This probability of success is 0.117% higher than my Hail Mary strategy for roulette, and 0.2928% higher than the Andy Bloch strategy. Andy might argue that my argument above relies on an assumption of a minimum bet of $1, which is hard to find in Vegas on a live dealer game. The odds of hitting a single number with a straight-up bet in American roulette are 37 to 1 because there are 38 numbers (1 to 36, plus 0 and 00). Nevertheless, the house will only pay out 35 to 1 on winning wagers, with equivalent odds for combination bets payouts. In French casinos 'American Roulette' means a roulette game with double zeros (0, 00 - on the table layout and on the wheel), the same as used in the USA. The American roulette with one zero (or the European version) is referred to as English Roulette to distinguish it from the double-zero American Roulette and to emphasize that it has one zero. On a 'European' wheel with a single 0, the house pays back $36 for every $37 gambled; that gives the house an edge of 2.70%. On the 'American' wheel with 0 and 00, the house pays $36 for every $38 gambled, which increases the house's edge to 5.26%. 243 views View 1 Upvoter.
On This Page
Introduction
Double Ball Roulette plays like regular roulette, except with two balls. I first saw the game at the 2013 Global Gaming Expo and later at the Tropicana in Las Vegas on February 18, 2014. The Tropicana uses a double-zero wheel.
Later, in November, 2016, I noticed it at an Internet casino using Felt software. Felt uses a single-zero wheel.
You might wonder about how they keep the balls from hitting each other in a physical game. The game uses compressed air to shoot the two balls out of a tube almost simultaneously. They travel at the same speed so the second ball always trails the first one.
You might also wonder if the probability of the two balls landing in the same number is about the expected 1/38, assuming they the two outcomes were completely independent. At least I wondered this and annoyed the game maker with physics questions at the gaming show for much too long about it. He assured me that an independent lab did tens of thousands of spins and the probability of the two balls landing the same number is about the expected 1/38, assuming they two outcomes were completely independent.
The betting layout is mostly the same as standard roulette. With the inside bets, the player has two chances to win, but the pays are less. On the outside bets, both balls must win, but the pays are more. In addition the player may bet that both balls will land in any one number.
Rules
General Rules
- An ordinary single- or double-zero wheel is used.
- Most of the layout is the same as conventional roulette.
- Two balls are used.
- Both balls must be successful for 'outside' bets to win. For example, for a bet on Red win, both balls must land in a red number.
- Either ball must be successful for 'inside' bets to win. The player will win twice as much if both balls result in a successful outcome.
- For the 'Double Ball Jackpot' bet to win, both balls must land in the selected number.
- A remote-controlled button is given to a player to activate the air gun shooting the balls.
Available Bets
- Red, Black, Odd, Even, 1 to 18, 19 to 36 — Pays 3 to 1 if both balls land in the chosen 18 numbers.
- 1st 12, 2nd 12, 3rd 12 — Pays 8 to 1 if both balls land in the chosen 12 numbers.
- 1 red, 1 black — Pays 1 to 1 if one ball lands in a red number and the other black.
- One Number — Pays 17 to 1 if either ball lands in the chosen number, and 34 to 1 if both do.
- Two Number — Pays 8 to 1 if either ball lands in the chosen number, and 16 to 1 if both do.
- Three Number — Pays 5 to 1 if either ball lands in the chosen number, and 10 to 1 if both do.
- Four Number — Pays 3 to 1 if either ball lands in the chosen number, and 6 to 1 if both do.
- Five Number — Pays 5 to 2 if either ball lands in the chosen number, and 5 to 1 if both do.
- Six Number — Pays 2 to 1 if either ball lands in the chosen number, and 4 to 1 if both do.
- Double Ball Jackpot — Pays 1,200 to 1 if both balls land in the selected number.
Below are scans of the rack card. Click either image for a larger version.
Double-Zero Analysis
Outside Bets
The following tables show my analysis of the Outside bets on a double-zero wheel. For outside bets both balls must land in a winning number for the bet to win.
The next table shows my analysis of all bets with 18 winnings numbers, namely red, black, odd, even, low (1 to 18), and high (19 to 36).
All 18-Number Outside Bets — Double-Zero Wheel
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 3 | 324 | 0.224377 | 0.673130 |
| Loss | -1 | 1,120 | 0.775623 | -0.775623 |
| Total | 1,444 | 1.000000 | -0.102493 |
The next table shows my analysis of all bets with 12 winnings numbers, namely first, second, and third 12, and first, second, and third columns.
