A Simple Guide to Calculating the Odds of a Roulette Spin

Roulette is French for “little wheel” and is one of the  popular casino games across all platforms, whether online casinos or land-based ones. It’s hard to miss a roulette table because it usually has many players around it. It has a perfect balance of luck, chance, and excitement, making it a highly addicting game.

You see a roulette wheel, the colors red, black, and green, and the numbers 0 to 36. How hard can this game be? Well, there’s so much more to roulette than the colors and numbers. If you want to dive into this casino game, read our complete guide below to prepare you for hours of fun and, hopefully, payouts. 

Roulette odds: A complete guide

Did you know that there’s almost no way to predict what slot the ball will fall into on a roulette wheel? The reason for this is the croupier or dealer, who spins the wheel in one direction and spins the ball in the opposite. You can compute for the physics and inertia of the ball drop and spin but take note that the croupier can drop the ball and spin the wheel in different levels of force. Therefore, the momentum of the ball is different every time. 

Even during the early versions of the game, with fewer numbers and simpler rules, it was still based on chance, with random numbers generated in each spin. You really can’t count or foresee where the ball lands to increase your chance of winning. Therefore, players focus on their bet types instead. 

Before mastering bet types, you must first get acquainted with the basic rules of the game. The good news is that roulette is pretty straightforward to learn. You place your chips on a particular location on the roulette table before a spin and hope the ball lands on the corresponding slot on the roulette wheel. 

The slot game are numbered 1 to 36, colored black or red. You also have one or two zero pockets in green. As a player, you can place as many bets as you want across the layout. When the time to place bets is done, the courier then drops the ball on the outer rim of the roulette wheel. You can still place bets at this moment until the croupier waves his hand to stop wagers when the ball begins slowing down. 

When the ball drops into a slot, the winning number will be announced and marked on the table. Losing bets are swept aside while winning wagers receive their payout. The croupier then proceeds with the next spin. Take note that there are two main types of layouts, the American and European roulette tables. The first has two green zero while the latter has a single-zero green slot. Although they have a couple of different rules (to be discussed in detail later), the game’s general flow is the same for both versions. If you are beginner to roulette, you should learn about basic of roulette first before playing it.

Calculate your Roulette Winnings with our Roulette Payout Guide

Now that you know the overall process of the game let’s talk payouts and winnings. Payout odds are stated in a ratio form with x (your bet): 1. In other words, you will win x dollars for every 1 dollar you bet on a particular number, color, or scenario (high, low, odd, even, and so on). A single-number bet offers a payout of 35:1, so if you bet 1 dollar and you win, you’ll receive a payout of $35 plus your original one dollar.

Things get a bit more complicated if you split your bet across different numbers. However, the fundamental rule remains, and you need to divide 36 by the number of squares your bet is placed on. For example, if you have a three-number bet, divide 36 by 3 to get $12, then subtract 1 to get $11. Therefore, the payout for a three-number bet is 11:1 or $11. If you bet $10, then you multiply with $11 and receive a $110 payout. 

How to calculate roulette payouts

Now that you know the general computation of payouts, here’s a guide to help you calculate payouts on a particular bet type. A column bet type, or any number in a column of the table, has a potential payout of 2:1. A dozen bet types, or any of 13 and 24, has the same 2:1 payout. Even bets like black over red have a 1:1 payout while single number bets have 35:1 payouts.

Two, three, four, five, and six number bets have a payout of 17:1, 11:1, 8:1, 6:1, and 5:1, respectively. These are the common payouts for a bet type. Keep in mind the formula, and compute for more complex bet types and their possible outcomes. 

Roulette bet types

There are two main types of bets in roulette: inside or outside bets. The first gives you a smaller chance of winning, but the payout is much more substantial. Outside bets, on the other hand, give you better odds but with a smaller win. 

📌 What is an outside bet?

Outside bets cover the large sections of a roulette wheel, hence increasing your chances. When making an outside bet, be prepared for smaller payouts and higher minimum wagers than inside bets. There are five main types of bets considered outside bets: columns, dozens, odd or even, red or black, and high or low. 

A column bet covers one of the three columns available on the roulette table, each containing 12 numbers. If the ball lands on any of your chosen numbers, your payout is 2:1. Dozens are bets covering sets of 12 consecutive numbers, hence the name. For example, 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36. If a number within the range of your bet wins, you get a 2:1 payout. 

An odd or even bet covers all the odd or even numbers on the table, with the exemption of zeros. If the ball lands on a matching number, your wager receives an even amount payout. You can also bet on the colors red or black, with 18 numbers having each color. If your bet lands on that color, you win at even money odds. Lastly, you can bet high or low, covering the range of 1 to 18 or 19 to 36. If the ball lands on the matching numbered pockets, you get an even payout. 

