Table & Live Games
Roulette Bets and Payouts Explained
Roulette offers many ways to bet on one spin of the wheel. This guide lists each bet, what it pays and how often it wins on a standard European wheel.
European vs American roulette
A European wheel has 37 pockets: numbers 1 to 36 plus a single zero. An American wheel adds a double zero, making 38 pockets. The payouts are the same, so the extra pocket raises the house edge from about 2.70% to about 5.26%. When you have a choice, the single-zero wheel is better value.
Inside bets
Inside bets are placed on specific numbers within the grid. They pay more but win less often.
| Bet | Covers | Payout | Chance per spin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 1 number | 35:1 | 1 in 37 (2.7%) |
| Split | 2 adjacent numbers | 17:1 | 2 in 37 (5.4%) |
| Street | 3 numbers in a row | 11:1 | 3 in 37 (8.1%) |
| Corner | 4 numbers in a square | 8:1 | 4 in 37 (10.8%) |
| Six line | 6 numbers (two rows) | 5:1 | 6 in 37 (16.2%) |
Outside bets
Outside bets cover larger groups of numbers around the edge of the table.
| Bet | Covers | Payout | Chance per spin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dozen | 1–12, 13–24 or 25–36 | 2:1 | 12 in 37 (32.4%) |
| Column | One of the three vertical columns | 2:1 | 12 in 37 (32.4%) |
| Red / Black | 18 numbers | 1:1 | 18 in 37 (48.6%) |
| Odd / Even | 18 numbers | 1:1 | 18 in 37 (48.6%) |
| Low / High | 1–18 or 19–36 | 1:1 | 18 in 37 (48.6%) |
Zero is not red, black, odd, even, low or high, which is exactly where the house edge comes from. Some tables offer a rule (often called "la partage") that returns half of an even-money bet when zero lands; this lowers the edge on those bets. Check the table's rules.
Racetrack and call bets
Live tables often include a racetrack for bets on sections of the wheel, such as neighbours of a number. These are just combinations of the straight-up and split bets above, so the same payouts and edge apply.
What about betting systems?
Systems like Martingale (doubling after each loss) or Fibonacci change the size and timing of bets, but not the odds. A long losing streak can reach the table maximum or your budget before a win recovers it. Our article on the house edge explains why no system can beat it.