Roulette Odds and Payouts Explained
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Whether you get a thrill out of chasing long shots or you prefer to play it safe, roulette has a wager to suit your gambling style. Each bet on the roulette layout has different roulette payout odds, and they vary greatly. So, understanding roulette payouts is essential when choosing where to place your wager. Let's start with a review of the rules of roulette.
How to Play Roulette
When approaching a roulette table, ensure the dealer has completed clearing the table layout from the last round. Then, place your money on the table so it's visible to the "eye in the sky." The dealer will hand you chips in a different color than those given to the other players to distinguish between bets on the layout. When you're done playing, the dealer will convert the colored chips into ones with a monetary value.
Players place their bets on the outcome of a spin of the roulette wheel. The amount they're allowed to wager depends on the table's minimum and maximum bet limits. Online casinos offer much lower minimum bets compared to land based casinos, sometimes going as low as a penny. In the $20,000 range, the maximum bet amounts on most live dealer casinos are large enough to appeal to high-stakes online roulette players. Roulette payouts for an inside bet of that size can be substantial enough to buy a house.
Understanding Roulette Odds & House Edge
Roulette odds represent your chance of winning a bet over the long run, expressed as a percentage or a ratio. For example, the odds of hitting a straight-up bet on a single number are 37:1, or 2.70%. Despite the enormous 35:1 payout, the bet's not profitable over the long term because an American Roulette Wheel has 38 pockets. You can expect to win only once in every 37 times. In contrast, safer roulette bets, including red or black, offer roulette payouts of 1:1 with odds of 48.64%. American Roulette odds are the same as those of the European version of the game.
The house edge, also known as the house advantage, is the percentage of your wager the casino expects to keep over time. Your choice of roulette wheel impacts the house edge and can have a substantial effect on your chance of winning. At 5.26%, the house edge is relatively high in American Roulette in comparison to other table games. European Roulette wheels, on the other hand, offer a lower house edge of 2.70% because they have one fewer zero than their American equivalent.
How to Calculate Roulette Payouts
Calculating roulette payouts doesn't require a mathematical background. In the game of roulette, payout rates are presented using a simple formula: x:1, which indicates that the player receives x dollars for every $1 bet. For example, a roulette bet on black or red with an even money payout would be shown as 1:1. High-risk/high-reward style players may opt for the straight up or single-number bet, which has payout odds of 35:1. This means a winning a $10 straight up roulette bet pays out $350 plus the player's initial bet is returned.
Roulette Bets & Payouts
The straight-up bet with its massive payout is known as an inside bet, with a low 2.70% chance of winning. Unlike most inside roulette bets, which pay out well but rarely succeed, outside bets on black or red, odd or even, and high or low offer a 47.4% chance of success. The roulette payout chart below states the potential payout rates for different types of wagers:
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Betting on red or black pays even money (1:1)
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Betting on "odd" or "even" pays even money (1:1)
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Single number bets, also called straight bets, pay 35:1
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Double number bets, also called split bets, pay 17:1
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Three number bets, also called street bets, pay 11:1
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Four number bets, also called corner bets or square bets, pay 8:1
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A five number bet pays 6:1 (There is only one option for this type of bet in roulette: 00, 0, 1, 2, and 3)
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A six number bet, also called a line or a double street, pays 5:1
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Bets on twelve numbers or dozens (first, second, third dozen) pay 2:1
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Column bets (all 12 numbers in a row) pays 2:1
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High bets (on 19 through 36) or low bets (on 1 through 18) pay even money (1:1)
Learn more about the roulette terms to know by checking out our roulette glossary.
American Roulette vs. European Roulette: What's the Difference?
European Roulette dates back to 17th century France, and it swiftly spread across Europe. However, it wasn't until the 19th century that an American version of the game gained popularity. The main difference between the two lies in the presence of a second zero on the American Roulette Wheel.
Despite similarities in the rules, the odds and house edge set the variants apart. European Roulette offers superior roulette odds and a 2.70% house edge, while American Roulette has a steep 5.26% house advantage. Most online casinos offer European Roulette, but it is reserved for the high-roller rooms in brick-and-mortar casinos.
Online Roulette Tips
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Select a reputable online casino —Choose a licensed and regulated online casino that you can trust with your personal and financial information.
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Play European or French Roulette — These variants offer an attractive 2.70% house edge, but it's reduced to 1.35% when you make even money bets in French Roulette.
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Place outside bets — Your odds of success are almost as good as winning a coin flip when you wager on red/black, odd/even, or high/low.
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Grow your stack slowly — Stick to safe, outside bets and when you're sufficiently ahead, take a stab at a riskier wager.
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Play for free — Practice placing bets while in demo mode or on a social casino before committing real money.
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Pace yourself — Online roulette moves at a much faster pace than in a casino, resulting in more variance and larger swings in your bankroll.
