The main types of roulette tables are European (single zero, 2.70% house edge), French (single zero with La Partage or En Prison, 1.35% on even-money bets), American (0 and 00, 5.26%) and higher-edge formats such as triple zero and mini roulette (7.69%). Online, each of these comes as a live dealer table, an automated wheel or a software (RNG) game, and live studios add variants such as Lightning, Immersive, Speed and Double Ball roulette. The number of zeros decides the cost; the format decides the pace and presentation.
This guide groups the tables you will meet, explains what changes between them and which have the best odds. For bets and strategy, see our live roulette guide.
Updated October 2026. House edges and variant details match our roulette hub, which cites the Wizard of Odds and Evolution’s game pages.
Roulette tables at a glance
| Table type | Zeros | House edge | What is different |
|---|---|---|---|
| European | 0 | 2.70% | The standard single-zero game |
| French | 0 | 1.35% on even-money bets, 2.70% on the rest | La Partage or En Prison on zero; French layout and call bets |
| American | 0 and 00 | 5.26% (7.89% Top Line) | Extra 00 pocket, different wheel order |
| Triple zero | 0, 00 and 000 | 7.69% | Three green pockets; avoid if you have a choice |
| Mini roulette | 0 (13 pockets) | 7.69% | Numbers 0 to 12 with reduced payouts |
| Lightning Roulette (Evolution) | 0 | 2.90% straight up, 2.70% other bets | 1 to 5 Lucky Numbers get 50x to 500x; other straight-up wins pay 29:1 |
| XXXtreme Lightning Roulette (Evolution) | 0 | RTP 97.10% | 50x to 500x, Chain Lightning, Double Strikes of 600x to 2,000x |
| Immersive Roulette (Evolution) | 0 | 2.70% | Multiple cameras and 200 fps slow-motion replays |
| Speed Roulette (Evolution) | 0 | 2.70% | About 25 seconds per round |
| Auto Roulette (Evolution) | 0 (also 0/00 versions) | 2.70% / 5.26% | No croupier; 60 to 80 games an hour |
| Double Ball Roulette (Evolution) | 0 | Varies by bet | Two balls; special bets up to 1,300:1 |
| Instant Roulette (Evolution) | 0 | 2.70% | 12 synchronised auto wheels; you start each round |
Sources: Wizard of Odds house edges; Evolution game pages for the live variants.
Single-zero vs double-zero tables
Everything else on this page is a variation on two wheels. A European wheel has 37 pockets: 1 to 36 plus a single 0. An American wheel has 38, adding a 00. Payouts are the same on both, 35:1 for a single number and 1:1 for red or black, so the extra pocket is pure profit for the house. That is why the house edge rises from 2.70% to 5.26%.
The two wheels also use different number orders, so section bets such as Voisins du Zéro are built for the single-zero wheel. The full sequences are in our guide to how roulette numbers work.
In US land-based casinos, double-zero tables are still the most common, and single-zero tables often carry higher minimums. Online and in live studios, single-zero games are standard. If both are on offer, the single-zero table is the better deal on every bet.
French roulette: the best odds on even-money bets
French roulette uses a single-zero wheel and a layout with French labels (Rouge/Noir, Pair/Impair, Manque/Passe). The key difference is a rule on even-money bets when zero lands:
- La Partage: you get half your stake back.
- En Prison: your stake is held for the next spin; if it wins, you get it back.
Either rule halves the house edge on even-money bets to 1.35%. Inside bets keep the normal 2.70%. If you mainly bet red/black, odd/even or high/low, a French table is the cheapest roulette you can play.
Live dealer, automatic and RNG tables
Online roulette comes in three delivery formats. The odds depend on the wheel, not the format, but the pace and experience differ a lot.
| Format | How the result is made | Pace | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live dealer | A croupier spins a physical wheel on camera | Slowest; a standard round includes a betting window of roughly 15 to 25 seconds | Atmosphere, chat, watching a real wheel |
| Automatic (auto roulette) | A machine launches the ball on a real wheel | Fast; Evolution quotes 60 to 80 games an hour for Auto Roulette | Real-wheel results without waiting for a dealer |
| RNG / software | A random number generator picks the result | You control the pace | Low stakes, practice and free-play modes |
Speed matters because the house edge is charged on every spin. At $10 a spin on a European table, 40 spins an hour costs about $10.80 on average; 80 spins an hour costs about $21.60. Faster tables are not worse odds, but they spend your budget twice as fast.
