use special rules, multipliers, jackpots, or side bets with different mathematics. Open the exact table information before placing a bet.
Why One Extra Zero Nearly Doubles The Cost
A straight-up winning number pays 35:1 on both common wheels. The payout behaves as if there were 36 possible outcomes, but single-zero roulette has 37 pockets and double-zero roulette has 38. The unpaid extra pocket or pockets create the house edge.
| Wheel | Straight-up win chance | Expected result per 1-unit bet |
|---|---|---|
| Single zero | 1/37 = 2.7027% | -1/37 = -2.7027% |
| Double zero | 1/38 = 2.6316% | -2/38 = -5.2632% |
| Triple zero | 1/39 = 2.5641% | -3/39 = -7.6923% |
The double-zero percentage is not exactly twice the single-zero figure, but it is close: 5.26% versus 2.70%. That difference compounds through turnover even when two short sessions look similar.
Single-Zero Roulette Odds And Payouts
| Bet | Numbers covered | Win chance | Payout | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 1 | 2.70% | 35:1 | 2.70% |
| Split | 2 | 5.41% | 17:1 | 2.70% |
| Street | 3 | 8.11% | 11:1 | 2.70% |
| Corner | 4 | 10.81% | 8:1 | 2.70% |
| Six line | 6 | 16.22% | 5:1 | 2.70% |
| Dozen or column | 12 | 32.43% | 2:1 | 2.70% |
| Red, black, odd, even, high, or low | 18 | 48.65% | 1:1 | 2.70% |
A broader bet hits more often because it covers more pockets, but the payout falls in proportion. On a standard single-zero wheel, moving from one number to red does not improve the long-run percentage. It changes volatility and the shape of results.
Check The Expected Value Yourself
Expected value multiplies each net result by its probability and adds the answers. On single-zero roulette, the calculation exposes the same missing unit across standard payouts:
| Bet | Expected value calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Straight up | (1 × 35 – 36 × 1) / 37 | -1/37 = -2.70% |
| Dozen | (12 × 2 – 25 × 1) / 37 | -1/37 = -2.70% |
| Red or black | (18 × 1 – 19 × 1) / 37 | -1/37 = -2.70% |
The number of winning pockets rises as the payout falls. In every row, the weighted wins end one unit short over 37 equally likely pocket outcomes. On the double-zero wheel, the same payout structure ends two units short over 38 outcomes.
Double-Zero Roulette Odds And Payouts
| Bet | Numbers covered | Win chance | Payout | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 1 | 2.63% | 35:1 | 5.26% |
| Split | 2 | 5.26% | 17:1 | 5.26% |
| Street | 3 | 7.89% | 11:1 | 5.26% |
| Corner | 4 | 10.53% | 8:1 | 5.26% |
| Six line | 6 | 15.79% | 5:1 | 5.26% |
| Dozen or column | 12 | 31.58% | 2:1 | 5.26% |
| Red, black, odd, even, high, or low | 18 | 47.37% | 1:1 | 5.26% |
The payouts remain the same while the second zero creates another losing outcome. Red still covers 18 numbers, but it now loses on 20 pockets: the 18 opposite-colour numbers plus 0 and 00.
The American Five-Number Bet Is Worse
The five-number basket covers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3 on a double-zero wheel and usually pays 6:1. It wins on 5 of 38 pockets, but that payout produces a 7.89% house edge, higher than the usual 5.26% on other standard American roulette bets.
| Outcome | Probability | Net result |
|---|---|---|
| One of the five numbers wins | 5/38 = 13.16% | +6 units |
| Any other number wins | 33/38 = 86.84% | -1 unit |
| Expected result | (5 × 6 – 33) / 38 | -3/38 = -7.89% |
This is a genuine bet-type exception. On double-zero roulette, changing from an ordinary straight, split, dozen, or even-money bet to the five-number basket makes the underlying percentage worse.
La Partage And En Prison Percentages
La Partage applies to qualifying even-money bets on some French or European tables. When zero wins, half the stake is returned instead of the entire stake being lost. That halves the standard single-zero house edge from 2.70% to about 1.35%.
En Prison can produce the same long-run edge under its standard form, but the stake is held for a later spin instead of half being returned immediately. Exact table rules matter, including what happens after another zero and whether the rule applies to all even-money bets.
- Confirm the wheel has one zero.
- Confirm which bets qualify: usually red/black, odd/even, and high/low.
- Read whether zero returns half the stake or imprisons it.
- Check what happens if zero occurs while a stake is imprisoned.
- Do not assume the rule applies to dozens, columns, or inside bets.
House Edge Versus Hit Rate
Hit rate answers how often a bet wins. House edge answers the expected long-run cost relative to turnover. Those are different questions. An even-money bet can win almost half the time but still have negative expectation because zero is a losing result.
| Bet on single-zero wheel | Approximate hit rate | Typical result pattern |
|---|---|---|
| One number | 2.70% | Rare wins paying 35:1 |
| One dozen | 32.43% | Wins paying 2:1 |
| Red or black | 48.65% | Frequent wins paying 1:1 |
All three examples have the same 2.70% house edge with standard payouts. The straight-up bet has much greater short-term variance. Calling red “safer” can therefore mean a smoother result pattern, not a better long-run return.