All 12-Number Outside Bets — Double-Zero Wheel
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 8 | 144 | 0.099723 | 0.797784 |
| Loss | -1 | 1,300 | 0.900277 | -0.900277 |
| Total | 1,444 | 1.000000 | -0.102493 |
The next table shows my analysis of all single-number bet on a double-zero wheel.
All Single-Number Outside Bets — Double-Zero Wheel
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1200 | 1 | 0.000693 | 0.831025 |
| Loss | -1 | 1,443 | 0.999307 | -0.999307 |
| Total | 1,444 | 1.000000 | -0.168283 |
The next table shows my analysis of the red/black bet on a double-zero wheel. One ball must land in red and the other in black.
Red/Black Bet — Double-Zero Wheel
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1 | 648 | 0.448753 | 0.448753 |
| Loss | -1 | 796 | 0.551247 | -0.551247 |
| Total | 1,444 | 1.000000 | -0.102493 |
Inside Bets
The following tables show my analysis of the Inside bets on a double-zero wheel. For inside bets only one ball must land in a winning number for the bet to pay. If both land in a winning number, the bet pays twice as much.
The next table shows my analysis of all one-number bets.
All 1-Number Inside Bets — Double-Zero Wheel
| Wins | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 34 | 1 | 0.000693 | 0.023546 |
| 1 | 17 | 74 | 0.051247 | 0.871191 |
| 0 | -1 | 1,369 | 0.948061 | -0.948061 |
| Total | 1,444 | 1.000000 | -0.053324 |
The next table shows my analysis of all two-number (split) bets.
All 2-Number Inside Bets — Double-Zero Wheel
| Wins | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 16 | 4 | 0.002770 | 0.044321 |
| 1 | 8 | 144 | 0.099723 | 0.797784 |
| 0 | -1 | 1,296 | 0.897507 | -0.897507 |
| Total | 1,444 | 1.000000 | -0.055402 |
The next table shows my analysis of all 3-number (street) bets.
All 3-Number Inside Bets — Double-Zero Wheel
| Wins | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 10 | 9 | 0.006233 | 0.062327 |
| 1 | 5 | 210 | 0.145429 | 0.727147 |
| 0 | -1 | 1,225 | 0.848338 | -0.848338 |
| Total | 1,444 | 1.000000 | -0.058864 |
The next table shows my analysis of all 4-number (corner) bets.
All 4-Number Inside Bets — Double-Zero Wheel
| Wins | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 6 | 16 | 0.011080 | 0.066482 |
| 1 | 3 | 272 | 0.188366 | 0.565097 |
| 0 | -1 | 1,156 | 0.800554 | -0.800554 |
| Total | 1,444 | 1.000000 | -0.168975 |
Casino games please. The next table shows my analysis of the 5-number bet (on 0,00,1,2, and 3).
5-Number Inside Bet — Double-Zero Wheel
| Wins | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 5 | 25 | 0.017313 | 0.086565 |
| 1 | 2.5 | 330 | 0.228532 | 0.571330 |
| 0 | -1 | 1,089 | 0.754155 | -0.754155 |
| Total | 1,444 | 1.000000 | -0.096260 |
The next table shows my analysis of all 6-number (double street) bets.
All 6-Number Inside Bets — Double-Zero Wheel
| Wins | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4 | 36 | 0.024931 | 0.099723 |
| 1 | 2 | 384 | 0.265928 | 0.531856 |
| 0 | -1 | 1,024 | 0.709141 | -0.709141 |
| Total | 1,444 | 1.000000 | -0.077562 |
Strategy
My advice in any game is to go for the bets with the highest expected return. In the case of a double-zero wheel, the best bet is the inside bets on one single number, at a house edge of 5.33%. The two- and three-number bets are not much worse at 5.54% and 5.89% respectively.
I would be remiss in my duties if I didn't say that the house edge in standard double-zero roulette is lower at 5.26%. However, this is only 0.07% lower than the single-number inside bet in Double Ball Roulette.
Single-Zero Analysis
Here are a couple screenshots of the single-zero Double Ball Roulette game by Felt Gaming. Click on either image for a larger version.
Outside Bets
The following tables show my analysis of the Outside bets on a single-zero wheel. For outside bets both balls must land in a winning number for the bet to win.
The next table shows my analysis of all bets with 18 winnings numbers, namely red, black, odd, even, low (1 to 18), and high (19 to 36).
All 18-Number Outside Bets — Single-Zero Wheel
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 3 | 324 | 0.236669 | 0.710007 |
| Loss | -1 | 1,045 | 0.763331 | -0.763331 |
| Total | 1,369 | 1.000000 | -0.053324 |
The next table shows my analysis of all bets with 12 winnings numbers, namely first, second, and third 12, and first, second, and third columns.
