Roulette Payouts – Understand the Odds and Probabilities of Different Bets

Roulette is a simple game of chance that doesn’t take a lot of time to learn. However, grasping the basics isn’t enough if you want to be a winning roulette player in the long run.

Knowing the odds and probabilities of different roulette bets is a big part of being successful at this game.

If you want to learn all there is to know about roulette bets, their probabilities, and payouts, we’ve prepared the best guide you can find online.

Types of Bets in Roulette

Before we can discuss the different payouts and odds available in roulette, we should go over all of the different bets available in this exciting casino game.

With that in mind, every roulette game has two types of bets. These are inside and outside bets. So, let’s take a closer look at the bets that make up these two categories:

Outside Bets in Roulette

Outside bets are the less risky type of roulette bets, as they cover entire groups of numbers. Of course, as outside bets are significantly less risky, they also pay considerably less.

This makes them an excellent pick for beginners and casual roulette players, as well as roulette gamblers that don’t want to risk too much money and look for steady wins. Here’s a rundown of the different outside bets you’ll find in roulette:

Dozens – The dozens bet involves betting on a group of twelve numbers, divided into three groups, 1 to 12, 13 to 24, and 25 to 36.
Column – Similar to the dozens bet, this bet revolves around betting on one of the three columns divided horizontally on the roulette betting board.
Low/High – First of the three even-money bets in roulette, you can either bet on low numbers (1 to 18) or high numbers (19 to 36).
Odd/Even – A simple even-money bet in which you guess whether the ball will land in a pocket market by an odd or even number.
Red/Black – Another even-money bet that involves choosing between two options, in this case, red or black pockets on the roulette wheel.

Inside Bets in Roulette

Inside bets provide noticeably better potential payouts but don’t have very favorable winning odds. Some inside bets are also more complicated and challenging to understand, making them more suitable for experienced players and those chasing big wins. Here’s an overview of the types of inside bets in roulette:

Straight-up – The simplest inside bet and easiest bet to understand, as it involves betting only on one number. It’s also the best-paying bet in roulette but comes with the worst winning odds.
Split – The split bet covers two adjacent numbers on the roulette betting board.
Street – A three-number bet, the street bet involves betting on any three numbers that are placed in a row on the roulette betting board.
Corner – A roulette bet that covers any four numbers that share the same corner on the board.
Six Line – Similar to the street bet, only it covers six numbers spread across two adjacent rows of numbers.
Basket – This bet is only available in American roulette and involves betting on five numbers. These are 00, 0, 1, 2, 3.

Discussing Probabilities in Roulette

Just like with any other casino game, there’s no way to bet in roulette without risking your money.

This is why knowing the probabilities of different bets is one of the fundamentals every roulette player should have a grasp of before they start betting with their hard-earned money.

Payouts for roulette

Simply put, the probability of a specific roulette bet is its likelihood of coming true. It’s most often presented in percentages, although you can also show it through fractions, which is a bit more complicated to grasp.

So, how do probabilities work in roulette?

There are 37 pockets in European roulette, meaning there could be 37 different outcomes for each roulette spin. In American roulette, this number is 38, as this variation has 38 pockets due to the added double zero pocket.

As the outcome of every roulette spin is entirely random, you can only win or lose in roulette.

With this in mind, you can easily and quickly calculate the probability of every roulette bet by dividing the ways you can win with the number of potential outcomes.

To make it even simpler, the formula for calculating probabilities looks like this: Winning Probability = Ways to Win Bet / (Ways to Win Bet + Ways To Lose Bet).

To make this formula even clearer, here’s an example. Let’s say that you want to place a three-number bet in European roulette.

The formula for calculating probabilities is 3 / (3+34) = 0.0810 x 100 = 8.1%. This simple formula applies to calculating the probabilities of any type of roulette bet.

Roulette Payouts and Odds

Now that you know all of the types of roulette bets and know how to calculate their probabilities based on the type of roulette variation you’re playing, you can easily determine the odds for any bet you want to place.

To help you out in this and make the learning process more straightforward, we’ve already prepared the precise percentages for inside and outside roulette bets. Check out the detailed table below for more information:

Type of Bet	Bet Payouts	European Roulette Probabilities	American Roulette Probabilities
High/Low Bet	1/1	48.60%	47.4%
Odd/Even Bet	1/1	48.60%	47.4%
Red/Black Bet	1/1	48.60%	47.4%
Dozens	2/1	32.40%	31.6%
Columns	2/1	32.40%	31.6%
Six Line	5/1	16.2%	15.8%
Basket Bet (First Five Bet)	6/1	13.5%	13.2%
Square or Center	8/1	10.8%	10.5%
Street	11/1	8.1%	7.9%
Split	17/1	5.4%	5.3%
Straight Up	35/1	2.70%	2.60%

As you can see from the table above, the greater the probability (winning chance) of a roulette bet, the lower the bet payout. This is simply the nature of the game, as the riskier a roulette bet is, the more rewarding it can be.

