The math of roulette
Triple-zero roulette odds
A triple-zero wheel has 39 pockets. With ordinary standard payouts, most standard bets have a 7.69% house edge and a 92.31% theoretical return.
7.69%
Standard house edge
39 pockets • Standard payouts assumed
Three zeros change the denominator
The wheel includes 1–36 plus 0, 00 and a third zero, sometimes represented by a house symbol. This guide calls that pocket 000. One chosen pocket wins with probability 1/39.
Red or black on triple zero
The number of red and black pockets stays at 18 each. Each color therefore wins on 18/39, or 46.15%, of outcomes. The three zero pockets all lose a standard color wager.
Calculate the standard edge
For a $1 straight-up bet paying 35:1, expected return including the stake is 36/39. Subtract from 1 to get 3/39, or 7.69%. Payout tables with extra bets need separate calculations.
Do not generalize every side bet
The five-number 6:1 bet, if offered on 39 pockets, returns 35/39 and has a 10.26% edge. Our calculator offers that basket only on double zero to avoid implying universal triple-zero table availability.
Check the zero rule before using standard odds
The figures and calculator on this site assume that an even-money bet loses its full stake when any zero lands. Under that model, 18 winning pockets and 21 losing pockets give a house edge of 3/39, or 7.69%.
Some tables use a different rule. Metropolitan Casinos' published triple-zero rules return half an even-money stake on 0, 00 or 000. For that rule, the calculated edge on an eligible even-money bet is 3/(2 × 39) = 3.85%. Other bets and payouts must be checked separately. This exception is not modelled by the calculator.
Triple-zero odds for standard bets
| Bet | Pockets | Payout | Chance | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight-up | 1 | 35:1 | 2.56% | 7.69% |
| Split | 2 | 17:1 | 5.13% | 7.69% |
| Street | 3 | 11:1 | 7.69% | 7.69% |
| Corner | 4 | 8:1 | 10.26% | 7.69% |
| Six-line | 6 | 5:1 | 15.38% | 7.69% |
| Dozen / column | 12 | 2:1 | 30.77% | 7.69% |
| Red / black | 18 | 1:1 | 46.15% | 7.69% |
| Odd / even | 18 | 1:1 | 46.15% | 7.69% |
| Low / high | 18 | 1:1 | 46.15% | 7.69% |
What the third zero costs
| Wheel | House edge | Expected loss |
|---|---|---|
| European | 2.70% | $27.03 |
| American | 5.26% | $52.63 |
| Triple zero | 7.69% | $76.92 |
These are long-run averages, not a session forecast. Actual results vary widely around them.
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