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When Surrender Doesn’t Mean Giving Up: The Roulette Rule Every Player Should Know

June 7, 2024

When playing roulette, the dreaded green zero pocket means that players have hit a losing spin.

Or does it?

Roulette has many variations, which means that some casinos play by different rules. The surrender rule isn’t offered by all online casinos, but it offers a way to shrink the house edge.

Here’s the lowdown on the surrender rule and how every player can use it.

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Why the Surrender Rule is Important

There are many different types of bet you can place on roulette, but if the ball ever ends up in the green 0 or 00 pockets, it means that the casino has won.

This is what creates the house edge in roulette, and it’s why the American roulette wheel is often seen as unfavourable.

The European roulette wheel only has a single green 0 pocket while the American wheel has both a 0 and a 00. This means there are more chances for a player to lose on the American wheel, and increases the overall house edge to 5.26%.

The surrender rule takes this house advantage and slashes the odds for the casino, instantly making the wheel more attractive for players.

What is the Surrender Rule?

The surrender rule only applies to the American roulette wheel and comes into effect if the spin finishes on either of the green 0 or 00 pockets.

Normally, any spin landing on a zero pocket would be an automatic casino win. This means any bet would be lost, with the casino collecting the stake.

When the surrender rule is in play, any spin which lands on either of the green zero pockets isn’t a complete loss. Players will only lose 50% of their stake, rather than 100%.

The 50% which is given back to the player can either be left on the board to bet again, or it can be collected and kept.

This change may seem relatively small but it cuts the house edge in half. Any casino operating with the surrender rule on American roulette only has a house edge of 2.63%.

The standard house edge for European roulette is 2.70%, so the presence of the surrender rule means that for the first time, the odds on American roulette are better for players.

Why the Green Pockets Matter

The 0 and 00 pockets are not included in red or black, odd or even, or high or low. This is what stops even-money bets from being a straight 50/50 choice. American roulette has two green pockets, so there is a greater chance of one appearing. If surrender is used, players only lose half of their stake on certain outside bets when the ball lands on 0 or 00.

Surrender Rule at a Glance

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Only some American roulette tables use the surrender rule. It applies to even-money bets such as red or black, odd or even, and high or low. If the ball lands on 0 or 00, the player gets half of the stake back. Without surrender, the full bet would be lost. This changes the house edge on those bets from 5.26% to 2.63%. Other bets are not covered. A bet on a single number, split or street will still be lost if either green pocket comes up.

Limitations on the Surrender Rule

The surrender rule is applied automatically to the roulette wheel, so players don’t need to claim it or ask for it specifically. By betting at a casino that offers the surrender rule, players will enjoy the lower house edge from the start.

However, not all bets enjoy the lower house edge that is offered by the surrender rule. It only comes into effect when an even-money outside bet is placed.

In other words, if you adopt a higher-risk strategy that involves placing an inside bet, the surrender rule will not apply. This means you will be subject to the higher house edge of 5.26%, which is standard for most types of American roulette.

If the application of the surrender rule sounds familiar, that’s because it’s virtually identical to the Le Partage rule. The only real difference is that Le Partage applies to French roulette, and the surrender rule is exclusively used in American roulette.

Checking Whether Surrender Is Available

Not every American roulette table includes the surrender rule. Players can check the game information before placing a bet to see whether it is being used. If surrender is not listed, even-money bets are normally lost in full when the ball lands on 0 or 00. The table will then use the usual American roulette rules.

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Should Players Search for the Surrender Rule?

The American roulette wheel has many differences from the European wheel, which may be appealing, but the higher house edge can be a barrier to winning. An online casino offering the surrender rule means players can enjoy an outside, even-money bet on the American roulette wheel while simultaneously cutting the house edge. That’s the very definition of snatching a victory from the point of surrender, so what’s not to love?!

FAQs

What happens under the surrender rule?

When the ball lands on 0 or 00, the player gets half of the stake back. The other half is lost. This only happens on American roulette tables that use the rule.

Does surrender work with every bet?

No. It only applies to even-money bets, including red or black, odd or even, and high or low. Any other bet is lost in full if the ball lands on 0 or 00.

How does surrender change the house edge?

For even-money bets, the house edge falls from 5.26% to about 2.63%. That puts it just below the 2.70% edge on a standard European roulette wheel.

Is surrender the same as La Partage?

They work in almost the same way, as both give half of an even-money stake back after a zero result. Surrender is used with American roulette, while La Partage is usually found on French or European tables.

Do players need to switch surrender on?

No. If the table has the surrender rule, it is already in place. The player doesn’t need to select anything before the spin.

Does surrender give players better odds on American roulette?

It does on even-money bets, where the house edge drops to 2.63%. That is slightly lower than the 2.70% on a European wheel. Any bets outside the surrender rule still have the usual 5.26% house edge.

Experienced writer and editor based in Ireland. Attends poker events, covers all casino games and slots, but is really a keen blackjack and roulette player at heart. A sports fanatic among all other things with a soft spot for soccer and F1