Roulette Odds Explained: A Comprehensive Guide

If you’re learning how to play roulette, the chances are you won’t be familiar with the roulette table odds. If you don’t do your research, you could find yourself placing some bets that are very poor value in terms of the payout in relation to the probability of the bet winning.

Our ‘roulette odds explained’ summary details all you need to know about the odds of winning roulette games, including the odds on red or black roulette pockets and even individual numbers.

What are Roulette Odds?

The roulette table odds are essentially determined by the likelihood of the outcome happening i.e. the ball landing on said pocket(s). There is always a small house edge applied with casino table games – this is the casino’s operating margin – and roulette is no different.

The odds on red or black roulette bets are even-money. This should mean that the game has half red pockets and half black pockets on the wheel.

However, the addition of a single green zero – and, in some cases, a green double zero – means that there are one or two outcomes that reduce the chance of landing on red or black from 50% to 48.6%. This percentage difference is known as the house edge.

Roulette Payout Odds

There are different types of bets you can place on the roulette table. This is the same for classic roulette tables and even next-generation versions like multi-wheel roulette. Outside bets and inside bets carry the same payout value across all variants of the roulette game. However, the odds (or probability) of the bet type winning differs across each game variant, so it’s important to understand the games that offer the best bang for your buck.

Outside Bets

Outside bets are the least risky options out of all casino roulette odds. The probability of these bets suggests that you’ll win more regularly, but the size of your payout is much smaller compared with inside bets.

• Column bet
  
  Column bets require you to select one of the three columns of 12 numbers on the roulette table. If the winning number is within this column, your bet wins at odds of 2:1.
   
• Dozen bet
  
  Dozen bets require you to select the first, second or third cluster of 12 numbers on the roulette table. If you bet on the first 12 and the winning number is six, your bet wins at odds of 2:1.
   
• Odd/Even bet
  
  Odd/Even bets are some of the simplest bet types on the roulette table. Decide whether the next winning number will be odd or even, it’s that easy. If your bet wins, you’ll be paid out at even money (1:1).
   
• Red/Black bet
  
  The roulette Black or Red odds are very similar to Odd/Even bet odds. Bet on the next winning number being red or black. If your pick wins, you’ll be paid out at 1:1.

Inside Bets

Inside bets offer the biggest potential payouts but carry the greatest risk. That’s because the probability of inside bets winning is much lower than outside bets. It’s all about deciding what side of the risk-reward argument you sit on.

• Straight Up bet
  
  Pays 35:1 for winning bets on single numbers.
   
• Corner bet
  
  Pays 8:1 for winning bets on a cluster of four numbers in any square on the table.
   
• Split bet
  
  Pays 17:1 for winning bets on two adjacent numbers anywhere on the table.
   
• 5-Number bet
  
  Pays 6:1 on a bet covering 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. This is only for American Roulette and carries the worst house edge.
   
• 6-Number bet
  
  Pays 5:1 for winnings bets on a group of six numbers across two lines of the table.
   
• Street bet
  
  Pays 11:1 for winning bets on three adjacent numbers anywhere on the table.

European Roulette Odds

Wondering what the odds are of winning in each game of European Roulette? We’ve got you covered:

• Even/Odds = 48.6%
• Red/Black = 48.6%
• 1-18/19-36 = 48.6%
• Dozen = 32.4%
• Single = 2.7%
• Split = 5.4%
• Street = 8.1%
• Corner = 10.8%
• 6-Number = 16.2%

French Roulette Odds

Want to know what the odds are of winning in each game of French Roulette? Take a look here:

• Even/Odds = 48.6%
• Red/Black = 48.6%
• 1-18/19-36 = 48.6%
• Dozen = 32.4%
• Single = 2.7%
• Split = 5.4%
• Street = 8.1%
• Corner = 10.8%
• 6-Number = 16.2%

American Roulette Odds

Wondering what the odds are of winning in each game of American Roulette? We’ve got you covered:

• Even/Odds = 46.37%
• Red/Black = 46.37%
• 1-18/19-36 = 46.37%
• Dozen = 31.58%
• Single = 2.63%
• Split = 5.26%
• Street = 7.89%
• Corner = 10.53%
• 6-Number = 15.79%

Why are American Roulette odds lower than French and European Roulette? The addition of a green double zero pocket in American Roulette increases the house edge and therefore reduces the probability of all bets happening.

Winning Odds on Roulette

In terms of the best winning odds on the roulette wheel, the Even/Odd, Red/Black and 1-18/19-36 bets carry the biggest probability of winning. However, they don’t necessarily offer the best return. There is a 1.35% margin on these inside bets, which is quite considerable compared with other inside bets like straight-up wagers on individual numbers.

With straight-up bets, the winning odds are 35:1, but with a single zero added, there’s a one-in-36 chance of winning. Nevertheless, the difference between 35:1 and 36:1 payouts is only 0.08%.

House Edge on Roulette

When it comes to earning big in roulette, house edge is everything. Playing at roulette tables with a high house edge erodes away at your betting bankroll the longer you play. For the most competitive house edge in roulette, look for French roulette tables that offer La Partage and En Prison rules. The house edge is then halved from 2.7% to 1.35%.

La Partage means that if the ball lands on zero, you’ll get a 50% refund on stakes placed on even-money bets. The En Prison rule may also be used if the ball lands on zero, giving you a chance to let your even-money bet ride for the next spin instead of losing the stake altogether.

FAQs

What bets in roulette have the highest odds?

A straight-up bet carries the highest potential payout in roulette. This is a wager on an individual number on the roulette wheel. If successful, you’ll be paid out at odds of 35:1.

What are the odds on 0 in roulette?

If you plan to bet on the green single zero pocket in European or American roulette, you can expect to get odds of 35:1. This is the same odds as wagering on any other number on a conventional roulette wheel.

Is roulette the game with the highest odds in casinos?

The ability to turn one unit into 35 units from a successful straight-up bet makes roulette a game with one of the highest odds in casino gaming. In fact, you’d have to play online slot games to land multipliers greater than 35x your initial stake. It’s important to bear in mind that roulette tables also have odds as low as 1:1 on high-probability bets on Odd/Even, Red/Black and 1-18/19-36.