Game-show and multiplier roulette
Live studios have added variants that keep the single-zero wheel but change the payouts. The best known is Evolution’s Lightning Roulette. Each round, one to five numbers are struck by “lightning” and given multipliers from 50x to 500x. A straight-up win on one of those numbers pays the multiplier; a straight-up win on any other number pays 29:1 instead of 35:1. Evolution lists an RTP of 97.10% on straight-up bets and 97.30% on everything else.
XXXtreme Lightning Roulette keeps the 50x to 500x range, adds Chain Lightning that can light up to ten spots, and Double Strikes that can raise a multiplied number to between 600x and 2,000x on straight-up bets. Its RTP is listed at 97.10%. Our Lightning Roulette guide and XXXtreme Lightning review explain both in detail.
Double Ball Roulette launches two balls each spin, which creates two winning numbers and special combination bets paying up to 1,300:1. Check the help screen for the exact list and edges before you play those special bets; our Double Ball Roulette review has more.
Presentation variants: Immersive, VIP and speed tables
Immersive Roulette is a standard single-zero game shot with multiple cameras at 200 frames per second, with a slow-motion replay of the ball dropping into its pocket. It won EGR’s Game of the Year in 2014. The odds are those of European roulette.
Speed Roulette shortens the round to about 25 seconds by letting you bet while the ball is spinning, with the result read by video recognition. Instant Roulette goes further: 12 auto wheels spin in sequence and the next one to drop takes your bet, so the pace is yours.
For bigger bets, VIP tables offer higher limits and fewer seats with the same rules. Our VIP roulette review covers Evolution’s version.
Mini roulette and triple zero: tables to skip
Mini roulette uses a 13-pocket wheel (0 to 12). It looks simple, but the payouts are cut further than the wheel shrinks, giving a 7.69% house edge. Triple-zero roulette, found in some US land-based casinos, adds 000 to the wheel and also runs at 7.69%. Both cost nearly three times as much per spin as a European table.
Which roulette table has the best odds?
- French roulette with La Partage or En Prison, on even-money bets: 1.35%.
- Standard single-zero tables (European, Immersive, Speed, single-zero Auto), plus inside bets at French tables: 2.70%.
- Lightning Roulette: 2.70% on most bets, 2.90% straight up.
- American double-zero: 5.26%, and 7.89% on the Top Line bet.
- Mini and triple-zero roulette: 7.69%.
No betting system changes these numbers. See our roulette myths and common roulette mistakes guides for why.
Where US players find these tables
In the US, eight states have legalised online casinos and seven markets are live (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island). State-licensed casinos there carry live roulette from studios such as Evolution, depending on the operator; Maine’s tribal-only market under LD 1164 became law without the governor’s signature in January 2026 and took effect on 29 July 2026 but had not launched as of October 2026. Offshore sites that take US players are not licensed by any state, so there is no state regulator to complain to.
Whichever table you choose, set a budget first and use the tools in our responsible gambling guide. The National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738) is free and confidential.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main types of roulette tables?
European (single zero), French (single zero with La Partage or En Prison), American (0 and 00), triple zero and mini roulette, plus live variants such as Lightning, Immersive, Speed, Auto and Double Ball roulette.
Which roulette table has the best odds?
French roulette with La Partage or En Prison has a 1.35% house edge on even-money bets. Standard European single-zero tables have 2.70%. American double-zero roulette has 5.26%.
What is the difference between European and American roulette tables?
A European wheel has 37 pockets with one zero; an American wheel has 38 with 0 and 00. Payouts are the same, so the house edge rises from 2.70% to 5.26% on the American wheel.
Is live roulette fairer than RNG roulette?
Neither format changes the odds: the house edge depends on the wheel and rules. Live tables use a physical wheel on camera, RNG games use certified software, and auto tables launch the ball by machine.
Does Lightning Roulette have worse odds?
Slightly on straight-up bets. Unmultiplied straight-up wins pay 29:1 instead of 35:1, and Evolution lists 97.10% RTP for straight-up bets and 97.30% for other bets.
Should you avoid mini roulette?
If you care about odds, yes. Mini roulette’s 13-pocket wheel carries a 7.69% house edge, nearly three times a European table.
Sources
- Wizard of Odds: Roulette basics and house edge
- Evolution: live roulette lobby
- Evolution: Lightning Roulette (1-5 Lucky Numbers, 50x-500x, 29:1)
- Evolution: XXXtreme Lightning Roulette (50x-500x, Chain Lightning, Double Strikes 600x-2,000x)
- Evolution: Auto Roulette (60-80 games per hour)
- Evolution: Double Ball Roulette (up to 1,300:1)
- Action Network: Maine online casinos legal but not live
- NCPG homepage (1-800-MY-RESET)
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