Online roulette
Roulette offers a wider spread of bets than any other table game, from a single number to outside bets covering almost half the wheel. This page gives the payout and true probability for every one of them.
Start with the wheel
Before bet types, check the wheel, because it is the only factor that genuinely changes the house edge in this game.
| Wheel | Pockets | Zeros | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| European (single zero) | 37 | 0 | about 2.70% |
| American (double zero) | 38 | 0 and 00 | about 5.26% |
The gap between 2.70% and 5.26% looks small but represents nearly double the expected loss on the same turnover. Where both are offered, choosing the European wheel is the single clearest decision available in roulette.
Inside bets
Inside bets place chips on a number or a group of adjacent numbers. They pay well and land rarely. All figures below are for the 37-pocket European wheel.
| Bet | Numbers | Pays | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 1 | 35 to 1 | 2.70% |
| Split | 2 | 17 to 1 | 5.41% |
| Street | 3 | 11 to 1 | 8.11% |
| Corner | 4 | 8 to 1 | 10.81% |
| Line | 6 | 5 to 1 | 16.22% |
Reading the table: 35 to 1 means you receive 35 times your stake plus the stake back — 36 times in total — while the chance of landing is 1 in 37. That difference between 36 and 37 is precisely where the house edge comes from.
Outside bets
Outside bets cover large groups. They pay less and land far more often, producing the slowest-moving balance of any bet on the table.
| Bet | Numbers | Pays | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red or black | 18 | 1 to 1 | 48.65% |
| Odd or even | 18 | 1 to 1 | 48.65% |
| 1–18 or 19–36 | 18 | 1 to 1 | 48.65% |
| Dozen | 12 | 2 to 1 | 32.43% |
| Column | 12 | 2 to 1 | 32.43% |
Why red is not 50% Zero is neither red nor black. A European wheel has 37 pockets while red occupies 18 of them, so the probability is 18 divided by 37 — about 48.65%, not half.
What choosing a bet actually changes
Since every bet on a European wheel carries the same roughly 2.70% edge, your choice does not change expected value over the long run. It changes the shape of the variance — which is to say, what the session feels like.
- Outside bets move the balance slowly, suiting a limited budget spread over many rounds.
- Inside bets swing hard, and require accepting long losing runs before anything lands.
- Spreading chips across many numbers does not reduce the house edge; it only redistributes outcomes.
Some European tables also apply a rule returning half an outside bet when zero lands, which lowers the edge on those bets to roughly 1.35%. If your table offers it, it is worth knowing.
Every game carries a built-in house edge. Set a budget before you start — see responsible gaming.
FAQ
Common questions
European or American — does it matter?
Considerably. A European wheel has 37 pockets; the American adds a double zero for 38. That one extra pocket raises the house edge from about 2.70% to about 5.26%. Given the choice, take the European wheel.
Which bet has the best chance of landing?
Outside bets covering 18 numbers — red or black, odd or even — land about 48.65% of the time on a European wheel, but pay only 1 to 1. A straight-up number lands about 2.70% of the time and pays 35 to 1. Both carry the same house edge.
Why is the house edge identical across bets?
Because every payout is calculated as though the wheel had 36 pockets when it actually has 37. The extra zero is the entire source of the edge, and it applies equally to every bet type.
Do progression systems work?
No. Doubling after a loss assumes unlimited funds and no table maximum — neither of which is true. Seven consecutive losses from a small base already pushes the next stake beyond most budgets, and seven in a row is not rare.