The number one strategy gamblers should employ when playing Roulette is a proper game selection.
The addition of the double zero on an American Roulette wheel has a major impact on your odds of winning. In fact, on average there is a three to four percent return to player (RTP) rate difference. American roulette has an RTP of 94.7 percent, compared to an RTP of 97.3 percent for the more traditional Roulette games. On a triple zero roulette table, the house edge jumps up to 7.69%. See, that’s what makes a much-reviled game so reviled. Given the odds are worse on a triple zero table, why would people play it? You ask great questions! Typically, the minimum bet on a triple zero roulette table is lower than on a double zero table.
Choosing the right Roulette game can make all the difference between winning and losing.
That doesn’t mean you should track Roulette wheels until you find one with a consistent flaw, then exploit it. Wheel tracking will have you spending far too many fruitless hours standing around and watching.
In fact, it is hardly a tried and true strategy and its pretty much useless at PA online casinos, where the physical wheel, in all its flawed glory, will be replaced by a computerized random number generator.
When it comes to Roulette, proper game selection means something much more simple. For the most part, it’s all about choosing French or European Roulette over the American Roulette version of the game.
The Roulette wheel
French or European Roulette is played with a wheel consisting of 37 numbers. That means there is a single green zero. An American Roulette wheel has 38 spaces because there’s a both a green zero and a green double zero.
If you think one extra space on the wheel doesn’t make much of a difference, think again. The addition of the double zero on an American Roulette wheel has a major impact on your odds of winning. In fact, on average there is a three to four percentreturn to player (RTP) rate difference.
American roulette has an RTP of 94.7 percent, compared to an RTP of 97.3 percent for the more traditional Roulette games.
The house edge
There’s no getting around the fact that Roulette is a game with a house edge. Over the long haul, the house will always win. However, you’ve got a better chance of winning in the short term if you play a version of the game where the house edge is lower. Plus, theoretically, you’ll be able to stick around a lot longer before going broke.
In other words, American Roulette should be avoided at all costs. However, even American Roulette is a better bet than the new Triple Zero Roulette games some casinos have begun to offer.
It’s simple math really. Triple Zero Roulette wheels have 39 spaces because there’s a green zero, green double zero, and a green triple zero.
Another extra space on the wheel means another major impact on your odds of winning. In fact, the RTP on Triple Zero Roulette is an abysmal 92.3 percent.
Introducing Triple Zero Roulette
Several casinos have tried to incite players into playing Triple Zero Roulette with lower table limits. However, that doesn’t change the fact the house edge on the game is higher than just about anything else on the property.
Losing small amounts of money fast can have the same disastrous effect on your bankroll as losing large amounts over a longer period of time.
American Roulette should still be avoided at all costs. However, an even greater effort should be made to stay away from Triple Zero Roulette.
Las Vegas first
After being introduced at The Venetian Las Vegas in 2016 by Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem owner Las Vegas Sands Corp., under the name Sands Roulette, the game has since spread to a number of Las Vegas casinos. Las Vegas Sands Corp. is in the middle of divesting its PA casino interests. It will likely be finished doing so before Sands Roulette comes to the Commonwealth.
However, should it or any other casino, online or off, try to bring Triple Zero Roulette to PA, gamblers need to be aware it is a terrible game for players and should always be avoided.
Triple zero roulette has been introduced at two casinos in Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood and New York-New York.
Venetian got the first triple zero roulette table (two, actually) on The Strip back in Oct. 2016, and it seemed inevitable the much-reviled game would proliferate.
That it has.
Here’s a look at the triple zero roulette table at Planet Hollywood.
On the bright side, one of the “fun facts” about roulette stays the same: The numbers on a roulette table add up to 666.
“What is triple zero roulette?” you ask.
Well, a typical roulette table in U.S. casinos has two zeros.
On a table with two zeros, the house edge is 5.26%. That’s one of the highest house advantages in the casino. Drake casino eu.
On a triple zero roulette table, the house edge jumps up to 7.69%.
See, that’s what makes a much-reviled game so reviled.
Given the odds are worse on a triple zero table, why would people play it? You ask great questions!
Typically, the minimum bet on a triple zero roulette table is lower than on a double zero table.
Yes, there are some single zero tables in Las Vegas casinos, but they tend to be reserved for big spenders. An exception is the single zero table at Cromwell. There’s a premium to be paid for the better odds, of course. The minimum bet at Cromwell is $25.
The house edge in a single zero roulette game is 2.7%. You go, Cromwell.
How did we know more triple zero games would make their way to Las Vegas casinos? Another excellent question!
We knew because players at Venetian’s triple zero roulette table (see below) didn’t care at all about the less favorable odds.
Triple zero roulette tables are often packed when double zero tables are empty.
It was the same at Planet Hollywood during our visit.
Planet Hollywood has eight roulette tables. Seven have a $15 minimum, one has a $10 minimum. The lower table minimum is more than enough to entice recreational gamblers, and casinos couldn’t be happier about it.
Before you start calling triple zero roulette players stupid, consider this: They’re not gambling to make money. They’re playing to have fun.
And here’s a confession: We had fun playing triple zero roulette at Planet Hollywood, too. And we won money to boot.
We even made money on one of the bets you’ll only find at a triple zero roulette table. It’s a bet on any of the zeros, and it pays 11-to-1.
Big thanks to Planet Hollywood for not asking security to Taser us for taking photos.
Oh, and while we’re at it, here’s another counter-intuitive fact about triple zero roulette: It can actually make your money last longer.
It’s true!
Despite disadvantageous odds, the lower table minimum at triple zero roulette means a typical player (assuming they make the minimum bet) will lose less over time than someone betting more at a double zero roulette table.
That’ll teach you to be less judgy.
So, no, not everything is ruined. But that doesn’t mean we have to like triple zero roulette.
Triple zero roulette is a symbol of an evolution taking place in Las Vegas casinos. As gambling revenue declines, casinos have to find new and clever ways of bolstering their bottom lines.
Pumpkin smash game. If guests play games with a higher house edge, casinos will continue to find ways to raise them even higher.
The irony, of course, is gambling revenue is declining because the perceived value of gambling has declined. Casinos tighten their slots, so players play slots less. Casinos change 3-to-2 blackjack games to 6-to-5, so fewer play the game. It’s a vicious cycle.
Our strategy is to play the games where we have the most fun. That way, we can spend our time being entertained rather than doing math.
We’d love to hear your thoughts. Do you care about the number of zeros on your roulette table?
Thanks to our friends at the You Can Bet on That podcast for alerting us to the triple zero roulette table at Planet Hollywood.
Double Zero Roulette Payout
Updated (4/26/18): Park MGM has also introduced triple zero roulette.
Double Zero Roulette Payout Payouts
Updated (4/13/19): Since this story, a number of Las Vegas casinos have introduced triple zero roulette. Las Vegas casinos with triple zero roulette:
Double Zero Roulette Payout Poker
- Venetian and Palazzo
- Planet Hollywood
- Circus Circus
- Golden Nugget
- Park MGM
- New York-New York
- Harrah’s Las Vegas
- Luxor
- Wynn Las Vegas
- Linq
- Binion’s
- Four Queens
- Aria Las Vegas
- Caesars Palace
- Green Valley Ranch
- Palms