How Many Numbers Are on a Roulette Wheel? 37 vs 38 Explained

If you’ve ever sat down at a roulette table thinking red or black is all that matters, you’re in good company. I’ve watched players lock onto streaks and “table feel” in both land-based casinos and online lobbies, then ignore the one detail that decides the odds before the ball even drops.

How many numbers are on a roulette wheel isn’t trivia. It’s the difference between a game that gives you room to play and one that eats your bankroll faster than it should.

The roulette layout looks almost identical across tables, but the wheel is what sets the math. In European vs American roulette, the real giveaway is the green pockets: one zero on European wheels, and a double zero wheel (0 and 00) on American. That single extra pocket means more losing outcomes baked into the same payouts.

These days, I check the wheel type automatically before I place a chip, especially in live roulette. It’s a small habit, but it saves you from playing the “same” game on worse terms.

How Many Numbers Are on a Roulette Wheel?

Here’s the short, no-nonsense answer most players are looking for:

• European roulette: 37 numbers, from 0 to 36
• American roulette: 38 numbers, from 1 to 36, plus 0 and 00

That’s it. One extra pocket.

And that single difference changes the game.

European roulette uses a single zero. American roulette adds a double zero wheel, introducing an extra green pocket that instantly raises the house edge on every bet you place. Red or black, odd or even, dozens, columns, none of them are spared. The payouts stay the same, but the odds quietly shift against you the moment 00 enters the wheel.

This is why experienced players look at the number of pockets before thinking about strategy or bet size. The roulette layout might look identical, but the wheel underneath it defines the real cost of playing. Same bets, very different long-term outcomes.

Understanding the Roulette Layout (Wheel vs Table)

One of the most common mistakes I see is players mixing up the roulette layout with the roulette wheel. They’re connected, but they don’t do the same job, and that difference matters the moment you start placing chips.

The roulette wheel is the physical or digital wheel that spins. It’s made up of numbered pockets, red and black numbers, and one or two green zeroes. This is where the outcome is decided. Wherever the ball lands is the result.

The roulette table layout is the betting grid in front of you. This is where you place chips on:

• straight-up numbers
• split, street, corner bets
• dozens and columns
• outside bets like red/black, odd/even, high/low

Here’s why players get tripped up. The layout stays almost the same whether you’re playing European or American roulette. The wheel does not.

Key point: the layout tells you what you can bet on, but the wheel decides how good or bad those bets really are.

Both versions use 18 red numbers and 18 black numbers. That doesn’t change. What changes is the number of green pockets:

• European roulette: 1 green zero (0)
• American roulette: 2 green pockets (0 and 00)

Those green pockets don’t belong to red or black, odd or even, or high or low, but they still sit on the wheel as extra losing outcomes. That’s why two tables can look identical at first glance, same layout, same betting options, but play very differently over time.

If you’ve ever wondered why outside bets feel less “safe” on certain tables, this is usually the reason.If you want a deeper breakdown of how each bet on the layout connects to outcomes on the wheel, our Roulette Rules Guide walks through that mapping step by step, without turning it into a math lecture.

European Roulette Wheel Explained (Single Zero)

How Many Numbers Are on a European Roulette Wheel?

A European roulette wheel has 37 total numbers, running from 0 to 36.

The defining detail is the single zero. Alongside 18 red numbers and 18 black numbers, there’s just one green pocket: 0. No double zero. No extra space quietly pushing the odds further against you.

From a probability standpoint, that single zero does more work than most players realise. Every bet on the table, inside bets, outside bets, dozens, columns, is calculated against 37 possible outcomes, not 38. That one-number difference compounds over time, especially across longer sessions.

This is also why European roulette dominates online casinos and live dealer studios. Players are far more informed now. When given the choice, most gravitate toward single-zero wheels because they offer better value by default. If you scroll through live roulette lobbies, you’ll usually see European tables outnumber American ones, particularly at reputable platforms that know what players are looking for.

Why European Roulette Is Better for Players

European roulette carries a house edge of 2.7%, compared to 5.26% on American roulette. On paper, that gap might not look dramatic. In real play, it absolutely is.

