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Roulette Bet Types: Learn How to Play Like a Pro
Peter Nairn
Casino Operations Specialist
- Over 3 decades of experience in casino operations management, with a focus on Table Games and Slots;
- Senior executive positions in both Native American and traditional casino markets for companies like Harrah’s New Orleans and Minnesota-based Grand Casinos;
- Hands-on experience as trainer and dealer of multiple casino games including: Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, and more;
- Profound knowledge of Title 31 regulations, State compacts, and Federal MICS.
Carol Zafiriadi
Senior Content Writer
- Specialised in video poker, table games, RNG, land-based casinos, and promoting responsible gambling;
- Over 6 years of experience in presenting and analyzing the latest trends and innovations in the world of gaming and tech;
- BA in English and German Language and Literature and MA in Literary Translation, both from the University of Bucharest, resulting in sharpened critical thinking and quality iGaming content.
100%
7 min
Updated on Nov 22, 2024
Welcome to the Roulette Bets article.
Today, we’re going to look at how to bet on roulette.
It’s a pretty straightforward game to play, it’s a lot of fun, and you will quickly see why the game has been a casino favorite for more than a hundred years.
Let’s jump in . . .
The Basics
The roulette table comes in 3 basic styles. The French table, the European table, often called the English table, and the American table.
The only difference between the main two games is the American table has 38 numbers, including a single and a double zero like this one below, and the English or European table, which has 37 numbers, including only a single zero.
The French table is the granddaddy of them all, and has a larger table, the players sit on both sides of the table, and it has a crew of 4 to run the game.
The smaller English or European Roulette layout can be divided into two sections, the Inside and the Outside.
As you can see, the Inside includes the 36 numbers, plus the single and double zeroes.
The American Layout
The Outside includes the 2 to 1 bets on the Dozens and the Columns, and the even money bets Red/Black, Odd/Even, and High/Low.
Roulette Bet Types
| The Bet | Numbers Covered | The Payout | The Odds Of It Hitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Up | 1 | 35 to 1 | 2.70% |
| Split | 2 | 17 to 1 | 5.40% |
| Street | 3 | 11 to 1 | 8.10% |
| Corner | 4 | 8 to 1 | 10.81% |
| SixLine | 6 | 5 to 1 | 16.22% |
| Top Four | 4 | 8 to 1 | 10.81% |
| Red | 18 | 1 to 1 | 48.65% |
| Black | 18 | 1 to 1 | 48.65% |
| High | 18 | 1 to 1 | 48.65% |
| Low | 18 | 1 to 1 | 48.65% |
| Odd | 18 | 1 to 1 | 48.65% |
| Even | 18 | 1 to 1 | 48.65% |
| Column | 12 | 2 to 1 | 32.43% |
| Dozen | 12 | 2 to 1 | 32.43% |
Inside Bets
- Straight-Up Bet: Single number bet with high payout (35:1)
- Split Bet: Two adjacent numbers (17:1)
- Street Bet: Bet on a row of three numbers (11:1)
- Corner Bet: Four-number bet in a square (8:1)
- Basket Bet: Only in American roulette; covers 0, 00, 1, 2, 3 (6:1)
- Six Line Bet: Two rows of three numbers (5:1)
- Tips: Generally, it is the experienced players who are more likely to bet on the higher-risk, higher-reward bets. And the way you identify those bets is that the fewer numbers you’re betting on, the less likely you are to hit them, and the bigger bankroll you need to play that way.
Outside Bets
- Red/Black: Bet on either color, and double your money if you get it right.
- Even/Odd: Bet on the even or odd numbers and double your money if you get it right.
- High/Low: Bet on numbers 1–18 or 19–36 that pay even money when you win.
- Dozens: Bets that cover 12-number segments that pay 2 to 1. Go here for a link to the article about the Dozens, and how best to play them.
- Columns: Bet on one of the table’s three columns of numbers. A winning column bet pays 2 to 1. Go here for a link to the article about the Columns, and how best to play them.
- Tips: Betting the Outside is the best way for a beginner to start to play. He will learn how the game works without putting too much at risk. If you are a beginner, one thing I would suggest is that you start by playing for free online. It gives you an opportunity to understand the implications of the bets you make before you put any real money at risk.
The European Layout
As you can see, the only difference is the number of zeroes on the layout.
The Inside and Outside bets are the same, and because there are only 37 numbers versus the 38 numbers on the American layout, the odds of hitting these bets change slightly for the better.
The European layout is often referred to as ‘The English Layout’ in France and the rest of Europe when it includes The Racetrack.
