American roulette uses a wheel with 38 pockets: 1 to 36, 0 and 00. The double zero gives it a house edge of 5.26% (RTP 94.74%), almost twice that of European roulette. You can play it for real money in your phone's browser at Bovada, Ignition and Slots LV, as an RNG game or at a live dealer table.
- 38 pockets with both 0 and 00
- House edge 5.26%, RTP 94.74%
- Top line bet (0-00-1-2-3) has a 7.89% edge
- Play in the mobile browser at Bovada, Ignition and Slots LV
American roulette is the version you’ll find on almost every casino floor in Las Vegas and in most US online casinos. Its wheel has 38 pockets: the numbers 1 to 36, a single zero and a double zero. That extra 00 is the only real difference from European roulette, but it nearly doubles the house edge. In this guide we explain the rules, the odds and the best way to play American roulette on your phone for real money.
What is American roulette?
American roulette is a casino table game in which a ball is spun around a wheel with 38 numbered pockets. You bet on where it will land: a single number, a group of numbers, a colour, odd or even, high or low. The double-zero wheel came to the US from France in the 19th century. European casinos later switched to the single zero that François and Louis Blanc introduced in 1843, but American casinos kept the 00.
Online you’ll find it as an RNG game (a computer-generated wheel you play alone) and as a live dealer table, where a real croupier spins a physical wheel on camera.
American roulette rules
Each round starts with a betting window. You place chips on the layout, the dealer or software spins the wheel, and winning bets are paid according to a fixed table. If the ball lands on 0 or 00, all outside bets (red or black, odd or even, 1-18 or 19-36, dozens and columns) lose.
| Bet | Numbers covered | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 1 | 35 to 1 |
| Split | 2 | 17 to 1 |
| Street | 3 | 11 to 1 |
| Corner | 4 | 8 to 1 |
| Top line (0, 00, 1, 2, 3) | 5 | 6 to 1 |
| Six line | 6 | 5 to 1 |
| Dozen or column | 12 | 2 to 1 |
| Red/black, odd/even, high/low | 18 | 1 to 1 |
American roulette house edge and RTP
With 38 pockets and payouts calculated as if there were 36, the house edge is 2/38, or 5.26%, on every bet except one. That means a return to player (RTP) of 94.74%. The exception is the top line bet on 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3, which pays 6 to 1 and carries a house edge of 7.89%. It is the worst bet on the table.
For comparison, a red or black bet wins 47.37% of the time on an American wheel and 48.65% on a European wheel. Over many spins that small gap adds up: on $1,000 in total bets, the expected loss is about $52.60 in American roulette and $27 in European roulette.
American roulette strategy tips
- No betting system beats the house edge. Martingale, Fibonacci and D’Alembert only change how your wins and losses are spread, not the expected result.
- Skip the top line bet: at 7.89% it costs more than any other bet.
- Choose European roulette when you have the choice. It is the same game with a single zero and a 2.70% house edge.
- Outside bets win more often and keep your balance steadier. Straight-up bets win rarely but pay more.
- Set a budget and a time limit before you play, and stick to them.
How to play American roulette on your phone
You don’t need a separate app. The casinos below run in your phone’s browser: open the site, create an account, make a deposit and find roulette under table games or live dealer. On mobile the betting layout usually switches to a compact view; turn your phone sideways for a bigger table. Most casinos also have racetrack-style shortcuts and a re-bet button, so you can repeat your last bet with one tap.
Want to practise first? Free apps such as Roulette – Casino Style use the same double-zero wheel with play chips.
Where to play American roulette for real money
Bovada, Ignition and Slots LV all offer American roulette as an RNG table game, alongside European roulette. Bovada and Ignition also have live dealer roulette, so you can switch between fast solo spins and a real wheel. All three accept players from most US states and work in the mobile browser. Check that real-money play is available where you live before you sign up.
American vs European roulette
The rules, bets and payouts are the same. The only difference is the extra 00 pocket, which raises the house edge from 2.70% to 5.26%. If you like the classic Vegas wheel, American roulette is fine for entertainment, but if odds matter to you, European roulette is the better game. For the atmosphere of a real table with a dealer, see our guide to live roulette.
More roulette apps
Our roulette apps guide compares the best real-money and free roulette apps. If you just want to play for fun, read our reviews of Roulettist and Roulette Royale.
Pros and cons
- Available at almost every US online casino
- Simple rules and familiar Vegas layout
- RNG and live dealer versions
- Works in the mobile browser, no download
- House edge of 5.26%, almost double European roulette
- Top line bet has a 7.89% edge
- No La Partage or En Prison rules
Play American roulette in these 3 casino apps
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Features
American roulette app FAQ
What is the house edge in American roulette?
The house edge is 5.26% on all bets except the top line bet (0, 00, 1, 2, 3), which has an edge of 7.89%. The RTP is 94.74%.
What is the difference between American and European roulette?
American roulette has an extra 00 pocket, so the wheel has 38 pockets instead of 37. That raises the house edge from 2.70% to 5.26%.
Can you play American roulette for real money on your phone?
Yes. Bovada, Ignition and Slots LV offer real-money American roulette in the mobile browser, without a separate app.
Is there a winning strategy for American roulette?
No. Every bet has a built-in house edge, and betting systems such as Martingale don't change it. The best you can do is avoid the top line bet and choose European roulette when you can.