One of the most famous and widely used roulette strategies – the Martingale system – is a great example of a progressive strategy. Martingale suggests that you double your bet after every loss. This method is popular because it’s very straightforward and newbie-friendly. This type of outside bet pays 1 to 1 and covers 18 of the 38 possible combinations. Place two bets of equal amounts on two outside bets: one bet on an even-money play and the other on a column or dozen that pays 2 to 1. For example, place one bet on black and one bet on Column Three, which has eight red numbers. Jan 22, 2021 He begins by correctly saying the probability of nine consecutive losses in double-zero roulette on an even-money bet is (20/38) 9 = 0.3099%, or 1 in 322.69. Note that this is for betting one side only, as opposed to both sides in the case of the Keefer system, but let's ignore that and assume we are betting just one side. If you lose, double your bet on RED for the next spin. If you lose again, you increase your bet again and so on until you profit or lose everything. Let’s see what happens after a few spins: Bet 1 unit on Red LOSE.
On This Page
Introduction
Double Ball Roulette plays like regular roulette, except with two balls. I first saw the game at the 2013 Global Gaming Expo and later at the Tropicana in Las Vegas on February 18, 2014. The Tropicana uses a double-zero wheel.
Later, in November, 2016, I noticed it at an Internet casino using Felt software. Felt uses a single-zero wheel.
You might wonder about how they keep the balls from hitting each other in a physical game. The game uses compressed air to shoot the two balls out of a tube almost simultaneously. They travel at the same speed so the second ball always trails the first one.
You might also wonder if the probability of the two balls landing in the same number is about the expected 1/38, assuming they the two outcomes were completely independent. At least I wondered this and annoyed the game maker with physics questions at the gaming show for much too long about it. He assured me that an independent lab did tens of thousands of spins and the probability of the two balls landing the same number is about the expected 1/38, assuming they two outcomes were completely independent.
The betting layout is mostly the same as standard roulette. With the inside bets, the player has two chances to win, but the pays are less. On the outside bets, both balls must win, but the pays are more. In addition the player may bet that both balls will land in any one number.
Rules
General Rules
- An ordinary single- or double-zero wheel is used.
- Most of the layout is the same as conventional roulette.
- Two balls are used.
- Both balls must be successful for 'outside' bets to win. For example, for a bet on Red win, both balls must land in a red number.
- Either ball must be successful for 'inside' bets to win. The player will win twice as much if both balls result in a successful outcome.
- For the 'Double Ball Jackpot' bet to win, both balls must land in the selected number.
- A remote-controlled button is given to a player to activate the air gun shooting the balls.
Available Bets
- Red, Black, Odd, Even, 1 to 18, 19 to 36 — Pays 3 to 1 if both balls land in the chosen 18 numbers.
- 1st 12, 2nd 12, 3rd 12 — Pays 8 to 1 if both balls land in the chosen 12 numbers.
- 1 red, 1 black — Pays 1 to 1 if one ball lands in a red number and the other black.
- One Number — Pays 17 to 1 if either ball lands in the chosen number, and 34 to 1 if both do.
- Two Number — Pays 8 to 1 if either ball lands in the chosen number, and 16 to 1 if both do.
- Three Number — Pays 5 to 1 if either ball lands in the chosen number, and 10 to 1 if both do.
- Four Number — Pays 3 to 1 if either ball lands in the chosen number, and 6 to 1 if both do.
- Five Number — Pays 5 to 2 if either ball lands in the chosen number, and 5 to 1 if both do.
- Six Number — Pays 2 to 1 if either ball lands in the chosen number, and 4 to 1 if both do.
- Double Ball Jackpot — Pays 1,200 to 1 if both balls land in the selected number.
Below are scans of the rack card. Click either image for a larger version.
Double-Zero Analysis
Outside Bets
The following tables show my analysis of the Outside bets on a double-zero wheel. For outside bets both balls must land in a winning number for the bet to win.
The next table shows my analysis of all bets with 18 winnings numbers, namely red, black, odd, even, low (1 to 18), and high (19 to 36).
All 18-Number Outside Bets — Double-Zero Wheel
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 3 | 324 | 0.224377 | 0.673130 |
| Loss | -1 | 1,120 | 0.775623 | -0.775623 |
| Total | 1,444 | 1.000000 | -0.102493 |
The next table shows my analysis of all bets with 12 winnings numbers, namely first, second, and third 12, and first, second, and third columns.
