Single Zero Roulette Wheel Game
The single zero roulette wheel is the foundation of every player-friendly roulette game. One green pocket. 37 numbers. A house edge of 2.70% the lowest you will find on any standard one zero roulette table. It is the default wheel in European and French Roulette, and the reason experienced players always seek it out over the double 00 alternative. This guide explains exactly what the 0 wheel is, how it is laid out, and why that one missing green pocket makes such a significant mathematical difference.
What Is a Single Zero Roulette Wheel?
A single zero roulette wheel contains 37 numbered pockets: 0 through 36. One green pocket (0), eighteen red pockets, and eighteen black pockets. It is the original roulette wheel the format that emerged from 18th-century France and was refined in the Monte Carlo casinos of the 1800s. Every major roulette variant outside North America uses this wheel: European Roulette, French Roulette, and most live dealer games worldwide.
The single version is what separates player-friendly roulette from its more expensive American counterpart. When the game arrived in North America, casino operators added a second green pocket (00) to increase margins. European casinos never adopted the change. That historical divergence is why the single wheel remains the global standard and the double 00 wheel is predominantly a North American phenomenon.
Single Zero Wheel — Key Specifications
| Specification | Single Zero Wheel |
|---|---|
| Total pockets | 37 |
| Numbered pockets | 1–36 (18 red, 18 black) |
| Green pockets | 1 — single zero (0) only |
| House edge (standard) | 2.70% |
| House edge with La Partage | 1.35% on even-money bets |
| RTP | 97.30% |
| Straight-up payout | 35:1 |
| Used in | European Roulette, French Roulette |
| Announced bets available | Yes (Voisins, Tiers, Orphelins) |
| Five Number Bet | Not available |
Single Zero Wheel Layout & Number Sequence
The single wheel is designed so that high and low numbers alternate as evenly as possible, red and black alternate without exception around the entire wheel, and no two consecutive numbers on the betting grid sit adjacent to each other on the physical wheel. The design was intentional — it prevents any mechanical bias from systematically favouring one betting group over another.
Wheel Sector Breakdown
The wheel is divided into three named sectors the basis for the announced (call) bets used in French and European Roulette:
| Sector | Numbers Covered | Pocket Count | Wheel Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voisins du Zéro | 0, 2, 3, 4, 7, 12, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 35 | 17 | Around zero |
| Tiers du Cylindre | 5, 8, 10, 11, 13, 16, 23, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36 | 12 | Opposite zero |
| Orphelins | 1, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 31, 34 | 8 | Between Voisins and Tiers |
These three sectors together cover all 37 pockets. The sector system only exists because of the single zero wheel’s specific number arrangement — it would be meaningless on the double zero wheel, where the number sequence is entirely different and no racetrack is provided.
One 0 Roulette Odds & Payouts
Every bet on the single wheel is calculated against 37 outcomes. Payouts are the same as on the double wheel, but your probability of winning is marginally higher on every bet because there is one fewer losing pocket.
| Bet Type | Payout | Win Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Up (1 number) | 35:1 | 2.70% | 2.70% |
| Split (2 numbers) | 17:1 | 5.41% | 2.70% |
| Street (3 numbers) | 11:1 | 8.11% | 2.70% |
| Corner (4 numbers) | 8:1 | 10.81% | 2.70% |
| Six Line (6 numbers) | 5:1 | 16.22% | 2.70% |
| Red / Black | 1:1 | 48.65% | 2.70% |
| Odd / Even | 1:1 | 48.65% | 2.70% |
| Low / High | 1:1 | 48.65% | 2.70% |
| Dozen / Column | 2:1 | 32.43% | 2.70% |
Full payout reference: Roulette Odds & Payouts chart · Payout Calculator
Single vs Double Zero: The Mathematical Reality
The difference between a single zero and a double zero wheel is exactly one pocket. That one pocket doubles the house edge. Here is the concrete financial impact at real stakes.
| Wheel | House Edge | 100 spins × €10 | 500 spins × €10 | 1,000 spins × €10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Zero (European) | 2.70% | €27 | €135 | €270 |
| Single Zero + La Partage | 1.35% | €13.50 | €67.50 | €135 |
| Double Zero (American) | 5.26% | €52.60 | €263 | €526 |
Probability Comparison: Even-Money Bets
| Bet | Single Zero Win Probability | Double Zero Win Probability | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red / Black | 48.65% | 47.37% | +1.28% |
| Odd / Even | 48.65% | 47.37% | +1.28% |
| Low / High | 48.65% | 47.37% | +1.28% |
| Straight Up (any number) | 2.70% | 2.63% | +0.07% |
What About No Zero Roulette?
Some online casinos take the single zero concept one step further by removing the green pocket entirely. No zero roulette eliminates the house edge completely — every even-money bet becomes a true 50/50 proposition. No green pocket means no mathematical advantage for the casino.
With a 0% house edge, a winning streak combined with disciplined play could theoretically be highly profitable. The mathematics are straightforward: place a wager on red, and you have exactly a 50% chance of winning — not 48.65% as on the single zero wheel, not 47.37% as on the double zero wheel, but a genuine coin flip.
