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What are roulette odds? 

Roulette odds, the chances of a particular bet being successful or not, hold the key to understanding the dynamics of the roulette wheel. In this article, we will dissect the concepts of roulette wheel odds and probability, offering you a comprehensive guide to making informed decisions at the roulette table.  

Is roulette a 50-50 chance? 

Roulette is not a 50/50 chance game. In fact, it’s a game of chance where the odds are not evenly split. The outcome of each spin is determined by the random landing of the ball on a numbered pocket of the roulette wheel. Here’s why it’s not a 50/50 game: 

Numbers and Zeros: In most standard roulette games, there are 37 or 38 numbered pockets on the wheel, including one or two zeros (0 and 00 in American roulette). These zeros are not red or black and are not included in the even/odd or red/black bets, which are often thought of as close to 50/50. The presence of zeros gives the house an edge. 

House Edge: The presence of zeros means that even if you place bets on red or black, odd or even, or other nearly 50/50 propositions, you do not have a true 50% chance of winning. The presence of zeros tilts the odds slightly in favour of the casino. In European roulette (with one zero), the house edge is about 2.70%, and in American roulette (with two zeros), it’s around 5.26%. 

Straight-Up Bets: Betting on a specific number (a straight-up bet) offers a payout of 35 to 1 but has a much lower chance of winning. The odds of winning on a straight-up bet are 1 in 37 (or 1 in 38 in American roulette), which is far from a 50/50 chance. 

While there are bets in roulette that come closer to a 50/50 chance, such as betting on red or black or odd or even, the presence of zeros and the associated house edge make it a game where the odds are in favour of the casino over the long run. Therefore, it’s important to understand that roulette is ultimately a game of luck, and there are no guarantees of winning in any given session. 

Roulette odds and payouts 

The first thing you need to know is that there are two types of roulette wheels: the European roulette wheel and the American roulette wheel. 

The European roulette wheel features 37 pockets, numbered from 0 to 36. In contrast, the American roulette wheel has 38 pockets, consisting of 36 numbered pockets along with 0 and 00 pockets. This may be a seemingly minor difference, but as you will see later in the article, it significantly influences the game’s odds, so choose your tables wisely.  

Apart from the traditional European and American versions, online casinos provide a diverse selection of roulette games that come with distinct features and twists. Games like Lightning Roulette and  XXXtreme Lightning Roulette by Evolution Gaming or Quantum Roulette X1000 by Playtech and Nexus Roulette by On Air Entertainment take the familiar elements of classic roulette and seamlessly blend them with electrifying bonus rounds that add another dimension to the gameplay. 

In roulette, inside and outside bets are two categories of wagers that you can place on the betting layout of the roulette table. These bets differ in terms of their odds, payout potential, and the range of numbers or outcomes they cover. 

Inside bets are so named because they are placed on the inner section of the roulette betting layout and involve wagering on individual numbers or smaller groups of adjacent numbers. Inside bets offer higher payouts but have lower odds of winning. 

Outside bets, on the other hand, are named because they are located around the outer perimeter of the roulette betting layout. These bets cover larger groups of numbers or outcomes, offering the best odds in roulette but lower payouts compared to inside bets. Below, you can see the payouts and odds for Inside and Outside bets for American and European Roulette.  

American Roulette Odds and Payouts  

Inside Bets: 

Straight-Up Bet: Betting on a single number. Payout: 35 to 1. Odds of Winning: 1 in 38. House Edge: Approximately 5.26%. 

Split Bet: Betting on two adjacent numbers. Payout: 17 to 1. Odds of Winning: 1 in 19. House Edge: Approximately 5.26%. 

Street Bet: Betting on a row of three numbers. Payout: 11 to 1. Odds of Winning: 1 in 12.33. House Edge: Approximately 5.26%. 

Corner Bet: Betting on a group of four numbers. Payout: 8 to 1. Odds of Winning: 1 in 9.67. House Edge: Approximately 5.26%. 

