What you must also remember is that the odds change depending on whether you're playing European roulette, or American roulette, because the double zero on the American roulette wheel gives a slightly bigger house edge compared to European roulette. American Roulette. American Roulette house edge is of course higher due to the double zero. But professional roulette systems (advantage play) actually predict the winning number. This increases the odds that the player will win, so wins occur much more frequently. In fact the accuracy of predictions can be so high that instead of the house edge being 2.70%, the player's edge can be +120% or more.
Each roulette game has its own house edge. The house edge of the US wheel is 5,26%, for European roulette the house edge is 2,7% and the French roulette uses a house edge of 1,35% but this is even bets only. The extra ‘Double Zero ' on the US wheel makes an outsized difference, almost doubling the casino house edge.
Roulette House Edge
Quick LinksReducing the House Edge
Roulette Betting Systems
Roulette Casinos with Low Edge
Roulette house edge is what makes casinos their profit. It provides a predictable long-term advantage to the casino, or 'house', while offering the player the possibility of a large short-term payout. But on the flip side, it creates a long-term disadvantage to the player.
What Is The House Edge In Roulette?
The house edge (expected value) varies in roulette from 1.35% to 5.26% depending on the roulette wheel layout. French roulette, due to 'half back' rule, has a house edge of 1.35%. European roulette, with its single zero slot, has a house edge of 2.70%. American roulette, with double zero slots, has the highest house edge of 5.26%.
Important: Roulette is in the mid-range for casino games when it comes to the house edge.
This article shows you how to apply the idea of house edge to your roulette casino game. You will see how this affects which roulette wheel to choose. After that I have outlined how bonuses and comps can reduce the casinos advantage plus I have also mentioned about roulette betting systems. Finally, you will find recommendations for the best online roulette casinos for US and international players.
Roulette House Edge – Choose The Right Roulette Wheel
There are three main types of roulette game
These is the American roulette wheel which has the extra double zero slot. The European roulette wheel which has single zero slot and French roulette wheel which has a special ‘half back' rule when the ball lands in the zero slot.
Roulette House Advantage
Here are the base house edge advantages in percentage for each roulette game:
- American Roulette House Edge: 5.26% due to double zero slots
- European Roulette House Edge: 2.7% due to single zero slot
- French Roulette House Edge: 1.35% due to half back rule (for even money bets only)
The Best House Edge In Roulette For The Casino
As you can see, the extra ‘double zero' on the American roulette wheel makes an huge difference, almost doubling the casino house edge. All even money and 1/3rd bets lose when either zero is hit, which is a bigger disadvantage to players.
The Best House Edge In Roulette For The Player
Important: French roulette has the lowest house edge
This is due to an additional rule known as ‘La Partage Rule'. This returns half of the stake of even money bets when the zero slot is hit. This format is less common online. The very low house edge in this format means that many casinos exclude this game from bonus play-though requirements.
Roulette House Edge – Bonuses and Comps
You can significantly reduce the house edge with the smart use of bonuses and comp point schemes
The online roulette casino market is very competitive thus finding a casino that offers a generous roulette deposit bonus shouldn't be a problem. There is no reason to stay with a casino that does not offer ongoing deals and promotions to keep your bankroll topped up and helping to lower the house advantage in roulette.
There are two things to look for when comparing how bonuses will help you to reduce casinos' edge:
Know:The play-through or wager-through requirement. This shows you how many times you need to bet your bonus amount before the bonus cash can be withdrawn.
Understand:The percentage contribution that each game makes towards this play through. Typically, slots are 100%, many table games are 25% and Roulette is between 10% and 20%. French Roulette is often excluded all together.
How To Get the Edge – Roulette Betting Systems
People will try to sell you a betting systems that claim to be able to beat the house in roulette games.
You should understand that logically, there is no way a sequence of bets can beat a built-in advantage over the long term. These systems can help even out swings in the short-term. In the long run all users however confident and dismissive they might appear will go broke.
If you have any doubts, just compare the fact that casinos around the world welcome roulette ‘systems bettors', at the same time as banning and prosecuting Blackjack card counters who find ways to get a tiny advantage over the house.
Roulette House Edge Calculator
As you have read above the roulette house edge for a casino does not change much as it is set for each type of the roulette wheel. The American double zero, the worst for the player, is 5.26%, the European single zero is 2.7%, and the French, the best for a roulette player, stands at 1.35%. You may find fancy sites offering roulette house edge calculators but they are just marketing tools which don't offer any real benefits to the players.