Why Casinos Can Still Offer No Zero Roulette
If the house edge is zero, how do casinos survive? The answer lies in a mathematical concept called the risk of ruin. Even in a perfectly fair game, the player with the smaller bankroll will eventually go broke first. A casino’s bankroll is functionally unlimited compared to any individual player — this structural advantage protects the house even without a mathematical edge on the wheel itself.
No Zero Availability
No zero roulette is rare. It is not available in any land-based casino and only a handful of online platforms offer it. When available, tables typically have strict maximum bet limits to further protect the casino from large winning streaks. If you find a legitimate no zero table, it is mathematically the best roulette game you can play — but availability is extremely limited.
Announced Bets — Exclusive to the Single Zero Wheel
Announced bets (also called call bets) are sector-based wagers that can only be placed on the single zero wheel. They are based on the physical position of numbers on the wheel and are called out to the croupier or placed on a racetrack interface. They are not available on the double 00 wheel, whose different number sequence makes the sector system irrelevant.
The Three Main Announced Bets
| Bet Name | Numbers Covered | Chips Required | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voisins du Zéro | 0, 2, 3, 4, 7, 12, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 35 | 9 | 17 numbers around zero |
| Tiers du Cylindre | 5, 8, 10, 11, 13, 16, 23, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36 | 6 | 12 numbers opposite zero |
| Orphelins | 1, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 31, 34 | 5 | 8 remaining numbers |
Full guide to call bets and announced bets: French Roulette guide · European Roulette guide
Free Single Zero Wheel Simulator
Spin the authentic 37-pocket single zero wheel. The sector tracker shows which wheel zone (Voisins, Tiers, Orphelins) each result falls in — useful for understanding the announced bet system. No registration, no download.
Where to Find Single Zero Roulette Tables
Online Casinos
Single zero tables are the standard at virtually every licensed online casino. European Roulette and French Roulette — both using the single 0 wheel — are available at standard stakes with no premium over double 00 tables. Most platforms offer both RNG and live dealer versions.
Land-Based Casinos — Europe
Every European casino uses the single zero wheel as standard. From Monte Carlo to Macau, the single zero is the default. There is no reason to accept a double zero wheel in a European casino they simply do not exist there.
Land-Based Casinos — North America
Single 0 tables exist in North American casinos but are often restricted to high-limit rooms with minimum bets of €25–€100 or more. Some Strip casinos in Las Vegas offer roulette tables at lower limits, but they are the exception rather than the rule. Always check the table layout before sitting down — the presence or absence of the 00 pocket is visible on the wheel itself.
See the full variant guides: European Roulette · French Roulette · American Roulette
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a single zero roulette wheel?
A single zero roulette wheel has 37 pockets: numbers 1–36 in alternating red and black, plus one green pocket numbered 0. It is the standard wheel used in European Roulette and French Roulette, and carries a house edge of 2.70% — compared to 5.26% on the double zero wheel used in American Roulette.
What is the house edge on a single zero wheel?
2.70% on every bet, uniformly. If the La Partage rule is active (French Roulette), even-money outside bets drop to 1.35% — the lowest house edge in standard roulette.
What is the number sequence on a single zero roulette wheel?
Clockwise from zero: 0 — 32 — 15 — 19 — 4 — 21 — 2 — 25 — 17 — 34 — 6 — 27 — 13 — 36 — 11 — 30 — 8 — 23 — 10 — 5 — 24 — 16 — 33 — 1 — 20 — 14 — 31 — 9 — 22 — 18 — 29 — 7 — 28 — 12 — 35 — 3 — 26.
What does zero pay on a single wheel?
A straight-up bet on 0 pays 35:1. A €10 bet returns €350 in winnings plus your €10 stake. The pocket is not special in terms of payout — it pays the same as any other number. Its significance is that it causes all outside bets to lose when it lands (unless La Partage is active).
Is single zero roulette better than double zero?
Yes — mathematically, without exception. The single 0 wheel has a house edge of 2.70% versus 5.26% on the double zero wheel. Every bet you place costs approximately half as much on a single zero wheel. Over any meaningful session, the savings are substantial. See the full comparison: Double Zero Roulette wheel guide.
Can I play single zero roulette for free?
Yes use the free simulator on this page. The Wheel Sector Tracker shows in real time how often results fall in Voisins du Zéro, Tiers du Cylindre, and Orphelins useful for understanding the announced bet system before playing for real money.
Why does the single zero wheel have a different number layout than the double zero wheel?
The two wheels were designed independently. The single zero wheel was developed in 18th-century France and arranged to balance high/low and red/black numbers as evenly as possible across 37 pockets. The American roulettewheel was redesigned for 38 pockets with a different arrangement. The layouts are not interchangeable the sector bet system (Voisins, Tiers, Orphelins) only works on the single 0 wheel’s specific sequence.
What is the difference between a single zero wheel and a European Roulette wheel?
They are the same thing. European Roulette is defined by its use of the single 0 wheel. The terms are interchangeable. French Roulette also uses the single zero wheel but adds La Partage and En Prison rules that further reduce the house edge on even-money bets.