Roulette Bets and Odds
Roulette is a pretty simply game; you just place your bets on the table and hope to get lucky when the wheel is spun. 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 odds are in orange, and the win probability of each bet is in brackets in blue (assuming a European table is used).
Red / Black - 1:1 (47.37%)
A color 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.
Even / Odd - 1:1 (47.37%)
Similar to the color 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.
1-18 / 19-36 - 1:1 (47.37%)
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".
Dozen - 2:1 (31.58%)
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.
Column - 2:1 (31.58%)
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.
6 Numbers - 5:1 (15.79%)
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.
4 Numbers - 8:1 (10.53%)
Also known as the "square 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.
3 Numbers - 11:1 (7.89%)
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".
2 Numbers - 17:1 (5.26%)
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.
Single Number - 35:1 (2.63%)
The single number bet or "straight bet" is the big one, offering the greatest odds 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 roullette online (or live for that matter). There is no restriction to how many different bets you can place at the table, so go wild and see how it turns out. Just remember to enjoy yourself!
Read the article on racetrack bets for information on the special bets available on the racetrack roulette wheel.