Roulette Odds and the House Edge Due to the house paying out 35:1 when you win on a straight up bet, there is a rather distinctive house edge. This shouldn't come as any surprise – the house has an advantage in all casino games. However, you can minimize the house edge by playing European roulette (2.7%) instead of American roulette (5.26%).
How to Quickly Calculate Roulette Odds and Payouts for Any Bet. The three most popular types of online roulette are American, European and French. While all three of these types of the game have their own differences, the core payout structure of all three of them happens to be the same. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas—unless you happen to win a huge cash payout while gambling. The odds that you'll win $5.00 or $10.00 while playing the slot machines are quite good. The odds of hitting a multimillion-dollar jackpot at a Vegas casino—well, if you accomplish that, then we'll be hitting the Vegas strip with you next time. The first pit stop for visitors in Las Vegas is usually a casino as this is the city where you can find the world's best slots and the best online casinos.There are a lot of other cities in the world that try to compete with Vegas, but very few will come close to the ambiance of The Strip. Movies with gambling.
This page explains the various roulette odds and bets for both American double zero and European single zero roulette. Below is a quick reference chart:
| Bet | Payout | European Roulette Odds (Chance of Winning) | American Roulette Odds (Chance of Winning) |
| Reds / Blacks (colour) | 1:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% |
| Evens / Odds | 1:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% |
| Lows / Highs (1-18 / 19-36) | 1:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% |
| Dozens | 2:1 | 32.43% | 31.58% |
| Columns | 2:1 | 32.43% | 31.58% |
| 6 Numbers (6 line) | 5:1 | 16.22% | 15.79% |
| 5 Numbers (top line) | 6:1 | – | 13.16% |
| 4 Numbers (square) | 8:1 | 10.81% | 10.53% |
| 3 Numbers (street) | 11:1 | 8.11% | 7.89% |
| 2 Numbers (split) | 17:1 | 5.41% | 5.26% |
| 1 Number (straight) | 35:1 | 2.70% | 2.63% |
| Examples:1:1 payout means you receive 1 chip PLUS your original bet 5:1 payout means you receive 5 chips PLUS your original bet |
Where the Chips are Placed:
Colours
Payout 1:1 (If you win, you are paid back your original bet PLUS 1 unit)
Evens / Odds
Payout 1:1 (If you win, you are paid back your original bet PLUS 1 unit)
Lows / Highs (1-18 / 19-36)
Payout 1:1 (If you win, you are paid back your original bet PLUS 1 unit)
Dozens
Payout 2:1 (If you win, you are paid back your original bet PLUS 2 units)
Columns
Payout 2:1 (If you win, you are paid back your original bet PLUS 2 units)
5 Number (American 00 roulette only)
Payout 6:1 (If you win, you are paid back your original bet PLUS 6 units)
4 Numbers (square)
Payout 8:1 (If you win, you are paid back your original bet PLUS 8 units)
3 Numbers (street)
Payout 11:1 (If you win, you are paid back your original bet PLUS 11 units)
2 Numbers (split)
Payout 17:1 (If you win, you are paid back your original bet PLUS 17 units)
1 Number (straight)
Payout 35:1 (If you win, you are paid back your original bet PLUS 35 units)
Suggestions and Betting Advice
The two main types of bets are inside and outside bets. The inside bets can be used to represent specific areas around the roulette wheel, whereas outside bets represent deliberately randomized sections of the wheel.
Typically the maximum bet limit is much higher for outside bets than it is for inside bets. This is for a few reasons. Firstly, outside bets are guaranteed to lose in the long term, so casinos want you to bet big. Inside bets can represent specific sectors of the roulette wheel, and all roulette system or technique that legtimate beat roulette in the long-term are based on bets on wheel sectors.
General Tips
See roulette tips and free roulette system that works for much more detailed professional advice. But below are basic tips specifically regarding bets and the table:
- Play on European Single 0 wheels where possible: The house edge is double on the American 00 wheel. In other words, you have a much better chance of profiting on European single 0 wheels.
- Consider the frequency at which wins will occur, so you don't make bets that may take you hours to have a win: For example, if you are playing for fun and bet on a single number, you can expect to win on 1 in 35 spins. This is about an hour of play and it will be tedious if you are only playing for fun. You could of course bet on many individual numnbers, but this can be costly if your numbers don't spin.
Roulette Payout Shortcuts
- Consider the time of day when you play: during peak periods, the wheel may spin as infrequently as once every 5 minutes. This can detract from the fun of playing.
To get the best free roulette systems that really work, see the top 5 proven roulette systems and the video series below. It's the best 100% free information for winning roulette you'll find. It's written by professionals who are really earning a living from roulette. |
Introduction
Roulette is one of the easiest games to play and understand in the casino. As usual the easier a game is to understand the greater the house edge, and roulette is no exception. If you are looking for a easy to understand and slow paced table game, and are willing to sacrifice on the house edge, then you may like roulette. If you want something more stimulating or with a decent return I would suggest looking at other games.
