📊 Roulette Odds: Payouts and Probabilities Guide

Spin into the world of roulette as we unveil the intricacies of roulette odds at casino sites, exploring the nuances between European and US versions. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how roulette payouts and probabilities work, equipping you with knowledge to enhance your understanding of the game. Whether you're a seasoned player at roulette sites or new to the wheel, the insights here will sharpen your grasp of the numbers behind the spins.

What are the Roulette Odds?

Below you'll find a comprehensive table detailing various roulette bets alongside their respective odds, probabilities, and the house edge for both European and US versions of the game. This clear and concise chart serves as your go-to resource for comparing the betting options at a glance, helping you to make decisions whether you're playing on a wheel with a single zero or the additional double zero.

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Bets and Odds Explained

It is handy to know the type of bets you can make on roulette before jumping in, so here are the basics covered in the most simple fashion we can explain

🎯 Inside Bets:

All of these bets are made on the numbers or directly on the lines surrounding the numbers themselves

1. Straight Up: Betting on a single number. Payout is 35 to 1.
2. Split: Betting on two adjacent numbers by placing the chip on the line separating them. Payout is 17 to 1.
3. Street: Betting on three numbers in a row, such as 1-2-3. The chip is placed on the line at the end of the row. Payout is 11 to 1.
4. Corner (or Square): Betting on four numbers that form a square (like 1-2-4-5) by placing a chip on the center point where the corners meet. Payout is 8 to 1.
5. Six Line (or Double Street): Betting on two adjacent rows of numbers. The chip is placed on the line that intersects these two rows. Payout is 5 to 1.
6. Trio: Betting on three numbers that include at least one zero. Payout varies depending on the table layout.

🌐 Outside Bets:

Outside bets have dedicated sections to place the chips 'outside' of the numbers section

1. Red or Black: Betting on the color of the number. Payout is 1 to 1.
2. Odd or Even: Betting on whether the number will be odd or even. Payout is 1 to 1.
3. Low or High: Betting on whether the number will be in the low (1-18) or high (19-36) range. Payout is 1 to 1.
4. Dozen Bet: Betting on one of the three dozen that divide the table (1-12, 13-24, or 25-36). Payout is 2 to 1.
5. Column Bet: Betting on one of the three columns of numbers. Payout is 2 to 1.

Best Roulette Bets by Odds and House Edge

Of course, the best bet in roulette is to be the casino because the odds are in their favour and not the players, but if you are playing, maybe you want to know which is the best bet to place based on odds, probability and the house edge.

There is more than one way to consider what the best bet in roulette will be, depending on the player's preferred approach in terms of win frequency desire or long-term house edge strategy.

'Best Roulette Bet by Probability' outlines the bets with higher winning chances. Conversely, 'Best Roulette Bet by House Edge' identifies bets where the casino's advantage is lowest, potentially offering players a longer-lasting bankroll and improved gameplay longevity.

Best Roulette Bet by Probability

The bet to play in roulette if you want the greatest chance of winning in a single spin, or indeed the most wins, is the one with the lowest odds. The lowest odds bet you can place are the 'Even Bets', named such because the odds on offer are 'Evens', or in decimal terms 2.0 - EG: you bet £10 and win, you win £10

This is a 50/50, the odds offered to you as a player are based on 50%, although, with the zero, the probability of landing the bet actually is reduced to 48.60%

This also equates to the largest house edge in a single bet, of 1.40% in European Roulette. The house edge being the added margin or profit, the casino will make on these bets

I placed this bet on RED at odds of Evens or 2.00 in decimal odds.

Best Roulette Bet by House Edge

To lower the house edge as far as down to 0.08%, theoretically meaning less profit for the casino, the bet to place is selecting a single number. However this comes with the added jeopardy of far higher odds and lower probability of winning and hitting wins less frequently. 

If a casino offered only this bet on Roulette they would still make a profit in the long term, but would almost certainly qualify as the best payout casino with such a small profit margin.

