Roulette Bets, Odds, and Payouts

An Overview of Roulette Betting

Roulette is a game of chance, so no matter how skilled or experienced you are, whether you win or not depends solely on luck. However, some of the bet types in the game offer higher chances of winning than others. Likewise, some bets pay more than others. To understand all of this, you first need to learn the bet types, then the payout amounts, and finally the winning probabilities. This way, you can play smarter and know when to take risks and when to avoid them.

Roulette Bet Basics: What You Need to Know

You have many options to try your luck at roulette: you can bet on a single number or a range of numbers. It is also possible to bet on a color or whether the outcome will be an odd or even number. All of these options have a certain place on the game table, and it is possible to divide all betting options into two groups, “inside” and “outside”, according to their positions. The following criteria distinguish these groups from each other:

• Payout. Inside bets always pay bigger.
• Odds. Outside bets have a higher chance of winning.
• Coverage. Inside bets cover less, outside bets cover more outcomes.

To place a bet, simply place your chips in the area reserved for that bet on the game table. You can place chips in more than one area at the same time (that is, you can place more than one bet). Likewise, it is possible to increase the wager amount by stacking chips in an area.

Inside Bets: Best Roulette Payout

These are the options that are placed on the “inside” of the game table. They have low odds but offer the highest payouts. For example, the roulette green payout can be as high as 1:35. There are six inside bets in total:

• Straight Up: A bet placed on a single number.
• Split: A bet placed on two adjacent numbers.
• Street: A bet placed on three numbers in a row.
• Corner: A bet placed on four numbers in a square.
• Basket: Only available in the double zero roulette (American) variant. It is a bet placed on the numbers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3.
• Six Line: It is a bet on a total of six numbers on two adjacent rows.

The odds of these options are as follows:

Outside Bets: Best Roulette Odds

These are the options that are located on the “outside” of the game table. They offer roulette best odds in all variants, meaning you have a higher chance of winning, but their payouts are lower. We can divide them into three groups:

• Column Bets: It is a bet placed on all numbers in a column (12 in total). It may cover the first, second, or third column on the table.
• Dozen Bets: It is a bet placed on a total of 12 numbers. It may include the first, second, or third dozen.
• Even Money Bets: It consists of three groups: red/black (betting on what color the result will be), odd/even (betting on whether the result will be an odd or even number), low/high (betting on the first 18 or last 18 numbers). All these groups pay 1:1 and all allow you to bet on a total of 18 numbers.

You can see the roulette table odds of these options below:

Understanding Roulette Odds Payout

Odds on a roulette table are calculated based on how many outcomes each type of bet covers and how many total numbers are on the wheel. Let's try to explain it by giving an example and imagining that you are placing a straight bet.

• In European roulette, there are 37 numbers on the wheel.
• You bet on only one of these numbers.
• We can express this as 1/37.
• The result of this operation is 0.027.
• This equals 2.70%.

You can calculate the odds of any bet this way. Simply divide the total number covered by your bet by the total number on the wheel. For the same reason, odds vary between roulette variants because not every wheel always has 37 numbers. For example, the double zero roulette wheel (American roulette) has a total of 38 numbers because it has an extra 0 pocket. Let's use the example above once again:

• You bet on only one of 38 numbers.
• We can express this as 1/38.
• The result of this operation is 0.0263.
• This equals 2.63%.

Having 38 numbers instead of 37 increases the possible outcomes, which changes all odds. For the same reason, Euro-French, i.e. single-zero roulette variants, always offer higher odds.

Roulette Payouts for Each Type of Bet

We are sharing a roulette payout chart below: you can use it to find the answer to “what is the payout on roulette” question. Once again, remember that these payouts are the same for roulette double zero and single zero variants. The difference in roulette table payout values is due to the winning chances: the higher your chance, the lower the payout, and vice versa.

Advanced Bets for Additional Roulette Winnings

In some European and French roulette games in land-based casinos, there are some special bets that must be verbally announced to the dealer. For this reason, they are known as “call bets” or “announced bets”. These are all special bets covering multiple roulette numbers and are also available in digital versions of the game. Below, you can see the names of these special bets and their roulette payout odds.

(*) if the payout includes multiple options, the bet consists of different outcomes grouped together and any part of them can win.

Roulette strategies can be used for all types of bets, including these, but it can be said that the vast majority, especially progressive betting strategies, were developed for outside bets that pay even money (1:1). So, for example, it will be very difficult for you to find a strategy developed for these advanced bets (or inside bets), but there are many options for outside bets.

Tips for Managing Your Bets

This is not a guide on how to bet on roulette, but we can share some tips that will help you manage your bets and therefore your budget more efficiently:

• Divide your bankroll. Divide your budget into groups of ten and keep regular records of your wins and losses. For example, if you have a budget of 100 CAD, you can create 100 groups, each containing 1 CAD, and use each of them in a different bet to extend your playing time. Keeping a win/loss record will also help you understand what you did right and what you did wrong.
• Determine the risk/reward ratio. There is no such thing as the best bet in roulette. We shared the odds on roulette table above: accordingly, you need to decide for yourself which bet will be the better option at that time. If you can't decide, focusing on even money bets will be the ideal option for most players.

Maximizing Your Experience on Roulette Table

To have a more enjoyable and efficient experience, we recommend that you obtain a roulette payouts chart and decide in real time what the best roulette bets will be according to your budget. The chart will allow you to see how much earning potential you have at any given moment. Real-time decisions mean making the best decision based on the course of the game and your budget. For example, if you only have 5 CAD left, you can choose a straight bet as it offers the highest potential even though the chance of winning is low. However, if you have a large enough budget that you can divide into groups of ten, it may be better to focus on outside bets because they offer the best odds in roulette. In any case, there is no single fixed formula that works for everyone: you have to decide for yourself what will be better for you.

But don't forget to pay attention to your mood, too: betting psychology can encourage you to chase your losses or think your chances of winning have increased. Never lose your cool, play with amounts that won't affect you even if you lose, and focus on fun, not on making money.