Roulette Zoomed In: How Many Numbers Are on a Roulette Wheel?

Roulette: a game that's secured a spot on casino tables all around the world (including our very own land-based casinos in the USA). This casino table game might be a popular choice with seasoned casino visitors, but that doesn't mean it’s a complicated game! Nuh-uh.  

See, if y'all strip back the extras, roulette is just based on a spinning wheel with numbered pockets and a tiny ball. Of course, if you're keen on pulling up a seat at roulette table (either in a land-based or online casino), then you'll want to school up on a few more details.

We're talking the exact betting options available, the different areas that the ball could stop and your odds of winning. All of which depends on the numbered pockets on the wheel. Folks, if you're hoping to test your roulette skills or pull up a seat at a roulette table for the first time, then you'll want to brush up on all there is to know about these numbered pockets. 

Don't sweat it if you don’t know where to start, though. We've got you covered.  

Keep scrolling to find out more. 

Introducing the iconic roulette wheel and pockets 

At the heart of every roulette game is the roulette wheel. 

All roulette wheels are ringed by pockets, marked by numbers, which is where the ball will eventually come to a rest.  

These numbered pockets hold the ultimate power to make or break your game, since these are what y'all will be betting on in roulette! The more pockets on a wheel, the smaller the area that you're hoping the ball will land on, and the less chance you'll have of winning. 

All roulette wheels have a similar layout, with pockets laid out according to their value, in line with the following rules: 

• Numbered pockets shouldn't follow the same order as the order of their mathematical value. I.e., 2 and 3 should never sit next to each other on the wheel. 
• Even and odd numbers should be mixed as much as possible, with up to two of each type sitting next to each other on a wheel. 
• Low-value and high-value numbers should be allocated as evenly as possible, so all the low-value numbers aren't allocated to just one side of the wheel. 
• All numbered pockets are coloured red or black, with each colour alternating on the wheel, apart from 'zero' pockets, which are green. 

The exact layout depends on whether you're playing American Roulette or European Roulette, since there are a few differences between roulette in the USA vs the UK, including the number of pockets on the wheel. 

American roulette vs European roulette wheel layout 

Here in the UK, y'all play with European roulette, which features 37 numbered pockets, ranging from 0 to 36. 

Here's how a European roulette wheel is laid out, in clockwise order: 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. 

Meanwhile, across the pond, US casinos use roulette wheels with 38 pockets, ranging from 0 to 36. Wondering where the extra pocket comes from? There's another 'zero' pocket on the American roulette wheel, labelled '00'. 

The pockets on American roulette wheels are laid out as follows, in clockwise order: 0, 28, 9, 26, 30, 11, 7, 20, 32, 17, 5, 22, 34, 15, 3, 24, 36, 13, 1, 00, 27, 10, 25, 29, 12, 8, 19, 31, 18, 6, 21, 33, 16, 4, 23, 35, 14, 2. 

As y'all can see, the 0 and 00 pockets are positioned directly opposite each other. 

Do more numbers mean more chances of winning roulette? 

We hate to break it to you, folks, but more numbers on the wheel mean fewer chances of correctly guessing which pocket the ball will fall into. The 00 pocket may add extra excitement to the game, but it also affects the Return to Player rate – which is what you can expect the casino to pay out relative to the money wagered on it. 

European roulette games boast an RTP of 97.3%, meaning the casino should pay out an epic £97.30 for every £100 wagered at the European roulette table. Take a seat at an American roulette table and it drops to 94.7% due to the extra pocket increasing the casino's house edge. 

So, if you're keen on playing for the chance to scoop an epic roulette win, then it's worth taking the type of game into account. After all, some of the top roulette playing strategies only work in European roulette! 

Take your new knowledge for a spin 

Now, y'all know everything there is to know about roulette pockets, it's time to dive in! Here at Bally Casino, we've got an awesome collection of online roulette games sitting pretty on our online casino floor, all offering plenty of chances to experience thrilling Vegas-style entertainment.  

We're talking classic tables, exciting spin-offs, jackpot bonuses and everything in-between. We even have American tables shipped direct from the States, meaning y'all can enjoy American and European tables when you play online roulette in the UK with us. So, you can compare the wheels for yourself. 

Not sure which game to play first? Check out the online roulette games that are hottest with our players right now, then step through our virtual casino doors for a slice of iconic Bally Casino entertainment. 

Go on, it's gonna be epic.  

Check out more awesome casino content over at the Bally Casino blog or join now to make the most of our generous welcome bonus of 30 free slot spins when y'all sign up and deposit and play £10*.