Here’s what that difference looks like in practice:

• With the same bankroll and bet size, European roulette keeps you in the game longer
• You get more spins per session
• Variance feels smoother, especially on outside bets like red/black or even/odd
• Your balance drains slower over time

This is exactly why seasoned players filter for single-zero tables automatically. I do it every time, whether I’m playing standard online roulette or live dealer games. It doesn’t guarantee wins, nothing in roulette does, but it cuts the built-in disadvantage nearly in half before the first spin.

If you treat roulette as a session game rather than a one-spin gamble, European roulette simply gives you more room to breathe. Over 50, 100, or 200 spins, that lower house edge is often the difference between a session that feels playable and one that quietly grinds your bankroll down.

American Roulette Wheel Explained (Double Zero)

How Many Numbers Are on a Double Zero Roulette Wheel?

An American roulette wheel has 38 total numbers.

That includes 1 to 36, plus 0 and 00. At first glance, everything feels familiar. Same colours. Same betting layout. Same payouts. The only visible difference is that extra green pocket sitting next to zero, and that’s exactly where the problem starts.

The double zero wheel exists largely for historical and commercial reasons. When roulette made its way from Europe to the United States, casinos added the 00 to increase their edge without changing how bets paid. From a player’s perspective, nothing improved. From a casino’s perspective, the game became significantly more profitable overnight.

That small tweak stuck. As a result, American roulette is still common today, especially in land-based casinos and in some online roulette lobbies that mirror traditional US floors.

How the Double Zero Changes the Odds

That extra pocket pushes the house edge up to 5.26%, nearly double what you’re facing on European roulette.

You don’t need to run the math to feel it. Take a simple red or black bet. On the layout, it looks close to 50/50. On a double zero wheel, you’re actually betting against 38 possible outcomes, and two of them instantly lose for red and black. The green pockets don’t pay, but they still count.

The same issue applies to:

• Even or odd
• High or low
• Dozens and columns

Every common bet becomes slightly worse because there’s one more way to lose, without any improvement to the payout when you win.

In real sessions, this shows up as shorter playtime and faster bankroll swings. You’ll still hit wins, but losses stack up quicker, especially if you’re relying on outside bets for stability. Nothing feels obviously broken. It just feels harsher the longer you play.

This is why many experienced players avoid double zero tables unless there’s no alternative. The game hasn’t changed, but the odds are working harder against you from the very first spin.

European vs American Roulette: Side-by-Side Comparison

If you strip roulette down to what actually matters, this comparison tells the whole story. Same game. Same bets. Very different value.

European Roulette

• Total numbers: 37
• Zero pockets: 0
• House edge: 2.7%
• Best for: Beginners, casual players, and anyone who wants longer sessions with less bankroll pressure

American Roulette

• Total numbers: 38
• Zero pockets: 0 and 00
• House edge: 5.26%
• Best for: Players with limited table options or those playing short, high-variance sessions

This isn’t about one version being “good” and the other being “bad”. It’s about understanding what you’re choosing before you place a bet.

European roulette gives you:

• More playable time per bankroll
• Slower variance swings
• Better long-term value on every bet

American roulette does the opposite. It increases volatility and accelerates losses, without improving payouts or offering anything extra in return.

This choice matters even more in live dealer roulette, where sessions naturally run longer and bet sizes tend to creep up. In that environment, wheel selection has more impact than tweaking strategy mid-session.

If you’re unsure how to identify the right table in a live lobby, our live roulette strategy guide breaks down exactly what to look for before placing your first chip.

Most experienced players make this choice automatically. Once you understand the numbers behind the wheel, it’s hard to ignore the difference.

Why the Number of Pockets Actually Matters When You Play

On the surface, roulette feels straightforward. You place the same bets, get the same payouts, and hope the ball lands your way. But the number of pockets on the wheel quietly changes what those bets really cost you over time.

Take outside bets like red or black. They’re often treated as the “safer” option because you’re covering almost half the wheel. The issue is that the zero, and especially the double zero, doesn’t belong to either side. It doesn’t balance anything out. It simply exists to collect losing bets.

On a European roulette wheel, you’re betting against 37 outcomes. On an American roulette wheel, you’re betting against 38. The payout stays exactly the same, but the probabilities shift slightly against you. That difference won’t stand out on a single spin, but across a long session, it compounds.

