Roulette Wheel Numbers

How many numbers are there on a roulette wheel?

If you’ve always wondered how many numbers are on a roulette wheel and what the highest number on roulette wheels are, there's no one-size-fits-all answer: it ultimately depends on what version of roulette you play.

In American Roulette there are 38 pockets. This starts from numbers 1-36 and includes two additional green pockets – a zero and a double zero. That’s why American roulette is often called double-zero roulette.

European and French Roulette tables only have 37 pockets, as they operate with only a single zero, as well as numbers 1-36, which reduces the house edge for players.

How to read roulette numbers

The roulette wheel is designed to make it easy to view the roulette numbers as it spins and the ball flies around the outer track. The numbers are sufficiently angled behind each pocket so that you should be able to view them by peering down onto the wheel itself, when playing at a land-based casino.

What are the roulette number sequences?

The roulette number sequence differs between American and European versions of roulette:

• American roulette (clockwise): 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  
• European roulette (clockwise): 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

What is the highest number on the roulette wheel?

Although the number of pockets on a roulette wheel differs between American and European variants of roulette, the highest pocket number is the same on both variants – 36.

What are the colours associated with roulette numbers?

There are three primary colours present on a roulette wheel. Red and black are the dominant colours, while green also makes an appearance, for the additional zero and double zero pockets:

• Colour: Red, Numbers: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 32, 34, 36
• Colour: Black, Numbers: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 31, 33, 35
• Colour: Green, Numbers: 0, 00 (if present)

Which roulette numbers are hit the most?

Wondering what are the roulette numbers that come up the most? It is actually a gambling myth that "hot" numbers exist on the roulette wheel.

Some land-based casinos like to display which numbers have appeared most frequently on their wheels to make players think that there is a greater chance of them appearing in subsequent spins but, in truth, the statistical chances of them appearing again is the same as the previous spin, and the spin before that!

RNG in online roulette

When it comes to online roulette, online casino operators implement Random Number Generators (RNGs) to their roulette games to ensure totally random and completely fair outcomes for each game. These RNGs adhere to the house edge of each roulette game and are fully transparent. At reputable casinos such as Paddy Power, they are audited regularly by independent third parties for 100% fair gaming.

The number 21 in roulette

The number 21 might have a special significance in blackjack, but does it have the same meaning in roulette? Although it’s a Fibonacci number and the number 21 is important in many cultures around the world, it doesn’t have any importance over other numbers on the roulette wheel.

You’ll find the 21 roulette number between black 4 and black 2 on European roulette wheels and between black 6 and red 33 on American roulette wheels.

Now, let's take a closer look at the different types of inside bets you can make when you play roulette online or offline. 

Split

A split bet is one of the most popular inside bets on a roulette table. It involves betting on two numbers. You’ll need to place your betting chip on the adjacent line between the two numbers you wish to bet on. If the bet wins and either of your numbers is the winning number, you’ll receive a payout of 17:1.

Straight

Arguably the easiest roulette number strategy for betting is to pick single number bets, which are known as straight bets in casino lingo. The bet wins if your chosen number is the winning number, paying out 35:1. However, bear in mind there are 37 numbers on a European roulette wheel (38 in American roulette) so the probability you'll get it right is less than a split bet.

Street

The street bet in roulette requires you to place an inside bet on a row of three numbers on the roulette table. As with split bets, for a street bet you place your chips "inside" the number zone on your roulette table, so that it overlaps the outer line. If any of your numbers is the winning number, you’ll receive a payout worth 11:1.

Square

The square bet is also known as a corner bet in both American and European roulette. It involves betting on a square of four numbers. To do so, you’ll need to place your chip in the middle of the four numbers you wish to bet on. If any of your numbers is successful, you’ll receive a payout worth 8:1.

Six Line/Double Street

Six line bets, also known as double street bets, require you to wager on two lines of three numbers – hence the double - street nickname. Place your chip(s) on the intersection between the two streets you wish to bet on. If the ball lands on any of these six numbers, you’ll receive a payout worth 5:1.