There is also another bet called the snake bet, which covers the numbers 1, 5, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 23, 27, 30, 32, and 34. It receives the same payout as the dozen bet, although looks cooler on the table because it creates a zig-zag, snake-like pattern. Take note that the snake bet is not available in all casinos. If it is, you place your chip on the lower corner of number 34, bordering the 19-37 betting box. Some roulette tables even mark the bet with a two-headed snake winding from 1 to 34. You can place your wager on the head or tail of the snake’s body. 

📌 What is an inside bet?

If you want the biggest payouts for your bets and are willing to risk on the lower odds of winning, then inside bets are the way to go. There are eight bet types on the inside: straight, split, street, corner, six-line, first four, trio, and top line. A straight is a bet on a single number, resulting in the largest 35:1 payout. A split is a wager on two adjacent numbers. If one hits, you get a 17:1 payout. A street is a bet on a row of three numbers, giving a payout of 11:1, while a corner is a bet on a square consisting of four numbers (8:1 payout). 

Betting on two consecutive rows or a six-line gets you a 5:1 odds if the ball lands on any of the numbers. Meanwhile, the first four refers to a bet on 0, 1, 2, and 3. Note that this is only available on the European wheel with a single zero wheel.

The payout is 8:1. Much like a street, a trio is a three-number bet but includes one of the zeros. It gives an 11:1 payout. Lastly, a top line bet, which is only available on an American wheel, covers five numbers, 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. You win 6:1 if the ball lands on any of the numbers. 

📌 What is a called bet?

High rollers are usually given two extra bet types, called and announced bets that are unfamiliar to many experienced roulette players. These bet types are typical on a European wheel and made by calling or announcing it to the croupier. Called bets are made on credit, hence needing a high roller, while an announced bet requires the player to have the money on hand. Announced stakes are more readily accepted than called bets, given the wagers are made on credit, and many casinos don’t allow this. 

📌 Fixed called bets 

One of the most popular call bets is Les Voisins du Zéro or “Neighbours of Zero.” This wager includes all 17 numbers between 22 and 25, namely, 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2 and 25. It’s only possible on a European wheel and requires nine chips placed on several splits. Five chips are placed on splits of 4-7, 12-15, 18-21, 19-22, and 32-35; two chips are considered a split bet, while the other two are corner bets. 

Another fixed called bet is the Jeu Zero or the zero game, involving seven numbers using four chips. If a split wins, you get 17 chips. If the ball lands on the number 26, you win 35:1. Other called bets include Tiers du Cylindre covering 12 numbers farthest from zero, Orphelins with five chips, Finals covering every number ending in a specific digit, and Full Completes, which is a true maximum bet on a single number. 

What are the odds in roulette?

Odds in roulette refers to the biggest payout on a single number bet, a straight-up bet of 37 to 1 (38 numbers in an American wheel). However, the actual payout is only 35:1 on a winning bet, so the remaining balance goes to the house edge. Increase your payout odds by going for a combination of stakes or the different bet types mentioned above.

Download your free roulette odds cheat sheet

Although there are many online roulette strategy cheat sheets available, you still need to consider that randomly generated numbers remain a stumbling block. Add to this the fact that casinos have random number generators used to deter cheating and rigging.

Still, if you are interested in learning more about the game and testing out different strategies, you can try out this roulette cheat sheet by onlineroulette.org. This is a great starting point for beginners to get the hang of the game, helping you choose a particular strategy that you are comfortable with. 

How to win roulette

Since you’re fighting against randomness and chance, it might seem discouraging to even look at strategies to winning in roulette. Fret not, because there are still some tips and tricks to increasing your odds. Here are a couple of noteworthy ones.

Know your roulette odds

First and foremost, you should be aware of your roulette odds. This means knowing what each of your bets entails. For example, if you bet on a single number, you have a lower chance of winning but will receive the most significant payout if the ball lands on your target. You can increase your knowledge of your odds by playing on a free account and maximizing the bonuses and new player rewards. If you’re playing on an online casino, this is a great way to learn the interface of a particular game to avoid misclicks which can be pretty costly. 

Choose your roulette game wisely

There are six main types of roulette games to try: American, European, Double Ball, Multi-Wheel, Rapid or Video, and Mini Roulette. The first type has a 0 and 00 pocket. The order or format of the numbers 1 to 36 is also different from the other types. European roulette has one zero and has a house advantage of 2.6% compared to the 5.3% in American roulette. 

A double ball roulette has two balls, which started as an experiment in Las Vegas casinos. This version is more common in online roulette games and on a European layout. A multi-wheel roulette, you get up to eight wheels to bet on simultaneously! You don’t need to make eight bets at one go, but it is an exciting way to play if you’ve gotten bored with one wheel.