One difference between roulette and all other table games is that roulette chips have no value denomination printed on them. This actually is the true definition of a chip, one which indicates its value is technically called a check. The roulette table comes with six to eight sets of different colored chips, each set consisting of 300 chips. When a player purchases chips he gets his own color and the value of each chip is the buy-in divided by the number of chips received. The dealer will place a token on top of the dealer's stack of that color of chips to indicate the value.
American Rules
A U.S. roulette wheel consists of 38 numbered slots: numbers 1 to 36, a zero, and a double zero. The betting layout consists of every individual number as well as a host of 'outside' bets on combinations of numbers. After the players make their bets, the dealer spins the wheel and a ball and after several seconds the ball will land in one of the numbered slots.
The following table displays the available bets, the win (on a 'to one' basis), and the probability of winning under U.S. rules. All casinos in the U.S. follow these rules except for in Atlantic City. The house edge on all bets is 1/19, or 5.26%, except for the 0-00-1-2-3 combination, which carries a house edge of 7.89%.
Double-Zero Roulette
| Bet | Pays | Probability Win | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | 1 | 47.37% | 5.26% |
| Black | 1 | 47.37% | 5.26% |
| Odd | 1 | 47.37% | 5.26% |
| Even | 1 | 47.37% | 5.26% |
| 1 to 18 | 1 | 47.37% | 5.26% |
| 19 to 36 | 1 | 47.37% | 5.26% |
| 1 to 12 | 2 | 31.58% | 5.26% |
| 13 to 24 | 2 | 31.58% | 5.26% |
| 25 to 36 | 2 | 31.58% | 5.26% |
| Six line (6 numbers) | 5 | 15.79% | 5.26% |
| First five (5 numbers) | 6 | 13.16% | 7.89% |
| Corner (4 numbers) | 8 | 10.53% | 5.26% |
| Street (3 numbers) | 11 | 7.89% | 5.26% |
| Split (2 numbers) | 17 | 5.26% | 5.26% |
| Any one number | 35 | 2.63% | 5.26% |
European Rules
What most call 'European roulette' is roulette played on a 37-number wheel, with one zero only. The pays are the same as in American roulette. However, with one zero the house edge is cut to 1/37, or 2.70%, on all bets.
The term European roulette is somewhat of a misnomer because you can find single-zero roulette all over the world. In fact, it is the standard outside the United States. Even in the United States you can find single-zero roulette in some high-limit rooms.
Atlantic City Rules
In Atlantic City, any all even money bets (red, black,odd, even, 1-18, 19-36) follow a variation of the European half-back rule (see below). If the ball lands in 0 or 00, then the player will lose only half of any even money bet. This lowers the house edge to 2.63% on these bets. This rule does not apply on single zero wheels.
French Rules
French roulette is played on a single wheel and also features a favorable 'en prison' or half-back rule. Under the 'half-back' rule, if the player makes any even money bet (red, black, odd, even, 1-18, 19-36), and the ball lands in zero, then the player gets half the bet back, known as 'la partage' in French.
The term French roulette is also somewhat of a misnomer because the 'la partage' rule can sometimes be found in casinos outside of France, including some high-limit rooms in Las Vegas.
Roulette Payouts In Las Vegas
Rather than lose half, the player sometimes may also choose to imprison the bet. If an imprisoned bet wins on the next spin it is released and the player gets it back, without winnings. What is subject to casino rules is what happens to an imprisoned bet if the ball lands in zero again on the next spin. At some casinos the bet loses, and at others it would become double imprisoned. If a double-imprisoned bet bet won on the next spin, it would move up a level, and become single-imprisoned again. If it lost, then if would become triple-imprisoned if the casino allowed it, otherwise it would lose.
The following table shows the probability of a win, push, and loss under every imprisonment variation I'm aware of.
Imprisonment Odds
| Imprisonment | Win | Push | Loss | Expected Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 0.48648649 | 0.01314828 | 0.50036523 | -0.01387874 |
| Double | 0.48648649 | 0.01332346 | 0.50019005 | -0.01370356 |
| Triple | 0.48648649 | 0.01332583 | 0.50018768 | -0.01370120 |
| Infinite | 0.48648649 | 0.01332586 | 0.50018765 | -0.01370117 |
| French | 0.48648649 | 0.01351351 | 0.50000000 | -0.01351351 |
When given the choice to lose half or face imprisonment, the expected value is the same under French rules. Otherwise the expected loss is less losing half.
