Roulette table payouts determine how much you win based on the type of bet placed. Each betting option offers different odds and payout ratios, from even money bets to high-risk single number wagers paying 35 to 1.
Roulette table payouts represent one of the most straightforward yet strategically important aspects of casino gaming. Understanding how different bets pay out enables players to make informed decisions about risk management and betting strategies. Whether you're placing chips on a single number or covering multiple sections of the table, each bet type carries specific odds and corresponding payout ratios that directly impact your potential winnings.
The payout structure in roulette is designed around mathematical probability, with higher-risk bets offering substantially larger returns. A straight bet on a single number pays 35 to 1, while safer outside bets like red or black return even money. This comprehensive guide breaks down every betting option available at the roulette table, explaining the payout ratios, winning probabilities, and strategic considerations for each bet type.
Inside bets are placed on the numbered grid of the roulette table layout and offer the highest payout ratios in the game. These bets cover fewer numbers, resulting in lower winning probabilities but significantly larger returns when successful. Inside bets appeal to players seeking substantial payouts from relatively small wagers.
A straight up bet involves placing your chip directly on any single number, including 0 or 00 on American tables. This bet offers the highest payout in roulette at 35 to 1. If you wager 10 units and win, you receive 350 units plus your original stake returned. The probability of winning a straight up bet on a European wheel is 2.70%, while on an American wheel it drops to 2.63% due to the additional double zero.
Split bets cover two adjacent numbers by placing your chip on the line between them. This bet pays 17 to 1 and can be made on any two numbers that share a border on the table layout, either horizontally or vertically. The winning probability doubles compared to a straight bet, reaching 5.41% on European wheels and 5.26% on American wheels.
A street bet covers three consecutive numbers in a horizontal row. Place your chip on the outer edge of the row to make this bet, which pays 11 to 1. Common street bets include combinations like 1-2-3, 13-14-15, or 34-35-36. This bet can also cover 0-1-2 or 0-2-3 on European wheels. The winning probability is 8.11% on European wheels and 7.89% on American wheels.
Corner bets, also called square bets, cover four numbers that meet at a single corner point on the layout. Position your chip at the intersection where all four numbers touch. This bet pays 8 to 1 and offers a 10.81% winning probability on European wheels and 10.53% on American wheels. Examples include 1-2-4-5, 17-18-20-21, or 32-33-35-36.
The six line bet covers two adjacent rows of three numbers each, totaling six numbers. Place your chip on the outer corner where the two rows meet. This bet pays 5 to 1 and provides a 16.22% winning chance on European wheels and 15.79% on American wheels. An example would be covering 13-14-15-16-17-18 with a single chip placement.
Outside bets are positioned around the perimeter of the numbered grid and cover larger groups of numbers. These bets offer lower payouts but significantly higher winning probabilities, making them popular with conservative players and those new to roulette. Outside bets provide more frequent wins but smaller returns per wager.
Betting on red or black covers 18 numbers of the corresponding color. This bet pays 1 to 1, meaning you double your money on a win. If you bet 50 units on red and win, you receive 50 units profit plus your original 50 returned. The winning probability is 48.65% on European wheels and 47.37% on American wheels. Note that zero pockets are green and cause both red and black bets to lose.
This even money bet covers all 18 odd numbers or all 18 even numbers on the wheel. Like red or black, it pays 1 to 1 and offers the same winning probabilities of 48.65% on European wheels and 47.37% on American wheels. Zero is neither odd nor even, so these bets lose when the ball lands in the zero pocket.
Roulette payouts are calculated based on mathematical probability. The fewer numbers your bet covers, the higher the payout ratio. This inverse relationship between risk and reward creates the game's strategic depth and appeal to both conservative and aggressive players.
Casinos maintain their house edge through the zero pockets on the wheel. American roulette features both 0 and 00, giving the house a 5.26% edge, while European roulette with a single 0 reduces this to 2.70%. This difference significantly impacts long-term player returns.
High or low bets divide the numbered grid into two halves. Low covers numbers 1 through 18, while high covers 19 through 36. These even money bets pay 1 to 1 and provide the same 48.65% winning probability on European wheels and 47.37% on American wheels. Zero causes both high and low bets to lose.
Dozen bets cover 12 consecutive numbers in three groups: first dozen covers 1-12, second dozen covers 13-24, and third dozen covers 25-36. These bets pay 2 to 1, meaning a winning 30 unit wager returns 60 units profit plus the original stake. The winning probability is 32.43% on European wheels and 31.58% on American wheels.
Column bets cover one of the three vertical columns on the table layout, each containing 12 numbers. Like dozen bets, columns pay 2 to 1. The first column includes 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, and 34. The second column contains 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, and 35. The third column covers 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, and 36. Winning probability matches dozen bets at 32.43% on European wheels.
