Ever wondered what happens when that little white ball lands on 0 or 00 in roulette? You might have noticed these green pockets and thought, “What do I actually win if I bet on them?” Or whether any special bonus payouts apply if you hit one of those numbers.
This guide explains precisely what a straight up bet on 0 or 00 pays, how the odds differ between wheel types, and what to watch for in bonus terms. Read on to get the full picture and make clearer choices at the table.
Payouts for 0 and 00 in Roulette
A straight up wager is a chip placed directly on a single number, such as 0 or 00, and this bet has a standard payout across most roulette games. When a straight up bet wins, the return is 35 to 1, plus the original stake. That means a £1 winning bet gives £35 in profit and your £1 back, for a total of £36.
This 35 to 1 structure applies whether the winning number is 0 on a single-zero wheel or 0/00 on a double-zero wheel. While the payout rate is consistent, individual operators may run promotions that affect how bonus funds are treated when used on straight up bets. Any such restrictions are normally set out in the offer terms.
Next, it helps to look at how single-zero and double-zero wheels differ and why that extra green pocket matters for your chances.
How Are Single Zero and Double Zero Bets Different?
The key structural difference between the two main wheel types is simple: one wheel has a single green 0, the other has both 0 and 00. Betting on a single number works the same in both games — a chip placed on the number wins 35 to 1 if it comes up — but the number of total pockets alters the likelihood of winning.
On the single-zero wheel there are 37 pockets; on the double-zero wheel there are 38. That extra green pocket increases the house advantage and slightly reduces the probability of any individual straight up result. The table layout and the presence of an extra number also change how the board looks and where chips are placed, but the mechanics of a straight up stake remain the same.
Knowing this structural difference leads naturally into a closer look at the actual odds of hitting 0 or 00.
What Are the Odds of Hitting 0 or 00?
On a wheel with one zero there are 37 possible outcomes, so the chance of the ball landing on 0 is one in 37, which is about 2.7 percent. On a wheel with both 0 and 00 there are 38 outcomes, so each specific green pocket has a one in 38 chance, roughly 2.63 percent. Backing both green pockets at once increases the combined probability of a green result, but each straight up bet remains an individual one in 38 shot on a double-zero wheel.
To give that some context: a £1 straight up bet that wins returns £35 in profit plus the original stake, regardless of which green pocket comes up. These probabilities make clear why straight up wins are uncommon and why understanding the wheel type matters for longer-term expectations. With that perspective in mind, it is useful to consider how bonus offers treat these kinds of bets.
Bonus Offers: Do They Include Zero Bets?
Whether bonus funds can be used on straight up bets depends on the promotion’s terms. Some offers allow all roulette bets to count towards wagering, while others exclude single-number bets or treat them differently. Common restrictions include excluding straight up bets from contributing to wagering requirements, capping winnings from bonus-funded bets, or specifying which bet types qualify.
Typical bonus forms you might encounter include matched deposit funds, cashback offers, and refund-style promotions. A matched deposit may come with wagering requirements that disallow single-number bets from counting. Cashback arrangements sometimes exclude what they consider low-probability or low-contribution bets. Risk-refund promotions can be limited to particular bet categories, often excluding single numbers.
When a bonus does permit straight up bets on 0 or 00, expect standard controls such as wagering multipliers, maximum withdrawal caps or contribution limits. These conditions change how attractive a bonus is for backing single numbers, so it is important to read the terms carefully to assess whether a promotion suits that style of play. Understanding these limits prepares you to evaluate the longer-term mathematics of the game, which is where house edge comes into focus.
House Edge Explained: The Impact of 0 and 00
House edge is the statistical advantage the game gives the casino over many spins. It is derived from the relationship between payout rates and the number of possible outcomes, and it applies consistently to all bets on a particular wheel.
On the single-zero wheel the house edge is about 2.7 percent. This figure results from a 35 to 1 payout against 37 possible outcomes. On the double-zero wheel the extra pocket increases the house edge to roughly 5.26 percent because the same 35 to 1 payout must cover 38 outcomes instead. In practical terms this means that, on average over a large number of spins, a slightly larger portion of the money wagered on a double-zero wheel will be retained by the house compared with a single-zero wheel.
This difference does not change the mechanics of a single win — a straight up on 0 or 00 still pays 35 to 1 — but it does affect expected value when playing many spins. With those percentages in mind, it is helpful to keep the payout table clearly in view when comparing the two wheel formats.
Payout Tables: Comparing European and American Roulette
Below is a clear comparison of the most relevant straight up payouts for single-zero and double-zero wheels. This highlights how payout rate is constant while the underlying odds differ.
Bet Type — Payout (Single-zero) — Payout (Double-zero)
Straight up on 0 — 35 to 1 — 35 to 1
Straight up on 00 — Not applicable — 35 to 1
A £1 straight up that wins returns £35 in profit plus the £1 stake in either game. The important distinction is the number of pockets behind those payouts: 37 on a single-zero wheel and 38 on a double-zero wheel, which alters the chance of a win and thus the house edge over time.
With this comparison complete, you should have the essential facts needed to judge straight up bets on 0 and 00 and how any bonus terms might affect their value.
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**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.