Explanation of odds and payouts roulette

The odds and payouts in roulette can vary depending on the type of roulette you play (American, European, French). Here are some general statistics:

Odds in Roulette

The probability of a specific outcome in roulette is calculated by dividing the number of possible winning numbers by the total number of numbers on the wheel. In European Roulette, there is 1 zero (0) and 36 numbers (1 through 36), making a total of 37 numbers. In American Roulette, in addition to the 0, there is also a double zero (00), bringing the total to 38 numbers.

Wheel europe numbers and payoputs
Wheel america with numbers and payou

Payouts European Roulette

  • Single number: Chance 1/37, Payout 35:1
  • Two numbers (Split): Chance 2/37, Payout 17:1
  • Three numbers (Street): Chance 3/37, Payout 11:1
  • Four numbers (Corner): Chance 4/37, Payout 8:1
  • Six numbers (Six-line): Chance 6/37, Payout 5:1
  • Column/Dozen: Chance 12/37, Payout 2:1
  • Red/Black, Even/Odd, Low/High: Chance 18/37, Payout 1:1

American Roulette Payouts

  • Single Number: Chance 1/38, Payout 35:1
  • Two numbers (Split): Chance 2/38, Payout 17:1
  • Three numbers (Street): Chance 3/38, Payout 11:1
  • Four numbers (Corner): Chance 4/38, Payout 8:1
  • Six numbers (Six-line): Chance 6/38, Payout 5:1
  • Column/Dozen: Chance 12/38, Payout 2:1
  • Red/Black, Even/Odd, Low/High: Chance 18/38, Payout 1:1
American roulette table with numbers

Important to know:

  1. House edge: European roulette has a house edge of about 2.7%, while American roulette has a higher house edge of about 5.26% due to the extra ’00’ space.
  2. La Partage / En Prison: In some European and French roulette versions, there are rules that lower the house edge on even money bets such as Red/Black. In ‘La Partage’ you get half your bet back if the ball falls to zero.
  • European Roulette: 1/37 for each single number, 2/37 for a split, and so on.
  • American Roulette: 1/38 for each single number, 2/38 for a split, and so on.

Payouts in Roulette

The payout is the amount you receive when you win. This is expressed as a ratio to your original bet. If the payout is 35:1 and you bet €1, you will receive €35 plus your original bet back, i.e. €36 in total.

Important Concepts

  1. House Advantage: This is the advantage the casino has over the player. In European Roulette this is about 2.7%, and in American Roulette about 5.26%. The house advantage is built into the game via the zero(s).
  2. La Partage / En Prison: These rules apply in some versions of European and French Roulette and lower the house edge on even money bets (such as red/black).

Some players use strategies such as the Martingale system, in which the bet is doubled after a loss. These strategies do not change the odds or house advantage but can affect the variety of your playing experience.

Each spin in roulette is statistically independent of the previous one. This means that previous outcomes do not inv