Roulette Wheel Numbers
You'll find either 37 or 38 pockets on a roulette wheel. European rules use 37, American rules use 38. That single-pocket difference changes the math more than most players realize.
We'll walk through the number sequences on each wheel, show you why they look random, and explain which bets actually work with that layout.
How many numbers are on a roulette wheel
The answer depends on which wheel you're looking at. European wheels? 37 pockets total (0 through 36). American wheels add an extra pocket with that double zero, bringing it to 38. French roulette sticks with 37, same as European.
That one extra pocket on American wheels might not sound like much, but it shifts the math in the house's favor. Run a few hundred spins and you'll see your money disappear faster on American wheels.
What is the highest number on a roulette wheel
36 is the highest number, period. All three wheel types cap out there. Zeros? They're neither high nor low when you're betting. So whether you're playing European, American, or French roulette, 36 remains the ceiling.
European vs American vs French roulette wheel numbers
Every wheel uses 1 through 36. What changes? The zeros and table rules, which mess with your odds over time.
European roulette wheel
European wheels stick with one green zero. This single-zero format appears on most roulette tables because it gives players slightly better odds than the American version. The numbers get scrambled around the wheel on purpose. High, low, odd, and even numbers spread out so no section gets loaded with one type.
American roulette wheel
American roulette adds a second green pocket: the double zero. With 38 spaces instead of 37, the house edge increases. Most brick-and-mortar casinos run American wheels. Players who care about the math? They hunt down European tables.
French roulette wheel
French roulette runs the same 37-pocket wheel as European, but the table layout changes and you get two extra rules. La Partage gives you half your bet back when zero hits. En Prison lets your bet ride for one more spin. Both cut the house edge on red/black and odd/even bets.
Full number sequence on each roulette wheel
Walk up to any roulette wheel and you'll notice something odd: the numbers don't run in order. You won't find 1 next to 2, or 35 next to 36. Looks totally random, right? There's actually a pattern, just not one you'd spot immediately.
European wheel sequence
Starting from zero and moving clockwise, the European wheel reads:
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 wheel sequence
American wheels mix the numbers up their own way. Starting from zero and moving 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
On American wheels, you'll spot the 0 and 00 sitting opposite each other.
Why roulette numbers are not in order
The scrambled layout isn't random. Casino designers spread the numbers out to keep the wheel balanced and stop you from spotting easy patterns.
Color alternation
Red and black pockets switch back and forth around the wheel. Only the green zeros break that pattern.
High and low balance
High numbers (19–36) and low numbers (1–18) get mixed throughout. You won't find one section stacked with all highs or all lows.
Odd and even spread
Odd and even numbers spread around instead of bunching up. Keeps any section from leaning toward just odds or just evens.
Sector scrambling
Numbers that sit next to each other on the wheel are far apart numerically. On a European wheel, 32 neighbors 15 and 19. This setup stops you from betting on specific wheel sections and winning consistently.
How many red and black numbers on a roulette wheel
18 reds, 18 blacks on every wheel. Zeros? Green, and they don't count as either color.
- Red numbers: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 32, 34, 36
- Black numbers: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 31, 33, 35
- Green: 0 (plus 00 on American wheels)
The color assignments don't follow an obvious pattern. Red 1 sits next to black 2, but then red 3 comes before black 4. Most players just look at the table felt since it shows each number's color.
Numbers on the roulette table and how they connect to the wheel
The table arranges numbers in a clean grid with three columns. First column: 1, 4, 7, 10 up to 34. Second: 2, 5, 8, 11 up to 35. Third: 3, 6, 9, 12 up to 36. Zero (and double zero on American tables) sits at the top of the grid.
This layout has nothing to do with where numbers appear on the wheel itself. Two numbers sitting side by side on the table might land on opposite ends of the wheel. The table keeps numbers organized so you can place chips easily. The wheel scrambles them to stay fair.
Inside bets and how they use roulette numbers
Inside bets land right on the numbered section. You'll hit less often, but payouts jump higher when you do.
Straight up
A straight-up bet covers exactly one number. Place your chip squarely in the center of any number on the grid.
Split
A split bet covers two numbers that touch on the table layout. Place your chip on the line between them.
Street
A street bet covers a horizontal row of three numbers. Place your chip on the outer edge of the row.
Corner
A corner bet covers four numbers that form a square. Place your chip at the intersection where all four meet.
Six line
A six-line bet spans two adjacent rows, covering six numbers total. Place your chip on the outer corner where the two rows meet.
Outside bets and how they group roulette numbers
Outside bets wrap around the edges of the grid and cover bigger groups. You'll win more often, but payouts drop.
Red or black
Covers all 18 numbers of one color. If the ball lands on zero, the bet loses.
Odd or even
Covers all odd or all even numbers. Zeros count as neither.
High or low
High covers 19 through 36. Low covers 1 through 18.
Dozens
Three options here: first dozen (1–12), second dozen (13–24), or third dozen (25–36).
Columns
Each of the three vertical columns on the table contains twelve numbers. Betting on a column covers all twelve at once.
Call bets and wheel sections
Call bets (sometimes called announced bets) cover physical sections of the wheel instead of table positions. You'll find call bets primarily on European and French tables, including live dealer crypto roulette games.
Voisins du zéro
French for "neighbors of zero." You're betting on 17 numbers around the zero section, which takes nine chips.
Tiers du cylindre
This covers the "third of the wheel" sitting opposite zero. This section includes 12 numbers and takes six chips.
Orphelins
The "orphans" fill the two gaps between voisins and tiers. Eight numbers total, split into two small sections of the wheel.
Neighbors bets
Pick any number and the bet automatically includes its immediate neighbors on the wheel. Pick a number and you get that one plus two neighbors on each side. Five numbers total.
House edge by roulette wheel type
More pockets means bigger house edge. More zeros? Your odds get worse.
- European and French: Lower house edge due to the single zero
- American: Higher house edge because of the double zero
- French with La Partage: Lowest effective edge on even-money bets, since half your wager returns when zero hits
The trade-off is straightforward: American wheels are widely available, but European and French wheels treat your bankroll better over time.
Live dealer vs RNG roulette wheels
Both formats use identical number counts and sequences. Live dealer games stream real spinning wheels from studios, while RNG (random number generator) versions simulate spins with software.
Crypto casinos like JB offer both options. Some platforms run provably fair roulette. You can check cryptographic data after each spin to verify the randomness. Proves nobody messed with the outcome.
How to pick the right roulette wheel for your playstyle
Your choice comes down to what matters most to you. If minimizing the house edge is the priority, European or French wheels offer better math. If you want access to call bets and sector play, French roulette provides the most options. And if fast deposits and quick withdrawals matter, crypto roulette at platforms like JB delivers on both.
- For lower house edge: European or French wheels
- For call bet variety: French roulette
- For fast crypto play: Provably fair tables with instant transactions
