American Roulette Guide

What American Roulette Is

American roulette is a double-zero roulette format with 38 pockets: numbers 1–36 plus 0 and 00. The extra pocket changes the economic profile of every bet type under the standard payout table, increasing long-run drag versus single-zero roulette (Ethier, 2010).

House Edge and RTP

Under standard rules, American roulette has a house edge of 5.26%, which corresponds to an RTP of 94.74%. The gap arises from payout schedules that are calibrated to a 36-outcome model across many wagers, yet the wheel holds 38 outcomes (Haigh, 2003; Ethier, 2010).

Wheel and Layout

The betting layout presents a 1–36 grid plus separate 0 and 00 fields. The wheel order is fixed, yet each pocket remains equally likely under normal operating conditions. Prior outcomes have no causal link to subsequent results, so pattern narratives do not carry predictive value (Haigh, 2003).

Outside Bets

Outside bets cover broad outcome sets and deliver higher hit frequency than inside bets. They are used for variance moderation and bankroll pacing, even though expected value stays negative.

• Red/Black: pays 1:1 (0 and 00 lose).
• Odd/Even: pays 1:1 (0 and 00 lose).
• High/Low: 1–18 or 19–36, pays 1:1 (0 and 00 lose).
• Dozens: 1–12, 13–24, 25–36, pays 2:1.
• Columns: one of three columns, pays 2:1.

Inside Bets

Inside bets concentrate exposure and raise variance. Payouts are higher, hit frequency is lower. This format suits players seeking event-driven payouts with acceptance of faster drawdowns.

• Straight (single number): 35:1 payout; probability 1/38.
• Split (two numbers): 17:1 payout; probability 2/38.
• Street (three numbers): 11:1 payout; probability 3/38.
• Corner (four numbers): 8:1 payout; probability 4/38.
• Six-line (six numbers): 5:1 payout; probability 6/38.

The Five-Number Bet

Many American roulette tables offer a five-number wager covering 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3, often paying 6:1. This wager carries a materially weaker player return than other common bets in the same game format, reflecting a higher built-in disadvantage (Ethier, 2010).

Variance and Session Economics

In double-zero roulette, bankroll depletion tends to be faster than single-zero formats at comparable stake sizing. Outside bets smooth outcomes; inside bets amplify dispersion. Strategy selection is best framed as variance selection and capital governance rather than expectation improvement (Haigh, 2003).

Bankroll Governance Playbook

A practical operating model uses pre-defined session capital, a fixed base unit, and exit rules. This is a control framework for loss distribution and decision discipline, not a mathematical edge.

• Set a session bankroll that is ring-fenced from total bankroll.
• Set a base unit that supports multiple betting cycles without forced stake escalation.
• Apply a hard stop-loss and a profit-lock trigger.
• Avoid uncapped stake progressions that collide with table limits and finite capital.

Common Operational Errors

• Assuming streaks change the next-spin probability.
• Using exponential staking without a hard cap.
• Mixing high-variance inside bets with aggressive staking sequences.
• Overusing the five-number bet without recognising its weaker return profile.