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Double Ball Roulette
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.
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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
| 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.
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.
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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.