Roulette Odds (Simple Guide)

Roulette odds highlight the likelihood of you winning with respect to the wager placed and the game variant being played. Armed with this knowledge, you can set your expectations correctly in the classic table game.

This guide lists all the roulette odds you should know as a new player for easy reference.

What are Roulette Odds?

Roulette odds are mathematical percentages that indicate the chances of you winning, how much you can expect to win, and the house edge.

To further explain, let’s break down Roulette odds based on:
Type of game
Bets

Roulette Odds: Game Type

There are two widely played roulette variants: European and American. European roulette has a 2.7% house edge because it has only one green zero (0) pocket on its wheel. The American Wheel, on the other hand, has a high house edge of 5.26% due to the presence of a single zero (0) and a double zero (00) green pocket.

The difference in the two wheels affects the roulette odds.

Wheel Type	Total Pockets	House Edge
European	37 (1 Zero -0)	2.70%
American	38 (2 Zeros - 0,00)	5.26%

But how does the number of total pockets on the roulette wheel affect the odds? If an American table has 38 pockets (or numbers on the table (36 + 2 zeros = 38) ) but only pays 35 to 1, if $1 is place on one number. That extra $3 represents the house edge, or the profit the casino makes on the game. Compare this to the European table, which has 37 numbers (36 + 1 zero = 37) and also pays 35 to 1. The profit for that is $2. This demonstrates how the house edge for European roulette is less than American roulette.

Roulette Odds: Bets and Payouts

There are various types of bets (inside and outside bets) you can place on the roulette table with varying odds and payouts. The table below summarizes them all:

Bet Type	Bet Coverage	Payout	European Roulette Chance of Winning	American Roulette Chance of Winning
Inside Bets
Straight Up	1 Number	35 to 1	2.7%	2.6%
Split	2 Numbers	17 to 1	5.4%	5.3%
Street	3 Numbers	11 to 1	8.1%	7.9%
Corner	4 Numbers	8 to 1	10.8%	10.5%
Basket	0, 00, 1, 2, 3	6 to 1	Not Available	13.2%
Line / Six-Line	6 Numbers	5 to 1	16.2%	15.8%
Outside Bets
Column	12 Numbers	2 to 1	32.4%	31.6%
Dozen	12 Numbers	2 to 1	32.4%	31.6%
Red / Black	18 Numbers	1 to 1	48.6%	47.4%
Even / Odd	18 Numbers	1 to 1	48.6%	47.4%
Low / High	1-18 or 19-36	1 to 1	48.6%	47.4%

Following this table, here is how roulette odds pay out in real time:

Let's say you placed a $20 straight bet, i.e., a wager on a single number. You only have a 2.7% to 2.6% chance of winning the bet if you play the European roulette or American roulette, respectively. But if you win, you will get a 35:1 payout. You will receive $700 plus your $20 wager, for a total of $720.

Inside bets offer higher payouts but come with lower odds of winning. Conversely, outside bets, especially even money wagers (red/black, even/odd, and low/high), have the best roulette odds but offer smaller payouts.

How to Improve Your Roulette Odds

While many may suggest wagering using betting systems such as the martingale strategy, we advise you to steer clear of them. For the best roulette odds, play European roulette and wager on even-money bets. If the game offers the La Partage rule, that gives players half of their even money wagers back to them if a zero hits, the house edge goes all the way down to 1.35%. This way, you can reduce your risk exposure. Also, manage your bankroll. And if you can’t get your bankroll under control, utilize responsible gaming tools.

Conclusion

Roulette odds change based on the game variant (European and American roulette) and the type of wager you place. To learn more about roulette, visit the Vegas Aces Hub.