Roulette
A wheel, a ball, and a layout of numbers. Roulette is the clearest way to see how payouts and probability relate.
Goal
Predict where the ball lands. Bets can cover a single number or large groups of numbers.
Setup
European roulette uses 37 pockets numbered 0 to 36. American roulette adds a 00 pocket, making 38.
That single extra pocket doubles the house edge, from about 2.70% to about 5.26%.
Inside bets
- Straight
- One number. Pays 35 to 1.
- Split
- Two adjacent numbers. Pays 17 to 1.
- Street
- A row of three. Pays 11 to 1.
- Corner
- Four numbers meeting at a corner. Pays 8 to 1.
- Six line
- Two rows of three. Pays 5 to 1.
Outside bets
- Red or Black
- Eighteen numbers. Pays 1 to 1.
- Odd or Even
- Eighteen numbers. Pays 1 to 1.
- Low or High
- 1 to 18 or 19 to 36. Pays 1 to 1.
- Dozens
- Twelve numbers. Pays 2 to 1.
- Columns
- Twelve numbers down the layout. Pays 2 to 1.
How a round works
1. Place chips anywhere on the layout. You can place as many bets as you like.
2. The wheel spins and the ball settles in a pocket.
3. Losing bets are cleared and winning bets are paid.
4. Zero is not red, black, odd, or even, so every even money bet loses when it hits.
Why the edge exists
A straight up bet wins 1 time in 37 on a European wheel but pays only 35 to 1. That gap is the entire , and it is the same 2.70% on almost every bet on the layout.
No combination of bets removes it. Covering more numbers only trades a smaller win for a higher hit rate.
Common mistakes
- Believing a colour is due after a run. The wheel has no memory and each spin starts fresh.
- Doubling after losses. It risks a lot to win a little and runs into table limits.
- Playing an American wheel when a European one is available.
Beginner tips
- Pick European whenever you have the choice.
- last longer. swing harder. The long run edge is the same.
- Watch the probability figures next to each bet. They are the honest version of the payout.
Terms you will hear
- House edge
- The long run share of each wager the house keeps. A 1.06% edge means about one cent per dollar wagered on average.
- Outside bet
- A roulette bet on a large group of numbers such as red, even, or a dozen. It wins often and pays little.
- Inside bet
- A roulette bet on specific numbers. It wins rarely and pays a lot.