Roulette Bets

The multitude of different betting options that are available on every single spin of roulette is capable of causing some confusion for new players. With hundreds of different bets available it’s often difficult for players to figure out exactly what they are betting on when they put chips on the table.

Luckily, you can learn everything you need to know about roulette bets in just a few minutes. Most bets fit into a few easy categories, making it easy to quickly memorize all of your options as well as the payouts associated with each bet. The following guide should get you up to speed on all of the different roulette bets available.

Basics of Roulette Bets

It’s a good idea to go over the basics of roulette odds. Virtually all bets on the roulette table have the same house edge, which is approximately 2.70% on a European roulette table and about 5.26% in American roulette. All bets below can be assumed to have those house edges unless otherwise noted.

Most roulette bets can be divided into two broad categories; these are inside bets and outside bets. When making these bets during a game you’ll need to meet the table minimum on each outside bet you make, and the combined total of all of your inside bets must also meet the table minimum.

You may make inside bets, outside bets, or a combination of both, as long as the bets you choose to make meet the minimum betting rules.

Inside Bets on the Roulette Wheel Explained

The video above specifically deals with inside bets. It explains the six different kinds of inside bets and demonstrates how to make them.

Generally speaking, inside bets are those roulette bets that are made on single numbers or a few numbers at a time. They derive their name from the fact that they are made on the inside of the roulette table’s layout, where the numbers are listed.

The following inside bets are available:

Single Number Bets (also known as Straight-up Bets or Classic Bets): Players may wager on any individual number by placing chips on top of that number. If the number is hit on the next spin, this wager pays 35-1.

Split Bets: This bet is made on any two numbers that are adjacent on the roulette board, and can be made by placing chips on the line between those two numbers. If either number is the winner on the next spin, this bet pays 17-1.

Street Bets: This bet is made on any row of three numbers on the roulette table, and can be made by placing your chips on the edge of that row. If any of those three numbers win, the bet pays 11-1.

Corner Bets or Square Bets: This bet is made on a square of four numbers on the roulette board, and can be made by placing chips on the point shared by those four numbers. If any of the four numbers win, this bet pays 8-1.

Six Line Bet: This bet is made on two adjacent lines of three numbers each, for a total of six numbers. This bet is made by placing chips at the intersection between the two lines along the side of the board. If any of those six numbers win, the bet pays 5-1.

Top Line Bet: One additional bet is available to players in American roulette. This bet can be made on the five numbers 0-00-1-2-3. This bet pays 6-1; however, it is the only bet with a higher than normal house edge (7.9%), and should probably be avoided during play.

Looking at Outside Bets in Roulette with Examples

The second broad category of bets in roulette is known as outside bets, which are focused away from the individual numbers on the board. The video above demonstrates how and where to place your chips when making each of these five different outside bets available at the roulette table.

Outside bets are less risky than inside bets, but also come with lower payouts. These wagers can be found on the “outside” of the roulette board, around the area where the numbers are listed. Outside bets available to players are as follows:

Column Bets: This bet covers one of the three columns of 12 numbers found on the roulette wheel. If any number in that column wins, the bet pays 2-1.

Dozens Bets: These bets cover one of three groups of 12 numbers (1-12, 13-24, and 25-36). If any number in that range wins, the bet pays 2-1.

Odd/Even Bets: These two bets cover all odd numbers or even numbers respectively. If any number of that type wins, this bet will pay even money.

Red/Black Bets: These two bets cover all numbers that have pockets of the appropriate color on the roulette wheel. If any number of that color wins, the bet pays even money.

1-18/19-36: These two bets cover all numbers in the ranges suggested by their names. If any number in that range should win, the bet pays even money.

French Bets in Roulette

Along with the standard roulette bets you’ll also sometimes hear of “French Bets”, special betting options that cover certain sections of the wheel. These bets are generally offered only on certain European roulette tables, particularly those that are actually found in Europe (or at online casinos that cater to the European market).

These bets include voisins du zéro (neighbors of zero, 17 numbers that are near the zero on the wheel), jeu zéro (zero game, for the seven numbers closest to zero), and le tiers du cylindre (thirds of the wheel, or those 12 numbers that are on the opposite side of the wheel from the zero).