Payout for Roulette Called Bets

In addition to the standard inside and outside bets, you can also come across called bets. These bets are exclusive to European and French roulette, as you won’t find them in the American version.

Looking at the roulette table payouts for called bets, it’s also important to mention that there are two types of called bets, fixed and variable called bets.

Keeping in mind everything from above, here are the odds and payouts you can expect from fixed called roulette bets:

Voisins du Zéro (Neighbors of Zero) – Covers 17 numbers on the roulette wheel that are closest to the green zero. The winning odds for this called roulette bet are 45.9%.
Le tiers du cylinder (Thirds of the wheel) – As the name gives it away, you’re betting on 12 numbers, more specifically those placed directly across the Voisins du Zero ones. This bet has a probability of 32.40%, identical to dozens and column bets in European roulette.
Jeu Zero (Zero Game) – Often considered as the smaller type of the Voisins du Zero bet, Jeu Zero covers seven numbers closest to the green zero pocket. The odds of winning are also lower, 18.9%.
Orphelins (Orphans) – This bet covers all of the remaining numbers not included in the previous three called bets. The winning chances for this bet are 21.6%.

Furthermore, here are the two variable types of called bets and their payouts:

The Neighbors – A called bet in which you pick five neighboring numbers, with winning odds of 13.5%.
The Finals – A variable roulette called bet in which you’re betting on the last number. For example, a bet on 6 is a bet on 6, 16, 26, and 36. The odds on this bet vary based on the number you pick and can be between 8.1% and 10.8%.

What is the House Edge in Roulette?

Another crucial aspect you need to know to understand and calculate your odds and probabilities is the house edge. The house edge is a built-in percentage of all of your bets that the casino takes over time.

The house edge varies between different roulette variations, simply because they don’t have the same number of pockets on the wheel.

More specifically, as American roulette has one more pocket than European roulette, the house edge is higher by default. In that sense, it’s always better to play the European version if you want to get the best returns over time.

The house edge in European roulette is 2.70% and 5.26% in American roulette. And, as we’ve listed in the table above, both variations offer you the same potential payouts.

Roulette table payout

As roulette is completely random and entirely luck-based, there’s no way to reduce the house edge. It always stays the same over time, regardless of which roulette bet you place.

So, if you pick American roulette over European roulette, you’re just giving the casino more money in the long run.

Quick Roulette Tips for Getting the Best Odds

As we’ve mentioned before, betting on roulette always includes a certain risk, as there’s no way to eliminate the house edge or make sure your bets will win.

That said, there are a few things you can watch for to ensure you get the best odds and maximize your winning chances over time.

Here are a few quick and simple roulette strategy tips on how to give yourself the best winning chances:

Always Know the Probabilities – Before you even start betting on roulette, be certain that you know and understand all of the odds and probabilities. Our roulette payouts guide provides you with everything you know, and you can always come back to it if you need additional pointers or you forget something.
Choose the Right Roulette Variant – As you probably noticed, the recurring theme of this guide is that European roulette is the better version based on the house edge and winning probabilities. So, whenever you can, pick this version over American roulette, as doing so can save you a lot of money over time.
Pick Your Bets Carefully – Lastly, you want to pick the right bets to make sure you have the best winning chances. When it comes to this, it’s always best to stick with outside bets. They might not be the most glamorous option, but they pay more frequently and are less risky than inside bets.

Summing Up Roulette Payouts

If you didn’t skip on any key parts of this guide, you’ve learned everything you need to know about different roulette bets, their odds, and probabilities.

Regardless of whether you want to play the European or the American version, you can rest assured that the information on this page provides you with all of the necessary knowledge.

Roulette bet payouts

Additionally, make sure to remember the tips we’ve highlighted and always carefully choose your bets to give yourself the best winning chances.

You can use the formula to calculate odds on the go or memorize the detailed chart we’ve outlined above. Lastly, bet responsibly, don’t risk more than you can afford to lose and know when to stop playing. Good luck and have fun!

Roulette Payouts FAQs

What roulette bet offers the highest payout?

The straight-up bet in roulette is the best-paying bet in the game. It offers 35:1 payouts, which is considerably more than what any other type of roulette bet can offer. The straight-up bet involves picking the exact number you expect the ball to land on for the spin.

Which roulette bets offer the best winning probabilities?

The bets that offer the best winning probabilities in roulette are the so-called even-money bets. In other words, these bets offer you as close to 50/50 chances, barring the house edge. The three types of even-money bets in roulette are odds/evens, high/low, and red/black.

Can I use a roulette betting system to improve my winning odds?

While many casino “experts” advise this as a possible tactic, you can’t really improve your winning odds with any betting system or strategy.

That said, you can still use roulette betting systems, as they are a good way of managing your money and scaling your bets to make the most of every wager.

How to calculate roulette odds and payouts?

A simple formula for calculating your winning odds looks like this: Odds = Ways to Win / (Ways to Win + Ways To Lose). As for payouts, we recommend you memorize the roulette odds and payouts chart we’ve shared in this guide.