Roulette wheel versions vary widely across online play, and each carries a different house edge. Players can direct the percentage the house retains over a long session by choosing between them. Only one pocket makes a difference.
Single zero wheels have 37 pockets numbered 0 to 36. A double-zero wheel has 38 pockets, adding 00 to the standard 0. That extra pocket does not change the payout ratios. A straight-up win still pays 35 to 1 on both wheel types, but the probability of winning differs because the pool of possible outcomes is larger on the double-zero format. Sessions played at https://crypto.games/ use specific wheel configurations that determine which edge applies throughout the session.
Pocket count changes the house edge
Calculating the house edge involves comparing the true probability of winning with the payout. Average winnings for a straight-up bet on a 37-pocket wheel are one in 37. Players receive 35 units plus their stake if the payout is 35 to 1. The player expects to win once and collect 36 units while spending 37 units over the course of 37 spins at one unit each. This cycle retains one unit. In percentage terms, that equals 2.70 per cent. On a 38-pocket wheel, the same bet wins once in every 38 spins on average. Payout remains 35 to 1. Over 38 spins at one unit each, the player expects to spend 38 and collect 36. The house retains two units across that cycle. Expressed as a percentage, that is 5.26 per cent.
Extra pocket produces such a large gap
Adding one pocket to a 37-number wheel increases the total outcome pool by 2.70 per cent. That single addition nearly doubles the house edge because the payout formula does not adjust to compensate. Payouts are fixed at 35 to 1 regardless of which wheel format is in use. A player betting the same amounts across both formats over a long period will see the double-zero wheel retain approximately 5.26 cents per dollar wagered compared to 2.70 cents on the single-zero wheel. For players who spread bets across multiple numbers, the edge difference compounds. Covering 12 numbers on a single zero wheel leaves 25 numbers uncovered, including the zero. Covering 12 numbers on a double-zero wheel leaves 26 numbers uncovered, including both zeros. Payouts for columns and dozens pay 2 to 1 on both wheel types, but the probability of losing is higher on the 38-pocket format.
Practical session impact
The gap between 2.70 and 5.26 per cent may appear small across a single spin, but across many spins, the difference in expected return is measurable. A player placing 100 units total across 50 spins would expect to lose approximately 2.70 units on a single-zero wheel and approximately 5.26 units on a double-zero wheel, assuming average results. High-volume sessions amplify this gap further.
Single-zero roulette is the standard format across European-origin tables, while double-zero roulette originates from American casino formats. Both are available across online platforms, but they are not equivalent in terms of expected return. Players who regularly choose double-zero tables are accepting nearly double the house retention per spin compared to those who play single-zero.
Selecting the correct wheel format before a session begins is a structural decision with direct impact on expected session results. Payouts look identical on screen because both formats pay the same ratios, but the underlying probability differs by one pocket. That single pocket is the entire source of the edge gap between the two formats.
