Roulette is a classic casino game where the green 0 and 00 pockets change the maths of every spin. These pockets are treated differently from the red and black numbers, and that difference is what determines payouts and odds.
This article explains how 0 and 00 work, the payouts and house edge they create, and the practical chances of winning on them. Read on to see how the variations affect play and what common misunderstandings to avoid.
Understanding 0 and 00 in Roulette
The green pockets marked 0, and 00 where present, occupy a special place on the wheel. A single-zero wheel contains one green 0, while a double-zero wheel adds a second green pocket labelled 00. Unlike the numbered red and black pockets, the green pocket or pockets are excluded from many outside bets such as red/black, odd/even and high/low, so when the ball lands on green those particular wagers lose.
The inclusion of zero, and the additional 00 on some wheels, is what gives the house its statistical edge. Removing those pockets would leave the numbers balanced between red and black and eliminate that advantage. This single design choice alters the probabilities enough to make a measurable difference to expected returns over many spins.
If you want to understand how this affects what you can win, the next section breaks down the precise payouts associated with betting on 0 or 00.
What Are the Payouts for 0 and 00?
A straight-up bet on any single number, including 0 or 00, pays 35 to 1. That means a £1 straight-up bet that wins returns £36 total: £35 in winnings plus the original £1 stake. The same payout applies whether the table has one zero or two zeros.
Different ways of placing chips change the payout. For example, a split bet covering two adjacent numbers that includes 0 will pay 17 to 1, and a three-number bet that involves 0 will pay 11 to 1. Outside bets such as red/black or odd/even do not include the 0 or 00, so those wagers lose when the ball falls into a green pocket.
Payouts are consistent across regulated tables and online versions that follow standard rules. To see the practical effect, consider a £5 straight-up on 0: a win gives £175 in winnings plus your £5 stake back, for a total of £180; a loss forfeits the £5 stake. With those figures in mind, the next section examines how table types change the underlying maths.
How Do Single Zero and Double Zero Tables Differ?
The fundamental difference between single-zero and double-zero tables is the number of green pockets and the total number of spaces on the wheel. A single-zero wheel has numbers 1 to 36 plus one 0, giving 37 pockets. A double-zero wheel adds 00 and so has 38 pockets. That extra pocket changes the probability of any single number coming up and increases the casino’s edge.
Roulette Wheel Variations Explained
Single-zero layouts, often called European or French roulette, use the 37-pocket wheel and are common in many casinos and online tables. Double-zero layouts, usually referred to as American roulette, use 38 pockets. The extra green space on the American wheel is the only structural change; the pay table remains the same, but the odds for each individual number are slightly lower because there is one more possible outcome.
Visually, the difference is straightforward: one green pocket versus two. That single additional pocket makes the odds shift and affects expected returns over time.
House Edge Impact on Winnings
Because of the extra pocket, the house edge differs between the two wheel types. On a single-zero wheel the house edge is about 2.7 percent. On a double-zero wheel it rises to roughly 5.26 percent. In practical terms, this means the same wager loses value faster on the double-zero layout when measured over many spins, making single-zero games generally the more favourable option for players seeking lower long-term losses.
Knowing how the wheel layout affects the house edge helps when deciding where to place your bets. Next we look at how frequently wins on the green pockets actually occur.
How Rare Are Wins on 0 or 00?
The probability of the ball landing on any single number equals one divided by the total number of pockets. On a single-zero wheel that is 1 in 37, or about 2.70 percent for the 0. On a double-zero wheel each of the green pockets has a probability of 1 in 38, around 2.63 percent per pocket.
That means a straight-up bet on 0 placed on every spin of a single-zero wheel would, on average, produce a win roughly once every 37 spins. On a double-zero wheel, a straight-up bet on 0 or 00 would win about once in 38 spins for each individual number. These are average rates across many spins; individual sessions will vary.
Because the green pockets are uncommon outcomes, they offer high nominal payouts but infrequent returns. Treating them as occasional, higher-risk bets within a balanced approach to play helps manage bankroll exposure and expectations. With the likelihood and payouts in mind, the final section clears up several common misunderstandings about betting on 0 and 00.
Common Misconceptions About Betting on 0 or 00
A number of persistent ideas about 0 and 00 are either inaccurate or misleading.
- It is not the case that a number becomes more likely because it has not appeared for a while. Each spin is independent and prior results do not alter future probabilities.
- No number has an inherent advantage over others. All individual pockets on the same wheel share the same mathematical chance of being the outcome on a given spin.
- Placing the same bet repeatedly does not change the odds. Frequency of betting does not affect the probability on any subsequent spin.
Understanding these points keeps expectations realistic and helps players choose wagers that suit their objectives and budgets. Keep bets proportionate to what you can afford, and consider each wager as part of an overall approach rather than a guaranteed way to win.
This completes the walkthrough of how 0 and 00 function, what they pay, how they affect the house edge and the realistic chances of landing them.
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**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.