All 12-Number Outside Bets — Double-Zero Wheel
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 8 | 144 | 0.099723 | 0.797784 |
| Loss | -1 | 1,300 | 0.900277 | -0.900277 |
| Total | 1,444 | 1.000000 | -0.102493 |
The next table shows my analysis of all single-number bet on a double-zero wheel.
All Single-Number Outside Bets — Double-Zero Wheel
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1200 | 1 | 0.000693 | 0.831025 |
| Loss | -1 | 1,443 | 0.999307 | -0.999307 |
| Total | 1,444 | 1.000000 | -0.168283 |
The next table shows my analysis of the red/black bet on a double-zero wheel. One ball must land in red and the other in black.
Red/Black Bet — Double-Zero Wheel
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1 | 648 | 0.448753 | 0.448753 |
| Loss | -1 | 796 | 0.551247 | -0.551247 |
| Total | 1,444 | 1.000000 | -0.102493 |
Inside Bets
The following tables show my analysis of the Inside bets on a double-zero wheel. For inside bets only one ball must land in a winning number for the bet to pay. If both land in a winning number, the bet pays twice as much.
The next table shows my analysis of all one-number bets.
All 1-Number Inside Bets — Double-Zero Wheel
| Wins | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 34 | 1 | 0.000693 | 0.023546 |
| 1 | 17 | 74 | 0.051247 | 0.871191 |
| 0 | -1 | 1,369 | 0.948061 | -0.948061 |
| Total | 1,444 | 1.000000 | -0.053324 |
The next table shows my analysis of all two-number (split) bets.
All 2-Number Inside Bets — Double-Zero Wheel
| Wins | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 16 | 4 | 0.002770 | 0.044321 |
| 1 | 8 | 144 | 0.099723 | 0.797784 |
| 0 | -1 | 1,296 | 0.897507 | -0.897507 |
| Total | 1,444 | 1.000000 | -0.055402 |
The next table shows my analysis of all 3-number (street) bets.
All 3-Number Inside Bets — Double-Zero Wheel
Double Bet Roulette Games
| Wins | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 10 | 9 | 0.006233 | 0.062327 |
| 1 | 5 | 210 | 0.145429 | 0.727147 |
| 0 | -1 | 1,225 | 0.848338 | -0.848338 |
| Total | 1,444 | 1.000000 | -0.058864 |
The next table shows my analysis of all 4-number (corner) bets.
All 4-Number Inside Bets — Double-Zero Wheel
| Wins | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 6 | 16 | 0.011080 | 0.066482 |
| 1 | 3 | 272 | 0.188366 | 0.565097 |
| 0 | -1 | 1,156 | 0.800554 | -0.800554 |
| Total | 1,444 | 1.000000 | -0.168975 |
The next table shows my analysis of the 5-number bet (on 0,00,1,2, and 3).
5-Number Inside Bet — Double-Zero Wheel
| Wins | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 5 | 25 | 0.017313 | 0.086565 |
| 1 | 2.5 | 330 | 0.228532 | 0.571330 |
| 0 | -1 | 1,089 | 0.754155 | -0.754155 |
| Total | 1,444 | 1.000000 | -0.096260 |
The next table shows my analysis of all 6-number (double street) bets.
All 6-Number Inside Bets — Double-Zero Wheel
| Wins | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4 | 36 | 0.024931 | 0.099723 |
| 1 | 2 | 384 | 0.265928 | 0.531856 |
| 0 | -1 | 1,024 | 0.709141 | -0.709141 |
| Total | 1,444 | 1.000000 | -0.077562 |
Strategy
My advice in any game is to go for the bets with the highest expected return. In the case of a double-zero wheel, the best bet is the inside bets on one single number, at a house edge of 5.33%. The two- and three-number bets are not much worse at 5.54% and 5.89% respectively.
Roulette Double Your Bet Strategy
I would be remiss in my duties if I didn't say that the house edge in standard double-zero roulette is lower at 5.26%. However, this is only 0.07% lower than the single-number inside bet in Double Ball Roulette.
Single-Zero Analysis
Here are a couple screenshots of the single-zero Double Ball Roulette game by Felt Gaming. Click on either image for a larger version.
Outside Bets
The following tables show my analysis of the Outside bets on a single-zero wheel. For outside bets both balls must land in a winning number for the bet to win.
The next table shows my analysis of all bets with 18 winnings numbers, namely red, black, odd, even, low (1 to 18), and high (19 to 36).
