Roulette Odds Explained: Complete Guide to Payouts, Probability and House Edge
By Sarah Mitchell
Roulette odds are the probability of an outcome on the roulette wheel that indicates your chances of winning a bet. You can place a bet on any number or group of numbers on the roulette table.
Before placing a bet, it's best to understand the probability so that you can compare your chances of winning and its payout in each bet.
The odds of winning are different between European, American, and French roulette. By learning roulette odds, players can get a clear understanding of the expected return on their bets rather than predict outcomes.
This guide will further discuss payout odds, true probability, and house edge.
What are Roulette Odds?
Roulette odds can be defined as the mathematical probability of an event occurring on a roulette wheel and determining a successful outcome. The wheel design of the roulette is fixed, and this structure determines the probability of roulette odds. Thus, casino roulette odds never change. Whereas the payouts are proportional to your bet. This can vary depending on each type of roulette.
Every spin is independent, with the same odds, and generates random outcomes, regardless of the previous events.
The probability and betting odds are the price the bookmaker makes, which also ensures a house edge benefit. Thus, these two odds differ.
Understanding the Roulette Table and Number Layout
The layout of the roulette table differs in each style.
- European roulette table: 37 numbered pockets with a single green zero (0).
- American roulette table: 38 numbered pockets with a single green 0 and a double green 00.
- French layout: 37 numbered pockets with a single zero
- Inside bets: Bets placed on the inner section of the table on specific numbers within the grid.
- Outside bets: Bets placed around the edges of the grid, which cover larger sections.
- Number arrangement: The numbers 1 through 36 are arranged on a roulette wheel with additional single or double zeros, and they alternate between red and black.
- Green zero pockets: Casinos can get a house edge advantage when the ball lands on green zero pockets.
- Double zero on American wheels: This doubles the house advantage.
Roulette Payout Odds Explained
As roulette has a casino house edge, the payout odds may differ from the actual mathematical probability. Inside bets have higher payouts with higher risk, and outside bets have lower payouts with lower risk.
Inside Bets
- Straight Up: Bets on a single number and has the highest payout of 35x your bet (35:1).
- Split: Bets on two adjacent numbers with a 17:1 payout.
- Street: Bets on three numbers in the same row with a payout of 11x your bet.
- Corner: Bets on four numbers that meet at a corner with a payout of 8:1
- Six Line: Bets on two adjacent rows that cover six consecutive numbers with a payout of 5x your bet.
Outside Bets
- Red/Black: Bets on either red or black numbers with a 1-to-1 payout.
- Odd/Even: Bets on either 18 odd or 18 even numbers with a 1:1 payout.
- High/Low: Bets on 1-18 and 19-36 and have a 1:1 payout.
- Dozens: Bets on a group of numbers in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd dozen and have a payout of 2x your bet.
- Columns: Bets on a vertical column of 12 numbers with a 2:1 payout.
Roulette Odds Chart (Probability vs Payout)
The differences in the roulette wheel impact the odds, and thereby the probabilities in European and American roulette vary. Before beginning to play, many players look for a free roulette payout chart so that they can compare winning chances and payouts.
Bet | Payout | European Probability | American Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
Straight Up | 35:1 | 2.7% | 2.6% |
Split | 17:1 | 5.4% | 5.3% |
Street | 11:1 | 8.1% | 7.9% |
Corner | 8:1 | 10.8% | 10.5% |
Six Line | 5:1 | 16.2% | 15.8% |
Red/Black | 1:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% |
Odd/Even | 1:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% |
Dozens | 2:1 | 32.4% | 31.6% |
Columns | 2:1 | 32.4% | 31.6% |
Roulette Odds on European vs American Roulette
European Roulette | American Roulette |
|---|---|
This roulette wheel has a single green zero with 37 pockets | Has a double green zero with 38 pockets. |
Better odds, as the house edge is only 2.7% | Higher house edge of 5.26% due to the 00. |
Difference in the order of numbers on the wheel. | Different order of numbers. |
Includes a call bet or announced bets that cover a certain section in the wheel, as it's a predetermined bet. | Includes a five-number bet with numbers 0,00,1,2, and 3. |
This roulette typically offers better mathematical value due to a smaller house edge. Thus, your bankroll also lasts longer. | Offers less long-term value due to a higher house edge. |
Surprisingly, Australia has both the European and American roulette at offshore online casinos due to a combination of various legislation in the online gambling market. So if you're looking for roulette odds Australia, you’ll generally encounter both versions.
Odds of Winning Red or Black
The odds of winning roulette red or black vary slightly in European and American roulette. There are a total of 18 red and 18 black in both roulette versions. If you’re landing on green pockets, it causes losses as it gives the casino a house edge.
The odds of getting red or black in American roulette are 47.37%. Notably, roulette odds of black and red have a winning probability of 48.65% in European roulette, which is slightly higher than the American version. Despite the differences in the probability of winning, the payout is 1:1 in both versions.
Understanding House Edge in Roulette
The mathematical advantage the casino has over the player in roulette is the house edge, and its probability varies as per different wheel designs and versions.
European roulette has a house edge of 2.7% due to the presence of one green zero pocket. The house edge in American roulette is high and is 5.26%, as the wheel has double 00.
On the other hand, French roulette has a similar wheel design to European roulette with one zero, but this version additionally includes the La Partage and En Prison rules.
La Partage works when the ball lands on zero when an even-money bet is placed on a 1:1 payout. This allows the players to get back half of their stake instead of the house taking away all the money.
As per En Prison, the player gets one more chance to recover their bet after landing on zero on an even-money bet. That said, these two rules help in reducing the house edge on eligible even-money bets, and thereby the French roulette house edge is only 1.35%.
Regardless of the betting strategy you choose, the house edge is built into the game.
Can you Improve your Roulette Odds?
The probability of roulette odds cannot be changed by a betting system. In roulette odds, only the staking patterns can be altered in Martingale, Fibonacci, Labouchere, and D'Alembert.
When compared to American roulette, choosing European or French roulette will generally offer you better mathematical odds. Every spin in roulette has independent and random odds. Note that although individual losses can be reduced with bankroll management, you cannot overcome the house edge.
Conclusion: Roulette Odds Guide
Roulette odds are fixed by mathematics. It indicates your chances of winning, and the probability determines the size of the payout of your bet.
European roulette usually offers better value to players when compared with American roulette. Aussie players can make informed betting decisions by understanding probability, payouts, and house edge.
It's encouraged to use roulette odds charts and payout tables for educational purposes before playing. Consider using self-exclusion tools like BetStop if gambling becomes difficult to manage.
FAQs: Roulette Odds - Payouts, Probability and House Edge
There is an equal probability for 18 red and 18 black to come up. So neither of them has more chance of occurring.
No, the house will not win all the time, but the game is designed in such a way that gives the house more advantage than the players.
Straight-up bets have the highest payout of 35:1 and also have higher risk.
No. But learning about roulette odds will help you improve your chances of winning.
European roulette offers better value than American roulette as it has a single green pocket.