CASINO101 • RESEARCH & EXPLANATION
The wheel and payout schedule determine the game. Betting patterns do not remove the house edge.
How a bet settles
Place chips before betting closes. The winning pocket determines which wagers pay. Inside bets cover numbers or small groups; outside bets cover larger groups such as red/black and odd/even. The zero pocket is not red or black and does not qualify as an odd/even win.
Count the pockets, then check the payout
| Wheel | Pockets | Standard straight-up profit payout | Calculated house edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single zero | 37 | 35:1 | 1/37 ≈ 2.70% |
| Double zero | 38 | 35:1 | 2/38 ≈ 5.26% |
For a one-unit straight-up bet on a single-zero wheel, expected net result is (1 × 35 − 36 × 1) / 37 = −1/37 unit. On a double-zero wheel it is (35 − 37) / 38 = −2/38. These are long-run expectations under the stated payouts, not predictions of one spin.
Special rules require a separate check
Some even-money games offer la partage or en prison when zero appears. Read the exact settlement rule. Special multiplier games can change ordinary payouts, so a standard roulette percentage is not a substitute for their paytable.
Compare European and American roulette; see the la partage calculation.
What a betting system can and cannot do
Changing stakes changes the distribution of outcomes and the amount exposed. It does not change the pockets or payouts. Martingale doubles the next stake after losses, making a small sequence of wins coexist with a potentially large loss.
Study the progression example before treating a series of small wins as evidence of a winning system.
Choose a version that you understand
Read the live roulette guide for dealer-streamed and automatic games. Record wheel type, payout schedule, minimum and maximum wager, and rules for connection interruptions. See the selection checklist and the roulette comparison guide for the commercial next step.
Common questions
Does a streak make the opposite colour due? A fair independent spin does not remember the previous colours. Is a single-zero wheel guaranteed to cost less this session? No. It has a lower mathematical cost under standard payouts, but a short session can finish with any allowed outcome.
Sources and method
Sources checked on 5 October 2026. Calculations and examples are Casino101 explanations, not reports of our own real-money play.