Trio

The trio bet in roulette is the only dedicated bet that involves the green pockets of a roulette wheel. A trio bet on a European roulette wheel sees you cover the single zero as well as the adjacent numbers, one and two. A trio bet on an American roulette wheel sees you cover the double zero as well as numbers two and three. The payout for successful trio bets is 11:1.

First hour

On average, a roulette wheel spins around 40 times an hour, so you can be sure to have plenty of opportunities to win with your inside betting strategies in your first hour of roulette gameplay.

Basket

The five-number basket bet is considered by many to be the worst-value wager in roulette. This type of bet is only available on American roulette tables, as it involves making a bet on both the single and double zero as well as the first street (numbers 1, 2 and 3). Where all other bets in American roulette carry a house edge of 5.3%, the basket bet carries a house edge of 7.9%, so we would advise you to avoid it at all costs! Just for the record, it pays out 6:1.

Similarly, let's break down the types of outside bets you can choose to place across all variants of roulette.

1 to 18, or 19 to 36

Outside bets are those placed outside the main number field, covering the biggest possible cross-section of numbers on the roulette table. You can place chips on either 1 to 18, or 19 to 36. If you bet on the winning number, you’ll receive an even-money payout of 1:1.

Red or black

This is another very simple outside bet which sees the player wager on whether the next winning number will be red or black. If you bet on the winning colour, you’ll receive an even-money payout of 1:1.

Even or odd

You can also choose to be on whether the next winning number will be odd or even. If you bet on the winning number, you’ll receive an even-money payout of 1:1.

Dozen bet

A dozen bet requires you to wager on one of the three rows of a dozen numbers on the roulette table. This one of the most popular outside bets as it pays out 2:1 on winning bets. You can choose the 1st 12, the 2nd 12 or the 3rd 12 for a dozen bet. The roulette table layout will conveniently show which numbers each of these dozen bets refers to: 1-12, 13-24 or 25-36. 

Column bet

Similarly to dozen bets, you can also bet on any of the three columns of 12 numbers on the roulette table layout. Simply place your chip on the end of the table layout, next to red 36, black 35, or red 34. A winning column bet also pays out 2:1.

Snake bet

One of the coolest roulette betting strategies for outside bets is the snake bet. This exotic type of bet requires you to strategically place chips on certain numbers so that if you were to join the numbers on the table it would form an S snake shape. In practice, this means that you cover the following 12 numbers: 1, 5, 9, 12,14, 16, 19, 23, 27, 30, 32 and 34. A winning snake bet pays out 2:1, like a dozen or column bet.

European wheel number sequence

European roulette is arguably the most popular variant of roulette. The roulette number sequence of a European wheel includes 37 numbers: 1 to 36 and a single green zero. The clockwise pattern is as follows:

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

American roulette number sequence

American roulette is widely known for its high casino house edge of 5.26%, which is twice that of European roulette. That’s because it includes an additional green double zero pocket. The clockwise pattern is as follows:

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

French Roulette number sequence

The French roulette number sequence is identical to the roulette number sequence found on European tables. See the European sequence above for like-for-like sequencing on French roulette tables.

Differences between European roulette, American roulette and French roulette

The main differentiator between European, American and French roulette is that American roulette operates with 38 pockets on its roulette wheel, while the other two operate with 37 pockets. That’s because American roulette has a double zero in addition to the single zero, increasing the game’s house edge to 5.26%. Meanwhile, European roulette offers a house edge of only 2.7%.

French roulette differs from European roulette in that bettors can receive a refund of up to half their stake if the ball lands on the single zero. This diminishes the house edge further to just 1.35%, meaning that French roulette is the one to play if you want the most bang for your buck. 

You'll find all of the above variants inside the Paddy Power Games roulette lobby, as well as additional games such as Spread Bet Roulette or Roulette Deluxe. 

Hot numbers betting

Whether you play roulette at a land-based casino or online at Paddy Power Games, you’ll be able to keep track of which numbers have appeared most frequently in recent games. These are known as "hot numbers". Some people believe that hot streaks exist for certain numbers, but in reality, this is not accurate. If you do the maths, you'll realise that before the start of each spin of the roulette number, each number has the same statistical probability of winning than the next. 

