Green on Roulette Table: What Payouts Does It Offer?
On a roulette table, the green pockets stand apart from the red and black numbers that make up most of the wheel. They appear less often, but they play an important role in how the game works and how each spin is settled.
Understanding how these green pockets function and how they pay can provide useful context if you are learning about roulette. The way green is used varies slightly between different versions of the game, and these variations affect both potential returns and the built-in advantage held by the casino.
This blog post outlines which green pockets appear on the wheel, how payouts are calculated, the differences between European and American roulette, how green influences the house advantage, and key points to keep in mind when considering this type of wager.
Read on to learn more.
How Many Green Pockets Are on the Roulette Wheel?
Roulette wheels include green pockets alongside the red and black numbers. The exact count varies by version, and this distinction quietly affects everything that follows.
European roulette uses one green pocket, labelled “0”. There are 37 pockets in total: numbers 1 to 36, split evenly between red and black, plus the single green zero. At this point, it is simply useful to note that the green pocket stands apart from the rest.
American roulette adds another green space. It features both “0” and “00”, giving 38 pockets overall. Although the layout looks familiar during play, this extra pocket shifts the numerical balance in a way that becomes clearer later.
For context, some casinos also offer French roulette. This version uses the same wheel as European roulette, with one green “0”, though the table rules differ slightly.
These green spaces are more than decorative. Their role becomes clearer as payouts and odds are examined in more detail. Before moving into that, it helps to look at how a bet on green is treated in the rules.
What Are the Green Payouts in Roulette?
Betting on green means choosing the “0” on European or French wheels, or either “0” or “00” on American wheels. This type of wager sits directly on a single number, though the full implication of that becomes clearer shortly.
All single-number bets in roulette follow the same payout rule. The colour of the number does not change the return, even though green appears less often on the wheel.
Potential payouts are usually described in “to 1” terms. A return of 35 to 1 means that for every unit you stake, you receive 35 units of winnings, and your original stake is also returned, if your wager is successful. This convention applies to green numbers in the same way as any other single number.
European vs American Roulette Green Payouts
On a European wheel, the single green “0” typically pays 35 to 1 if you choose to place a straight-up bet on it and it’s successful. A £1 stake returns £35 in winnings plus the £1 stake, for £36 in total. This is identical to any other single number on the table.
The reason this matters becomes clearer by looking at the wheel itself. There are 37 possible outcomes, yet the payout reflects only 36 alternatives. That small mismatch is what creates the casino’s advantage.
American roulette uses two green pockets, “0” and “00”. Each of these also typically pays 35 to 1 on a successful straight-up bet. The return looks the same on the surface, but the wheel now has 38 pockets, which reduces the chance of any one number appearing.
Some American tables allow a split bet covering both green pockets. This covers two numbers and usually pays 17 to 1 if the bet is successful. The chance of a hit is higher than backing a single green number, though the adjusted payout keeps the overall balance the same.
These differences explain why two versions may appear almost identical yet behave differently over repeated play. To see how that difference shows up numerically, it helps to look at the house edge.
How Does the Green Bet Affect the House Edge?
The green pockets sit at the centre of the house edge, the built-in percentage advantage created by roulette’s rules and payouts. This figure represents the average share of stakes that stays with the casino over extended play.
On a European wheel, there are 37 pockets, but straight-up bets pay as if there were 36. This leads to a house edge of about 2.70%. Put simply, over time, a small portion of total stakes remains with the casino.
American roulette increases the total to 38 pockets while keeping the same 35 to 1 potential payout. This raises the house edge to about 5.26%, nearly twice that of the European version.
Green pockets also affect even-money bets such as red or black, odd or even, and high or low. These bets seem straightforward because they typically pay 1 to 1, if they’re successful, but any spin that lands on green causes them to lose.
With one green pocket, European even-money bets win 18 times out of 37. With two green pockets, American even-money bets win 18 times out of 38. This difference explains the higher house edge on the American wheel.
Some European-style tables use rules like La Partage or En Prison. These rules adjust how even-money bets are settled if the ball lands on zero, reducing the house edge for those bets. They do not change payouts or odds for betting directly on green.
Should You Bet on the Green Pocket In Roulette?
Choosing to bet on the green pocket comes down to personal preference rather than any special method. The chance of success is low because there is only one or two green pockets on the wheel. A single number appears 1 time in 37 on a European wheel and 1 time in 38 on an American wheel.
The 35 to 1 potential payout reflects those odds. From a numerical point of view, a green bet performs the same as any other straight-up number within the same roulette version.
Some players like the distinct feel of green and include it among other wagers if they are playing. Others avoid single-number bets and focus on options that land more often, even though the potential payouts are smaller. Straight-up bets may involve extended losing runs before a win appears, which does not suit everyone.
Each spin is independent, with no memory of earlier results. A green number is no more or less likely to appear because it has or has not shown up recently.
If you choose to play roulette, it is sensible to decide in advance how much time and money you are willing to spend and to stay within those limits. Roulette is a game of chance with a built-in house edge, and no betting pattern alters that.
If gambling starts to affect your well-being or finances, independent support is available from organisations such as GamCare and GambleAware.
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**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.