Roulette Bet Types & Odds: The Complete Guide
Understanding every available bet in roulette is fundamental to making informed decisions at the table. The game offers a wide spectrum of wagers, from high-risk straight-up bets on individual numbers to near coin-flip outside bets. Here is a complete breakdown of every bet type, its payout, and its probability of winning on a European roulette wheel.
Inside Bets
Inside bets are placed on specific numbers or small groups of numbers within the main number grid. They offer higher payouts but lower probabilities of winning.
Inside bets — payouts, probability and house edge (European wheel)
| Bet Type | Description | Payout | Probability (European) | House Edge |
| Straight Up | A bet on a single number (e.g., 17) | 35:1 | 2.70% (1 in 37) | 2.70% |
| Split | A bet on two adjacent numbers (e.g., 17/20) | 17:1 | 5.41% (2 in 37) | 2.70% |
| Street | A bet on three numbers in a horizontal row (e.g., 1/2/3) | 11:1 | 8.11% (3 in 37) | 2.70% |
| Corner (Square) | A bet on four numbers forming a square (e.g., 1/2/4/5) | 8:1 | 10.81% (4 in 37) | 2.70% |
| Five-Number | A bet on 0, 00, 1, 2, 3 (American roulette only) | 6:1 | 13.16% (5 in 38) | 7.89% |
| Six-Line (Double Street) | A bet on six numbers in two adjacent rows (e.g., 1/2/3/4/5/6) | 5:1 | 16.22% (6 in 37) | 2.70% |
Straight Up bets are the most iconic wager in roulette. You pick a single number, and if the ball lands on it, you win 35 times your stake. With 37 pockets on a European wheel, the true odds of hitting any given number are 36:1, but the payout is 35:1. That difference is the house edge. Despite the low hit rate, straight-up bets are popular because the payouts are life-changing relative to the stake. A A$10 bet on a single number returns A$360 (A$350 profit plus your original A$10 back).
Split bets cover two adjacent numbers on the layout. You place your chip on the line between two numbers. The payout drops to 17:1, but your probability doubles to 5.41%. Splits are my preferred inside bet because they offer a reasonable balance between payout and probability. Covering numbers 17 and 20, or 0 and 3, gives you twice the coverage of a straight-up at a generous 17:1 return.
Street bets cover an entire horizontal row of three numbers. Place your chip on the outer edge of the row. The 11:1 payout and 8.11% probability provide a solid middle ground. Common streets include 1/2/3, 7/8/9, and 34/35/36. You can also place a "trio" bet covering 0/1/2 or 0/2/3 on the European layout.
Corner bets (also called "square" bets) cover four numbers that share a common corner on the layout. The chip goes on the intersection point. At 8:1, the payout is lower, but you cover 10.81% of the wheel. Popular corners include 1/2/4/5, 8/9/11/12, and 32/33/35/36. Corner bets are excellent for covering a section of the board without committing to individual numbers.
Five-Number bets are exclusive to American roulette and cover 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. This is the single worst bet in all of roulette, with a house edge of 7.89%. The payout of 6:1 does not adequately compensate for the five-number coverage on a 38-pocket wheel. Never place this bet under any circumstances.
Six-Line bets (double streets) cover two adjacent rows of three numbers each, totalling six numbers. Place your chip at the intersection of the two rows on the outer edge. The 5:1 payout and 16.22% probability make six-line bets one of the better inside bets for players who want decent coverage without moving to outside bets.
Outside Bets
Outside bets cover larger groups of numbers and offer lower payouts with higher probabilities. These are the bets that form the backbone of most roulette strategies.