All 18-Number Outside Bets — Single-Zero Wheel
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 3 | 324 | 0.236669 | 0.710007 |
| Loss | -1 | 1,045 | 0.763331 | -0.763331 |
| Total | 1,369 | 1.000000 | -0.053324 |
The next table shows my analysis of all bets with 12 winnings numbers, namely first, second, and third 12, and first, second, and third columns.
All 12-Number Outside Bets — Single-Zero Wheel
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 8 | 144 | 0.105186 | 0.841490 |
| Loss | -1 | 1,225 | 0.894814 | -0.894814 |
| Total | 1,369 | 1.000000 | -0.053324 |
The next table shows my analysis of all single-number bet on a single-zero wheel.
All Single-Number Outside Bets — Single-Zero Wheel
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1200 | 1 | 0.000730 | 0.876552 |
| Loss | -1 | 1,368 | 0.999270 | -0.999270 |
| Total | 1,369 | 1.000000 | -0.122717 |
The next table shows my analysis of the red/black bet on a single-zero wheel. One ball must land in red and the other in black.
Red/Black Bet — Single-Zero Wheel
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1 | 648 | 0.473338 | 0.473338 |
| Loss | -1 | 721 | 0.526662 | -0.526662 |
| Total | 1,369 | 1.000000 | -0.053324 |
Inside Bets
The following tables show my analysis of the Inside bets on a single-zero wheel. For inside bets only one ball must land in a winning number for the bet to pay. If both land in a winning number, the bet pays twice as much.
The next table shows my analysis of all one-number bets.
All 1-Number Inside Bets — Single-Zero Wheel
| Wins | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 34 | 1 | 0.000730 | 0.024836 |
| 1 | 17 | 72 | 0.052593 | 0.894083 |
| 0 | -1 | 1,296 | 0.946676 | -0.946676 |
| Total | 1,369 | 1.000000 | -0.027757 |
The next table shows my analysis of all two-number (split) bets.
All 2-Number Inside Bets — Single-Zero Wheel
| Wins | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 16 | 4 | 0.002922 | 0.046749 |
| 1 | 8 | 140 | 0.102264 | 0.818115 |
| 0 | -1 | 1,225 | 0.894814 | -0.894814 |
| Total | 1,369 | 1.000000 | -0.029949 |
The next table shows my analysis of all 3-number (street) bets.
All 3-Number Inside Bets — Single-Zero Wheel
| Wins | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 6 | 16 | 0.011687 | 0.070124 |
| 1 | 3 | 264 | 0.192841 | 0.578524 |
| 0 | -1 | 1,089 | 0.795471 | -0.795471 |
| Total | 1,369 | 1.000000 | -0.146822 |
The next table shows my analysis of all 4-number (corner) bets.
All 4-Number Inside Bets — Single-Zero Wheel
| Wins | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 6 | 16 | 0.011687 | 0.070124 |
| 1 | 3 | 264 | 0.192841 | 0.578524 |
| 0 | -1 | 1,089 | 0.795471 | -0.795471 |
| Total | 1,369 | 1.000000 | -0.146822 |
The next table shows my analysis of all 6-number (single street) bets.
All 6-Number Inside Bets — Single-Zero Wheel
| Wins | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4 | 36 | 0.026297 | 0.105186 |
| 1 | 2 | 372 | 0.271731 | 0.543462 |
| 0 | -1 | 961 | 0.701972 | -0.701972 |
| Total | 1,369 | 1.000000 | -0.053324 |
Strategy
As with any game of pure luck, all you can do for yourself is to make the bets with the lowest house edge. In this case it is the single-number inside bet, with a house edge of 2.78%. If that is too volatile for you, the double-number inside bet is not much higher at 2.99%
Internal Links
- Double Action Roulette — Similar game, but with one ball and two wheels.
External Links
- Double Ball Roulette — Site by the makers of the game.
- Wizard of Vegas — Discussion about Double Ball Roulette in my forum.
Written by:Michael Shackleford
One of the most fascinating things about roulette is the variety of bets that you can place. Before you play roulette, especially for real money, it is best to have a clear understanding about the different bets and their payouts.
On this page, we’re going to go through every single bet type, including the more advanced Call/Announce Bets. If you want to see a quick “cheat sheet” with all of the different payouts in a graph for quick reference, you will find it on our page on roulette payouts.
Outside Bets
Outside bets can be found on the “outside” of the roulette table and the cover a large portion of the wheel, but the payouts are low.In total, there are 5 different kinds of outside bets which are the following:
Red and Black – There are 18 red numbers and 18 black numbers.