The Racetrack is a graphic representation of how the numbers are laid out on a French Wheel.
| The Bet | Numbers Covered | The Payout | The Odds Of It Hitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Up | 1 | 35 to 1 | 2.70% |
| Split | 2 | 17 to 1 | 5.40% |
| Street | 3 | 11 to 1 | 8.10% |
| Corner | 4 | 8 to 1 | 10.81% |
| SixLine | 6 | 5 to 1 | 16.22% |
| Top Four | 4 | 8 to 1 | 10.81% |
| Red | 18 | 1 to 1 | 48.65% |
| Black | 18 | 1 to 1 | 48.65% |
| High | 18 | 1 to 1 | 48.65% |
| Low | 18 | 1 to 1 | 48.65% |
| Odd | 18 | 1 to 1 | 48.65% |
| Even | 18 | 1 to 1 | 48.65% |
| Column | 12 | 2 to 1 | 32.43% |
| Dozen | 12 | 2 to 1 | 32.43% |
Announced (or French) Bets
- Les Voisins du Zéro: Covers numbers close to zero on the wheel
- Le Tiers du Cylindre: A third of the wheel opposite zero
- Les Orphelins: Covers numbers not included in the other bets
- Jeu Zéro: Numbers closest to zero
- Neighbors Bets: Includes one number and the two on each side of it on the wheel
Announced bets are exclusively available on a French (also called the European) wheel. They represent sections of numbers that are only on the French wheel and cannot be bet on the American wheel.
Here are the numbers of the Announced Bets shown on the French wheel:
You can go here for a detailed examination of French Roulette, and the Announced Bets.
Special/Less Common Bets
- Snake Bet: Covers numbers in a zigzag pattern across the table. It’s a very unusual bet, and I’ve only ever seen it once. It covered the numbers 1, 5, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 23, 27, 30, 32 and 34. It is made up of all red numbers, so it is popular bet around the Asian New Year, especially when the upcoming year is the Year of The Snake (as is 2025!). There is also the Reverse Snake, which covers 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 32, 36.
- Finales En Plein (Straight Up) Bet: Bets on numbers ending in the same digit (e.g., 4, 14, 24, 34)
- Finales a Cheval (Split) Bet: Covers a combination of ending digits across numbers, for example 0 and 1 would include bets on 0 and 1, 10 and 11, 20 and 21.
Roulette Odds and Probabilities
- The odds on an American wheel are different because the wheel features an additional zero. Instead of having a House Advantage of 2.7%, the American wheel with its extra zero gives the American game a House Advantage of 5.26%.
- The double zero on the American wheel makes the American game one of the worst games in the casino.
- The House Advantage on all versions of Roulette is 2.7%, with the exception of the American game, which has a House Advantage of 5.26% because of the extra zero on the American wheel.
Tips and Strategies for Roulette Betting
Over the two centuries or so that roulette has been popular, there have been many systems devised.
Some of the systems are aggressive and volatile, others are much less so and offer the player the option to play for a long time without putting too much money at risk.
Go here for a detailed breakdown of the most popular systems, including the Martingale, the Fibonacci, the D’Alembert, the LaBouchere and several other popular systems.
Choosing the Right Roulette Bet for Your Goals
If you’re a new roulette player, you may want to start off with a low-risk strategy that will allow you to play for a long time and still have an opportunity to win a small amount. Generally, this will have you betting on even money bets such as Red and Black. Once you get a feel for the game, you may want to expand your game a little. The systems that will allow you to do that are the Romanovsky system, the 24 + 8 system, the Fibonacci sequence and the LaBouchere strategy
Other systems that are more aggressive and may be more appropriate for the experienced player are the Martingale, the Paroli (also called the Reverse Martingale), and the Bond, James Bond strategy. And yes, there really is a James Bond strategy.
Some casinos have specific house rules that may affect how the game is played. One rule that you will find on French Roulette games (and some English Roulette tables, too) is the La Partage or En Prison rule. These two rules offer a 50% rebate on any even money bet if the zero hits.
Be aware that there is a more recent variation of roulette that is currently all over Nevada, called Triple Zero Roulette. It is a terrible game for the player, as it has a House Advantage of 7.69%, which makes it virtually impossible to win. Don’t play this ridiculous game.
If you are a new player, you may want to take a look at the Roulette Glossary. It includes player slang, dealer jargon, and some words that you may want to learn.
Conclusion
Roulette is a fun and entertaining game that many players have enjoyed for centuries. It is a simple game to learn and offers hours of entertainment, plus it has some low-risk bets to keep your costs down.
The French (or English/European) game is the better game to play but US-based players may find that it is buried in a high-limit room with a big minimum bet to contend with.
Nevertheless, it is a fun game that is worth taking the time to learn.
We have many articles about roulette in the Academy, and lots of detailed articles about the other popular casino table games there, too.
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