Understanding the different roulette bets doesn’t have to be difficult. Brush up on the different bets in roulette with our all-in-one guide.
Roulette bet types
Roulette bets can be split into two categories: outside bets and inside bets. These bets apply to every type of roulette game – so it’s important to know them well!
How to play Roulette | Outside bets explained
What is an outside bet?
Outside bets are broader wagers that cover an entire category of numbers. The most well-known are classic bets like red or black and odd or even. Outside bets are great for beginners because they give a wider coverage of the table. They also give a higher chance of winning, though with a lower payout.
Red or black
The perfect bet for a beginner, here you’re wagering that the winning number will either be red or black. This bet pays out even money, meaning you’ll keep your original wager plus an equal amount back in winnings.
Odd or even
This bet covers all odd or even numbers on the table. In total, your bet will cover either 18 odd or 18 even numbers. Just like red or black, this bet pays out even money.
High or low
The numbers on the wheel can be separated into two halves. The numbers 1-18 are considered low and 19-36 are considered high. This is another outside bet that pays even money.
Column
A roulette table is split into three columns – this bet covers one entire column. The chances of winning are lower than even-money bets, but the payouts are also higher at 2 to 1. Players can choose to play one, two, or three columns in a single round. The numbers included in each are:
The numbers on a roulette table are also divided into dozens. The first dozen covers numbers 1-12, the second covers 13-24, and the third covers 25-36. On a table, you’ll find this bet located in-between the even money bets and the inside numbers. Just like a column bet, a single dozen will payout at 2 to 1.
How to play Roulette | Inside bets explained
What is an inside bet?
Inside bets can be found in the center of the roulette table’s layout. This type of bet is placed on individual numbers or specific combinations of numbers. Because of this, inside bets are higher risk with a much lower chance of winning. However, this is balanced out with a much larger payout if they do win.
Straight-up
This bet is a wager on a single number. Players can choose any number on the table from 1-36, as well as the 0 or 00 if playing American roulette. It’s a simple bet, but the chances of winning are very low – that’s why that payout is high at 35:1. Players can wager on as many straight-up bets as they like in one round.
Split
Split bets cover two adjacent numbers on the roulette layout. For this bet, chips are placed on the line between the two numbers – for example, 8 and 9. Winning split bets pay out at 17:1 – this is slightly lower than a straight-up bet because two numbers are involved. Here’s a top tip to remember – numbers that are next to each other on the board aren’t next to each other on the wheel.
Street
Street bets, or row bets, cover three numbers in a row on the layout. The numbers are all consecutive, for example, 1,2,3 or 4,5,6. Chips are placed at the bottom of the row and below the first number in the line. The payout for a street bet is 11:1 as the wager is based on three numbers.
Corner
Corner or square bets are wagers on four numbers on the roulette layout. The chip is placed on the corner where the four numbers meet – for example, in-between 8, 9, 11, and 12. The payout will be 8:1 as the wager relies on four numbers. Corner bets are great for upping your coverage of the table while still playing with more lucrative odds.
Six line
Like the name suggests, six line bets cover six consecutive numbers. This bet covers all the numbers on two adjacent rows of the table, like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, or 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. For this bet, the chip is placed on the line that separates the outside and inside bets, and in-between the two rows of numbers you want to cover. The odds for a six-line bet are 5:1 – you might also hear it called a quint bet.
Basket
Also known as a ‘sucker’ or five number bet, a basket bet is unique to American roulette. The bet includes five numbers: the two zero pockets (0 and 00) as well as 1, 2, and 3. The odds of winning a basket bet is 6:1. However, there’s a reason it’s called a ‘sucker’ bet. The bet has a low probability of winning matched with a low payout, meaning the house edge is much higher. For comparison, all other roulette bets come with a house edge of 5.3%, while the basket bet comes in at 7.9%. Steer clear at all costs!
What is a called bet?
Called bets are unique to European and French roulette. This bet type entails wagering on a group of numbers according to their position on the roulette wheel (as opposed to just the table). Called bets are split into two categories: fixed and variable. The fixed bets stay the same regardless, while variable bets can change based on a player’s preferences. Take a look at a few examples below.
Fixed called bet
Neighbors of Zero – A bet on all numbers between 22 and 25 on the wheel
Thirds of the Wheel – A bet on one third of the wheel, all numbers between 33 and 27
Zero Game – A bet on the seven numbers closest to 0, all numbers between 12 and 15
The Orphans – A bet on eight numbers in total: 17, 34, 6, 1, 20, 14, 31, and 0
Variable called bet
The Neighbors – A bet on a single number, as well as the two numbers on either side of it, making five numbers in total
Final Straight – A bet on individual numbers that end in the same digits, like 0, 10, 20, and 30
Final Split – A bet that covers all numbers based on two numbers. For example, if you choose 0 and 1, you’d wager on 0, 1, 10, 11, 20, 21, 30, and 31
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