How much does Green win on Roulette?

If you’ve spent any time around a roulette wheel whether it’s inside a buzzing casino or spinning away online at Australia’s number one online casino, Joe Fortune then you’ve probably noticed that little slice of green. It’s the pocket that breaks up all the red and black numbers and gives the house its edge. But it also raises one big question for curious players…How much does green win on roulette?

Most bettors stick to red, black, odds, evens, or their favourite lucky number. But the green pocket has a special role in the game… and if you’re wondering whether it’s worth a cheeky bet, what the payout looks like, or how often it hits, you’re in the right place. Let’s walk through everything you need to know about the green on roulette payout, the odds behind it, and whether betting on green is a smart move or just a fun long shot.

Odds of landing on green in roulette

Green pockets are the rarest on the wheel, and that’s exactly why they matter so much. The number of green pockets depends on the version of roulette you’re playing.

American Roulette (Double Zero)

American roulette wheels have two green pockets:

• 0
• 00

This gives the wheel 38 total pockets:

• 18 reds
• 18 blacks
• 2 greens

The Probability of landing on green (0 or 00): 2 / 38 = 5.26%

So, you’ve got just over a five-percent chance of seeing the ball drop into a green slot on an American wheel higher than single-zero European roulette, but not exactly something you’d rely on hitting frequently.

European Roulette (Single Zero)

This is the version of roulette you’ll most often find at the roulette section of Joe Fortune and it’s the more player-friendly wheel. European roulette has one green pocket:

• 0

This gives the wheel 37 pockets in total:

• 18 reds
• 18 blacks
• 1 green

Probability of landing on green: 1 / 37 = 2.70%

This makes European roulette slightly easier on your bankroll because the house edge is lower, but it also means green hits about half as often compared to American roulette.

What is the payout of landing on green?

Here’s where things get interesting. Most players assume green might pay differently because it’s a different colour, maybe a special bet with bonus odds. But in roulette, any bet directly on a single number including green pays the same.

Straight Up Bet on 0 (or 00)

• Payout: 35:1
• Type: Inside bet
• You win if: The ball lands exactly on the number you picked

The green numbers don’t have a separate payout category; they’re treated the same as any other individual number on the board.

Why Are Green Roulette Payouts Not Equal to the Odds?

This is where we get into the real maths behind roulette and why green bets feel both exciting and frustrating for players.

Let’s look at the numbers again:

• European green chance: 2.70%
• American green chance: 5.26%
• Payout: 35:1 (which equals a 2.78% implied probability)

The payout almost matches the odds but not quite. And that small difference is exactly how the house edge works.

1. The payout is designed to favour the casino

If payouts matched true odds perfectly, casinos wouldn’t make money. Roulette wouldn’t exist.

The true fair payout for European roulette would be:

• 36:1, not 35:1 (because 1/37 probability)

For American roulette:

• 37:1, not 35:1 (because 1/38 or 2/38 probabilities)

But casinos shave the payout slightly below the true odds.

That’s why the house edge comes from:

• 2.70% on European wheels
• 5.26% on American wheels

2. Zero breaks even-money bets

Green also adds an extra sting. When you bet red/black, odd/even, or high/low, you’re betting on 18 numbers out of 37 (or 38). If the ball lands on green, you lose even though it’s neither red nor black. This is why zero is so important: Without it, roulette would be a true 50/50 game.

3. Green numbers exist purely for the house edge

Roulette originally didn’t have zeros at all, and casinos couldn’t make money from it. So, the green was added to give the house a subtle but consistent advantage. Players might hit zero once in a blue moon and when they do, the win feels amazing but long-term, the math works in the house’s favour.

Should I bet on green?

Alright, now for the fun part: Should you put money on green, or leave it alone? Well… it depends on your style.

Bet on green if you enjoy high-risk, high-reward play

A straight-up bet on 0 is one of the longest-shot bets on the table, but the payout is juicy. It’s perfect if you like:

• Taking occasional big swings
• Spicing up a session
• Backing a lucky number
• Diversifying your inside bets

Many experienced roulette players keep a small bet on 0 every spin to offset losses when it finally hits.

Bet on green for certain roulette strategies

Some strategies pay attention to zero, such as:

• Zero neighbours
• Voisins du Zero (French roulette)
• 0-spiel bets

These strategies don’t guarantee wins, nothing does, but they add structure and increase your wheel coverage.

Bet on green in European roulette not American

If you’re choosing between wheels, green bets make far more sense on a single-zero wheel, because:

• Odds of hitting 0 are lower
• House edge is smaller
• You don’t have to cover two green numbers

This makes European roulette the smarter pick across the board, which is why it’s the go-to version at Joe Fortune.

Don’t bet on green if you’re chasing consistency

If you’re someone who prefers:

• Regular wins
• Low volatility
• Even-money bets

…then green isn’t your friend, at 2.7% or 5.26% odds, it’s simply not something you can rely on landing regularly.

Don’t rely on it as a long-term strategy

Betting on green is fun, even thrilling but not sustainable as a primary game plan.

It’s best used:

• In moderation
• As a side bet
• For variety
• For entertainment value

After all, roulette is meant to be fun and big green hits add to the excitement, especially when you’re spinning online at Joe Fortune with slick graphics and smooth animations.

Final thoughts… is green worth a punt?

Betting on green is one of those things every roulette player tries at some point. And why not? The payoff is massive, it shakes up your rotation of bets, and when the ball finally drops into that little green pocket, there’s nothing quite like it.

But ultimately here’s what you should keep in mind:

• Green wins 35:1, just like any single number.
• The odds are 2.70% on European wheels and 5.26% on American wheels.
• The payout is not equal to the true odds, and that’s how the house edge works.
• It’s a fun bet but not something to rely on.
• You’ll get better value betting green on a European wheel, like the ones at Joe Fortune.