A guide to understanding roulette odds
Roulette is a game of chance, so it’s crucial to understand the odds of different bet types paying out. Once you know how to calculate your odds of winning in roulette, you’ll be able to choose more carefully which bets to place. Get on top of how the odds can influence your winnings with this roulette payout guide.
What are odds in roulette?
The odds in roulette indicate your chances of winning a bet. For example, in American roulette the odds of hitting a single number with a straight-up bet are 37 to 1, since there are 38 numbers. However, the house only pays out 35 to 1 on winning bets, with the same odds for payouts on combination bets. This is due to the house edge, where the house keeps a percentage of all bets for itself. Odds are often displayed as a percentage, while payout is shown as a ratio to your bet.
How to calculate roulette payouts
Before jumping into odds and payouts, we’d recommend familiarizing yourself with roulette bet types first, or this might get confusing. Being able to recognize the names of different bets and where you’d place your chip on the table for each one will be especially useful.
For each bet type, the potential payout odds in roulette are stated in the form of x:1. This means you’ll win x dollars for every 1 dollar you bet. For example, a single-number bet offers a payout of 35:1. So, if you win, you’ll get your dollar back plus $35.
Calculate your roulette winnings with our roulette payout guide
The roulette payout chart below shows the odds for the different bets you can make in both European roulette and American roulette, as different roulette variations affect the odds. All the calculations are done for you, so you can check your potential roulette winnings at a glance as you play.
Note: If you’re curious about the math behind these, it’s not too complicated. Divide the number 36 by the number of squares your bet covers on the table. Then, subtract 1 from that figure to get the payout odds. For example, a three number bet means dividing 36 by 3 to get 12, then subtracting 1 to equal 11. The payout rate for a three number bet is therefore 11:1, meaning a $10 bet would result in a $120 payout if you won.
Odds and potential payout of different bet types
| Roulette bet type | Example roulette bet | Potential payout | European roulette odds | American roulette odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Column | Any number in the third column | 2:1 | 32.40% | 31.6% |
| Dozen | Any of 13 to 24 | 2:1 | 32.40% | 31.6% |
| Even bets | Black over red | 1:1 | 48.60% | 47.4% |
| Single number | 7 | 35:1 | 2.70% | 2.60% |
| Two numbers | Either 19 or 20 | 17:1 | 5.4% | 5.3% |
| Three numbers | Any of 28, 29 or 30 | 11:1 | 8.1% | 7.9% |
| Four numbers | Any of 5, 6, 8 or 9 | 8:1 | 10.8% | 10.5% |
| Five numbers | Any of 0, 00, 1, 2, or 3 | 6:1 | 13.5% | 13.2% |
| Six numbers | Any of 4 to 9 | 5:1 | 16.2% | 15.8% |
Inside vs outside bets - how do the odds differ?
Roulette bets fall into two main categories – inside and outside bets – with the names coming from the table layout and where you’d place your chips.
What are the odds for outside bets?
An outside bet provides the best chance of a payout. A significant amount of the possible outcomes of a game of roulette is covered by 'outside bets'. As the chances of winning are higher, your payout isn’t going to be incredibly generous – it’s only 1:1 for bets like odd or even that cover almost half the wheel.
Other outside bets with a slightly better payout are column and dozen, which cover 12 of the numbers on the roulette wheel. These give you roughly a 1 in 3 chance of winning, and a payout of 2:1. If the roulette ball lands on 0 or 00, any outside bet will lose.
Outside bet odds
| Roulette bet type | Potential payout | European roulette odds | American roulette odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red or black | 1:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% |
| Odd or even | 1:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% |
| High or low | 1:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% |
| Column | 2:1 | 32.4% | 31.6% |
| Dozen | 2:1 | 32.4% | 31.6% |
What are the odds for inside bets?
Inside bets refer to specific numbers and sets of numbers on the inside of the roulette betting table. They have a lower chance of winning than outside bets, but this is balanced by a larger payout. The house edge on inside bets is the same as on outside bets.
Inside bet odds
| Roulette bet type | Potential payout | European roulette odds | American roulette odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight bet | 35:1 | 2.7% | 2.6% |
| Split bet | 17:1 | 5.4% | 5.3% |
| Street bet | 11:1 | 8.1% | 7.9% |
| Corner bet | 8:1 | 10.8% | 10.5% |
| Basket bet | 6:1 | N/A | 13.2% |
| Double street bet | 5:1 | 16.2% | 15.8% |
Is it possible to improve your odds at roulette?
There is no way to influence roulette odds or reduce the house edge for your chosen game. Having a good grasp of the odds is key, though, when it comes to choosing your bets.
Although there isn’t a solution for how to win roulette on every spin, there are methods you can try to maximize your winnings. For more advanced methods, check out our page on roulette strategy, but to get you started, here are a few tips from our team:
- 1Come to the game prepared - The odds of different bets paying out in roulette vary massively. If you're looking to make the most of your bankroll, you'll need to read up on the odds of different bets paying out before you play. Some online games will tell you the odds of each bet within the game, but if not, you can keep this page open to double check as you play.
- 2Choose your roulette game wisely - If you're torn between American, European, or French roulette, make sure you are aware of the different odds for each variation before you begin. Finding out whether your game of choice has a higher house edge could help you avoid any losses being that bit more costly. We’d recommend playing European roulette, as it has the lowest house edge.
- 3Place outside bets to improve your chances - If you are purely interested in the best chance of winning at roulette, outside bets are the way to go. These pay out more frequently and you can stick to the table's minimum bet if you want to stay extra safe. Placing two equal outside bets – for example on black and odd – is a relatively low-risk way of giving yourself a decent chance of a payout. Betting like this won’t dramatically increase your roulette winnings, but it's a way to still have fun without losing big sums of cash.
Roulette odds recap: Lowest risk wagers
1??Odd or Even | 1:1 |
??High or Low | 1:1 |
??Red or Black | 1:1 |
??Dozen | 2:1 |
You’ve now mastered the essentials of roulette odds
Whether you're a roulette novice or here to brush up on your skills, you should now have a good understanding of roulette odds. With this knowledge, you can make smarter betting choices for your budget.
Get used to your different options by practicing with one of our free roulette games first, or explore top-rated online roulette casinos where you can play for real money. If you’re looking to take your roulette skills to the next level, our guides to roulette strategies are the perfect next step.