Skip to content
18+ Gamble responsibly

Photo: Anna Shvets / Pexels

Online roulette

European, French and American roulette compared, with the exact house edge of each wheel and bet.

By the Gambling Hero editorial team · Checked October 24, 2026

Short answer

Roulette: typical house edge 2.70% (single zero), 1.35% on even-money bets with La Partage, 5.26% (double zero). The exact figure depends on the rules of the version you play, which the game's help screen states.

The casinos below are the top rated licensed casinos in our database. Each entry shows the licence we checked in the regulator’s register, the minimum deposit, the stated withdrawal time and the recorded welcome offer with its wagering requirement.

The casino decides how safely you play and how fast you are paid; the wheel decides what each spin costs you. Game lobbies change often, so check that a casino offers the wheel you want before you deposit: a single zero, ideally French rules with la partage.

Top rated casinos to compare

Game lobbies change often: check that the casino offers the roulette variant you want before you deposit.

Calculate the cost of a session with the house edge calculator.

European, American and French online roulette

In online roulette the number of zeros on the wheel sets the house edge. According to the Wizard of Odds, a single-zero wheel (European) carries 2.70% on every bet, a double-zero wheel (American) 5.26%, and French rules cut the edge on even-money bets to 1.35%.

European roulette has 37 pockets, 1 to 36 plus one zero; all bets pay the same as on an American wheel, so the edge is 1/37. American roulette adds a double zero, giving 38 pockets and an edge of 1/19 on all bets except one: the five-number bet on 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3 costs 7.89%. Triple-zero wheels with 39 pockets also exist; the Wizard of Odds calculates 7.69% on every bet there.

La partage and en prison explained

La partage and en prison are French rules that return half of an even-money bet, or give it a second chance, when the ball lands on zero. Under the French rule, the Wizard of Odds calculates a house edge of 1.35% on red, black, odd, even, 1 to 18 and 19 to 36.

With la partage you get half the stake back immediately. With en prison the bet stays on the table for the next spin: if it wins, you get it back without winnings. Where a second zero can imprison the bet again, the edge is slightly higher, between 1.37% and 1.39% depending on the variation. Both rules apply only to even-money bets; straight-up numbers, splits and dozens keep the 2.70% edge.

Roulette bet types and payouts

All standard roulette bets on the same wheel have the same house edge; they differ only in how often they win and how much they pay. The table shows payouts on a “to one” basis and the chance of winning on a single-zero wheel.

Bet Numbers covered Pays Chance to win (single zero) House edge single / double zero
Straight up 1 35 to 1 2.70% 2.70% / 5.26%
Split 2 17 to 1 5.41% 2.70% / 5.26%
Street 3 11 to 1 8.11% 2.70% / 5.26%
Corner 4 8 to 1 10.81% 2.70% / 5.26%
Six line 6 5 to 1 16.22% 2.70% / 5.26%
Dozen or column 12 2 to 1 32.43% 2.70% / 5.26%
Red/black, odd/even, high/low 18 1 to 1 48.65% 2.70% (1.35% French) / 5.26%

The Wizard of Odds also warns that some electronic roulette games pay less than 35 to 1 on single numbers or 17 to 1 on splits, which raises the edge sharply. Others quote wins “for one”, meaning the stake is not returned; subtract one to compare with the table above.

Why betting systems do not change roulette odds

No betting system changes the house edge in roulette, because every spin is independent and every bet carries the same expected loss. Progressions such as doubling after a loss only change the pattern of results: many small wins, then a large loss when a losing streak meets the table limit or your budget.

The only real levers are the wheel and the rules: a single-zero wheel instead of a double-zero one, and la partage on even-money bets. Our roulette odds guide works through the numbers in more detail.

How to choose a roulette casino and table

Choose the casino by licence and payout record, then the table by its wheel, in that order.

  • Confirm the licence in the list, then compare stated withdrawal times.
  • Open the game’s help screen and check the number of zeros, the payout for a straight-up number and whether la partage or en prison applies.
  • Decide between RNG and live play; the maths is the same, but live wheels spin less often. Our live casino page compares both.
  • If you play with a bonus, check whether roulette counts toward wagering at all.

Roulette rounds are short and easy to repeat, so set a deposit limit before your first spin rather than during a session.

Frequently asked questions

Which online roulette has the best odds?

French roulette on a single-zero wheel with la partage or en prison, which the Wizard of Odds puts at 1.35% on even-money bets. Without those rules, European roulette costs 2.70% on every bet. American roulette with a double zero costs 5.26%, and its five-number bet 7.89%, so avoid it when a single-zero wheel is available.

Is online roulette rigged?

RNG roulette at a licensed casino uses software tested under the regulator’s technical standards, and live roulette uses a real wheel on camera. Neither needs to be rigged: the zero pockets give the house its edge. Check that the casino’s licence appears in the regulator’s public register before you deposit.

Which roulette bet has the best odds?

On a standard wheel all bets have the same house edge, 2.70% on single zero and 5.26% on double zero. Even-money bets win most often, at 48.65% on a single-zero wheel, and become the cheapest bets under French rules at 1.35%. The five-number bet on an American wheel is the worst at 7.89%.

Does the Martingale system work in roulette?

No. Doubling after each loss produces frequent small wins but does not change the 2.70% or 5.26% edge on each spin. A long losing streak eventually hits the table maximum or your budget, and that single loss outweighs the small wins. Over many spins the expected loss is the same as flat betting.

What is the difference between la partage and en prison?

Both apply to even-money bets when the ball lands on zero. La partage returns half your stake at once. En prison keeps the bet on the table for the next spin, and you get it back without winnings if it wins. Under the French rule both work out at a house edge of 1.35%.

Sources: Wizard of Odds: roulette basics, bet table and imprisonment odds, Wizard of Odds: house edge of casino games

From the magazine