Roulette Bets and Odds Explained: A Complete Guide for Beginners
Roulette is one of the most recognisable games in any casino, and one of the easiest to start playing. You place a chip, the wheel spins, and you either win or you do not. But beneath that simplicity sits a betting system with more variety than most beginners realise — and the bets you choose have a direct effect on how often you win and how much you stand to collect.
This guide explains every type of roulette bet, the odds and payouts attached to each one, how European and American roulette differ, and which bets make sense when you are just starting out.
How Roulette Works
A roulette wheel contains numbered pockets running from 1 to 36, alternating between red and black. European roulette adds a single green zero pocket, making 37 pockets in total. American roulette adds both a zero and a double zero, making 38 pockets.
At the start of each round, players place their chips on a betting grid that represents the numbers and categories on the wheel. Once betting closes, the croupier spins the wheel and drops a small ball. When the ball settles into a pocket, any bets that cover that number or category pay out. All other bets lose.
Why the Zero Matters
The green zero pocket — and the double zero in American roulette — is the source of the house edge. Because bets like red/black only cover 18 of the 36 numbered pockets, the zero gives the house a small advantage. In European roulette with a single zero, the house edge is 2.7%. In American roulette with two zeros, it rises to 5.26%. For this reason, European roulette is almost always the better choice for players.
Inside Bets
Inside bets are placed on the numbered section of the betting grid — on individual numbers or small groups of adjacent numbers. They offer the highest payouts in roulette, but they also carry the lowest probability of winning on any single spin.
Straight Up
A straight-up bet covers a single number. You place your chip directly on any number from 0 to 36. If the ball lands on exactly that number, the bet pays 35 to 1 — meaning a single unit bet returns 35 units in profit plus your original stake back.
The probability of winning a straight-up bet on a European wheel is 1 in 37, or about 2.7%.
Split
A split bet covers two adjacent numbers on the betting grid. You place your chip on the line between the two numbers. It pays 17 to 1. The probability of winning is 2 in 37 on a European wheel, or about 5.4%.
Street
A street bet covers three numbers in a horizontal row on the grid — for example, 1, 2, and 3. You place your chip on the outer edge of the row. It pays 11 to 1. The probability of winning is 3 in 37, or about 8.1%.
Corner
A corner bet — also called a square bet — covers four numbers that meet at a corner on the grid. You place your chip at the intersection of those four numbers. It pays 8 to 1. The probability of winning is 4 in 37, or about 10.8%.
Line
A line bet covers six numbers — two adjacent rows of three. You place your chip on the outer edge between the two rows. It pays 5 to 1. The probability of winning is 6 in 37, or about 16.2%.
Outside Bets
Outside bets are placed on the sections surrounding the numbered grid. They cover larger groups of numbers at once, which means they win more often — but the payouts are lower to reflect the better odds. Outside bets are the natural starting point for anyone new to roulette.
Red or Black
Red or black is the most straightforward bet in roulette. You bet that the ball will land on a red number or a black number. It pays 1 to 1 (even money), meaning a winning bet doubles your stake. On a European wheel, 18 of the 37 pockets are red and 18 are black — the zero is neither. The probability of winning is 18 in 37, or about 48.6%.
Odd or Even
Odd or even works the same way as red or black. You bet that the outcome will be an odd number or an even number. Zero counts as neither. It pays 1 to 1, with the same probability of 48.6% on a European wheel.
High or Low
High or low splits the numbers into two ranges: 1 to 18 (low) and 19 to 36 (high). You bet on which half the ball will land in. Zero is excluded from both. It pays 1 to 1, with the same 48.6% win probability on a European wheel.
Dozens
Dozens bets cover one of three groups of 12 consecutive numbers: 1–12 (first dozen), 13–24 (second dozen), or 25–36 (third dozen). Zero is excluded. A winning dozens bet pays 2 to 1. The probability of winning is 12 in 37, or about 32.4% on a European wheel.
Columns
The numbers 1 to 36 are arranged in three columns of 12 on the betting grid. A column bet covers all 12 numbers in one column. Zero is excluded. Like dozens bets, columns pay 2 to 1, with the same 32.4% probability of winning.
European vs American Roulette: The Odds Comparison
The difference between European and American roulette is significant, and it comes down entirely to that extra double-zero pocket on the American wheel.
On a straight-up bet (single number), the European wheel pays 35 to 1 and you have a 1 in 37 chance of winning. The American wheel also pays 35 to 1, but you have a 1 in 38 chance — one extra pocket that loses. That additional losing pocket is where the higher American house edge of 5.26% comes from.
The same applies to every other bet type. The payouts stay identical between the two versions, but the extra zero on the American wheel makes every bet slightly less likely to win. Over time, that gap compounds significantly.
