- Slots
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Live Dealer
- Baccarat
- Great selection of slots
- High-quality live dealer games
- Excellent welcome bonus
- Crypto-friendly
- Slots
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Live Dealer
- Baccarat
- 300+ games
- Crypto-friendly casino
- Live dealer jackpot
- Bonus galore for different verticals
- Slots
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Live Dealer
- Baccarat
- Accepts cryptocurrencies
- Generous welcome bonus
- Loyalty program
- Kahnawake Licence
Scratching the surface and understanding the importance of roulette odds will significantly improve your gameplay and decision-making.
If you’re ready to take your roulette skills to the next level and improve your chances of winning, read the following guide on roulette odds, payouts and house edge.
European vs. American Roulette Odds
You know by now that each roulette version has different odds and rules. Since the European and American variants are the most popular, we’ll focus on them and explain the difference.
European roulette is the most famous roulette version played in land-based and online casinos. The European version has favorable odds and easy-to-follow rules compared to other versions. The European Roulette wheel has 37 pockets — numbers from 1 to 36 and a single zero. Since there are 37 pockets, the true odds are 36:1, while the game pays 35:1 on straight-up wagers.
The house edge is far lower than in American roulette. Take the one, divide it by 37 (number of pockets), and multiply by 100, and you get the European roulette house edge — 2.7% (2.7027027, to be precise).
Unlike European roulette, the American wheel has 38 pockets (numbers from 1 to 36, a single and a double zero). As a result, you have one chance to win and 37 ways to lose a wager. Essentially, the true odds are 37:1. However, your chances to win are lower than in the European version because you’re two units short, while the payout in American Roulette is also 35:1.
Take the two units and divide them by the number of fields (38), multiply by 100, and get the American Roulette house edge — 5.26% (5.26315789 more precisely).
Therefore, most players don’t see any reason to choose American Roulette over the more favorable European version. Of course, sometimes you won’t have any choice if a casino only features the American option.
Payout Structure and House Edge for Roulette Bets — Charts
European and American roulette offer nearly the same inside and outside bets. Inside wagers (straight up, split, street, etc.) are the ones you place on the inner section of the table. They have slightly lower odds but offer better payouts.
On the other hand, outside wagers (high/low, red/black, odd/even, etc.) are placed on the outer line of the roulette table. Contrary to inside bets, these offer higher odds but lower payouts.
The table below displays inside and outside wagers and their payouts in European and American roulette.
| Bet Type | European Roulette | American Roulette | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| House Edge | Potential Payout | House Edge | Potential Payout | |
| Straight Up | 35:1 | 2.7% | 35:1 | 5.26% |
| Split | 17:1 | 2.7% | 17:1 | 5.26% |
| Street | 11:1 | 2.7% | 11:1 | 5.26% |
| Corner | 8:1 | 2.7% | 8:1 | 5.26% |
| Trio | 11:1 | 2.7% | 11:1 | 5.26% |
| Six Line | 5:1 | 2.7% | 5:1 | 5.26% |
| Five Number | N/A | N/A | 6:1 | 7.89% |
| Even/Odd | 1:1 | 2.7% | 1:1 | 5.26% |
| Red/Black | 1:1 | 2.7% | 1:1 | 5.26% |
| High/Low | 1:1 | 2.7% | 1:1 | 5.26% |
| Columns | 2:1 | 2.7% | 2:1 | 5.26% |
| Dozens | 2:1 | 2.7% | 2:1 | 5.26% |
How to Determine Roulette Payouts
As you can see from the table above, theoretical payouts depend on the bet. Calculating the payout before placing a wager will help you predict the possible win and help you decide which wager to place.
The math behind roulette payouts is simple. Take the number of fields (zeroes excluded), divide it by the number of pockets your wager covers, and subtract one from the amount. For instance, a three-number bet will have the following payout — 36 divided by three is 12. Subtract one, and you get the payout — 11:1.
Calculating how much you’d win is even simpler. You need to multiply the bet amount by the payout. For example, a person has placed two chips on a single number and won. The single-number wager pays 35:1. Therefore, determining the payout would go like this — two chips multiplied by 35 = 70 chips.
Apply this to any wager type and theoretical payout, and you can easily calculate how much you’d win.
Can You Beat the House Edge in Roulette?
We previously explained how to calculate the house edge in American and European roulette. It’s a simple equation showing the casino’s advantage.
The American version has a higher house edge (5.26%) due to the additional double-zero pocket on the wheel. The European variant cuts the percentage in half and offers a more favorable house edge (2.7%).
As you can see, the house edges in roulette, especially the American variant, are pretty high compared to other casino games. That means it is more difficult to beat the house.
However, several tricks can help you reduce the house edge and minimize your losses. Check them out:
Surrender
Some online casinos offer the Surrender side wager on even-money bets.
If the ball lands on single or double zero, and you lose, the dealer will only take half of your stake. That way, instead of facing a 5.26% house edge in American roulette, you’ll go against 2.63%.
If the European variant supports this bet, the house edge will go from 2.7% to 1.35%.
En Prison
This wager lets you recover your even-odds bet if a spin hits the single zero.
You can then choose whether to put the bet en prison (in prison) and keep it for the next round.
If the bet wins on the next spin, you get back half of your stake. This side bet cuts the European roulette house edge in half (1.35%).
Multiple Wagers
If you cover more fields and place different bet types, your chances of hitting the correct number will increase. However, you should be wary of the roulette version and the house edge.
Remember, this game is based on luck, so your plans might not always pan out.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a seasoned player or a beginner, you should cover all the bases and learn everything about roulette odds and payouts. Hopefully, this guide helped you understand roulette technicalities to make better decisions for your budget.
If you’re not ready to play online roulette for real money, find online casinos with the free play option and hone your skills before investing any hard-earned cash.
FAQ
- 100/1 Roulette
- 20p Roulette
- 3D Roulette
- American Roulette
- Bets and Payouts
- Bonus
- D’Alembert Strategy
- Double Ball
- Dual Play
- Etiquette
- European Roulette
- Free vs. Real-Money
- French Roulette
- High Stakes Roulette
- How to Clear Bonuses
- How to Play
- How to Win at Roulette
- Immersive
- James Bond Strategy
- Labouchere Roulette Strategy
- Live vs. Online
- Low Stakes Roulette
- Martingale Strategy
- Mini Roulette
- Mobile Apps
- Multi-Wheel
- Multiball
- Online vs. Land-Based
- Real Money Rouelette
- Reverse Martingale
- Roulette Bankroll Management
- Roulette Betting Strategy
- Roulette Call Bets
- Roulette Payment Methods
- Roulette Variations
- Roulette Wheel and Table Layouts
- Slingshot Roulette
- Tips
- Tips for Beginners
- Triple Bonus Spin Roulette
About the Author