All 12-Number Outside Bets — Single-Zero Wheel
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 8 | 144 | 0.105186 | 0.841490 |
| Loss | -1 | 1,225 | 0.894814 | -0.894814 |
| Total | 1,369 | 1.000000 | -0.053324 |
The next table shows my analysis of all single-number bet on a single-zero wheel.
All Single-Number Outside Bets — Single-Zero Wheel
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1200 | 1 | 0.000730 | 0.876552 |
| Loss | -1 | 1,368 | 0.999270 | -0.999270 |
| Total | 1,369 | 1.000000 | -0.122717 |
The next table shows my analysis of the red/black bet on a single-zero wheel. One ball must land in red and the other in black.
Red/Black Bet — Single-Zero Wheel
What Does 0 Pay On Roulette Numbers
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1 | 648 | 0.473338 | 0.473338 |
| Loss | -1 | 721 | 0.526662 | -0.526662 |
| Total | 1,369 | 1.000000 | -0.053324 |
Inside Bets
The following tables show my analysis of the Inside bets on a single-zero wheel. For inside bets only one ball must land in a winning number for the bet to pay. If both land in a winning number, the bet pays twice as much.
The next table shows my analysis of all one-number bets.
All 1-Number Inside Bets — Single-Zero Wheel
| Wins | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 34 | 1 | 0.000730 | 0.024836 |
| 1 | 17 | 72 | 0.052593 | 0.894083 |
| 0 | -1 | 1,296 | 0.946676 | -0.946676 |
| Total | 1,369 | 1.000000 | -0.027757 |
The next table shows my analysis of all two-number (split) bets.
All 2-Number Inside Bets — Single-Zero Wheel
| Wins | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 16 | 4 | 0.002922 | 0.046749 |
| 1 | 8 | 140 | 0.102264 | 0.818115 |
| 0 | -1 | 1,225 | 0.894814 | -0.894814 |
| Total | 1,369 | 1.000000 | -0.029949 |
The next table shows my analysis of all 3-number (street) bets.
All 3-Number Inside Bets — Single-Zero Wheel
| Wins | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 6 | 16 | 0.011687 | 0.070124 |
| 1 | 3 | 264 | 0.192841 | 0.578524 |
| 0 | -1 | 1,089 | 0.795471 | -0.795471 |
| Total | 1,369 | 1.000000 | -0.146822 |
The next table shows my analysis of all 4-number (corner) bets.
All 4-Number Inside Bets — Single-Zero Wheel
| Wins | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 6 | 16 | 0.011687 | 0.070124 |
| 1 | 3 | 264 | 0.192841 | 0.578524 |
| 0 | -1 | 1,089 | 0.795471 | -0.795471 |
| Total | 1,369 | 1.000000 | -0.146822 |
The next table shows my analysis of all 6-number (single street) bets.
All 6-Number Inside Bets — Single-Zero Wheel
| Wins | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4 | 36 | 0.026297 | 0.105186 |
| 1 | 2 | 372 | 0.271731 | 0.543462 |
| 0 | -1 | 961 | 0.701972 | -0.701972 |
| Total | 1,369 | 1.000000 | -0.053324 |
Strategy
As with any game of pure luck, all you can do for yourself is to make the bets with the lowest house edge. In this case it is the single-number inside bet, with a house edge of 2.78%. If that is too volatile for you, the double-number inside bet is not much higher at 2.99%
Internal Links
- Double Action Roulette — Similar game, but with one ball and two wheels.
External Links
- Double Ball Roulette — Site by the makers of the game.
- Wizard of Vegas — Discussion about Double Ball Roulette in my forum.
Written by:Michael Shackleford
Roulette Payouts & Odds
What Does 0 Pay On Roulette Games
Quick LinksEuropean Roulette Payouts & Odds
French Roulette Payouts & Odds
Roulette Bet Types Explained
Roulette House Edge Explained
Best Roulette Casinos
Best Online Roulette Odds
- European Roulette – Up to 95.5%
- American Roulette – Up to 94.5%
- French Roulette – Up to 94.5%
Las vegas gambling tip. Roulette is one of the easiest casino games to play and is also one of the oldest games available in casinos around the world. So how do roulette payouts and odds work?
Roulette has a consistent house edge and straightforward odds. You'll learn everything you need to know about the edge and odds on this page as well as an explanation of each possible bet you can make at the table.
As you learn more about the house edge you'll see that even at the tables with the best odds for the player the edge is higher than you'll find at games like blackjack, baccarat, and some video poker machines.
