European roulette
One green zero, the lowest house edge of the standard wheels, and a free simulator to watch how it plays out spin after spin.
The simulator needs JavaScript. The rules, payouts and house edge are below.
The European roulette wheel
The European roulette wheel has 37 pockets: the numbers 1 to 36 and one green zero.
The numbers 1 to 36 are red or black. The zero is green, and it is neither red nor black, neither odd nor even, neither low nor high.
The numbers are not in order around the wheel. The zero sits between the 32 and the 26 on the wheel, and red and black alternate all the way around.
- Pockets: 37
- Zeros: one green zero
- Chance of any single number: 2.70%
Want the full map of the wheel and table? See the wheel layout page.
Bets and payouts
You place chips on the table, the dealer spins, and the ball lands in one pocket. Every bet that covers that pocket wins.
| Bet | Numbers | Pays | Chance to win | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up One number | 1 | 35 to 1 | 2.70% | 2.70% |
| Split Two touching numbers | 2 | 17 to 1 | 5.41% | 2.70% |
| Street A row of three | 3 | 11 to 1 | 8.11% | 2.70% |
| Trio 0, 1, 2 | 3 | 11 to 1 | 8.11% | 2.70% |
| Corner Four numbers in a square | 4 | 8 to 1 | 10.81% | 2.70% |
| First four 0, 1, 2, 3 | 4 | 8 to 1 | 10.81% | 2.70% |
| Six line Two rows, six numbers | 6 | 5 to 1 | 16.22% | 2.70% |
| Dozen 1–12, 13–24 or 25–36 | 12 | 2 to 1 | 32.43% | 2.70% |
| Column A column of twelve | 12 | 2 to 1 | 32.43% | 2.70% |
| Red or black Eighteen numbers | 18 | 1 to 1 | 48.65% | 2.70% |
| Even or odd Eighteen numbers | 18 | 1 to 1 | 48.65% | 2.70% |
| 1–18 or 19–36 Eighteen numbers | 18 | 1 to 1 | 48.65% | 2.70% |
The main bets:
- Straight (one number): pays 35 to 1
- Split (two numbers): pays 17 to 1
- Street (three numbers): pays 11 to 1
- Corner (four numbers): pays 8 to 1
- Line (six numbers): pays 5 to 1
- Dozen or column: pays 2 to 1
- Red/black, odd/even, low/high: pays 1 to 1
If the ball lands on the zero, all outside bets (red, black, odd, even, low, high, dozens, columns) lose.
New to the table? Start with red or black in the simulator – it is the easiest bet to follow.
More detail: roulette rules and all payouts.
Why the house edge is the lowest of the standard wheels
Every payout is set as if the zero did not exist. That gap between the real odds and the payout is the house edge.
Example: a straight bet pays 35 to 1, but the wheel has 37 pockets, not one fewer. The one green pocket is where the casino's edge comes from.
- House edge on any bet: 2.70% (that is 1/37)
- Chance of red: 48.65% – a bit less than half, because of the zero
- Chance of zero: 2.70%
On a European wheel, every bet has the same edge. No bet is cheaper or more expensive than another.
More zeros means a bigger edge. The American wheel has two zeros, and the triple-zero wheel has three, with an edge of 7.69%.
A lower edge does not mean you will win. It only means you lose more slowly on average.
American vs European roulette
The key difference is the extra green double zero on the American wheel (the numbers are also arranged in a different order). That one extra pocket changes the math.
| Wheel | Pockets | Edge on red/black | Edge on one number |
|---|---|---|---|
| European (single zero) | 37 | 2.70% | 2.70% |
| French (La Partage) | 37 | 1.35% | 2.70% |
| French (En Prison) | 37 | 1.39% | 2.70% |
| American (0 and 00) | 38 | 5.26% | 5.26% |
| American, Atlantic City rule | 38 | 2.63% | 5.26% |
| Triple zero (0, 00, 000) | 39 | 7.69% | 7.69% |
- Pockets: European 37, American 38
- House edge: European 2.70%, American 5.26%
- Chance of red: European 48.65%, American 47.37%
- Average loss per hundred dollars bet: European $2.70, American $5.26
The payouts are the same on both wheels, but American roulette costs about 1.95 times more on average.
The American table also has the top line bet, which covers both zeros and the first three numbers. It pays 6 to 1 and has an edge of 7.89%.
Try both: American roulette. For an even lower edge on even-money bets, see French roulette with La Partage at 1.35%.
What a session costs on average
The house edge works on the total amount you bet, not on the money you bring.
On the European wheel, for every hundred dollars you bet in total, you lose $2.70 on average.
- Each spin counts toward your total bet.
- Betting the same chips again and again adds up fast.
- Short sessions can go up or down a lot. Over long sessions, your loss as a share of your total bet tends to get closer to the house edge of 2.70%.
Count your total bet, not your stack. On average, ten small bets cost the same as one bet of the same total size.
No betting system changes the edge. You can test this yourself in the system tester or read about the Martingale.
European roulette free play in the simulator
The simulator above is set to the European wheel. It uses play chips only – no real money.
- Pick a chip value.
- Click the table to place bets.
- Spin and watch where the ball lands.
- Check your results and try other bets.
Use it to learn the bets, see how often the zero comes up, and watch how the house edge shows over many spins.
Need help with the controls? Visit the help page or see all roulette games.
Questions
What is the house edge in European roulette?
The house edge is 2.70% on every bet, or 1/37. It comes from the single green zero.
How many pockets are on a European roulette wheel?
There are 37 pockets: the numbers 1 to 36 and one green zero.
Is European roulette better than American roulette?
European roulette has a lower house edge, 2.70% against 5.26% on the American wheel. You still lose over time on both, just more slowly on the European wheel.
What are the odds of red in European roulette?
The chance of red is 48.65%. It is a bit under half because the zero is green and counts as neither red nor black.
Can a betting system beat European roulette?
No. Every spin is independent and the house edge of 2.70% applies to every bet, so no system changes the long-run result.