This is why outside bets don’t magically protect you from the zero. Every time the ball lands on green, all red, black, even, odd, high, and low bets lose together. The more green pockets there are, the more often that reset happens.

At some point, checking the wheel type just became automatic for me. Before bet size. Before strategy. Before anything else. If I see a single-zero wheel, I’m comfortable settling in. If it’s double zero, I know I’m paying more to play the same game. That habit alone has probably saved me more money than any betting system ever could.

Roulette doesn’t give you control over outcomes. What it does give you is control over which version of the game you’re playing, and that decision matters far more than most players realize.

How to Tell Which Roulette Wheel You’re Playing Online

Online roulette makes it easy to jump into a game fast, which is great. It also makes it easy to miss the wheel type if you’re not paying attention. The good news is that once you know where to look, spotting the difference takes a few seconds.

Spotting European vs American Roulette Fast

Before you place a single chip, run through this quick checklist.

1) Table name

Most online casinos label their tables clearly. Look for terms like European Roulette, Single Zero, or American Roulette. If you see Double Zero or 00, you already have your answer.

2) Wheel graphic

This is the fastest visual check, especially in live roulette. Look at the wheel itself:

• One green pocket = European roulette
• Two green pockets (0 and 00) = American roulette

Once you’re used to spotting it, that extra pocket stands out immediately.

3) Info panel or rules tab

Every reputable table includes an info or rules section. This usually confirms:

• Wheel type
• Total number of pockets
• House edge

If there’s any doubt, this clears it up instantly.

This step matters most in live dealer roulette, where tables can look nearly identical in the lobby. Dealers change. Camera angles change. Layouts look the same. The wheel type does not, and that’s what defines the odds.

This is also why roulette systems behave differently depending on the wheel you choose. Any system built around even-money bets or slow progression will feel noticeably harsher on a double zero wheel. The math hasn’t changed, but the cost of each spin has.

If you’re experimenting with different approaches, it’s worth understanding that relationship. Our roulette systems guide explains why the exact same system can perform significantly worse on a double zero table, even when nothing else changes.

Does the Number of Roulette Numbers Affect Strategy?

Short answer: yes, but not in the way many players hope.

No roulette system beats the house. Martingale, Fibonacci, D’Alembert, none of them change the underlying math. Over time, the house edge always shows up. What the number of roulette numbers actually affects is how fast that edge works against you.

When you move from a 37-number wheel to a 38-number wheel, every system becomes more expensive to play:

• Progressions climb faster
• Losing streaks hit harder
• Recoveries take longer

The strategy itself hasn’t changed. The odds underneath it have.

This is why systems built around outside bets often feel more manageable on European roulette. With a lower house edge, swings are slightly softer and bankroll decay is slower. On a double zero wheel, the same system runs into green pockets more often, and those hits tend to break momentum quickly.

That’s the part many players miss. The real edge in roulette isn’t a clever betting pattern. It’s table selection. Choosing a single-zero wheel does more for your long-term results than switching between systems ever will.

Once you accept that, strategy takes its proper place. It becomes a way to manage variance and session flow, not an illusion of control over outcomes.

If you want to play roulette on your terms, start by choosing the wheel that works against you the least. Everything else comes second.

Final Takeaway: Choose the Wheel Before You Place a Bet

Roulette will always involve luck. You can’t control where the ball lands. What you can control is the version of the game you sit down at.

The number of pockets on the wheel sets the rules before you play. A single-zero wheel gives you better odds, longer sessions, and more room to manage variance. A double-zero wheel quietly charges you more for the same bets. Once you understand that difference, it’s hard to justify ignoring it.

This is why experienced players check the wheel type first. Not after a few losses. Not once a strategy stops working. Right at the start. It’s the simplest decision you’ll make in roulette, and one of the few that actually moves the needle.

If you want to put this into practice, explore our best online roulette games, segmented by how players actually choose tables:

• European roulette for single-zero wheels and better long-term odds
• American roulette when options are limited or volatility is the goal
• Live roulette for real dealers, longer sessions, and table selection that really matters

New players can start in demo mode to get comfortable with layouts and pacing. Experienced players can step straight into real-money tables knowing they’ve already made the smartest decision available.

Explore the best roulette games online and start with the wheel that gives you better odds from the very first spin.

FAQ – Common Roulette Wheel Questions Players Ask