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Set loss limits — Decide how large a loss you're willing to take, and if you're having a bad session, exercise the discipline to walk away.
Where is Online Roulette Legal?
Online Roulette is legal in the seven states where online casinos are available. These are Connecticut, New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware and Rhode Island. New York could potentially be the next if a bill in the state legislature is approved.
Roulette is the second most popular table game trailing only behind blackjack, both in online and brick and mortar casinos. In a casino, a sense of excitement surrounds the roulette table, encouraging mingling among enthusiastic players. Playing online, in comparison is a more solitary experience, but Live Dealer games provide an opportunity for social interaction.
Where to Play Roulette Online
If you're located in one of the seven states with access to internet gambling, you can sign up for an online casino and play roulette on your PC or mobile device. Residency is not a requirement. Players only need to be 21 years of age or older and within the state lines of a jurisdiction where online gambling is legal. Following are our top-rated online casinos for roulette:
Caesars Palace Online Casino
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As one of the only platforms offering Live Dealer French Roulette by Evolution, Caesars Palace Online Casino deservedly claims the top spot on our list. Featuring the numbers one through 36 and a single zero, French Roulette offers better odds compared to the American and European versions of the game despite similar rules. This is because French Roulette's low 2.70% house edge is reduced to just 1.35% for even money bets. Players on Caesars Palace Online Casino have access to a diverse collection of virtual and Live Dealer roulette games with betting limits ranging from $0.10 to $20,000.
BetMGM Casino
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- Available States: Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia
BetMGM outdoes the competition with an impressive selection of 24 roulette games. This online casino offers sports-themed roulette games featuring teams like the New York Jets, New York Rangers, and Detroit Lions. BetMGM also features popular Live Dealer games such as Lightning Roulette and American Roulette alongside virtual options like Space Invaders Roulette by Inspired Entertainment. Inspired by the popular video game, up to five space invaders land on the wheel during every spin. You must hit the space invader with a cannon to reveal a multiplier.
bet365 Casino
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bet365 has earned the distinction of being one of the only Live Dealer Casinos operated by Playtech. Released in 2019, Live Quantum American Roulette by Playtech adds another dimension to the game with up to five multipliers per round, ranging from 50x to 500x. The multipliers go even higher if a Quantum Boost lands on the reels. Live Quantum American Roulette's RTP is between 92.11% and 97.30%.
Borgata Casino
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Borgata Online Casino live streams an innovative variant that allows players in a brick-and-mortar casino to participate alongside online gamblers. Dual Play Roulette is broadcast from the casino floor at the Borgata Casino in Atlantic City.
If you're interested in playing in the physical venue, look for a roulette wheel surrounded by cameras. Alternatively, you can log on to Borgata Online Casino from your desktop or mobile device to join the roulette game from anywhere with internet access.
DraftKings Online Casino
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With 28 titles to choose from, DraftKings Online Casino has positioned itself as a leader in the online roulette space. It's one of the few online casinos with a dedicated link on the menu bar for roulette. While the casino offers its fair share of low-limit games, it also caters to high rollers with titles like 100/1 Roulette, with a $100,000 maximum bet. This variant is played with 100 numbers on the layout instead of the usual 36. Draft Kings offers a demo version of the game, allowing players to practice before placing real money bets.
Fanatics Casino
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- Available States: Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey, and West Virginia
Fanatics Casino has teamed up with Evolution to provide some of the hottest Live Dealer games, such as the award-winning Lightning Roulette. In addition to the usual bets, lightning strikes up to five times each round, revealing multipliers ranging from 50x to 500x. Lightning Roulette transforms a classic table game into an electrifying game show-style experience with a 97.30% RTP.
FanDuel Casino
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- Available States: New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia
Day or night, there’s always a seat at the table because Live Dealer roulette runs 24/7 on Fan Duel Casino. Live Dealer games by Evolution are accessible on your PC or via Fan Duel's award-winning app for iOS or Android. Players can watch the dealer spin the roulette wheel in real time, eagerly anticipating where the ball will land. The wheel determines whether you win or lose, so players know the game is fair.
Golden Nugget Casino
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- Available States: Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and West Virginia
Golden Nugget Casino offers an extensive selection of roulette options, including European, American, and several sports-themed variants. This platform stands out because players can hone their skills in demo mode without risking any of their own money. It's a good opportunity to practice making combination bets across multiple numbers or to experiment with different betting strategies. Players aren't even required to have an account to participate.
Responsible Gambling
National responsible gambling initiatives promote safer gambling practices and raise awareness about the dangers of gambling addiction. Proper bankroll management involves setting limits on both your maximum wager and the maximum amount you're willing to lose. Also, remember to set a limit for how long you allow yourself to gamble.
In some cases, setting limits alone isn't enough. If gambling is causing you harm, consider confiding in a loved one. And you can turn to a therapist or one of the following agencies for support: