Why does American roulette have lower odds than the European variant?

The American variant adds the “00” segment to the roulette wheel, increasing the number from 37 to 38. That extra segment lowers the odds.

Which roulette bet carries the highest odds?

Even/odd number, color, and range bets have the highest odds at 48.65%. The American variant has a slightly lower percentage.

Which odds are the best?

Roulette is a game of chance; the best wagers depend on your playing style. High rollers will take more risks, while casual players will look for higher chances of winning.

Roulette Bets

Have you ever looked at the roulette table and wondered what those numbers mean? You can place online roulette bets on these numbers, but the game goes further. Several combinations exist to add spice to the gameplay and give players more winning ways.

There are different types of roulette bets, but they all lead back to the numbers and how you combine them. They have different odds, with none ever reaching 50%.

One of the keys to getting the most out of roulette betting is knowing the types of wagers on the table. So, pay close attention as we run through how to bet on roulette and dissect the table.

How Roulette Bets Work

The beauty of this game is that you don’t have to limit yourself to one bet. You can place multiple wagers for a single spin and boost your chances of landing a winning number. However, ensure you have the bankroll to fund the stakes.

No roulette winning formula will work without understanding the roulette bet types in the gameplay. So, let’s begin by explaining what you see on the board.

The numbers go from one to 36. Then, you have an additional “0” on the wheel. These numbers represent the basis of all roulette bets. All wagers relate directly to these numbers or a combination of them. You are at liberty to predict the outcome of the wheel spin to be any of the following:

Red or black color
Single number
Fall within a range
Fall on ”0”

The roulette bets explained in the subsequent section expand on the above principle.

Types of Roulette Bets

It's time to take on the game table and face the wheel spin. However, you must place your stake first with the casino chips. All roulette bets fall into several categories.

Then, you have some wagers that are peculiar to specific variants of the game. For example, French Roulette adds a few stakes you will not find in the European variant.

With that in mind, here are the typical roulette bets you will find in online and brick-and-mortar casinos:

Inside Wagers

The game table contains the numbers 1 to 36, arranged in three columns. Roulette inside bets refer to wagers that you place within this range.

While you can go direct by betting on one number, you can also get several combinations from the range.

The following inside wagers are available in the game:

Straight up stake

It is a simple bet type that involves staking on a single number. You will win if the ball lands on that number in the wheel. Conversely, you lose the wager if the ball doesn’t land in your predicted number.

Straight-up stakes carry high risks, and you have a 2.70% chance of winning them in European roulette. That is because, in every wheel spin, you have one chance out of 37 to land on that number. The extra “0” adds up to 36 numbers to make it 37.

Split wagers

You can increase your chances by betting on two numbers. If the ball lands on any of your chosen numbers, you win. Furthermore, you will have a higher chance of winning at 5.4% against 2.70% on a single number.

Place your casino chip between two numbers on adjacent columns to get split stakes. The payout potential is 17:1.

Street

The game allows you to pick three numbers in a row. Anyone who ends the wheel spin gives you a win. To get a street wager, place your casino chip on the outer number with one-half in and one-half out.

Examples of street roulette wheel bets include 1, 2, 3, or 13, 14, and 15. The odds are a little better at 8.1%, and you will get 11 times your money if you win.

Corner stake

You can increase your chances by wagering on four numbers. Place the chip in a corner, touching four digits. An example of a corner stake would be 5, 6, 8, and 9.

Line wager

A roulette line bet covers six numbers in two rows. You can pick any two rows—maybe 1, 2, 3 and 4, 5, 6—to place your stake. Having six numbers in the mix increases your chances of a 5:1 payout.

Five-number stake

This wager type is fixed and includes numbers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. You must spread your casino chips across all the numbers involved. The winning chance is 13.6%, but you will get a decent 6:1 payout.

This wager might be a top-line bet. Both mean the same thing and involve the same set of numbers.

Basket

The basket bet roulette type is similar to the top-line wager, except for the absence of 00. So, you have the numbers 0, 1, 2, and 3. It still offers a 6:1 payout potential, and you have 13.2% if you play the American variant.

Snake Bets

You can distribute your chips to form a snake pattern on the table. It covers the range diagonally and involves 1, 5, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 23, 27, 30, 32, and 34. However, it has a small payout of 2:1.

Outside Bets

You will get outside wagers if you expand from the base numbers. All the inscriptions or sections outside the primary rectangle are available for betting. So, the outside stakes include the following:

Even/Odd number

Place your money in the even or odd number box, and you are good to go. This wager carries the highest chances of winning (at 48.65%), but it has a payout of 1:1. You have more options to win but a lesser payout.

Red/black

It is similar to the even/odd number wager and has the same 48.65% chance of winning with a 1:1 payout. All the numbers from one to 36 alternate between red and black colors.

High or low range

You can bet on a high range from 19 to 36 or a low range from 1 to 18. This bet carries the same odds and payout as the red or black. Place your money on the range, and you are good to go.

Column wager

Players can bet on a single column, expanding their chances to 12 numbers. The payout is 2:1, but your chances of winning are 32.40%. Column wagers are great for minimizing risk.

Dozen stakes

Every roulette table has a section for the first 12, the second 12, and the third 12. They refer to a dozen numbers in the full range. For example, betting on the first dozen involves numbers one through twelve.

Dozen wagers have a 2:1 payout and odds of 32.40%. The latter drops to 31.6% if you play the American variant.

Call bets

Some casinos allow players to call their wagers rather than place chips on the table. Also, this type of betting is peculiar to European and American roulette.

Call bets often combine different sub-wagers into one. You can have the following:

Jeu Zero

You will have one straight-up wager and three splits based on the chip placement. The numbers include 00, 3, 12, 15, 26, 32, and 35. In addition, each bet carries one chip.

Neighbors

This roulette wager is a five-piece set with two numbers on either set. They are all straight-up bets, starting with the primary number. For premium variants, you can pick any number of your choice.

Voisin du zero

You need at least nine chips to make this roulette wager. It consists of one trio, five splits, and one corner bet. Then, you have the following numbers: 25, 2, 21, 4, 19, 15, 32, 0, 26, 3, 35, 12, 28, 7, 29, 18, and 22.

Final Bets

Some casinos allow players to pick all numbers ending in a particular digit and bet on them. For example, if you choose “4”, you will have the following numbers: 4, 14, 24, and 34.

You can also split your wagers on two numbers, like 2 and 5. Then, you will have 2/7, 12/15, 22/25, and 32/25. This type involves four splits, unlike picking a single digit.

Complete Bets

You may need clarification on this roulette wager, as it is not common. High rollers often call it out and don’t need to place casino chips on the table.

It is an expensive wager; you will need 40 units to complete it. Complete bets involve the following:

One straight wager
Four splits
Three corners
Two line bets

Final Thoughts on Roulette Bets

Understanding roulette boils down to combining the primary numbers (one to 36). You have inside or outside bets, within which you have several ways of wagering your money. Straight or single-number wagers carry the highest risk and payout (35:1).

Other bets exist in the game, but you need a larger bankroll. They require more casino chips, like complete wagers. Know the stakes, but be aware of your bankroll.

FAQ

Why does American roulette have lower odds than the European variant?: The American variant adds the “00” segment to the roulette wheel, increasing the number from 37 to 38. That extra segment lowers the odds.
Which roulette bet carries the highest odds?: Even/odd number, color, and range bets have the highest odds at 48.65%. The American variant has a slightly lower percentage.
Which odds are the best?: Roulette is a game of chance; the best wagers depend on your playing style. High rollers will take more risks, while casual players will look for higher chances of winning.

Author

George Lewis

Experience:3 years

Hi, I’m George, born in the USA, but currently living in India where I came to find my roots. I have been a part of the CasinoHEX.in team ever since the launch in 2019.

Beforehand, I was a dealer at a small casino in Reno, but have decided to take my life to India, and my passion for the gambling industry online, and this position is the perfect opportunity to share all the tricks of the trade.

Working in the dynamic Indian market has been challenging, but it’s a pleasure to see the industry grow and go in the right direction thanks to us and our efforts.