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Can You Win Playing Roulette?
It's easy to fall into the trap of only thinking about the percentage of the house edge of casino games, but many times you end up losing less per hour, and in turn being able to play longer, by playing a higher edge house game.
One of the main advantages of playing roulette is you play fewer spins per hour than you play hands per hour at the blackjack table, baccarat table, or at the video poker machine. When you combine this with the simple game-play where all of the bets have the same edge, roulette is a good choice for many casino players.
Odds and Edge on Three Different Roulette Wheels
Take a look at the odds, payouts, and house edge that are offered when playing on the American, European, or French roulette wheels.
American Roulette Payouts
Be sure to look at the section on how the house edge works to get familiar with why American roulette has a higher edge than European or French. Let's take a look at the odds you face on each inside bet as well as the corresponding payouts. This is based on the US wheel.
Odds Chart American Roulette Payouts, Odds, Bets, and House Edge
| American Roulette – Inside Bets | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bet | Odds Against | Payout | House Edge |
| Straight Up | 37 to 1 | 35 to 1 | 5.26% |
| Split | 18 to 1 | 17 to 1 | 5.26% |
| Street | 11.7 to 1 | 11 to 1 | 5.26% |
| Trio | 11.7 to 1 | 11 to 1 | 5.26% |
| Corner | 8.5 to 1 | 8 to 1 | 5.26% |
| Five Number | 6.6 to 1 | 6 to 1 | 7.9% |
| Six Line | 5.33 to 1 | 5 to 1 | 5.26% |
The house edge on outside bets work on the sample principle but, as you'll see in the following table, both the odds against winning and the payouts are much lower.
| American Roulette – Outside Bets | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bet | Odds Against | Payout | House Edge |
| Red or Black | 1.11 to 1 | 1 to 1 | 5.26% |
| Even or Odd | 1.11 to 1 | 1 to 1 | 5.26% |
| High or Low | 1.11 to 1 | 1 to 1 | 5.26% |
| Dozens | 2.17 to 1 | 2 to 1 | 5.26% |
| Columns | 2.17 to 1 | 2 to 1 | 5.26% |
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European Roulette Payouts
European roulette wheels don't have a double zero space so the odds are better for the player. It is the most popular type of roulette played at most of the online casinos, as the house edge and odds of winning make it the best choice for avid players. Let's take a look at the odds you face on each inside bet as well as the corresponding payouts.
Odds Chart European Roulette Payouts, Odds, Bets, and House Edge
| European Roulette – Inside Bets | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bet | Odds Against | Payout | House Edge |
| Straight Up | 36 to 1 | 35 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Split | 17.5 to 1 | 17 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Street | 11.33 to 1 | 11 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Trio | 11.33 to 1 | 11 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Corner | 8.25 to 1 | 8 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Six Line | 5.17 to 1 | 5 to 1 | 2.7% |
| European Roulette – Outside Bets | |||
| Bet | Odds Against | Payout | House Edge |
| Red or Black | 1.06 to 1 | 1 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Even or Odd | 1.06 to 1 | 1 to 1 | 2.7% |
| High or Low | 1.06 to 1 | 1 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Dozens | 2.08 to 1 | 2 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Columns | 2.08 to 1 | 2 to 1 | 2.7% |
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French Roulette Payouts
The only difference between European roulette and French roulette is that in French roulette if you bet on high, low, red, black, odd, or even and the ball lands on zero, you only lose half your bet. So, the house edge on these bets is half of what it is on a European wheel. Let's take a look at the odds you face on each inside bet as well as the corresponding payouts.
Odds Chart French Roulette Payouts, Odds, Bets, and House Edge
| French Roulette – Inside Bets | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bet | Odds Against | Payout | House Edge |
| Straight Up | 36 to 1 | 35 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Split | 17.5 to 1 | 17 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Street | 11.33 to 1 | 11 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Trio | 11.33 to 1 | 11 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Corner | 8.25 to 1 | 8 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Six Line | 5.17 to 1 | 5 to 1 | 2.7% |
| French Roulette – Outside Bets | |||
| Bet | Odds Against | Payout | House Edge |
| Red or Black | 1.06 to 1 | 1 to 1 | 1.35% |
| Even or Odd | 1.06 to 1 | 1 to 1 | 1.35% |
| High or Low | 1.06 to 1 | 1 to 1 | 1.35% |
| Dozens | 2.08 to 1 | 2 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Columns | 2.08 to 1 | 2 to 1 | 2.7% |
Experienced gamblers avoid the US wheel, in favor of the European version –or even better, the French Roulette game, which has the best odds of all roulette payouts.