Cold numbers betting

The same roulette software will also help you to keep track of "cold numbers", meaning those numbers that appeared less frequently in recent games. Some people believe that cold streaks exist for certain numbers and that just because a cold number hasn’t appeared for a long time it is bound to appear soon. However, statistically, cold numbers just as likely to remain "cold" as they are to become "hot". However, this information is available for you to use as you please, of course.

Betting on adjacent roulette wheel numbers

It’s a good idea to spread your risk on the roulette tables by betting on adjacent numbers on the table layout. This means that if any of the numbers you have selected lands on the wheel, you will get a payout that is smaller than that of a straight bet but more probable at the same time. 

Betting on negative roulette wheel numbers

"Negative betting" on the roulette table involves avoiding betting on numbers that have recently hit. This is a difficult strategy as you’ll need to quantify how cold a number is based on the frequency of other numbers. You’ll probably need a pen and paper for this one.

Can you predict numbers in roulette?

In a word, no. The roulette wheel has been manufactured to encourage randomness for every game. When you play online roulette, an RNG oversees the random outcome of each spin of the wheel, which means that the outcome is completely random (as well as provably fair).

How to choose the best roulette numbers

Given that each number has the same statistical probability of winning the next round, you might wish to choose your favourite roulette numbers based on sentimental reasons, such as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and the such. That’s because there’s no such thing as a better roulette number than any others on the wheel.

How do you predict numbers in roulette?

Put simply, you can’t! The whole beauty of roulette is its randomness and how your luck can change from spin to spin.  

Can you bet on every number in roulette?

You can certainly bet on every number on the roulette table if you wish, but we wouldn’t recommend it. Due to the different payouts involved and a house edge of at least 1.35% (for French roulette tables), you’ll possibly end up losing money in the long run.  

Can roulette dealers target or avoid any particular numbers?

It’s virtually impossible to do so. The dealer would need the perfect roulette wheel and conditions to be able to accurately spin the wheel at the desired speed to ensure the ball eventually lands in the right pocket. When it comes to online roulette, this is even more obvious, since all games have been reviewed and approved by third parties and regulators.   

Can roulette dealers make spins predictable?

If they wanted to do so, the dealer could but only at land-based casinos and the most perfect playing conditions. If you’re worried about this, you can choose to play online at Paddy Power, where games are overseen by independently vetted RNGs for total neutrality and fairness.  

What is the roulette house edge?

The house edge of French roulette is 1.35%. The house edge increases to 2.7% for European roulette and 5.3% for American roulette. These are regardless of whether you choose to play offline, online or even as part of a live casino offering like our own.  

How long should you bet a big number?

As long as you want to, really. The chance of a higher number winning the next spin is the same as any low number, so give it a shot!  

What are the betting limits for online roulette?

The beauty of online roulette is that the table limits are that much smaller than playing at a land-based casino. For instance, at Paddy Power, you can bet as little as £0.10p per spin if you wish to.  

How often do roulette numbers repeat?

In theory, the chance of a roulette number repeating will happen once every 37 pairs of numbers. With 36 numbers on a single zero roulette wheel, there are 35 pairs of numbers available, so the probability of a number repeating is calculated as 35/37 = 0.9459.  

Which are the luckiest roulette numbers?

There’s no such thing as a lucky roulette number! Statistically, all numbers on a roulette wheel have the same probability of landing on the next spin.  

What does 00 mean in roulette?

00 is known as the double zero. It is the additional pocket found on the wheel of an American roulette table.  

Can I receive free spins on roulette when joining a new casino?

Absolutely. New casino bonuses come in all shapes and sizes, some of which relate to roulette games. Take a look at our very own Promo Hub to find a sign-up offer that works for you and your roulette gaming.  

Can I play roulette on my smartphone?

At Paddy Power Games, you can play our wide range of online and live dealer roulette games on any smartphone or tablet device. Our fully responsive roulette games adapt to the screen size of your mobile, so that you get the best view of the action. Have fun!

If you'd like to learn more about playing roulette, check out our guide on how to play roulette.