Five-Number Bet: Betting on 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. Payout: 6 to 1. Odds of Winning: 1 in 6.6. House Edge: Approximately 7.89%. 

Outside Bets: 

Red/Black Bet: Betting on red or black. Payout: 1 to 1. Odds of Winning: Nearly 50/50. House Edge: Approximately 5.26%. 

Odd/Even Bet: Betting on odd or even numbers. Payout: 1 to 1. Odds of Winning: Nearly 50/50. House Edge: Approximately 5.26%. 

High/Low Bet: Betting on high (19-36) or low (1-18) numbers. Payout: 1 to 1. Odds of Winning: Nearly 50/50. House Edge: Approximately 5.26%. 

Dozen Bet: Betting on one of three groups of 12 numbers (1-12, 13-24, or 25-36). Payout: 2 to 1. Odds of Winning: 1 in 3.17. House Edge: Approximately 5.26%. 

Column Bet: Betting on one of three vertical columns of numbers. Payout: 2 to 1. Odds of Winning: 1 in 3.17. House Edge: Approximately 5.26%. 

European Roulette Payouts and Odds 

Inside Bets: 

Straight-Up Bet: Betting on a single number. Payout: 35 to 1. Odds of Winning: 1 in 37. House Edge: Approximately 2.70%. 

Split Bet: Betting on two adjacent numbers. Payout: 17 to 1. Odds of Winning: 1 in 18. House Edge: Approximately 2.70%. 

Street Bet: Betting on a row of three numbers. Payout: 11 to 1. Odds of Winning: 1 in 12. House Edge: Approximately 2.70%. 

Corner Bet: Betting on a group of four numbers. Payout: 8 to 1. Odds of Winning: 1 in 9. House Edge: Approximately 2.70%. 

Outside Bets: 

Red/Black Bet: Betting on red or black. Payout: 1 to 1. Odds of Winning: Nearly 50/50. House Edge: Approximately 2.70%. 

Odd/Even Bet: Betting on odd or even numbers. Payout: 1 to 1. Odds of Winning: Nearly 50/50. House Edge: Approximately 2.70%. 

High/Low Bet: Betting on high (19-36) or low (1-18) numbers. Payout: 1 to 1. Odds of Winning: Nearly 50/50. House Edge: Approximately 2.70%. 

Dozen Bet: Betting on one of three groups of 12 numbers (1-12, 13-24, or 25-36). Payout: 2 to 1. Odds of Winning: 1 in 3. House Edge: Approximately 2.70%. 

Column Bet: Betting on one of three vertical columns of numbers. Payout: 2 to 1. Odds of Winning: 1 in 3. House Edge: Approximately 2.70%. 

Can I improve my odds of winning roulette? 

Roulette is fundamentally a game of chance, and each spin of the wheel is independent of previous spins. The outcome is determined by a random number generator in online roulette or the physics of the wheel in a land-based casino. As such, there is no foolproof strategy that can guarantee you a win in the long run. 

One of the most crucial aspects of playing roulette is managing your bankroll wisely. Set limits on how much you’re willing to spend and stick to them. Gamble responsibly and only wager what you can afford to lose. 

Roulette Odds chart 

What are the odds of the ball landing in the same number twice? 

In the standard versions of roulette, where each spin of the wheel is independent of previous spins, the odds of the ball landing on the same number twice in a row on a single-zero (European) roulette wheel or a double-zero (American) roulette wheel are the same for any specific number. Each spin of the wheel is a unique event, and the outcome of one spin does not influence the outcome of the next spin. 

Therefore, the odds of the ball landing on the same specific number twice in a row on a European roulette wheel are 1 in 37 (assuming there are 37 numbers on the wheel, including the single zero). On an American roulette wheel with 38 numbers (including 0 and 00), the odds are 1 in 38. 

Roulette Odds FAQs