Roulette might seem like a gamme that is all about random outcomes. While this is mostly true, calculating your odds and knowing potential payouts constitues a huge part of overall game knowledge, and it enables you to strategize better.
Here’s everything you need to know about the maths behind the various types of online roulette.
Possible bets and payouts
Using your experience to make estimations and predictions is the key part of roulette gameplay, so knowing just how well it will pay out in the end is crucial. Here are some of the most common real money bets and associated payouts:
Inside bets:
- Straight Up — Pick only 1 number — Pays 35:1
- Split — Place chips on line between 2 adjoining numbers — Pays 17:1
- Street — Bet on row of 3 numbers — Pays 11:1
- Corner — Bet on square of 4 numbers — Pays 8:1
- Basket — Bet on 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3 — Pays 6:1 (American roulette only)
Outside bets:
- Dozens — Bet on 12 numbers in sections (1st 12, 2nd 12, or 3rd 12) — Pays 2:1
- Columns — Wager on entire column of 12 numbers — Pays 2:1
- Red/Black — Bet on color outcome — Pays 1:1
- Odd/Even — Wager on odd or even number result — Pays 1:1
- High/Low — Bet on high (19–36) or low (1–18) numbers — Pays 1:1
Inside bets generally pay a lot more per winning chip but have a much lower hit frequency versus outside bets encompassing up to 18 numbers. This risk-reward balance keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting.
Understanding house edge by bet
Just like any other casino game, roulette includes a built-in mathematical house edge percentages to ensure that no matter how you decide to play, the casino earns its share. Here is everything you need to know about the house edge measured by wager type:
Inside bets house edge:
- Straight Up – 2.7% (European), 5.26% (American)
- Split – 2.7% (European), 5.26% (American)
- Street – 2.7% (European), 5.26% (American)
- Corner – 2.7% (European), 5.26% (American)
- Line – 2.7% (European), 5.26% (American)
- Basket – 7.89% (only in American roulette)
Outside bets house edge:
- Red/Black – 2.7% (European), 5.26% (American)
- Odd/Even – 2.7% (European), 5.26% (American)
- High/Low – 2.7% (European), 5.26% (American)
- Dozens – 2.7% (European), 5.26% (American)
- Columns – 2.7% (European), 5.26% (American)
While going after the 35:1 single number payout might be enticing, in reality sticking with low-risk bets can get you much farther. It can also ensure that you win something at least occasonally, keeping the risk-reward nature of gameplay in balance.
Conclusion
Whether you are a casual player or a professional gambler, understanding probabilities, payout odds, and house edge percentages is key to navigating roulette. Luckily, the basics are quite simple and easy to memorize — although we recommend trying out odds calculators to learn even more.