Best Online Casinos For Roulette – Recommendations
Betfair Casino (For Worldwide Players)
Betfair is a huge online gambling brand that includes sports betting, poker, and a huge casino among their offerings.
They have 14 different roulette games to choose from, including live dealer, mobile and French wheels. This casino has a unique area of their site known as the ‘Zero Lounge'. Here you will find casino games with no house edge at all. The roulette game has no zero slot, meaning even money bets are true even money probability. This is a great way to enjoy the games, though you should note that bonuses can't be cleared in this part of the site.
Check out our betfair review for more details.
Bovada Casino (For US Players)
This casino is exclusively open to US players.
They have both US and European Roulette wheel, including a mobile version of their European Roulette game. You'll enjoy comps and a huge list of entertaining and profitable promotions at this casino – which will keep your bankroll nicely topped up. While the welcome bonus does exclude Roulette, this will clear quickly in many other games.
Calculation of Casino House Edge
The house edge (HE) is defined as the casino profit expressed as a percentage of the player's original bet.
The player's disadvantage is a result of the casino not paying winning wagers according to the game's 'true odds,' which are the payouts expected considering the odds of a wager either winning or losing.
The house edge of casino games vary greatly with the game. House edges for slot machines and Keno may be up to 15% and 25% respectively.
In games which have a skill element, such as Blackjack or Spanish 21, the house edge is defined as the house advantage from optimal play (without the use of advanced techniques such as card counting), on the first hand of the shoe (container holding the cards).
The set of the optimal plays for all possible hands is known as 'basic strategy' and is highly dependent on the specific rules, and even the number of decks used. Good Blackjack and Spanish 21 games have house edges below 0.5%.
Example #1:
Calculate the house edge for American Roulette, which contains two zeros and 36 non-zero numbers (18 red and 18 black).
Solution #1:If a player bets $1 on red, his/her chances of winning $1 is 18/38 since 18 red numbers exist out of 38. However, his/her chance of losing $1 (i.e., winning −$1) is 20/38. Therefore, the expected value may be calculted as follows:
Expected Value = (1)(18/38) + (−1)(20/38)
Expected Value = 18/38 − 20/38
Expected Value = − 2/38 = − 1/19
Expected Value = −5.26%
Therefore, the house edge is 5.26%.
Example #2:
Calculate the house edge for European Roulette, which contain a single zero and 36 non-zero numbers (18 red and 18 black).
If a player bets $1 on red, his/her chances of winning $1 is 18/37 since 18 red numbers exist out of 37. However, his/her chance of losing $1 (i.e., winning −$1) is 19/37. Therefore, the expected value may be calculted as follows:
Expected Value = (1)(18/37) + (−1)(19/37)
Expected Value = 18/37 − 19/37
Expected Value = −1/37
Roulette House Edge – Choose The Right Roulette Wheel
There are three main types of roulette game
These is the American roulette wheel which has the extra double zero slot. The European roulette wheel which has single zero slot and French roulette wheel which has a special ‘half back' rule when the ball lands in the zero slot.
Roulette House Advantage
Here are the base house edge advantages in percentage for each roulette game:
- American Roulette House Edge: 5.26% due to double zero slots
- European Roulette House Edge: 2.7% due to single zero slot
- French Roulette House Edge: 1.35% due to half back rule (for even money bets only)
The Best House Edge In Roulette For The Casino
As you can see, the extra ‘double zero' on the American roulette wheel makes an huge difference, almost doubling the casino house edge. All even money and 1/3rd bets lose when either zero is hit, which is a bigger disadvantage to players.
The Best House Edge In Roulette For The Player
Important: French roulette has the lowest house edge
This is due to an additional rule known as ‘La Partage Rule'. This returns half of the stake of even money bets when the zero slot is hit. This format is less common online. The very low house edge in this format means that many casinos exclude this game from bonus play-though requirements.
Roulette House Edge – Bonuses and Comps
You can significantly reduce the house edge with the smart use of bonuses and comp point schemes
The online roulette casino market is very competitive thus finding a casino that offers a generous roulette deposit bonus shouldn't be a problem. There is no reason to stay with a casino that does not offer ongoing deals and promotions to keep your bankroll topped up and helping to lower the house advantage in roulette.
There are two things to look for when comparing how bonuses will help you to reduce casinos' edge:
Know:The play-through or wager-through requirement. This shows you how many times you need to bet your bonus amount before the bonus cash can be withdrawn.
