Why the wheel you pick matters
Roulette comes in three mainstream flavors. European uses a single zero and carries a house edge of about 2.70%. American adds 00, raising the edge to 5.26%. French roulette is usually a single-zero wheel with special rules on even-money bets; with La Partage or En Prison, the effective edge on those bets drops to 1.35%. Picking the right wheel is the biggest single decision you make.
Bet types and standard payouts
Inside bets cover specific numbers; outside bets cover larger groups. Payouts are fixed, but the chance to hit changes with the wheel.
- Straight (1 number): pays 35:1
- Split (2 numbers): pays 17:1
- Street (3 numbers): pays 11:1
- Corner/Square (4 numbers): pays 8:1
- Six Line/Double Street (6 numbers): pays 5:1
- Dozen or Column (12 numbers): pays 2:1
- Even-money (Red/Black, Odd/Even, Low/High): pays 1:1
These payouts are standard across casino guides and rule sheets.
Quick probabilities by wheel
European (37 pockets): Straight 1/37 ≈ 2.70%; Split 2/37 ≈ 5.41%; Street 3/37 ≈ 8.11%; Corner 4/37 ≈ 10.81%; Six Line 6/37 ≈ 16.22%; Dozen/Column 12/37 ≈ 32.43%; Even-money 18/37 ≈ 48.65%. American (38 pockets) shifts each by denominator 38, for example Straight 1/38 ≈ 2.63% and Even-money 18/38 ≈ 47.37%. Reference tables and calculators confirm these figures.
Special rules that help
La Partage splits your even-money stake when 0 hits, immediately returning half and cutting the edge to 1.35% on those bets. En Prison “locks” your even-money chip for the next spin after 0; win the next spin and your stake is released. Both rules halve the usual single-zero edge on even-money wagers. If you can find either rule online or at a live table, use it.
Sector and racetrack bets
On single-zero wheels, you may see call/announced bets on the racetrack layout such as Voisins du Zéro, Tiers du Cylindre, and Orphelins. These are convenient groupings of numbers by physical wheel sectors. They are fun and fast to place, but on a normal single-zero wheel they still face the standard 2.70% edge.
The five-number trap on American wheels
Avoid the 0-00-1-2-3 “basket” on double-zero layouts. Its house edge jumps to 7.89%, worse than any other standard wager on the table. That extra cost adds up quickly if you’re grinding for comps or leaderboard points.
Crypto-friendly strategy checklist
- Prefer single-zero or French rules
Seek European single-zero; if La Partage or En Prison is offered, make your even-money plays there to cut the effective edge to 1.35%. - Keep units stable against coin swings
If you hold BTC/ETH, your dollar risk per spin drifts as prices move. Many players denominate session units in a fiat-pegged stablecoin to reduce noise, a trend backed by 2025 reports showing continued growth and payments adoption for stablecoins. - Minimize transfer friction between sites
If you move balances often, consider low-fee rails. Polygon’s average fees are typically fractions of a cent; TRON’s network approved a fee cut in August 2025 to further lower costs. Choose the network your casino supports that minimizes on-chain costs for you. - Don’t chase systems
Combining bets to “cover the board” or Martingale-style progressions does not beat the edge. Analyses show that regardless of how you mix standard wagers on double-zero, the overall expectation remains −5.26% except for the infamously worse five-number bet. Set limits, not illusions. - Prefer audited RNG or reputable live dealers
For RNG roulette, look for testing-lab seals and certificates; eCOGRA and iTech Labs publish how they test randomness and RTP claims. Live dealer outcomes are physical, but the game still falls under regulator and test-lab oversight in licensed markets.
Worked expectations you can reuse
- American even-money bet expected loss per $100 wagered: about $5.26. European even-money: about $2.70. French even-money with La Partage/En Prison: about $1.35. That is the entire strategy in one sentence: choose rules that lower the edge before you choose a bet.
- American straight-up bet expected value: 35:1 payout × 1/38 minus 1 × 37/38 ≈ −5.26%. Changing to European moves the edge to the single-zero baseline of 2.70%. The payout doesn’t change; only the denominator does.
Quick reference: bet table (single-zero vs double-zero)
| Bet | Pays | European hit % (37) | American hit % (38) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight | 35:1 | 2.70% | 2.63% |
| Split | 17:1 | 5.41% | 5.26% |
| Street | 11:1 | 8.11% | 7.89% |
| Corner | 8:1 | 10.81% | 10.53% |
| Six Line | 5:1 | 16.22% | 15.79% |
| Dozen/Column | 2:1 | 32.43% | 31.58% |
| Even-money | 1:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% |
Frequently asked questions
Does La Partage or En Prison help on all bets?
No. These rules apply to even-money wagers. When 0 lands, La Partage returns half your stake; En Prison holds your stake for one more spin. Both cut the even-money edge to 1.35% on a single-zero wheel.
Are sector bets better value than straight inside bets?
They are mainly convenience groupings on the racetrack layout. On standard single-zero wheels they still face the 2.70% edge.
What is the worst standard wager on an American wheel?
The 0-00-1-2-3 basket carries a 7.89% edge, higher than other options.
Which crypto network is most cost-efficient for moving bankroll?
It depends on what your casino supports, but Polygon typically has very low average transaction fees, and TRON announced a 60% network fee cut in August 2025. Verify supported rails and any platform fees before you move funds.