Chance Of At Least One Hit
The chance of at least one win over several independent spins is 1 minus the chance of losing every spin. That statistic can sound impressive while saying nothing about the final balance, because it ignores how many other bets lost and how much each win paid.
| Plan on single-zero roulette | Chance of at least one hit | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| One number for 10 spins | 23.97% | That a hit covers all 10 stakes after changes or extras |
| One number for 36 spins | 62.71% | That a hit is due by spin 36 |
| One dozen for 5 spins | 85.92% | That the five-spin sequence finishes ahead |
| Red for 10 spins | 99.87% | That wins outnumber losses or produce profit |
For example, at least one red result in ten spins is extremely likely, but one red win cannot offset nine 1-unit losses. “Chance of a hit” is useful for describing volatility; expected value and total stakes are needed to describe cost.
What The Percentage Costs In Turnover
| Total amount wagered | Single zero at 2.70% | Double zero at 5.26% | Triple zero at 7.69% |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | $2.70 | $5.26 | $7.69 |
| $500 | $13.51 | $26.32 | $38.46 |
| $1,000 | $27.03 | $52.63 | $76.92 |
| $5,000 | $135.14 | $263.16 | $384.62 |
These are theoretical losses, not guaranteed session outcomes. Turnover means every wager, including money won and bet again. A $100 deposit can generate $1,000 of turnover through repeated play without the account ever holding $1,000 at once.
How To Identify The Wheel Before Betting
- Count the green pockets shown in the rules or table layout.
- Look for 0 only, 0 and 00, or 0, 00, and 000.
- Open the payout table and confirm straight-up bets pay 35:1.
- Check for La Partage, En Prison, surrender, multipliers, or jackpot rules.
- Verify whether the displayed RTP applies to the standard game or an optional mode.
- Choose the lower-edge wheel before comparing colours, numbers, or systems.
A name such as European, American, French, classic, premium, or live is not enough by itself. The pocket count and written rules control the calculation.
Multipliers And Special Roulette Games
Games with random multipliers or altered payouts may advertise a high top prize while reducing ordinary payouts or redistributing return. Their RTP can differ from standard roulette and may also vary by betting mode. Do not apply the 2.70% single-zero figure automatically.
- Read the complete payout table, not only the maximum multiplier.
- Check whether every straight-up win pays 35:1 when no multiplier applies.
- Find the published RTP for the exact mode.
- Check whether side bets use separate odds and return figures.
- Treat a rare headline payout as part of the game distribution, not extra free value.
Why Betting Systems Do Not Change Percentages
Martingale, D’Alembert, Fibonacci, Regression, and other progressions decide how much to wager after a result. They do not add winning pockets or improve payouts. Expected loss continues to follow total turnover at the house edge of the chosen bet.
A system can change the distribution of short sessions. It may create many small wins and occasional large losses, or press more money during a winning run. That can change volatility, maximum stake, and risk of ruin without improving expected value.
| Action | What changes | What stays the same |
|---|---|---|
| Double after a loss | Stake and bankroll pressure | Wheel probabilities and payout |
| Increase after a win | Exposure during a winning run | House edge per unit wagered |
| Switch from red to black | The selected 18 numbers | Win chance on the same wheel |
| Switch from double zero to single zero | Number of losing zero pockets | Standard bet payouts |
| Use La Partage | Loss on zero for qualifying bets | Pocket probabilities |
Common Percentage Mistakes
- Calling red a 50% bet. Zero makes the chance 48.65% on single zero and 47.37% on double zero.
- Reading 35:1 as 36 times total. A winning 1-unit straight-up bet returns 35 units profit plus the original stake.
- Using 2.70% for every green wheel. Two or three zero pockets produce a higher edge.
- Assuming outside bets have better RTP. They normally have the same edge as inside bets on the same standard wheel.
- Ignoring the five-number basket. Its 7.89% edge is worse than ordinary double-zero bets.
- Treating RTP as a session promise. Short outcomes can vary widely around the long-run percentage.
- Multiplying the edge by the deposit. Expected cost follows turnover, which can exceed the starting balance.
A Practical Roulette Percentage Checklist
- The wheel type and number of zero pockets are confirmed.
- The exact payout for the selected bet is visible.
- Any La Partage or En Prison rule is written in the table rules.
- The five-number basket is avoided on double-zero roulette.
- Special multipliers and side bets have separate RTP checks.
- The session budget and maximum turnover are set before play.
- No progression is being treated as a way to change the odds.
Last reviewed: 4 September 2026. Always use the rules and payout table for the exact roulette game because special variants can change the figures.
Related Roulette Guides
- Roulette Rules
- Single Zero Vs Double Zero Roulette
- Roulette La Partage Rule
- Roulette Inside Bets
- Roulette Outside Bets
- Regression Betting System
Frequently Asked Questions
Standard single-zero roulette bets have a 1/37 house edge, about 2.70%, and a theoretical RTP of about 97.30%.
Most standard double-zero roulette bets have a 2/38 house edge, about 5.26%, and a theoretical RTP of about 94.74%.
No. Red and black each cover 18 pockets. The win chance is 18/37, or 48.65%, on single-zero roulette and 18/38, or 47.37%, on double-zero roulette.
On one standard wheel, most bets share the same house edge. Wheel choice matters more. A French single-zero even-money bet with La Partage can reduce the edge to about 1.35%.
It covers five numbers and pays 6:1, producing a 3/38 house edge of about 7.89%. That is higher than the usual 5.26% on other standard double-zero bets.
No. A betting system changes stake size or sequence, not pocket probabilities or payouts. Expected loss still follows the house edge applied to total turnover.
