American vs European roulette
A quick compare for Vegas floors: two greens vs one, what that does to even-money bets, and how to read the wheel in front of you.
Reviewed Oct 8, 2026
Answer first
90s- 01American wheels add 00 beside 0 — 38 pockets total (1–36 plus two greens).
- 02European-style single-zero wheels use 37 pockets (1–36 plus 0 only).
- 03Extra green raises the house edge on standard even-money bets versus single-zero.
- 04Most Las Vegas pits run American 0/00; single-zero tables exist but are less common.
- 05Always confirm the wheel art and felt before you buy in — do not assume from the Strip address.
- 06No betting system removes the edge on either layout; play only if you are 21+ in Nevada.
On the wheel
Greens: 0 vs 0/00
European single-zero
One green — 37 pockets on the wheel
American double-zero
Two greens — 38 pockets; common in Vegas
Even-money bets (red/black, even/odd, high/low) lose on every green. More greens means more ways those bets die — that is the core compare.
Quick differences
| Topic | American (0/00) | European (0) |
|---|---|---|
| Pockets | 38 (0, 00, 1–36) | 37 (0, 1–36) |
| Greens | Two | One |
| Vegas frequency | Very common | Less common |
| Even-money edge | Higher (two greens) | Lower (one green) |
| Straight-up pay | Usually 35:1 | Usually 35:1 |
| Tell on the floor | See 0 and 00 | See 0 only |
Specialty rules (La Partage, En Prison) appear on some single-zero tables elsewhere — rare on Vegas American layouts. Confirm the felt in front of you.
Progress
How to tell which wheel you have
- 1
Look at greens
Count 0 only vs 0 and 00
- 2
Check the felt
Layout may show 00 column
- 3
Ask the dealer
“Is this double-zero?”
- 4
Then buy in
Minimums still on the sign
Do not trust a hotel brand memory from last year — wheels get moved. The greens in front of you are the truth for that spin.
Compare terms
- Double-zero (American)
- Wheel and layout that include both 0 and 00. Standard on many Las Vegas tables; even-money bets lose on either green.
- Single-zero (European)
- Wheel with only 0 as a green. Lower edge on common bets than 0/00 when pays match the usual schedule.
- Even-money outside
- Red/black, even/odd, high/low — pay 1:1 when they win, and lose on greens. The green count is why these are not fair coin flips.
- Inside bets
- Straight-up, split, street, corner, and similar. Typical straight-up pay is 35:1 on both styles — edge still differs with pocket count.
- French bets / sections
- Names like Voisins refer to wheel sections. Only useful if that table takes them — ask; rarer on busy American Strip layouts.
Your turn
What changes for a first-timer
Expect American in Vegas
Plan for 0/00 unless you see a single green. Shopping for single-zero is optional, not guaranteed on every property.
Same outside bet names
Red/black still means color — the difference is how often greens take the chip, not the label on the felt.
Payoff stickers can match
35:1 straight-up and 1:1 outside can look identical while the true edge differs. Pocket count matters more than sticker familiarity.
No system bridge
Martingale and pattern chasing fail on both wheels; American just hits the wall faster when greens show.
Floor rules
Etiquette when you switch wheels
Know before you sit
- Ask before you assume
- A quick “double-zero tonight?” beats arguing after a green loss. Dealers answer this all shift.
- Same hands-off rules
- No more bets means hands off on both styles. Past-posting is forbidden whether you see one green or two.
- Color chips stay at that table
- Cash out table color before you walk to another wheel. Do not assume the next pit wants the previous color.
- Do not lecture the table
- Explaining edge math unprompted slows the game. Share a chart privately; let others choose their bets.
Go play
Where to play in Las Vegas
Tap a resort — each row opens that casino’s CasinoList page (hours, game mix, floor facts). Venues with this game in official counts, sorted high to low.
Open a casino page
Real listings · not adsAfter the 90 seconds
Questions before and after you play
A 90-second guide cannot cover every table moment. Tap a group, then a question — answers are short paragraphs, not one-liners.
01Spotting the difference
How can I tell American from European roulette in two seconds?
Look at the green pockets on the wheel and the zero area on the felt. If you see both 0 and 00, it is American double-zero (38 pockets). If you see only 0, it is single-zero style (37 pockets). When the wheel is busy, ask the dealer — they would rather answer than settle a confused bet mid-spin.
Are most Las Vegas wheels American?
Yes — most Strip and locals pits run American double-zero as the default. Single-zero tables exist at some resorts but are less common and can be higher minimum or in a different salon. Treat “Vegas roulette” as 0/00 until your eyes prove otherwise on that exact table.
02Edge and betting
Why does the extra 00 matter if pays look the same?
Pay stickers can show 35:1 on a straight-up and 1:1 on red/black on both styles. The extra green is another pocket where even-money bets lose and where the true probability of each number is slightly worse on American wheels. Same sticker, different pocket math — that is the house-edge gap in plain language.
Should I only play if I find a European wheel?
Single-zero is friendlier on edge when available, but it is not a win guarantee and may not match your schedule or minimum. Many visitors play American wheels for convenience with a clear loss limit. Walking for single-zero is optional strategy; refusing to enjoy a planned entertainment budget on 0/00 is a personal call, not a rule.
Do inside bets fix the American edge?
No. Straight-ups and other inside bets still face the pocket math of a 38-number wheel on American layouts. They change variance and payoff size, not the fact that greens exist. Choose inside bets for entertainment spice with small units — not as a repair kit for double-zero.
03On the floor
The felt says Roulette but I only see one zero. Is that European?
If the wheel and layout truly omit 00, you are on a single-zero style table. Still confirm with the dealer, because some salons use French-style rules or different specialty bets. Do not rely on the word “Roulette” alone — the greens are the compare.
Where can I find roulette tables in Las Vegas after reading this?
Use the venues listed below — resorts in our catalog with published NGCB roulette table counts, sorted high to low. Open a casino page for hours and the mix, then look at the wheel for 0 vs 0/00 before you buy in. Live style and minimums change through the day.
Sources
- Caesars Palace casino (operator page) · accessed Oct 8, 2026Land-based table-games floor example; mix as published by the operator.
- Venetian Las Vegas casino (operator page) · accessed Oct 8, 2026
- CasinoList Las Vegas roulette inventory · accessed Oct 8, 2026Table counts from catalog records (NGCB Count Report by-game columns).