A single number bet offers odds of 35/1, against real probability of hitting 1 number in 36 - Real probability, 2.78%, probability offered in odds, 2.70%

Here the chips are placed on a single number (17) at odds of 36.00

Using the table above, you could choose to find something in between, higher probability of winning and lower house edge - The median bet would be the Four number selection, where you place your chip on the intersection between four numbers.

Here I placed a 'Four Numbers' bet covering, 29,30,32 and 33 at odds of 9.00

Roulette House Edge

The house edge is the statistical advantage that the casino holds over the players in any given game. In Roulette, this edge is built into the very fabric of the game through the inclusion of green zero(s) on the wheel.

The presence of this zero - or double zero, in the case of American Roulette - ensures that even the fairest seeming bets, such as red or black, do not have an exact 50/50 chance of winning. Instead, the green pocket(s) skew the odds slightly in favour of the house. This house edge ensures that, over time, the casino will make a profit from the game, despite the occasional large payouts to winning players.

The ball has landed in the (Sometimes) dreaded Green Zero on the roulette wheel.

For European Roulette, with its single zero, the overall house edge is about 2.7%. In contrast, American Roulette, with its extra double zero space, nearly doubles the overall house edge to 5.26%. Over a prolonged period of play, these percentages represent the average portion of each bet that players, as a collective group, can expect to lose. The house edge cannot be overcome in the long run, but understanding its implications can guide players in choosing the Roulette variant that provides them with the best chances of elongating their bankroll life and in selecting bets that lower the impact of the edge on their overall play.

This edge ensures the gambling establishment generates a consistent income, despite the outcomes of individual bets. The house edge is built into the game through the payout ratios, which are slightly less than the true odds of winning as seen in the tables above. European roulette, with one zero, has a smaller house edge compared to American roulette, which includes an additional double zero, effectively doubling the casino’s advantage and impacting players’ long-term chances of success.

Difference between European and US Roulette

The main difference between European and US Roulette lies in the wheel's structure and resulting game odds. A European Roulette wheel includes 37 pockets: numbers 1 through 36, alternating between red and black, and a single green zero pocket labelled "0". This single zero gives the house an advantage of 2.7%, a relatively lower edge when compared to its American counterpart.

American Roulette, on the other hand, features a wheel with 38 pockets. Along with the numbers 1 through 36 and the single green zero, it adds another green pocket marked "00". The inclusion of the double-zero increases the house edge to approximately 5.26%. This almost doubles the advantage the casino has over the player, directly affecting the odds of any single bet placed.

Furthermore, a rule unique to European Roulette, known as "la partage", offers a player half their even-money (outside) bet back if the ball lands on zero. There is also a similar rule called "en prison", which allows the bet to stay ("in prison") for the next spin if the ball lands on zero. These rules aren't typically offered in American Roulette, contributing to the differing odds and strategies that players might use when choosing which variation of the game to play.

In summary, the main distinctions between European and US Roulette are the number of green pockets on the wheel and the house edge, with European Roulette offering slightly better odds for the player due to its single-zero setup and player-friendly rules like "la partage" and "en prison".

La Partage and En Prison

European roulette offers unique rules that can benefit players: 'La Partage' and 'En Prison.' La Partage returns half your bet if the ball lands on zero on even-money wagers, while En Prison gives you a second chance to recover your bet under the same circumstances. These rules can significantly reduce the house edge and are exclusive to European roulette. Intrigued by how these rules can improve your gameplay? Dive into our full guide to unlock the strategic advantages they offer and elevate your roulette experience. [Read the Full Guide Below]

Advanced Bets in Roulette

Some roulette tables also offer what are known as "called" or "announced" bets, which you can find in some European and French roulette games. These can include bets like "Voisins du zéro" (neighbours of zero), "Tiers du cylindre" (thirds of the wheel), and "Orphelins" (orphans) which cover specific segments of the wheel.

Consult our complete guide on Roulette Special Bets for full details