You’re standing there, chips in hand, palm slightly sweaty, looking at that spinning mahogany bowl. It looks simple. Just a ball and some slots, right? But if you’re actually trying to calculate your odds or just want to sound like you know what you’re talking about at the table, you have to realize that the answer to how many numbers are on the roulette wheel isn't always the same. It depends entirely on where you are and which version of the game the casino is running.
Most people think it’s just 36. That makes sense because the payouts are usually based on 36. But that’s exactly how the house makes its money.
The basic math of the European wheel
In most of the world—think London, Monte Carlo, or those high-limit rooms in Vegas—you’re looking at the French or European wheel. This is the "gold standard" for players. There are 37 numbers on the roulette wheel in this version. You have the numbers 1 through 36, which are colored red and black. Then, you have the green 0.
That single green zero is the "house edge."
If you bet on a single number, the casino pays you 35 to 1. But wait. If there are 37 numbers, the true odds are 36 to 1. That tiny discrepancy is why the casino always wins in the long run. It’s subtle. It’s brilliant. Honestly, it’s a bit frustrating when you realize that one extra number shifts the house edge to about 2.7%.
The layout on a European wheel isn't random either. It’s designed to balance high and low numbers, as well as odd and even. If you look closely, you’ll see the sequence starts at 0, then jumps to 32, 15, 19, and 4. There’s a specific logic to it meant to prevent any one section of the wheel from being "biased" toward a certain type of result.
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Why America added another number
Now, if you’re playing on the main floor of a standard casino in Atlantic City or the Las Vegas Strip, things get worse for your wallet. How many numbers are on the roulette wheel in the U.S.? Usually 38.
American Roulette includes the 1 through 36 and the single 0, but it adds a double zero (00).
Why? Pure profit.
By adding that 38th number, the house edge nearly doubles. It jumps from 2.7% to about 5.26%. It sounds like a small change, just one extra green slot, right? Wrong. Over a few hours of play, that extra number is a vacuum for your bankroll. If you have the choice, you should basically never play on a double-zero wheel if a single-zero wheel is available in the same building. Sometimes you'll even find "Triple Zero" wheels now, especially at the flashy entry-level pits on the Strip. Those have 39 numbers. The house edge there is over 7.6%. It’s predatory, frankly.
The sequence of numbers matters
The physical order of numbers on the wheel is different between the American and European versions. It's not just that one has an extra slot; the entire "neighborhood" of numbers changes.
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On an American wheel, the numbers are usually placed opposite each other. For example, 1 is opposite 2. On the European wheel, the numbers are arranged to alternate as much as possible between high (19–36) and low (1–18), and red and black.
Experienced players often use "called bets" or "section bets" on the European wheel. These have fancy French names like Voisins du Zéro (Neighbors of Zero) or Tiers du Cylindre (Third of the Wheel). You can’t really do these as effectively on an American wheel because the number distribution is different. If you’re at a table and someone yells out "Orphelins," they are betting on a specific slice of that 37-number pie.
What about the colors?
Regardless of whether there are 37, 38, or 39 numbers, the distribution of red and black remains the same for the non-zero numbers. There are always 18 red numbers and 18 black numbers.
- Red numbers: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 32, 34, 36.
- Black numbers: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 31, 33, 35.
Notice anything weird? Between 1–10 and 19–28, odd numbers are red and even are black. But then it flips for the other ranges. It’s a bit of a mind-bender when you’re trying to track patterns.
But here is the cold, hard truth: the wheel has no memory. Just because black hit five times in a row doesn't mean red is "due." The physics of the spin doesn't care about what happened thirty seconds ago. Each spin is a fresh start for those 37 or 38 numbers.
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Rare variations and the "Sands Cross"
Every now and then, you might run into a weird historical wheel. Back in the early days of gambling in the U.S., there was a version that had 28 numbers, a single zero, a double zero, and an Eagle slot. The Eagle was basically a third house-win space. These are mostly museum pieces now, but they prove that the question of how many numbers are on the roulette wheel has shifted throughout history based on how much the house wanted to squeeze the players.
In modern casinos, stick to the "Rule of 37." If you see more than 37 numbers, you're playing a game with worse odds.
Actionable steps for your next session
Knowing the number count isn't just trivia; it's a survival strategy for your cash.
- Walk the floor first. Don't just sit at the first table you see. Look for the "Single Zero" sign. Even if the minimum bet is a little higher, the lower house edge usually makes it cheaper to play in the long run.
- Check for "La Partage" or "En Prison" rules. These are common on European wheels. If the ball lands on 0 and you made an even-money bet (like Red/Black), you either get half your bet back or it stays for the next spin. This drops the house edge on those 37 numbers down to a tiny 1.35%.
- Ignore the "Hot and Cold" numbers board. These displays are there to make you think you see a pattern. You don't. The 38 numbers on an American wheel don't care about the digital sign above them.
- Avoid the "Basket Bet" on American wheels. This is a bet on 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. It’s the only bet in roulette with a different house edge than the rest of the table (a whopping 7.89%). It’s widely considered the worst bet in the building.
The number of pockets determines your fate. If you're looking for the best chance to walk away with a win, find the wheel with the fewest numbers possible. Usually, that’s 37. Anything else is just giving the casino a head start.