Single Zero Roulette Strategy
Single zero roulette covers any wheel with one green zero pocket - European and French variants. It is the version most strategy testing assumes, because it is the lowest-edge non-rule-modified wheel you can sit at.
If you have a choice between single zero and double zero, the math is unambiguous: pick single zero.
What single zero means
A single zero wheel has 37 pockets: 1-36 plus 0. The 0 is the only difference between this and a hypothetical fair wheel that would pay true odds on every bet.
Because of that one pocket, every even-money bet pays 1:1 but wins only 18/37 of the time, giving a 2.70% house edge.
European vs French - both single zero
European and French wheels are physically identical. The only difference is the rule set. French tables often offer La Partage, which halves the edge on 1:1 bets to 1.35%.
If you are running an even-money strategy like Martingale or Oscar's Grind, La Partage is worth chasing. For inside bets the edge is identical to European.
Why strategy testing uses single zero
Two reasons:
- Single zero is the global default outside the US, so most strategy literature implicitly assumes it.
- If a strategy cannot demonstrate a clear pattern on the best standard wheel, it will not magically improve on a worse one.
Single zero vs double zero in real numbers
Over 1,000 spins of $10 flat bets on red:
Single zero - expected loss ~$270. American double zero - expected loss ~$526.
The strategy is identical. The wheel doubles the cost.
Where to find single zero wheels
European-style roulette is the dominant online format and the default in casinos across Europe, Asia and the UK. In US land-based casinos, single zero tables exist but often at higher minimums - the house compensates for the lower edge by raising the floor stake.
Many online platforms also offer French roulette explicitly with La Partage active. Read the table rules before sitting down or before clicking play.