Understand:The percentage contribution that each game makes towards this play through. Typically, slots are 100%, many table games are 25% and Roulette is between 10% and 20%. French Roulette is often excluded all together.
How To Get the Edge – Roulette Betting Systems
People will try to sell you a betting systems that claim to be able to beat the house in roulette games.
You should understand that logically, there is no way a sequence of bets can beat a built-in advantage over the long term. These systems can help even out swings in the short-term. In the long run all users however confident and dismissive they might appear will go broke.
If you have any doubts, just compare the fact that casinos around the world welcome roulette ‘systems bettors', at the same time as banning and prosecuting Blackjack card counters who find ways to get a tiny advantage over the house.
Roulette House Edge Calculator
As you have read above the roulette house edge for a casino does not change much as it is set for each type of the roulette wheel. The American double zero, the worst for the player, is 5.26%, the European single zero is 2.7%, and the French, the best for a roulette player, stands at 1.35%. You may find fancy sites offering roulette house edge calculators but they are just marketing tools which don't offer any real benefits to the players.
Best Online Casinos For Roulette – Recommendations
Betfair Casino (For Worldwide Players)
Betfair is a huge online gambling brand that includes sports betting, poker, and a huge casino among their offerings.
They have 14 different roulette games to choose from, including live dealer, mobile and French wheels. This casino has a unique area of their site known as the ‘Zero Lounge'. Here you will find casino games with no house edge at all. The roulette game has no zero slot, meaning even money bets are true even money probability. This is a great way to enjoy the games, though you should note that bonuses can't be cleared in this part of the site.
Check out our betfair review for more details.
Bovada Casino (For US Players)
This casino is exclusively open to US players.
They have both US and European Roulette wheel, including a mobile version of their European Roulette game. You'll enjoy comps and a huge list of entertaining and profitable promotions at this casino – which will keep your bankroll nicely topped up. While the welcome bonus does exclude Roulette, this will clear quickly in many other games.
Calculation of Casino House Edge
The house edge (HE) is defined as the casino profit expressed as a percentage of the player's original bet.
The player's disadvantage is a result of the casino not paying winning wagers according to the game's 'true odds,' which are the payouts expected considering the odds of a wager either winning or losing.
The house edge of casino games vary greatly with the game. House edges for slot machines and Keno may be up to 15% and 25% respectively.
In games which have a skill element, such as Blackjack or Spanish 21, the house edge is defined as the house advantage from optimal play (without the use of advanced techniques such as card counting), on the first hand of the shoe (container holding the cards).
The set of the optimal plays for all possible hands is known as 'basic strategy' and is highly dependent on the specific rules, and even the number of decks used. Good Blackjack and Spanish 21 games have house edges below 0.5%.
Example #1:
Calculate the house edge for American Roulette, which contains two zeros and 36 non-zero numbers (18 red and 18 black).
Solution #1:If a player bets $1 on red, his/her chances of winning $1 is 18/38 since 18 red numbers exist out of 38. However, his/her chance of losing $1 (i.e., winning −$1) is 20/38. Therefore, the expected value may be calculted as follows:
Expected Value = (1)(18/38) + (−1)(20/38)
Expected Value = 18/38 − 20/38
Expected Value = − 2/38 = − 1/19
Expected Value = −5.26%
Therefore, the house edge is 5.26%.
Example #2:
Calculate the house edge for European Roulette, which contain a single zero and 36 non-zero numbers (18 red and 18 black).
If a player bets $1 on red, his/her chances of winning $1 is 18/37 since 18 red numbers exist out of 37. However, his/her chance of losing $1 (i.e., winning −$1) is 19/37. Therefore, the expected value may be calculted as follows:
Expected Value = (1)(18/37) + (−1)(19/37)
Expected Value = 18/37 − 19/37
Expected Value = −1/37
Expected Value = −2.7%
Therefore, the house edge is 2.7%.
American Roulette House Advantage
Example #3:
Calculate the house edge for a game played by wagering on a number from the roll of a single die with a payout of four times the amount wagered for a winning number.
House Advantage American Roulette Games
Since the probability of a winning number for a single roll of a die is 1/6, it follows the game has 5 to 1 odds. However, with a payout of only four times the amount wagered (i.e., 4 to 1) for a winning number, the house edge may be calculated as follows:
House Edge = (true odds − payout odds) / (true odds + 1)
House Edge = (5 − 4)/(5 + 1)
House Edge = 1/6
House Edge ≈ 16.67%
