American Roulette Calculator
Use this fixed 38-pocket model to compare standard double-zero bets, wagers on 0 and 00, the first five bet and optional surrender on even-money bets. It calculates one-spin probability, winning return, RTP and expected loss without treating previous spins as predictive.
Calculate a 38-pocket double-zero bet
Select a bet, table rule, stake and number of spins. The calculator applies the standard 5.26% edge, the 7.89% first five edge or the 2.63% surrender edge when the selected conditions support it.
A $10.00 straight bet on American roulette covers 1 of 38 pockets. If it wins, the net profit is $350.00 and the gross return is $360.00 including the returned stake.
American roulette rules at a glance
American roulette is the standard double-zero version of roulette. The wheel has 38 pockets: green 0 and 00 plus numbers 1–36. The extra green pocket is why ordinary American bets usually carry a 5.26% house edge instead of the 2.70% standard single-zero edge.
The American wheel and table layout shows the 38-pocket sequence, 0–00 area and numbered grid. Chip placement still follows the normal roulette taxonomy; the roulette bet-placement guide separates straight, split, street, corner, six-line and outside wagers.
How to play American roulette
Key double-zero numbers
How the American roulette calculator works
This American roulette calculator fixes the wheel at 38 pockets: numbers 1 to 36, one zero and one double zero. It then counts how many pockets the selected bet covers. The exact roulette probability calculator extends that coverage into repeated-spin hit counts and losing-run risk.
For most regular bets, expected loss is calculated from the standard 2/38 house edge. First five uses 3/38 because its 6:1 payout is lower than the fair return for five covered pockets.
When surrender is selected for an even-money bet, 0 and 00 become half-loss outcomes. The probability of a normal win remains 18/38, but the long-term edge falls to 1/38.
Standard edge = 2 / 38 = 5.26% Surrender edge = 1 / 38 = 2.63% Standard RTP = 36 / 38 = 94.74% First five edge = 3 / 38 = 7.89%Why American roulette has a higher edge
For the same number of covered pockets and the same fixed payout, an American wheel spreads the winning outcomes across 38 pockets instead of 37. The win probability falls while the payout stays the same, increasing the standard house edge.
A European straight bet has a 1 in 37 chance, while an American straight bet has a 1 in 38 chance. The payout is still 35:1, so the added double zero reduces the long-term return.
The same pattern applies across regular straight, split, street, corner, six line, dozen, column and even-money bets. The RTP and house-edge comparison shows the exact long-run return for American standard, surrender and first-five rules.
American roulette odds, payouts and rule-adjusted edge
Our American roulette calculator uses this 38-pocket table to separate the standard edge from optional surrender treatment. Surrender changes only even-money bets; it does not improve inside bets, dozens, columns or first five. For stake-specific gross return, net profit and target-stake calculations, use the roulette payout calculator.
| Bet type | Covered pockets | Win probability | Payout | Standard edge | With surrender |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight, including 0 or 00 | 1 | 1 / 38 · 2.63% | 35:1 | 5.26% | — |
| 0–00 row | 2 | 2 / 38 · 5.26% | 17:1 | 5.26% | — |
| Other split | 2 | 2 / 38 · 5.26% | 17:1 | 5.26% | — |
| Street or trio | 3 | 3 / 38 · 7.89% | 11:1 | 5.26% | — |
| Corner | 4 | 4 / 38 · 10.53% | 8:1 | 5.26% | — |
| Six line | 6 | 6 / 38 · 15.79% | 5:1 | 5.26% | — |
| Dozen or column | 12 | 12 / 38 · 31.58% | 2:1 | 5.26% | — |
| Red/Black · Odd/Even · High/Low | 18 | 18 / 38 · 47.37% | 1:1 | 5.26% | 2.63% if offered |
| First five / Top line / Basket | 5 | 5 / 38 · 13.16% | 6:1 | 7.89% | — |
American roulette vs European roulette
The practical difference is the double zero. European roulette has 37 pockets and a 2.70% house edge. American roulette has 38 pockets and a 5.26% standard house edge.
With standard full-loss zero rules, the extra pocket lowers the theoretical return even when the payout table looks the same. Compare the active zero rule as well as the wheel type.
