Roulette is deceptively complex to play at times, especially when it comes to working out the best bets to place and which routines to follow. For example, while most of a traditional roulette wheel and table is split into odd numbers, even numbers, and red and black spaces, there’s also the mysterious green zero, which stands alone and can be a bugbear if you place bets on evens markets.
The green zero is infamous with many online casino fans, with some even believing it to be unlucky! That’s because it can strike down popular bets such as those listed above, falling outside of most of the table’s betting sections. However, the green zero can be rewarding when you know how to balance its risks and rewards.
What’s more, if you’re used to playing roulette on European tables, you might be surprised to see the appearance of another green zero, a brand-new double zero space, added to American variations of the game. While the American spin on roulette is more or less the same as the European and French standards, it’s this extra space that really mixes the game up, affecting the house edge and how much you could win from play to play.
In this guide, we’ll explore what the green zero is in roulette, how it affects the way that you play, and why it exists in the first place. The green zero doesn’t make roulette much more complex, but it’s still worth understanding its history and its importance before you start placing bets at American tables.
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What is the green zero in roulette?
The green zero is the 37th number on a standard European roulette wheel or table. It isn’t covered in group bets on the table, such as dozens, high or low, black or red, or even line or corner wagers. The only way that you can bet on the green zero is to choose it outright, making it something of a risky consideration for some casino fans.
You’ll find the green zero between the black 26 and the red 32 on a standard European roulette wheel. There’s a one in 37 chance that the ball will land there on any given spin, meaning that technically, the odds are on your side if you choose any other bet. Generally, you can expect the payout for the green zero to be 35 to 1 in European roulette, while a split bet on either zero in the American game pays 17 to 1.
What’s interesting about the American variation is that both the green spaces are actually included in basket bets as part of the top line, meaning that you choose the ball to land in 0, 00, 1, 2 or 3 on any given spin. In the European game, it’s otherwise a single bet, and has just as much chance as any other single number to appear.
Why does the green zero exist?
The green zero exists in roulette as a way to raise the game’s house edge, meaning that it effectively helps to tilt odds back towards the casino’s favour, if only slightly – for example, there is always a chance that even odds in the game always have a chance to lose, regardless of how slight.
The green zero also exists so that the game has a little extra tension. While the idea of a roulette ball landing in red or black seems to be a fairly safe bet, there is always the slight risk that the dreaded green zero will claim your bet on any given turn. Certainly, if you play 37 roulette bets in any one session, probability dictates that at least one of those spins will result in the green zero.
As for why the zero is green, it’s simply a case of helping the space to stand out! It contrasts well between red and black, meaning that there is never any doubt when the ball has landed in the pocket. Many players keep their eyes fixed on the wheel to make sure that the infamous green doesn’t claim their bet.
That said, plenty of punters actually choose the green zero, because in the right circumstances, it can pay off highly (it’s not always one of the worst bets). However, as with all bets, nothing is ever guaranteed, and betting on the green zero in any version of roulette is considered the biggest outright risk to take.
How the green zero affects the house edge
The presence of the green zero in European roulette gives the game a house edge of around 2.7%. Mathematically, this means that if you choose to play the American version, the house edge doubles, meaning that casinos can expect a take of around 5.26%. You also have much less chance of winning at all when you play the American game versus the French and European versions, which is why the continental games are so popular.
The green zero essentially expands the roulette wheel, meaning that there is less chance of you winning on straight bets and on outside bets marked by the table. Consider its presence a balancer of sorts. However, some punters also see the green zero as a challenge worth taking. You should always play responsibly though, regardless of your attitude to risk!
How does the green zero affect player bets?
Despite the green zero boosting the house edge slightly, you still have a split chance of winning on red and black, for example, and betting straight on the green zero gives you the same odds as picking any other number from the wheel outright. This means that you can always expect 35 to 1 on wins in the European game, and that they will appear just as much as any other number. Therefore, it’s wise to avoid thinking about the ‘magic’ of the zero pocket, simply because it’s really no different from any other on the board.
Where the green zero gains infamy is in the fact that it can be a combination breaker, and that it doesn’t always fit into some of the more popular roulette strategies. However, if you play games that follow the La Partage ruleset, you don’t lose your full bet on an even-money wager if the zero comes up. Therefore, you can claim half your loss back if, say, the ball lands on zero and you’ve bet on red or black.
The green zero is, in fact, popular with many bettors because it technically offers the highest payout in the game. However, don’t be fooled because, as mentioned, the odds of landing a zero are the same as landing a 1, 2, 3 or any other number.
If you’re intrigued by the green zero, it may be worth placing occasional bets on the space to act as insurance, especially if you are worried about how your even-money wagers might convert. That said, as always, we recommend that you take roulette betting slowly and conservatively, especially if you are new to the game.
Tonybet offers lots of different ways to play roulette with live dealers and through virtual tables – so, make sure to take a look at our online casino catalogue now that you know a bit more about how the green zero works in practice!
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