Roulette House Edge Calculator
Calculate the house edge and expected loss for roulette
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Quick Answer
Key concepts at a glance
European roulette has 2.70% house edge, American has 5.26%. At $25/spin for 100 spins/hour, you expect to lose $67.50/hour (European) vs $131.50/hour (American). That's nearly double! The five-number bet on American wheels is the worst bet in roulette at 7.89% edge. Always choose European wheels when available.
Key Facts About House Edge
Important information
- European single-zero wheel: 2.70% house edge (1/37)
- American double-zero wheel: 5.26% house edge (2/38)
- The five-number bet (0, 00, 1, 2, 3) has 7.89% edge - avoid it
- En prison rule reduces edge to 1.35% on even-money bets
- At $100/spin, European loses $2.70 on average vs $5.26 American
- French roulette with la partage has the best odds at 1.35%
- No betting system can overcome the mathematical house edge
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about roulette house edge
What is the house edge in roulette?
House edge is the casino's mathematical advantage. In European roulette, the single zero gives a 2.70% edge (1/37). In American roulette, the double zero increases it to 5.26% (2/38). This means for every $100 you bet, you expect to lose $2.70 (European) or $5.26 (American) on average.
Why is American roulette worse than European?
American wheels have an extra pocket (00) that doesn't change the payouts. A straight bet still pays 35:1, but now covers 1/38 instead of 1/37. This extra zero nearly doubles the house edge from 2.70% to 5.26%. Over thousands of spins, this difference adds up significantly.
What is en prison and la partage?
These are special rules on some European tables. La partage returns half your even-money bet when zero hits. En prison holds your even-money bet for another spin. Both reduce the house edge on red/black, odd/even, high/low bets to just 1.35% - the best odds in roulette.
Do all bets have the same house edge?
On European wheels, yes - all bets have 2.70% edge. On American wheels, all bets have 5.26% edge EXCEPT the five-number bet (0, 00, 1, 2, 3) which has 7.89% edge. This is the worst bet in roulette and should always be avoided.