Odd and Even – There are 18 odd numbers and 18 even numbers.
1-18 and 19-36 – Pretty self explanatory, both of them cover 18 numbers.
The three above bets are “even money bets” because you double your money if you win e.g. bet £2 on black, win £4 back. Each of them covers just less than half of the table due to the addition of the 0 and in the case of the American game, 0 and 00.
Dozens – There are three dozens on the roulette table, 1-12, 13-24 and 25-36. Each of them covers 12 numbers which equates to just less than a third of the wheel.
Columns – These are similar to the dozens; there are three columns on the table and each of them covers 12 numbers.
Inside Bets
Inside bets can be found on the “Inside” of the table and they cover less numbers but the payouts are higher.
Straight Up Bet – This is a bet on a single number.
Split Bet – This is a bet on two numbers that are next to each other on the roulette table (not the roulette wheel).
Street Bet – Bets on three numbers that are a Street on the roulette table. For example, 1,2,3 is a Street, 4,5,6 is a Street and so on.
Corner Bet – A bet on four numbers that make a square on the roulette table. For example, 1,2,4,5 is a Corner bet.
4 Number Bet – Bets on 0,1,2,3 at the same time. Only available on European and French roulette.
5 Number Bet – Bets on 0,00,1,2,3 at the same time. Only available on American roulette. This is also the worst bet in the entire game because of the unfair payout – avoid it.
Double Street (Line Bet) – This is the same as the Street bet except it covers two Streets at the same time rather than one.
Call Bets
The Call bets, or Announce bets as they’re sometimes named, aren’t available on every roulette game and often they’re overlooked by players because they either don’t understand them or they would simply rather bet on the more simple bets above.
Before explaining what the Call bets are about, it’s worth noting that the layout of the roulette table and the roulette wheel are different. For example, as you go around the roulette wheel, the numbers are seemingly in a random order, they don’t go 1,2,3,4,5,6 etc.
The Call bets are a way of betting on sectors of the wheel. If you think of the roulette wheel as a pizza, the Call bets are a way of covering a slice or multiple slices if you want to.
Voisins Du Zero
This is a bet that covers 17 consecutive numbers on the roulette wheel, starting from 25 and working your way around the wheel to 22. They’re also known by some as neighbours of the zero because the zero is (almost) in the middle of these numbers.
The actual Voisins Du Zero bet is covered by just 9 chips and it is done like this:
2 chips on 0,2,3 street
1 on the 4/7 split
1 on 12/15 split
1 on 18/21 split
1 on 19/22 split
1 on 32/35 split
2 chips on 25,26,28,29 corner
Tier
The Tier bet is 12 numbers that are next to each other on the roulette wheel. The numbers are as follows: 27,13,36,11,30,8,23,10,5,24,16,33. The bet is covered by betting on 6 split bets at the same time which are:
5/8 – 10/11 – 13/16 – 23/24 – 27/30 – 33/36
Orphelins
This is a bet that covers 8 numbers, three that are next to each other on one sector of the wheel, 5 that are next to each other on another sector. The numbers are as follows: 6,34,17 and 1,20,14,31,9. The Orphelins bet is covered in the following way:
Straight bet on number 1
Split bet on 5/9
Split bet on 14/17
Split bet on 17/20
Split bet on 31/34
Neighbours
The Neighbours (sometimes spelt Neighbors depending where you are in the world) are 5 number bets of your choosing. Basically you pick your number and then you bet on that number and the two numbers that are on either side of it, making it a 5 number bet. A very easy way to cover large sections of the wheel. Some casinos will allow you to increase the size of your neighbours, up to eight either side of your number, making it a 17 number bet in total.
Final Bet
You may have a hard to finding this option online because very few casinos offer it. With this bet, you start by picking a number from 1-9. Once this is done, a bet will be placed on all numbers ending with the number that you chose.
Does this sound confusing? If so here is an example. If you picked 6, a bet would then be placed on the following numbers: 6, 16 and 26 because they all end in 6.
One Final Thing On Call Bets
Both online and offline, the Call bets are normally accessible via what’s called a Racetrack and in some land based casinos, you “Announce” the bet out loud rather than placing chips on it, hence why they’re sometimes referred to as Announce Bets.
If you would like to see the Call bets and try them for yourself, have a go on our free roulette pro game which has all of them available via a menu in the bottom left hand corner rather than the conventional Racetrack.
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