How Many Numbers in Roulette? A Guide to Wheel Pockets and Odds

How many numbers are on a roulette wheel?

A pocket is a space on the wheel where the ball can come to rest. The familiar numbers 1–36 account for 36 pockets, but the total also includes zero markings and any other special outcomes.

The four examples below show why the numbered range alone does not tell you the full wheel count. They describe particular formats, not every possible roulette game.

• European roulette: 1–36 plus 0, for 37 pockets.
• Standard French roulette: 1–36 plus 0, for 37 pockets.
• American roulette: 1–36 plus 0 and 00, for 38 pockets.
• Crown Roulette at Crown Melbourne: 1–36, 0, 00 and a Crown symbol, for 39 pockets.

European and French roulette: 37 pockets

European roulette numbers run from 0 to 36. That makes 36 non-zero numbered pockets and one zero pocket, giving 37 possible outcomes on an ordinary valid spin.

Standard French roulette also uses a single-zero wheel. A French table and a European table can therefore have the same pocket count without having identical betting options or settlement rules.

In particular, do not assume that a French table automatically returns part of an even-money stake when zero lands. Check the rules of the specific game for any special zero provisions.

American roulette: 38 pockets

American roulette numbers include the same 1–36 range, but a standard double-zero wheel also has separate pockets labelled 0 and 00. The extra pocket brings the total to 38.

The labels 0 and 00 represent different outcomes in the game. They are not different mathematical values, which is why it is clearer to describe them as two zero-marked pockets rather than two distinct numbers.

On an ordinary double-zero game, a straight-up bet on 0 does not also cover 00. A player who wants to know exactly what a wager covers should check the betting layout and table rules.

A 39-pocket roulette example in Melbourne

Crown Melbourne describes a game called Crown Roulette with 39 roulette wheel pockets. Alongside 1–36, 0 and 00, it has a Crown-symbol outcome. Crown’s published rules refer to that extra outcome as 000/Crown.

This is a useful Australian example, but it does not establish that 39-pocket games are standard across the country or that a particular table is currently open. Crown’s venue information can help readers check the game and its published rules.

Other 39-pocket games may use a literal 000 marking rather than a logo. When identifying a wheel, count every special marking instead of looking only for digits.

How roulette numbers are arranged and coloured

The order of numbers around the wheel is different from the grid on the betting layout. The wheel determines which pockets are neighbours; the layout groups spaces so players can place different wagers. Two numbers next to each other on the layout need not be neighbours on the wheel.

For example, Crown’s illustrated single-zero arrangement places 26 and 32 on either side of 0. Wheel arrangements vary, and Crown’s rules illustrate more than one permitted double-zero sequence.

On standard single- and double-zero wheels, the red and black roulette numbers are divided evenly: 18 of the numbers from 1–36 are red and 18 are black. The zero-marked pockets are green.

• European or standard French wheel: 18 red, 18 black and one green pocket.
• Standard American wheel: 18 red, 18 black and two green pockets.
• Crown Roulette example: 18 red, 18 black and three green outcomes, including the Crown symbol.

What happens to even-money bets on zero?

A red or black bet covers the relevant 18 coloured numbers, not a green zero. Under Crown’s standard rules, a red, black, odd or even bet does not win when 0 lands. The table’s settlement rules determine what happens to the stake.

There is an important distinction between mathematics and the betting layout: zero is mathematically even, but Crown’s roulette even bet covers the even numbers from 2 to 36 and excludes 0.

Some games have special zero-settlement rules for even-money bets, so a full loss on zero should not be assumed at every table. Read the rules before relying on a particular outcome.

Why the number of pockets matters for roulette odds

A straight-up bet covers one pocket. Assuming each settled pocket outcome is equally likely and the spin is valid, the chance of that particular pocket winning is one divided by the number of possible settled outcomes.

The following figures are probabilities, not payout rates. An additional settled pocket makes a specified pocket slightly less likely to land, although it does not by itself explain the payout or house edge.

• 37 settled outcomes: 1 in 37, or approximately 2.70%.
• 38 settled outcomes: 1 in 38, or approximately 2.63%.
• 39 settled outcomes: 1 in 39, or approximately 2.56%.

Physical pockets and settled outcomes are not always the same

The probability examples above assume that every pocket is a valid settled outcome. A game can have a rule that voids a result and calls for another spin, in which case the physical pocket count alone does not describe the settled outcomes.

For example, Pennsylvania’s roulette rules allow a double-zero wheel to be used for a single-zero game with 00 declared void and the wheel respun. That is an overseas rule, not evidence that the same practice applies at an Australian table.

For any game, check how special pockets are treated and whether a landing can make the spin void.

Payout and house edge are separate from probability

Crown’s standard rules list a 35-to-1 payout for a winning straight-up bet. Its Crown Roulette guide also lists 35 to 1 for a straight-up bet on a number or symbol. At that payout, a winning A$1 wager earns A$35 profit, with the A$1 stake ordinarily returned as well.

That payout describes what a win pays, not how often it occurs. With equally likely outcomes and the same 35-to-1 net payout, a straight-up bet has a calculated house edge of approximately 2.70% on 37 outcomes, 5.26% on 38 and 7.69% on 39. Crown’s guide also states a 7.69% house edge for Crown Roulette.

The calculation compares one possible A$35 profit with the A$1 loss on each losing outcome. For a 37-outcome game, there are 36 losing outcomes, so the expected net result per A$1 bet is (35 − 36) divided by 37, or a loss of about 2.70 cents.

House edge is a long-run mathematical average, not a guaranteed loss on a spin or a prediction of an individual session. These figures apply to the specified straight-up bet and payout; other wagers and special zero rules can have different edges.

Roulette in Australia: what to check before playing

A venue’s published rules can explain which games are authorised and how they work, but they do not guarantee that a particular table is open when you visit. Check with the venue for current availability and limits.

Australian online rules also matter. The Australian Communications and Media Authority identifies online casino-style services, including online roulette offered to people in Australia, as illegal services. That guidance concerns the provision of the service; an offshore site accepting Australian customers is not proof that its offer is lawful.

For gambling support, the National Gambling Helpline is available free around the clock on 1800 858 858.

• Count the pockets and identify every zero or symbol marking.
• Read how zero outcomes and any void spins are settled.
• Check the payout for the particular wager, including any side bet.
• Confirm that the table is open and check its minimum and maximum limits.

FAQ

How many numbers are on a European roulette wheel?

A standard European wheel has 37 pockets: 0 and the numbers 1–36. The total includes zero, even though only 36 pockets carry non-zero numbers.

How many numbers are on an American roulette wheel?

A standard American wheel has 38 pockets: 1–36 plus separate 0 and 00 pockets. The two zero labels are distinct game outcomes, not different mathematical values.

Does zero count as a roulette number?

Zero counts as a labelled pocket and a possible outcome. The range 1–36 refers to the non-zero numbers only; on a double-zero wheel, 00 is an additional pocket label.

How many red and black numbers are there?

Standard single- and double-zero wheels each have 18 red and 18 black numbered pockets. Their zero pockets are green: one on a standard European wheel and two on a standard American wheel.

Do more pockets change the odds?

If every settled pocket is equally likely, a specified pocket has a 1-in-38 chance on an ordinary 38-outcome game, compared with 1 in 37 on a 37-outcome game. Payouts and house edge must be considered separately.

Can a roulette wheel have 39 pockets?

Yes. Crown Melbourne describes a 39-pocket game with a Crown symbol as well as 0, 00 and 1–36. Other games can use a literal 000 marking, so the special outcome is not labelled the same way everywhere.