Roulette Odds: Learn Roulette Payouts and Popular Roulette Betting Systems
The best thing to remember about calculating Roulette odds is that, regardless of any Roulette betting system you may have learned, Roulette probability never changes. If the wheel comes up red ten times in a row, that fact doesn’t change the odds of the next spin coming up red (since it keeps hitting) or black (since it’s “due”). The wheel doesn’t remember, so you shouldn’t either.
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Roulette Odds: The Wheel to Win
There is one factor that does affect Roulette odds and, more importantly, Roulette payouts. While the payout for a winning bet on each wheel is the same, the player has a much higher advantage with a “European wheel”, or “single-zero” wheel, as opposed to an “American”, or “double-zero”, wheel. Also, many European wheels offer certain special bets, while the American wheel gives players only a high house edge “five-number” bet (0, 00, 1, 2, 3).
Roulette Odds: Roulette Payouts for Column, Dozen & Outside Bets
The easiest bets to make are “outside bets”. These include red, black, even, odd, high and low. The Roulette probability of each of these bets is slightly less than 50%, but the Roulette payout for most of them is even money. In the cases of the “dozen bet” and the “column bet”, where the player selects a twelve-number span, the payout is 2 to 1.
| BET TYPE | ROULETTE ODDS (American) | PAYOUT |
| Red | 1.111 to 1 | 1 to 1 |
| Black | 1.111 to 1 | 1 to 1 |
| Even | 1.111 to 1 | 1 to 1 |
| Odd | 1.111 to 1 | 1 to 1 |
| Low (1 – 18) | 1.111 to 1 | 1 to 1 |
| High (19 – 36) | 1.111 to 1 | 1 to 1 |
| Column | 2.167 to 1 | 2 to 1 |
| Dozen | 2.167 to 1 | 2 to 1 |
Roulette Odds: Roulette Payouts for Inside Bets
Another betting system that players employ is placing “inside bets”. These include bets placed on a single number (a “straight” bet), as well as those for two adjoining numbers (a “split” bet), a row of numbers (“street” bet), and a bet placed at an intersection of lines on the grid that encompasses four numbers (“corner” bet). These bets appear inside the numbered grid on the Roulette table.
| BET TYPE | ROULETTE ODDS (American) | PAYOUT |
| Five Numbers | 6.6 to 1 | 6 to 1 |
| Corner (4 numbers) | 8.5 to 1 | 8 to 1 |
| Street (3 numbers) | 11.667 to 1 | 11 to 1 |
| Split (2 numbers) | 18 to 1 | 17 to 1 |
| Straight (1 number) | 37 to 1 | 35 to 1 |
The “five numbers” bet listed above is an example of what veteran players consider a “sucker bet”. While the bet does offer payouts of 6 to 1, it also carries the biggest disadvantage in terms of the proportional difference between the true Roulette odds and its eventual payout. This bet attracts players who want to turn the disadvantage of the “00” on the American wheel into an advantage.
Roulette Odds: Playing with a Roulette Betting System
Other players like to adjust their Roulette odds by playing with various betting systems. These experts take advantage of Roulette probability by using such systems as “orphelins”, “tiers et voisins” and “zero spiel” to dictate where they place their bets. Some experienced players vary their bet sizes by using such methods as the Martingale progressive pattern and the D’Alembert incremental step system.
However, one factor that all the probability calculations must take into account is the “house advantage”. On a European wheel, the house expects to earn $2.66 for every $100 bet. With an American wheel, the casino typically makes about $5.26 for every $100 bet. This discrepancy explains why most US-based casinos reserve their European wheels for high rollers and reveals who are the true beneficiaries of the game.
Whether you play for the big payouts or just for the fun of watching the wheel spin, you should always know the Roulette odds, play within your means and play smart. The wheel might not remember its previous spins, but players should member which bets are the long shots, which ones pay off more frequently, and which will wipe out your bankroll.