Online roulette is a game of chance. No matter how long you spend practising at the roulette table, developing a skill set of some sort will not help you improve your chances. As such, it is crucial to understand each bet’s roulette odds and payout rates to help you better understand your probability of winning this classic casino game.
This guide to roulette payout odds will walk you through everything you need to know. You will learn about roulette odds and how to calculate them. You’ll also discover how the odds change with different bets and game variations.
What are Roulette Odds?
Before we get into specific odds for different types of roulette bets, let’s nail down some basics. What are roulette odds, exactly? In a nutshell, this refers to the mathematical probability that your bet will win.
The European roulette wheel features red and black pocket numbers 1 to 36 and one green 0 pockets, totalling 37. In contrast, American roulette features two 0 pockets for 38.
When placing single-numbers bets in European roulette, there is a 1-in-37 chance you will guess correctly—as the wheel features 37 pockets. Converted to percentage odds, there is a 2.7% chance you will win. On the other hand, American roulette odds are slightly lower, given a 1-in-38 probability of a 2.6% chance of winning. These are the true odds for both types of roulette games.
Yet, the payout odds vary from these numbers. In the case of online roulette, the casino always takes a percentage as the house edge: resulting in a single-number payout based on 35:1 odds. This is the figure we are interested in when discussing roulette odds and the one that determines payouts for winning bets.
Check out this article about the best roulette strategies to win more at the table.
The above example discusses roulette payouts for single-number bets. However, it’s important to remember that you can place many types of wagers when playing online roulette—each boasting unique odds since you’re not betting on a single number. When you bet on groups of numbers, you boost your chance of winning.
Let’s discuss the various roulette bets available and how each affects your payout.
Outside Bets in Online Roulette
Outside bets are based on number categories rather than specific numbers and are ‘outside’ the 36 numbers on the wheel. These are often considered the best roulette bets if you are looking to improve your odds. Outside bet examples include:
- Red or Black: A bet on any red or black number
- Odd or Even: A bet on the ball landing on an odd or even number
- High or Low: A bet on either low (1-18) or high (19-36) numbers
- Column Bet: A bet on any of the three number columns on the roulette table
- Dozens: A bet on either 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36
The first three examples are all even-money bets—meaning there is an equal chance to win. Therefore, these bets all have a payout of 1:1. Conversely, there is a 1-in-3 chance the ball will land where you think with column bets and dozens (resulting in lower betting odds than other outside bets but higher odds than inside bets).
Inside Bets in Online Roulette
Inside bets are wagers that the ball will land on specific roulette wheel numbers. These have higher odds than outside bets that correlate to bigger payouts. Examples of inside bets you can place on the roulette table include:
- Straight-Up Bet: A bet on a single number
- Split Bet: A bet on two numbers by placing your chip on the line and dividing them
- Street Bet: A bet on three numbers in a row
- Double Street Bet: A bet on two rows of three numbers located next to each other
- Corner Bet: A bet on four numbers by placing your chip where the corners meet
- Basket Bet: A bet on zero, double zero, 1, 2, and 3 (available in American roulette)
As inside bets are based on more specific outcomes, the odds of winning are inherently reduced.
Suppose you’re playing either European or French roulette variants. In that case, you can also place ‘called’ bets based on the precise position of roulette wheel numbers rather than the position of these numbers on the table. Here are some examples of called bets:
Called Bets in Roulette
- Neighbours of Zero: A bet on all 17 pockets on either side of the zero on the European roulette wheel
- Zero Game: A bet on six numbers adjacent to the green zero (as well as the zero itself)
- Orphans: A bet on eight specific numbers
- Neighbours: A bet on five numbers located next to each other on the wheel (this is a ‘variable call’ bet, as you can choose the five numbers)
- Final: A variable call bet on the final digit of the number (e.g., a ‘3’: 3, 13, 23, 33)
American vs European Roulette Odds
As indicated above, American and European roulette have different odds for the same bets due to the double-zero wheel used in the American variant—altering the probability that different numbers will hit. American roulette odds are always less than their European counterpart.
Below is a payout chart summarising the odds and bet payouts for different roulette bets when playing on the European vs American wheel.
Roulette Payout Chart
| BET TYPE | PAYOUT RATE | EUROPEAN ODDS | AMERICAN ODDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight | 35:1 | 2.70% | 2.60% |
| Split | 17:1 | 5.40% | 5.30% |
| Street | 11:1 | 8.10% | 7.90% |
| Square (Corner) | 8:1 | 10.80% | 10.50% |
| Double Street | 5:1 | 16.20% | 15.80% |
| Columns | 2:1 | 32.43% | 31.60% |
| Dozens | 2:1 | 32.43% | 31.60% |
| Red or Black | 1:1 | 48.60% | 47.40% |
| High or Low | 1:1 | 48.60% | 47.40% |
| Odd or Even | 1:1 | 48.60% | 47.40% |
Beat the Roulette Table by Improving Your Odds
When you play online roulette, the inevitable house edge makes up the difference between true and payout odds. At American roulette tables, the house edge is 5.26%. However, this drops to 2.3% for European roulette. While these numbers will never budge, understanding roulette odds can help improve your chances of winning. Here are some suggestions to do just that:
Learn Roulette Odds
Understanding the odds of all roulette bet types is crucial. After all, you wouldn’t want to throw all your money into a bet with extremely low odds and potentially lose everything! Likewise, you may want to bet more money on even bets with better odds, as these are safer.
Place Outside Bets
You can place inside bets if you wish, and many online casino players love the thrill and risk of doing so. Yet, if you’re ‘in it to win it,’ remember that outside bets have improved odds and significantly boost your chance of winning.
This confuses some players who don’t understand roulette odds and that outside bets have lower payout rates. For example, while you’ll double your money by winning an even bet, winning a single bet on the number 5 (for example) means you’ll multiply your stake by 35—though the odds of the latter occurring are low. While inside bets can result in rapid, short-term gains, outside bets offer an improved chance for long-term wins.
Play European Roulette
You’re more likely to win at European roulette than when playing with an American roulette wheel, all due to that infamous American double zero. If you want to beat roulette, play the European game and give yourself a better chance.
Nevertheless, the house advantage is higher in American roulette, while European roulette has the lowest house edge of all game variants. This is true for online casino roulette and premier Las Vegas casino games.
Choose a Roulette Betting System
Finally, you’ll want to pinpoint a specific roulette betting strategy. This won’t improve your odds of winning, but it will enable you to manage your money more effectively and establish minimum and maximum bets to win the most money.
You can choose from many strategies, some of which are safer while others are more aggressive. Choosing the best one for you is essential. With money on the line, only wager as you feel comfortable.
FAQs
How favourable are roulette game odds?
Compared to other casino games, roulette odds are pretty good. European roulette has the best odds, with a low house edge of 2.64%.
Which roulette bets have the best odds?
In American and European roulette, even-money bets will always have the best odds: red or black, odd or even, and high or low..
What are the odds of hitting red or black in roulette?
The odds of hitting red and black are 47.4% in American roulette and 48.6% in European roulette. In both casino games, payout rates are 1:1
Do roulette betting strategies improve your roulette odds?
Roulette betting systems do not improve game odds. Roulette is a game of chance, and mathematical probabilities associated with the casino game will never change. Nevertheless, betting systems do help improve your chances of winning.
What is the highest payout rate in roulette?
The highest payout rate in roulette is 35:1 for a straight-up bet on a single number.
What are the odds for zero (0) in roulette?
The odds for zero depend on whether you’re playing on a double- or single-zero wheel. European roulette pays out at 35:1, but this drops to 17:1 in American roulette thanks to its infamous double zero.
