In online roulette, the chances of winning a given spin depend on what bets a player has placed. Different combinations of bets can cover multiple numbers at once, which in turn affects the roulette betting odds in play. To place effective bets, players need an understanding of the basic odds and payouts of roulette, plus knowledge of how those stats change with different strategic decisions.
Placing Bets in Roulette
There are many possible roulette bet types and options, such as the more than two dozen numbers on the wheel just for straight-up roulette bets. The real complexity comes from combination bets, where players lay their bet on the table so that it overlaps several numbers at once. And of course, players can place as many bets as they like, or can afford, in a single round.
What combination bets are available depends on the layout of the roulette table. For example, a split bet sits on the line adjoining two neighbouring numbers. But that’s only possible with neighbouring numbers, so a 2-3 split bet is possible, but a 2-30 split bet is not.
Beyond the number grid, there are also outside bets, which split the numbers into broader categories. Some of these are based on the table layout, such as column or dozens bets, which each cover a third of the number grid. There are also even-money bets covering red/black, even/odd, or low (1–18)/high (19–36) categories.
True Odds vs Paid Odds
Roulette odds can refer to either of two mathematical properties: true odds and paid odds. True odds are the theoretical probability of a certain bet winning. For example, placing a straight-up bet on 17 in single-zero roulette means there is one winning number and 36 losing numbers. The true odds of winning that bet are 1 out of 37 (36 to 1 or +3,600).
However, casinos pay only +3,500 for a winning straight-up bet. So players win slightly less money than their bet is worth. The actual payout of a bet is its paid odds. A roulette payout chart is a useful tool to double-check roulette payouts on the fly if needed.
Trying to close the margin between true odds and paid odds is essential to success — in double-zero roulette variants like American roulette, the true odds are lower for players while the paid odds remain the same, which raises the overall house edge.
Optimal play advises players to place even-money bets. In roulette, the probability of these bets hitting is the highest, and they have the smallest margin between true odds and paid odds. Players can expect to win or lose approximately half of their even-money bets, which helps wins and losses average out over the course of a play session.
Roulette Payout Table
Below is a complete overview of every roulette payout. Learning basic roulette rules will help players become familiar with all these betting options, while this payout table is a handy resource to double-check odds and roulette probabilities.
| Bet | Description | Paid Odds | True Odds (European) | True Odds (American) |
| Inside Bets | ||||
| Straight-up | Single number | +3,500 | +3,600 | +3,700 |
| Split | Two neighbouring numbers | +1,700 | +1,750 | +1,800 |
| Street | Three numbers in a line | +1,100 | +1,133 | +1,166 |
| Corner | Four numbers sharing a corner | +800 | +825 | +850 |
| Double Street/Line | Six numbers in two neighbouring lines | +500 | +516 | +533 |
| Trio | Three numbers including at least one zero | +1,100 | +1,133 | +1,166 |
| Top Line | All four numbers at the top of the number grid (0-1-2-3) | +800 | +825 | — |
| Basket | All five numbers at the top of the number grid (0-00-1-2-3) | +600 | — | +660 |
| Outside Bets | ||||
| Column | One third of the number grid, in a vertical line | +200 | +208 | +216 |
| Dozens | One third of the number grid, in blocks (1–12, 13–24, or 25–36) | +200 | +208 | +216 |
| Red/Black | Colour of the winning number | +100 | +105 | +110 |
| Even/Odd | Parity of the winning number | +100 | +105 | +110 |
| High/Low | One half of the number grid, in blocks (1–18 or 19–36) | +100 | +105 | +110 |
Roulette House Edge
It’s worth noting that different rule sets have different roulette house edges. This is due to the addition of extra pockets or new gameplay mechanics that tip the roulette odds in favour of either the players or the house. Here are the most common rulesets:
| Ruleset | House Edge |
| European | 2.70% |
| French | 1.35% |
| American | 5.26% |
| American (Basket Bet) | 7.89% |
Minimising the house edge is just good roulette strategy, so French roulette is the best pick for favourable odds. However, French rules are hard to come by in online roulette or in North American land-based casinos. Players can still win in any ruleset, but it’s important to understand the odds they’re going up against beforehand.