Triple-Zero Roulette
Triple-Zero Roulette is roulette played on a 39-number wheel. The wheel has the same numbers and colors as a double-zero wheel, plus a 39th place on the wheel. This 39th place will always be green and often the Logo of the casino where the game is located, for example an apple at the New York New York. The game premiered at the Venetian in Las Vegas in September, 2016.
Much like zero and double-zero, all even money bets lose if the ball lands in green. The order of the numbers 1 to 36 is the same as in single-zero roulette. The 0, 00, and Logo are all consecutive, with the Logo in the middle.
There is an added bet on any green, which pays 11 to 1. The house edge on every bet is 1/13 or 7.69%.
Short Pays
I've noticed some electronic roulette games don't pay the full 35 to 1 on single-numbers bets, and/or 17 to 1 on double-number bets. Invariably, any game that short pays the player like this is going to be on a double-zero wheel as well. The following two tables show the house edge on single- and double-number bets, according to the win, assuming a double-zero wheel, and based on 'to one' odds. Be careful that on electronic games wins are often given on a 'for one' basis, meaning the original wager is not returned on a win. To convert a 'for one' odds to 'to one' odds, subtract one.
Single-Number Bets
| Win | House Edge |
|---|---|
| 35 to 1 | 5.26% |
| 34 to 1 | 7.89% |
| 33 to 1 | 10.53% |
| 32 to 1 | 13.16% |
| 31 to 1 | 15.79% |
| 30 to 1 | 18.42% |
Double-Number Bets
| Win | House Edge |
|---|---|
| 17 to 1 | 5.26% |
| 16 to 1 | 10.53% |
| 15 to 1 | 15.79% |
Best Roulette in the West
Best in Nevada: The Bellegio, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, Mirage, Rio, and Wynn all have European roulette, with a house edge of 1.35%. Usually such wheels are in the high-limit rooms, but the MGM and Mirage also have a European wheel in the main casino at a $25 minimum.
Best in California: It is my understanding that the only single-zero roulette in California is at the Barona casino, with a house edge of 2.70%.
Las Vegas Rules Survey
I am proud to present my Las Vegas roulette survey at my companion site Wizard of Vegas.
Number Placement
To the casual observer, it would appear that the numbers on the wheel are not organized and seem to be distributed randomly. The only obvious patterns are that red and black numbers alternate and that usually two odd numbers alternate with two even numbers. However the distribution of numbers was carefully arranged so that the sum of the numbers for any given section of the wheel would be roughly equal to any other section of equal size. Most numbers are part of a pair, with one number between them. These pairs add to either 37 or 39.
Las Vegas Roulette Payout
For what it is worth, the sum of all the numbers in roulette is 666. Is there casinos in florida.
Wheel Tracking
Some people and books claim that roulette wheels are biased, with a heavy side and a light side. Gravity causes the numbers in the heavy side to hit more often. This, I believe, used to be true when the quality of the equipment was poor. However, modern roulette wheels are much better and very rigorously tested. Only in a casino using a very dated wheel, may you be able to find a biased one by testing many thousands of spins. Based on stories I have heard, your odds of finding such wheels are probably best in Europe.
Betting Systems
Ugh. If you think you can beat roulette with a betting system please read my section debunking betting systems. If you don't believe what I say there, here is what the Encyclopedia Britannica says under the subject of roulette:
The oldest and most common betting system is the Martingale or 'doubling-up' system,in which bets are doubled progressively. This probably dates back to the invention of the Roulette wheel, but every day of the week some gambler somewhere reinvents it, or some variation of it, and believes he has something new. Over the years hundreds of 'sure-fire' winning systems have been dreamed up, but regardless of what system is used, in the long run it cannot overcome the house's advantage of the 0, or 0 and 00. This house advantage is the only system that consistently wins in the long run.
'No one can possibly win at roulette unless he steals money from the table while the croupier isn't looking.' — Albert Einstein
San Diego Area Roulette
The California Constitution prohibits a ball and wheel alone to determine the outcome in roulette. In the greater San Diego area the casinos have thought of some creative ways to offer roulette anyway. Visit my page onSan Diego County roulette to see how they do it, and who offers the best odds.Ball Steering
I get asked a lot about whether I believe dealers can influence the spin to a certain area of the wheel. I used to be very skeptical of it. However, after considering the articles How to Win at Roulette — Part I and Part II by Arnold Snyder as well as other evidence, I think it would be easy for a colluding dealer could do a late slow spin to benefit a wheel clocking player. An extremely skillful dealer may even be able to influence the ball to a certain sector of the wheel. So, for now, I'm still straddling the fence on this one (ow!).
Organic Roulette Experiment
In March 2017, I concluded an analysis of an electronic roulette game by Interblock for ball steering away from perceived wheel clockers. For more information please see my page on the Organic Roulette Experiment.
Play for Free
Play roulette for free with this Flash game. I finally found a Flash game for my site which downloads quickly.
Written by: Michael Shackleford
