From hero to zero to triple zero.
The journey of the erstwhile roulette player is one paved with variance and unpredictability, and the road has now got even harder at some wheels thanks to the addition of the triple zero pocket.
Yes, you read that currently: some roulette wheels in Vegas and online have evolved from the single zero past the double and all the way up to triple zero.
And the bad news for players is that the odds have now become even further stacked against them….
What Is Triple Zero Roulette?
Let’s take a quick walk down memory lane.
Roulette was invented, it’s believed, as far back as the 1600s, with French mathematician Blaise Pascal considered to be the forefather of the game.
The origins of the single zero format of roulette date back to the 1700s, before gaming establishments had a bright idea – if we add another zero, we increase our edge over players even further.
The zero pockets were actually just left blank for a while, but in the 1800s these were changed to red for single zero and black for the double – both were switched to green later that century.
These days, single zero roulette is colloquially known as ‘French’ or ‘European’ roulette depending on its ruled, and the double zero version as ‘American’ after roulette made its way across the Atlantic to the United States.
The Americans tweaked the action further so that an additional pocket was later implemented – as well as the single and double zeros, an American Eagle pocket was also added. Although not a third zero, this had the same effect of downing bets placed on other areas of the board. The house’s edge was increased yet further.
Slowly but surely, the eagle that had landed before was replaced by the triple zero, and in the past few decades this format of roulette has become ubiquitous on the Las Vegas strip and in casinos around the world.
Why Is Triple Zero Roulette So Bad?
In theory, roulette would be a break even game for the casinos if the wheel featured just red and black segments – long term, players betting on red or black or odd/even will have a 50% win rate.
That’s not a business model that works, so the addition of the zero pocket guarantees that the house has an edge – that is, over a period of time, they know they will win because zero will gobble up the 50/50 bet types and see all players lose.
Add a double zero, and you can see how that logic shifts the power even further in the casino’s favour. Here’s the math, detailing the house edge for each variant of roulette:
- Single Zero Roulette – 2.70%
- Double Zero Roulette – 5.26%
- Triple Zero Roulette – 7.69%
So, by playing triple zero roulette, you are in a clear and obviously worse position than you would be playing the other variants.
Whenever you bet on sports or any other game, you should be looking at ways to minimise the house’s edge as far as possible by increasing your own winning potential.
Put in layman’s terms, in French roulette you have odds of 37/1 to land a single number bet – for the simple reason that there’s 37 pockets on the wheel.
The European version, with its two zero pockets, decreases your odds to 38/1, and those chances tumble further in the triple zero variant – there’s now 39 pockets in play, and so your chances become 39/1.
Now, for a single spin of the wheel that may not sound problematic. But over time, you will greatly reduce your chances of being profitable by almost 5% playing triple over single zero roulette – hence why the casinos are so keen to promote this version of the game.
And another important thing to note is that the payouts are exactly the same as they are in other forms of roulette. So you’ll receive 35:1 for single ball bets, even money for red/black and odd/even, 8:1 on corners and so on and so forth….so, really, why on earth would you even consider playing the triple zero variant?
Who Has Triple Zero Roulette?
As mentioned, this is the kind of game that any profit-centric casino wants to offer – a house edge of 7.69% ultimately ends up looking very good on their profit & loss account.
One of the first casinos in Sin City to offer triple zero roulette was The Venetian, the iconic venue operated by the Las Vegas Sands company. They installed two tables in October 2016, becoming the first mainstream establishment on the strip to give the version a go.
It was an undoubted hit, for reasons unknown. Today, you can play triple zero roulette at many of the leading brands in Las Vegas, including Binion’s, Caesars Palace, Circus Circus, Golden Nugget, Planet Hollywood and Wynn Las Vegas, to name just a few.
And don’t be confused if the ‘000’ pocket doesn’t feature on the wheel. Many casinos have taken to putting their own branding on this particular section of the board instead, and the result is the same as if the triple zero is in place – that is, a loss for all that didn’t include it in their betting strategy for that spin.
Are There Any Advantages to Playing Triple Zero Roulette?
In a nutshell….no, not really.
What you may notice is that the limits are lower at triple zero roulette tables than single or double. This means you can wager less of your money per spin if you wish, and the casinos evidently hope this attracts players on a tighter budget.
If you can bet $10 per spin rather than $15, it will entice those seeking more bang for their buck – although the same players haven’t done their sums as far as the increased house edge is concerned.
The popularity of triple zero was such that The Venetian began cutting down on the number of double zero roulette tables they offered – and why wouldn’t they, given that their profit margin on that version was significantly lower.
One of the other possible explanations as to why players try triple zero roulette – and we’re scratching around for reasons, in truth – is that this variant offers a wider range of betting opportunities.
You can wager on the triple zero, if you wish, or add it to your combination bets. And you can include the triple zero pocket in other multiples too, including corner, basket and five-number wagers.
And then there’s the ‘any zero’ option, which gives you theoretical odds of 39/3 or 13/1. That sounds like an exciting wager to place, but it only pays at 11:1. So, yet again, you’d be taking a probability that’s far below the true odds of the outcome occurring.
So, like we say, viable reasons to hype triple zero roulette are thin on the ground.
Triple Zero Roulette: Just Don’t Do It
There isn’t really an argument for triple zero roulette.
You can play the European or American versions and enjoy similar levels of entertainment and anticipation, while taking better odds on many of the singles and combination wagers available on the board.
For many people, roulette is simply a fun way to pass the time – there’s nothing wrong with that. But if you have any interest in actually minimising your chances of losing and your financial outlay, playing single or double zero roulette is evidently the better option than the dreaded triple zero variant.