Triple 0 Roulette: The Impact of the Extra Zero
The zero is the biggest buzzkill in roulette. Does that mean a triple zero is a triple bummer? Honestly, yeah. That sums it up pretty nicely.
Triple 0 roulette gives you the least likely chances to win on key bets. It carries one of the highest house edges you’ll find on a standard roulette wheel.
Knowing that, why in the world would any player choose a triple-zero roulette game? Is there a hidden upside, or is that player just a silly goose on the loose in a casino, not having a clue? We’re cracking open the wheel and explaining all there is to know about roulette with a Triple 0.
Triple 0 House Edge
First, we’ll lay it out there harsh and unforgiving, like a wet beach towel getting snapped in the sun: the Triple 0 roulette house edge is 7.69%. It hurts just saying it. But this is why it’s so high.
The green zero/s in roulette do not exist merely to remind you to touch grass. But if it happens, that’s one benefit of the game that should be publicized, because there are precious few others. In reality, the green zero/s are there to create the house edge. Because of them, no roulette bet could ever be a true 50-50.
If you’re betting on red and black all day, you’re bound to hit the zero at least once. And that’s how the casino makes its money.
When there’s just one zero, like you see in European roulette, the house edge is the lowest. When there are two zeros, as you see in American roulette, the house edge is higher. But when you see three zeros, like in roulette with a triple 0, the house edge is straight-up brutal.
When you compare each type of roulette’s house edge, it’s clear which one is the last kid picked in dodgeball. Except this time, they won’t have a Napoleon Dynamite-esque redemption arc. What you see is what you get.
- European roulette: 2.7%
- American roulette: 5.26%
- Triple 0 roulette: 7.69%
House Edges of Other Popular Table Games for Comparison
To understand the impact of such a steep house edge, let’s compare it to other popular table games.
Take blackjack. If you follow basic strategy, the house edge usually falls somewhere between 0.5% and 1%. That’s one of the lowest edges on the casino floor. Even if you make a few imperfect decisions, you’re still often under 2%.
Now look at craps. The Pass Line bet carries a house edge of 1.41%. Add odds behind it, and the effective edge drops even further.
In baccarat, the banker bet comes in at about 1.06%, and the player bet sits around 1.24%. Both are considered low-edge options.
So far, the Triple Zero roulette house edge is by far the highest. But there is one bet that out-house-edges it, and that’s the baccarat tie bet. That one jumps to roughly 14%, and its nickname is “the sucker’s bet.”
If a 14% house edge is a sucker’s bet, then what is a 7.69% house edge? A derp decision? Pretty much!
What are the odds on triple roulette?
We’ve already covered the astronomically high Triple 0 roulette house edge, which is 7.69%. *Tear*. That game has zero chill.
The house edge in casino games tells you how much of a winning chance the house has. But the odds tell you how much of a winning chance you have. So, what are the Triple 0 roulette odds? It depends on the bet you make.
The most popular roulette bet is an outside bet[1] , on the largest group of numbers. That includes red/black, high/low, and odd/even. In roulette with a Triple 0, your highest possible winning chances with an outside bet are 46.15%.
You might be thinking, that doesn’t sound so bad! That’s almost half. I was happy when my dog offered me that percentage of the bed last night. We hear that. But what if we told you that in European roulette, the same bet has a 48.6% chance of winning? And even in American roulette, it has a 47.34% chance.
Suddenly, Triple 0 roulette odds aren’t fair. And to add to that, your dog doesn’t realize he could take even more bed space if he wanted to. You’ll slide over, and you know it.
But what about the other bets? The table below shows a side-by-side comparison of their odds.
| Bet Type | European (37 pockets) Win % | American (38 pockets) Win % | Triple Zero (39 pockets) Win % |
| Straight Up (1 number) | 2.70% | 2.63% | 2.56% |
| Split (2 numbers) | 5.41% | 5.26% | 5.13% |
| Street (3 numbers) | 8.11% | 7.89% | 7.69% |
| Corner (4 numbers) | 10.81% | 10.53% | 10.26% |
| Six Line (6 numbers) | 16.22% | 15.79% | 15.38% |
| Dozen (12 numbers) | 32.43% | 31.58% | 30.77% |
| Column (12 numbers) | 32.43% | 31.58% | 30.77% |
| Red/Black, Odd/Even/ High/Low | 48.65% | 47.37% | 46.15% |
Why would anyone play triple zero roulette?
Triple zero roulette has the highest house edge and the worst odds of winning. While it isn’t popular or widespread, it still exists. So who, exactly, is keeping this uncool game in business?
First, curious players. When you see a new layout with an extra green pocket and an “all zeros” bet sitting up top, it grabs your attention. Casinos know that novelty sells. Some players sit down simply because it feels different, and different feels exciting. You’d understand this if you’ve ever tried Harry Potter jelly beans.
Second, casual players who don’t compare house edges. If you don’t know that European roulette has a 2.7% house edge and American roulette a 5.26% one, then 7.69% doesn’t raise any alarms. A red bet still pays 1:1. A straight number still pays 35:1. On the surface, it looks the same.
Finally, lower table minimums help. Remember, roulette with a triple zero means a triple paycheck for the casino. So some triple-zero tables advertise cheaper entry points to attract players, making them feel more beginner-friendly.
But now that you know, if you do pick Triple 0 roulette and lose more over time, then we might join the orchestra of the world’s smallest violin. There’s no reason to go for the triple zero. That table should be collecting dust like your MySpace login you haven’t touched since 2008. Got it, Sk8rBoi4Eva?
Our Advice: Stick to European
If you care about your bankroll, should you play Triple 0 roulette? Zero chance. Stick to European roulette. It’s the cleanest version of the game with only one zero and a fair-and-square 2.7% house edge. That’s all there is to it, and we won’t josh you around by pretending any other roulette version is better.
Triple 0 roulette is not like ice cream scoops, chocolate brownies, or extra-shot espresso orders, where triple is always better. It has the highest house edge and is not worth your bets. If you catch a roulette table with triple zeros, our advice is to do a triple backflip away from that table. Instead, play European roulette at Cafe Casino. You receive the highest value with only one zero and a 2.7% house edge. That’s what we call a one-and-won, not a three-and-flee.