- US-based players will find these low-edge variations at the BetOnline
- International players can enjoy the low-edge French Roulette at 888 Casino
Bet Types Explained
There are two types of bets that a player can place –inside and outside bets. These are relative to where you would actually place your chips on the table. Learning the type of bet and where to place the bet will help you know what your possible roulette payout will be.
Inside Bets
Single or StraightThis is a bet on a single number and is made by placing a chip or chips covering the number completely inside the box surrounding the number. |
SplitA bet on two numbers, a split is made by placing a chip or chips on the line between two numbers. |
StreetA street bet is on three numbers across the display, such as 31, 32, and 33. This bet is made by placing a chip or chips on the outside edge line on either end of the street. In this example, you place a bet on the leftmost line of the 31 or the rightmost line of the 33. |
Corner or SquareA corner or square bet is a bet on four numbers made by placing a chip or chips on the corner shared by all four numbers. |
Six Line or Double StreetThis is a bet on two streets made by placing a chip or chips on the outside line where the two streets meet. |
TrioA trio bet is a bet on three numbers that include at least a zero or double zero. The bet is made by placing a chip or chips on the intersecting line of the three numbers. |
Basket or First FourA bet on numbers zero, one, two, and three on a single zero wheel, made by placing a chip or chips on the outside corner of the zero and one or zero and three. |
Top Line or Five NumberA bet on the double zero, zero, one, two, and three on a double zero wheel, made by placing a chip or chips on the outside corner of the zero and one or double zero and three. |
Outside Bets
High or LowThis bet is on either 19 to 36 for high or 1 to 18 for low. Each table has a designated area for this bet. |
Red or BlackThis bet is either on red or black and each table has a designated area for each of these wagers. |
Even or OddThis bet is that the number will be even or odd. The table has a designated area for these bets. |
DozenThe dozens bets are for the first 12 numbers, 1 to 12, the second twelve, 13 to 24, or the third dozen, 25 to 36. Dozens bets are placed in the designated area, usually to the left of the numbers printed on the felt. |
ColumnA column bet is for one of the 12 numbers in the first, second, or third column will land on the wheel. These bets are placed along the bottom of the numbers on the felt under the column you wish to bet on. |
How the Roulette House Edge Works
Bets in roulette range from simple ‘coin flip' chances such as red or black, to inside bets which have payouts of a huge 35-to-1. Having an understanding of how these odds are calculated and how they affect your overall bankroll and betting strategy can help your Roulette game immensely. This includes understanding which wheel has the best return on the bets you make.
What is the House Edge in Roulette?
House edge is the long-term profit casinos make from every bet. This will vary between games (Keno is particularly loathsome at 27% while basic bets in Baccarat are under 1.25%). Roulette's house edge clocks in at 5.26% for the US wheel and 2.7% for the single zero European version.
How is the House Edge Calculated?
A straight-up bet requires 1 of 38 numbers (the 1-36 numbers along with 0 and 00) to come in, meaning you are facing odds of 37-1 against your number winning (36-1 against with the European wheel).
35 to 1 Payout in Roulette
When you are lucky enough to win a straight-up bet, the payout is only 35-1. Putting this into dollar terms, a winning $1 bet on the number 19 will result in a $35 profit when the true odds dictate that you should receive $37 instead. Taking this into consideration, you can calculate the house edge of Roulette by simply taking that $2 difference and divide it by 38 (the total amount of numbers on the table).
It's All About the Zeroes – Payouts for O and OO Roulette
For ‘outside' bets the edge is controlled by the zeroes. When you bet on red/black or odd/even (for example) and the ball lands on the green zero – all bets lose.
This means that the US wheel makes these bets twice as likely to lose as the European wheel. There is a 3rd variation of the game, known as ‘French Roulette', which returns half of your stake from even money bets when the ball hits the single zero slot. This lowers the house edge considerably. Though exactly how much, will depend on the proportion of inside and outside bets you make.
Roulette Payouts & Odds – Conclusion
If possible, try to find a French roulette wheel when you play, but at the very least stick with a European wheel.
The American wheels cut your playing time in half by charging you twice the house edge of the European wheels.
You can find European wheels in almost every online casino, including all of the ones we recommend on this site and in most land-based casinos. If you don't see a single zero wheel ask someone. If they don't offer one consider playing somewhere else.
Other Helpful Resources
- Wikipedia roulette page.
- Wizard of Odds roulette page.
Online Casinos Featuring the Best Roulette Payouts & Odds