For standard fixed payouts and full-loss zero rules, the single-zero preset has the lower edge. There is an exception for qualifying even-money bets: American surrender has a 2.63% edge, slightly below standard European roulette at 2.70%. French la partage has a lower 1.35% edge on those bets.
- European roulette: 37 pockets, one zero, 97.30% standard RTP.
- American roulette: 38 pockets, 0 and 00, 94.74% standard RTP.
- American first five: separate 7.89% edge because of its payout structure.
First five, top line and basket bet explained
The American first five bet covers 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. It is also called top line and is often described as the basket bet in American roulette guides.
The bet pays 6:1, which means a winning $10 bet earns $60 net profit and returns $70 gross including the stake. The issue is that five covered pockets on a 38-pocket wheel would need a better payout to match the standard 5.26% edge.
Because of that mismatch, first five has a 7.89% house edge. It is an inside bet with its own payout exception, not an outside wager.
What 0 and 00 pay
Zero and double zero are ordinary straight bets. Either pocket pays 35:1, so a winning $10 wager earns $350 net profit and returns $360 gross. The green color does not add a special bonus.
The 0–00 row covers both green pockets and pays 17:1. A winning $10 row bet earns $170 net and returns $180 gross. First five extends that coverage to 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3, but its 6:1 payout produces the higher 7.89% edge.
The calculator above handles these zero bets directly and keeps their standard payout separate from hit probability and house edge. The 0–00 row applies where that placement is offered by the table.
Expected loss under standard, surrender and first-five rules
For expected loss, this American roulette calculator multiplies total amount wagered by the applicable edge. On $200 of action, a regular double-zero bet has an expected loss of about $10.53, an even-money bet with surrender about $5.26, and first five about $15.79.
These are long-run averages, not a forecast for a particular session. Total wagered counts every planned stake, including reused winnings; it is not the starting bankroll. The calculation assumes all selected spins are played with the same stake and does not model stopping early or running out of funds.
| Stake per spin | Spins | Total wagered | Standard 5.26% | Surrender 2.63% | First five 7.89% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5 | 20 | $100 | $5.26 | $2.63 | $7.89 |
| $10 | 20 | $200 | $10.53 | $5.26 | $15.79 |
| $25 | 40 | $1,000 | $52.63 | $26.32 | $78.95 |
| $100 | 50 | $5,000 | $263.16 | $131.58 | $394.74 |
Surrender changes the loss, not the win probability
An even-money bet still wins on 18 of 38 pockets whether surrender is available or not. The rule does not make red, black, odd, even, high or low more likely to land.
What changes is the result on 0 and 00. Under standard rules each zero loses the full stake; under surrender each returns half, reducing the even-money edge from 5.26% to 2.63% and raising theoretical RTP from 94.74% to 97.37%.
Follow a $10 bet on red
Expected net = (18 × $10 − 18 × $10 − 2 × $5) / 38 = −$10/38With surrender, “no winning spin” can include half-return outcomes. It does not mean every stake was lost in full.
Surrender in this preset applies only to qualifying even-money bets. Straight bets, splits, dozens, columns and first five keep their normal rules. Fractional-cent half returns are shown mathematically; actual settlement follows the table's chip and rounding rules.
When reviewing casino game listings for double-zero tables, check the rules of the specific game. A casino offering American roulette does not necessarily offer surrender.
Common questions about double-zero roulette
Does 00 pay more than 0?
No. A straight bet on either 0 or 00 pays 35:1. Each is one pocket on the 38-pocket wheel and has the same 1 in 38 hit probability.
Is the 0–00 wager a split bet?
It covers two pockets and pays 17:1 like a split. It is often described as the 0–00 row because the two zeros sit together on the American layout.
Does surrender change the chance of winning?
No. An even-money bet still wins on 18 of 38 pockets. Surrender only changes 0 and 00 from full-loss outcomes to half-loss outcomes.
Can surrender be used on first five or inside bets?
Not under the standard rule. Surrender applies only to even-money bets when the table explicitly offers it. First five, straight, split and other layout bets keep their normal edge.
Can this American roulette calculator model triple-zero roulette?
No. It is fixed to the standard 38-pocket American wheel with 0 and 00. A 000 wheel has different probabilities and a different house edge.
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