Rapid or video roulette has an additional video board that players can bet on. This allows for instant or automated payouts just in time for the next spin. This is the game to try if you prefer a faster pace, more bets, and more chances of winning.

The mini roulette version has only 13 numbers instead of the 37 or 38 pockets in the European or American layouts. Furthermore, a bet that does not cover zero will only lose half the bet compared to losing all in a regular table. 

Place outside bets to improve your chances

Want to extend your roulette playing time for longer and improve your odds? Play on outside bets. This is standard advice by experienced players who have tested the system. Yes, you get smaller payouts, but by betting on a high or low, even or odd, and so on, you technically have a 50:50 chance. 

Outside bets are less volatile, so you can play for a while instead of losing your bankroll on a single bet. Check out the number of ways to make an outside bet mentioned above and try it out for yourself. 

Play European roulette

It is also advised to play on European roulette solely based on the lower house edge and one zero. That one less zero pocket and 2.6% house advantage might just be the odd-boosting you need. This version also has a unique, en-prison rule, which lowers the house edge even more. “In prison” is a fallback, wherein you don’t lose on a losing spin and get your wager back if you win the next one. This means the house edge lowers to 1.35%. 

Learn how to win at casino roulette

The best way to win at casino roulette is to study game mechanics and then give it a shot. Experienced players aren’t born overnight, after all. Also, you must learn how to separate payouts from bankrolls. Set aside your winnings and only bet with your initial bankroll. This way, you can actually walk out of the casino or end the game with a win.

FAQ

Want to know more about the game or have some burning questions? Here are some frequently asked questions that might match yours.

⭐ What is the best bet in roulette?

The best bet in roulette is any of the outside bets. It’s as simple as a coin toss, after all. In European roulette, you have a 48.6% chance of winning or about49 bets out of 100 bets. Dozen bets are also great because of the 2:1 payout.

⭐ What are the odds of hitting red or black in roulette?

The odds of hitting a red or black is 48.6% for European roulette and 47.4% for American roulette. It gives a 1:1 payout.

⭐ How good are the odds in roulette?

The odds in roulette are based on the bet type. It ranges from 2.70% (European) or 2.60%(American) on a single number bet to 48.60% (European) or 47.40% (American) on an even/odd, red/black, or low/high bet.

⭐ What are the best odds in roulette?

The best odds in roulette, as mentioned above, are the outside bets or even/odd, red/black, or low/high. The next best are column or dozen bets with odds of 32.40% (European) or 31.60% (American). 

⭐ How much does green pay in roulette?

When you bet on a green, you can get a 35:1 or 17:1 payout depending on the roulette version and your bet. If you bet on any of the zeros in an American wheel, you get the 35:1 payout. If you bet on both zeros and it hits, the payout lowers to 17:1. The European wheel only offers a 35:1 payout due to its single wheel. 

⭐ Is there a way to determine which color will hit more frequently in roulette?

The simple answer is no; there is no way to predict if black or red will hit more. However, you can check the game’s history, which is usually displayed on the table or screen. The percentage ratio of each color from past spins is clearly shown to players.

⭐ Can a roulette betting system improve your odds?

Have you heard of the Martingale system, one of the most popular betting systems in the world and the easiest to learn? It works by doubling your bets after each loss. For example, if you bet $10 on a red and lose, you continue on the same bet but wager $20 this time so you can get back your loss plus a win on the next hit. Yes, the betting system works. However, take note that you can go on a very long losing streak, meaning you need a huge bankroll to survive. 

⭐ Can math help you win at roulette?

While you can’t apply a particular mathematical formula or equation to increase your roulette odds, being aware of the odds and how they work is a smart way to start.

⭐ Does the house always win in roulette?

While the house may seem like it always wins in any casino game, players can still win thanks to its advantage rate, hence the lure to keep playing. Keep in mind that the house odds are greater than the players.

⭐ What is the highest payout in roulette?

The highest payout in roulette is a single number bet with a 35:1 payout. If you’re playing online roulette, this can further increase through multipliers or featured numbers on each spin with a corresponding bonus.

⭐ Can you win money playing roulette?

Of course, it’s possible to win real money in roulette. Why else is it one of the most popular casino games? Practice bankroll management, be aware of the odds, make smart bets, and you can see your bankroll increase. Learn more about reliable online casinos that provide roulette game now by clicking button below.

⭐ What is a roulette bet called?

There are multiple roulette bets, each with a name. We’ve mentioned them above so you can become acquainted with each one. 

There you have it, the ins and outs of roulette, from announced bets to which bet type gives the biggest payout. Hopefully, this guide helps you satisfy your gambling cravings and turn you into a roulette master.