Some roulette tables offer special betting options that combine multiple numbers in predetermined patterns. These bets are particularly common in European casinos and often utilize the racetrack betting area adjacent to the main layout.
Available only on American roulette tables, the top line bet covers five numbers: 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. This bet pays 6 to 1 but carries the worst house edge in roulette at 7.89%. Most experienced players avoid this bet due to its unfavorable odds compared to other options.
Announced bets, also called call bets, cover specific sections of the roulette wheel rather than the table layout. Voisins du zero covers 17 numbers near the zero, requiring nine chips and offering various payouts depending on which number wins. Tiers du cylindre covers 12 numbers opposite the zero using six chips. Orphelins covers the eight numbers not included in voisins or tiers using five chips. These bets are typically placed using the racetrack layout.
Understanding how to calculate your potential winnings helps with bankroll management and betting strategy. Roulette payouts are expressed as ratios showing profit relative to your stake, with the original wager returned separately on winning bets.
For a straight up bet paying 35 to 1, a 5 unit wager returns 175 units profit plus the original 5 units, totaling 180 units. A split bet paying 17 to 1 with a 10 unit stake returns 170 units profit plus the 10 unit stake for 180 units total. An even money bet paying 1 to 1 with a 100 unit wager returns 100 units profit plus the original 100 units for 200 units total.
Multiple bets can win simultaneously on a single spin. If you place 10 units on black, 10 units on even, and 10 units on the second dozen, and the ball lands on 14 black, all three bets win. The black and even bets each return 10 units profit, while the dozen bet returns 20 units profit, for a total of 40 units profit on 30 units wagered.
While payout ratios remain identical between American and European roulette, the presence of the double zero on American wheels significantly impacts your actual returns over time. European roulette features 37 pockets numbered 0 through 36, while American roulette has 38 pockets including both 0 and 00.
This single additional pocket increases the house edge from 2.70% to 5.26%, effectively doubling the casino's advantage. For even money bets, your true odds of winning on a European wheel are 18 in 37, or 48.65%. On an American wheel, your odds drop to 18 in 38, or 47.37%. Over hundreds of spins, this difference substantially affects your expected returns.
Some European casinos offer the en prison or la partage rules, which return half your stake or allow another spin when even money bets lose to zero. These rules reduce the house edge on affected bets to just 1.35%, making European roulette significantly more favorable for players.
While roulette is fundamentally a game of chance with a fixed house edge, understanding payout structures helps you make strategic decisions aligned with your goals and risk tolerance. Players seeking frequent small wins typically focus on outside bets, accepting lower payouts in exchange for higher winning probability.
Aggressive players often concentrate on inside bets, particularly straight ups and splits, accepting long losing streaks for the possibility of substantial single-spin profits. Balanced approaches combine both bet types, using outside bets to maintain bankroll stability while placing occasional inside bets for larger payout potential.
Avoid betting systems that claim to overcome the house edge through progressive staking or pattern recognition. Each spin is an independent event, and past results do not influence future outcomes. The Martingale, Fibonacci, and D'Alembert systems may provide short-term structure but cannot change the mathematical reality of the house advantage.
Roulette table payouts follow a logical structure based on mathematical probability, with each bet type offering a specific risk-reward ratio. Inside bets provide the highest payouts, ranging from 35 to 1 for straight ups down to 5 to 1 for six line bets. Outside bets offer more modest returns of 1 to 1 or 2 to 1 but win more frequently. Understanding these payout structures enables informed betting decisions and proper bankroll management.
The key to enjoying roulette lies in accepting the house edge as the cost of entertainment while making bets that align with your personal risk tolerance and gaming objectives. European roulette offers better value than American roulette due to the single zero configuration, and players should seek out these tables when available. By understanding exactly how much each bet pays and the probability of winning, you can approach the roulette table with realistic expectations and a clear strategy.
The highest payout in standard roulette is 35 to 1 for a straight up bet on a single number. This means a 10 unit wager returns 350 units profit plus your original stake.
Yes, payout ratios are standardized across virtually all casinos worldwide. A split bet always pays 17 to 1, a corner pays 8 to 1, and even money bets pay 1 to 1 regardless of location.
European roulette has only one zero pocket compared to American roulette's two zero pockets, reducing the house edge from 5.26% to 2.70%. Payout ratios remain the same, but your probability of winning any bet is higher on European wheels.
Yes, you can place as many different bets as you wish on a single spin, and multiple bets can win simultaneously. Many players combine inside and outside bets to balance risk and potential returns.
All outside bets lose when the ball lands on zero or double zero. Inside bets that specifically include zero as part of the wager, such as a straight up bet on zero or a split between zero and another number, win their normal payout.
Racetrack bets covering wheel sections like voisins du zero or tiers du cylindre offer no mathematical advantage over regular bets. They simply provide a convenient way to bet on numbers that are adjacent on the wheel rather than the table layout.
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