It might seem insignificant, but that extra zero in double-zero roulette decreases your chances of winning yet has the same payout as single-zero roulette at 35/1. This is how we determine the house edge.ĭouble-zero American roulette has 38 numbers, so with a payout of 35/1, the house edge is 5.26%, compared to 37 numbers and a 2.63% house edge in single-zero roulette. However, both single-zero European roulette and double-zero American roulette have additional numbers, so the house has more opportunities to win, whereas the player’s payout stays at 35/1.
In all roulette variants, the payout is 35/1 for straight up bets on one of the numbers, which would be fair if there were 36 pockets. On average, the casino makes a profit on all bets placed over time. It provides a predictable long-term advantage to the casino (“house”), meaning that when you win, the payout from that win is never the “true odds”. Most casino games have a built-in profit for the casino, which we call the house edge.
Before we talk about how double-zero American roulette increases the house edge, it’s important to understand what “house edge” actually means.