Outside bets — payouts, probability and house edge (European wheel)
| Bet Type | Description | Payout | Probability (European) | House Edge |
| Red / Black | A bet on the colour of the winning number | 1:1 | 48.65% (18 in 37) | 2.70% |
| Odd / Even | A bet on whether the number is odd or even | 1:1 | 48.65% (18 in 37) | 2.70% |
| High (19-36) / Low (1-18) | A bet on the upper or lower half of numbers | 1:1 | 48.65% (18 in 37) | 2.70% |
| Dozens | A bet on the first (1-12), second (13-24), or third (25-36) dozen | 2:1 | 32.43% (12 in 37) | 2.70% |
| Columns | A bet on one of the three vertical columns of 12 numbers | 2:1 | 32.43% (12 in 37) | 2.70% |
Red/Black is the most famous roulette bet and the one most people think of when they picture the game. You are betting on whether the winning number will be red or black. The 18 red and 18 black numbers give you a 48.65% chance of winning, with the green zero providing the 2.70% house edge. The 1:1 payout means you double your money on a win. On a French roulette table with La Partage, the house edge on this bet drops to just 1.35%.
Odd/Even works identically to red/black in terms of probability and payout. You are betting on whether the winning number is odd or even. Zero is neither odd nor even, so it is a losing result for both sides. The 48.65% win probability and 1:1 payout are identical. Some players combine odd/even with red/black for complex coverage patterns, but mathematically, each bet carries the same independent house edge.
High/Low divides the numbers into two groups: low (1-18) and high (19-36). Again, zero falls outside both groups, creating the house edge. The probability and payout are identical to red/black and odd/even. These three even-money bets are functionally equivalent from a mathematical perspective. The choice between them is purely aesthetic or strategic (in terms of coverage patterns when combined with other bets).
Dozens bets divide the 36 numbers into three groups of 12: first dozen (1-12), second dozen (13-24), and third dozen (25-36). Zero is not included in any dozen. The 2:1 payout reflects the 32.43% win probability. Dozens bets are popular in progressive strategies because you can cover 24 of 37 numbers by betting on two dozens simultaneously, giving you a 64.86% chance of hitting (though at reduced overall profit margins).
Columns bets cover one of the three vertical columns on the layout. The first column contains 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34. The second column contains 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, 35. The third column contains 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36. Like dozens, columns pay 2:1 with a 32.43% probability. An interesting quirk: the third column contains 8 red numbers and only 4 black, while the second column contains 8 black and only 4 red. Some players exploit this imbalance by combining column bets with colour bets for overlapping coverage.
Call Bets (Announced Bets)
In addition to the standard inside and outside bets, European and French roulette offer a set of "call bets" or "announced bets" based on the physical position of numbers on the wheel rather than their position on the table layout. These are typically accessible via a special racetrack layout on the screen.
Call bets (announced bets) — coverage and chip requirements
| Call Bet | Meaning | Numbers Covered | Chips |
| Voisins du Zero | "Neighbours of zero" | 17 numbers: 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25 | 9 |
| Tiers du Cylindre | "Thirds of the wheel" (opposite zero) | 12 numbers: 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33 | 6 |
| Orphelins | "Orphans" (not in Voisins or Tiers) | 8 numbers: 17, 34, 6, 1, 20, 14, 31, 9 | 5 |
| Neighbours | A chosen number plus its two neighbours each side on the wheel | 5 numbers (chosen + 2 either side) | 5 |
Voisins du Zero ("neighbours of zero") covers the 17 numbers closest to zero on the wheel: 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25. This requires 9 chips and covers nearly half the wheel.
Tiers du Cylindre ("thirds of the wheel") covers 12 numbers on the opposite side of the wheel from zero: 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33. This uses 6 chips placed as splits.
Orphelins ("orphans") covers the 8 remaining numbers not included in Voisins or Tiers: 17, 34, 6, 1, 20, 14, 31, 9. This requires 5 chips.
Neighbours bets allow you to select any number and bet on it plus its two neighbours on either side of the wheel. For example, a "neighbours of 17" bet covers 17 and the two numbers on each side of 17 on the physical wheel. This is useful for targeting a specific section of the wheel.