French roulette is unique in that it includes a variation where you can get half your bet back. It’s called the half-back rule. What this means is that if the player makes an even money bet (red, black, odd, even, 1-18, 19-36) and the ball lands on zero, the player gets half his bet back. This is called “la partage” in French.
Bet | Other Names | Payout | p European | p American |
---|---|---|---|---|
Red / Black | Colour bet | 1:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% |
Even / Odd | 1:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% | |
Low / High | 1-18 / 19-36 | 1:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% |
Dozen | 2:1 | 32.43% | 31.58% | |
Column | 2:1 | 32.43% | 31.58% | |
6 Number | Six line, Double street | 5:1 | 16.22% | 15.79% |
5 Number Bet* | Top line, Basket, First five | 6:1 | - | 13.16% |
4 Number | Corner, Square | 8:1 | 10.81% | 10.53% |
3 Number | Street, Line | 11:1 | 8.11% | 7.89% |
2 Number | Split | 17:1 | 5.41% | 5.26% |
Single Number | Straight | 35:1 | 2.70% | 2.63% |
* This bet can only be placed on a double-zero roulette table (i.e. on an American table and not a European or French one). It covers the numbers 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3.
Here is a quick overview on the different types of roulette bets and odds of each bet that can be made in roulette.
There is also a small image accompanying each bet to highlight how to place each of the bets at the table. Some of these bets you may well have previously overlooked, so pay attention!
The following list is ordered by the payout of each roulette bet, starting with the lowest payouts and moving to the bigger payouts as you scroll down. The payouts are in orange, and the win probability of each bet is in brackets in blue, assuming a European table (single-zero) is used.
Also known as: Colour bet
Payout | 1:1 |
---|---|
European Probability | 48.65% |
American Probability | 47.37% |
Total Numbers | 18 |
Numbers Covered | Black = (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 31, 33, 35) Red = (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 32, 34, 36) |
A colour bet is a very popular bet, and gives odds of 1:1. So lets say for example you bet $5 on red, and after spinning the wheel the ball lands on red. You will get your $5 back, as well as an additional $5 in winnings, returning $10 in total.
Payout | 1:1 |
---|---|
European Probability | 48.65% |
American Probability | 47.37% |
Total Numbers | 18 |
Numbers Covered | Even = (2, 4, ..., 36) Odd = (1, 3, ..., 35) |
Similar to the colour bet, the even or odd boxes offer the same payouts with equal odds for hitting even or odd as there are for hitting red or black. Unfortunately, the green '0' does not count as either even or odd.
Payout | 1:1 |
---|---|
European Probability | 48.65% |
American Probability | 47.37% |
Total Numbers | 18 |
Numbers Covered | Low = (1 - 18) High = (19 - 36) |
These bets split the table in half, with one bet allowing you to bet on all of the lower half of the numbers (1-18) and the other half allowing you to bet on all of the higher numbers (19-36). Also known as the 'low bet' and 'high bet'.
Payout | 2:1 |
---|---|
European Probability | 32.43% |
American Probability | 31.58% |
Total Numbers | 12 |
Numbers Covered | 1st Dozen = (1 - 12) 2nd Dozen = (13 - 24) 3rd Dozen = (25 - 36) |
The dozen bet allows players to bet on 3 different sections containing 12 numbers, which are; 1-12, 13-27 and 28-36. This bet offers slightly higher odds (2:1) than an even money bet, but the chances of winning on one spin are a little lower.
Payout | 2:1 |
---|---|
European Probability | 32.43% |
American Probability | 31.58% |
Total Numbers | 12 |
Numbers Covered | 1st Column = (1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34) 2nd Column = (2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, 35) 3rd Column = (3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36) |
The column bet is very similar to the dozen bet, but instead splits the table into 3 sections length-ways rather than side-ways. Each of these bets also offer odds of 2:1, just as with the dozen bets.
Also known as: Six line bet, Double street bet
Payout | 5:1 |
---|---|
European Probability | 16.22% |
American Probability | 15.79% |
Total Numbers | 6 |
Numbers Covered | e.g. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 |
This particular bet is not always available at online casinos, but can still be played at the majority of them. Often overlooked by many novice players, this bet allows you to bet on 6 numbers at a time via a bet split between two adjacent rows.
Note: This bet can only be placed on American roulette tables (ones with the green 00).
Also known as: Five number bet, Top line bet, Basket bet
Payout | 6:1 |
---|---|
European Probability | n/a |
American Probability | 13.16% |
Total Numbers | 5 |
Numbers Covered | 0, 00, 1, 2, 3 |
The 'five number bet' holds the title for the worst bet in roulette. The house edge for this bet is 7.89%, and it's the only bet to have a bigger (worse) house edge than any other. Every other bet on a double-zero roulette has a house edge of 5.26%.
If you're playing American roulette – which you shouldn't be anyway – avoid this bet.
Also known as: Corner bet, Square bet
Payout | 8:1 |
---|---|
European Probability | 10.81% |
American Probability | 10.53% |
Total Numbers | 4 |
Numbers Covered | e.g. 11, 12, 14, 15 |
Also known as a 'square bet' or 'corner bet'. The 4 number bet allows you to bet on 4 adjoined numbers at a time. The chances of hitting any of these numbers is relatively low, but there is a decent payout for when you get lucky.
Also known as: Street bet, Line bet
Payout | 11:1 |
---|---|
European Probability | 8.11% |
American Probability | 7.89% |
Total Numbers | 3 |
Numbers Covered | e.g. 16, 17, 18 |
This bet involves similar placement to that of the 6 number bet, except for the chip is placed on the edge of one row, rather than spread across two. This bet is also known as the 'street bet' or 'stream bet'.
You can also place 3-number bets at the top of the table using the green zero(s). These can be placed in both single-zero and double-zero roulette, although you have an extra 3-number bet in double-zero roulette courtesy of that extra 00 number.
The payouts and probability for this bet are the same for the respective roulette tables as the street bet above.
Also known as: Split bet
Payout | 17:1 |
---|---|
European Probability | 5.41% |
American Probability | 5.26% |
Total Numbers | 2 |
Numbers Covered | e.g. 22, 23 |
This is where the odds start to get pretty big. A 2 number bet or 'split bet' allows you to bet on two adjacent numbers, offering you some pretty attractive odds of 17:1 - the second biggest payout available at a roulette table.
You can place a split bet across two numbers vertically or horizontally (if that makes any sense). In the screenshot above for example, you could just as easily bet on 22+25 or 22+19 instead of 22+23.
Also known as: Straight bet
Payout | 35:1 |
---|---|
European Probability | 2.70% |
American Probability | 2.63% |
Total Numbers | 1 (no prizes, sorry) |
Numbers Covered | e.g. 32 |
The single number bet or 'straight bet' is the big one, offering the greatest payouts at the roulette table of 35:1. Simply place your bet on one number and hope to get lucky.
So those are all of the different bets and odds of each of the bets when playing roulette online (or live for that matter). There is no restriction to how many different bets you can place at the roulette table, so go wild and see how it turns out. Just remember to enjoy yourself!
Read the article on 'called bets' for information on the special bets available on the racetrack roulette wheel. The snake bet is also worth a look if you're feeling fruity.