Whenever you have the choice, European roulette is the better game. The lower house edge of 2.7% means you keep more of your real money in play over a session. Where available, French roulette — which shares the single zero with European roulette but adds the La Partage rule that returns half your even-money bet if the ball lands on zero — is better still.
Which Bets Are Best for Beginners?
There is no universally correct bet in roulette, because all bets on a European wheel carry exactly the same house edge of 2.7% regardless of which one you choose. The difference is in how that edge manifests.
Outside bets — red/black, odd/even, high/low — win close to half the time and keep your balance relatively stable. They are ideal when you are learning the game, want to extend your session, or simply prefer a lower-risk experience. They will not produce large wins, but they will keep you playing longer on the same budget.
Inside bets — straight-up, split, corner — win rarely but pay more when they do. They are better suited to players who accept frequent small losses in exchange for the occasional larger payout. The house edge is identical, but the session feels very different.
Most beginners find outside bets a more enjoyable starting point. Once you are comfortable with how the table works, you can add inside bets to your sessions for more variety.
Roulette and Bankroll Management
Because every spin in roulette is an independent random event with a built-in house edge, bankroll management is the single most useful practical tool available to any roulette player. No betting system changes the underlying odds — the house edge remains 2.7% on every spin of a European wheel, regardless of what happened on previous spins.
Setting a session budget before you sit down, choosing a stake size that lets your budget cover a reasonable number of spins, and deciding on a win target and loss limit before you start are the practical steps that make a roulette session more enjoyable and controlled. Our guide to setting a gambling budget walks through how to do this step by step.
It is also worth understanding the house edge in the context of casino games more broadly — our guide to the casino house edge explains how the house edge works across different games and why it matters for real-money play.
Roulette, Fairness, and RNGs
In online roulette, the outcome of each spin is determined by a random number generator rather than a physical wheel. The RNG produces a genuinely random result on every spin, independent of all previous outcomes. This is a common point of confusion — many players assume that a colour or number that has not appeared for several spins is somehow “due.” It is not. Each spin starts fresh.
Licensed online casinos are required to have their RNGs independently audited to confirm they produce genuinely random results and that published odds are accurate. Our guides to casino fair play and how online casino games are tested explain what those audits involve and what they verify.
Responsible Gambling
Roulette is fast-paced and easy to play, which means sessions can move through a budget quickly. The house edge means the casino holds an advantage on every spin, and no betting system — Martingale, Fibonacci, or any other — changes that mathematical reality over the long run. Set your session budget and loss limit before you start, and treat them as firm rules.
If gambling ever feels difficult to control, free support is available. GamCare (gamcare.org.uk), BeGambleAware (begambleaware.org), and Gamblers Anonymous (gamblersanonymous.org) offer confidential assistance worldwide. We encourage you to find a local service in your own country if one is available to you.
Roulette and all online casino games are available to players in regions where online gambling is permitted by law. Always check the regulations that apply in your country before playing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the two main types of roulette bet?
The two main categories are inside bets and outside bets. Inside bets cover individual numbers or small groups of adjacent numbers on the numbered grid and offer higher payouts but lower win probability. Outside bets cover larger categories such as red or black, odd or even, and dozens, and win more often but pay less.
What does a straight-up bet pay in roulette?
A straight-up bet on a single number pays 35 to 1. If you bet one unit and win, you receive 35 units in profit plus your original stake. The probability of winning on a European wheel is 1 in 37, or approximately 2.7%.
What is the difference between European and American roulette?
European roulette has 37 pockets (numbers 1–36 plus a single zero), giving a house edge of 2.7%. American roulette adds a double-zero pocket, making 38 pockets and raising the house edge to 5.26%. Payouts are identical, but the extra pocket in American roulette makes every bet slightly less likely to win.
What is the best bet in roulette for beginners?
Even-money outside bets — red or black, odd or even, high or low — are the most beginner-friendly roulette bets. They win close to half the time and keep your balance more stable than inside bets. All bets on a European roulette wheel carry the same house edge of 2.7%, so the choice is really about how you want your session to feel.
Can a betting system beat roulette?
No betting system changes the house edge. Each spin is an independent event, and the ball has no memory of previous outcomes. Systems like the Martingale (doubling your bet after each loss) can produce short-run results in either direction, but they do not alter the mathematical advantage the casino holds on every spin.
What is the house edge in roulette?
On a European roulette wheel, the house edge is 2.7% on every bet. On an American roulette wheel, it is 5.26%. French roulette with the La Partage rule reduces the house edge on even-money bets to around 1.35%.
What does 2 to 1 mean in roulette?
A 2 to 1 payout means you receive twice your stake in profit plus your original bet back if you win. Dozens bets and column bets both pay 2 to 1. If you bet one unit and win, you collect two units in profit plus your original stake, for a total return of three units.
Written by Phillip Payne, online casino content specialist with over a decade reviewing iGaming products and table games for international audiences.
