Key facts
- On a single zero wheel a straight-up number wins 1 time in 37 and pays 35 to 1. The true odds are 36 to 1 against, so every win is paid one unit short.
- Every standard bet on a single zero wheel returns 36 units for every 37 bet over time, a house edge of 2.70%. On a double zero wheel it is 5.26%.
- Even-money bets (red, black, odd, even, 1 to 18, 19 to 36) win 18 times in 37, about 48.6% of spins on a single zero wheel.
- Bet the same number for 37 spins and the chance it comes up at least once is only 63.7%. Over 100 spins it is 93.5%.
- A $10 bet on any single zero roulette bet loses 27 cents on average, whichever bet you choose.
Roulette odds and payouts on a single zero wheel
A single zero wheel, the European roulette layout, has 37 pockets: 1 to 36 plus 0. Each bet covers a set of numbers and pays a fixed amount if any of them comes up. Here is every standard bet, with our calculations of the chance of winning and the house edge.
| Bet | Numbers covered | Payout | Chance of winning | True odds against | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 1 | 35 to 1 | 2.70% (1 in 37) | 36 to 1 | 2.70% |
| Split | 2 | 17 to 1 | 5.41% (1 in 18.5) | 35 to 2 | 2.70% |
| Street | 3 | 11 to 1 | 8.11% (1 in 12.3) | 34 to 3 | 2.70% |
| Corner | 4 | 8 to 1 | 10.81% (1 in 9.25) | 33 to 4 | 2.70% |
| Six line | 6 | 5 to 1 | 16.22% (1 in 6.2) | 31 to 6 | 2.70% |
| Dozen or column | 12 | 2 to 1 | 32.43% (1 in 3.1) | 25 to 12 | 2.70% |
| Red, black, odd, even, 1 to 18, 19 to 36 | 18 | 1 to 1 | 48.65% (1 in 2.06) | 19 to 18 | 2.70% |
The house edge is the same on every line because the payouts are all built the same way: as if the wheel had 36 pockets instead of 37. The exception is a French roulette table with La Partage, which halves the edge on even-money bets to 1.35%.
Double zero roulette odds
A double zero wheel, the one used in American roulette, adds a 00 pocket, making 38. The payouts stay the same, so every bet gets worse.
| Bet | Chance of winning | Payout | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 2.63% (1 in 38) | 35 to 1 | 5.26% |
| Split | 5.26% (1 in 19) | 17 to 1 | 5.26% |
| Street | 7.89% (1 in 12.7) | 11 to 1 | 5.26% |
| Corner | 10.53% (1 in 9.5) | 8 to 1 | 5.26% |
| Six line | 15.79% (1 in 6.3) | 5 to 1 | 5.26% |
| Dozen or column | 31.58% (1 in 3.2) | 2 to 1 | 5.26% |
| Even-money bets | 47.37% (1 in 2.1) | 1 to 1 | 5.26% |
| Five-number bet: 0, 00, 1, 2, 3 | 13.16% (1 in 7.6) | 6 to 1 | 7.89% |
The five-number bet is the worst bet on either wheel. It would need to pay 6.2 to 1 to carry the same edge as the rest of the double zero table, and it pays 6.
Payout versus true odds: where the edge comes from
The difference between what a bet pays and its true odds is the casino's margin. Take a straight-up bet on a single zero wheel:
- True odds: 36 losing pockets to 1 winning pocket, or 36 to 1 against.
- Payout: 35 to 1.
- Over 37 spins at $1 a spin you bet $37. On average you win once, collecting $35 plus your $1 back: $36.
- You are $1 down per 37 spins. $1 / $37 = 2.70%.
The same sum works for every bet. A dozen covers 12 numbers, so in 37 spins at $1 you win 12 times on average, collecting 12 x $3 = $36. Again, $36 back for $37 bet.
You can turn any payout into the probability it implies with our implied probability calculator: 35 to 1 implies 1 in 36, or 2.78%, while the true chance is 2.70%.
What a $10 bet is worth
Because every bet has the same edge, the average result of a $10 bet is the same whichever you pick: minus 27 cents on a single zero wheel, minus 53 cents on double zero. What changes is the spread.
| $10 bet on (single zero) | Most likely result | Best result | Average result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | Win $10 or lose $10, nearly 50/50 | Win $10 | minus $0.27 |
| A dozen | Lose $10 about two spins in three | Win $20 | minus $0.27 |
| A single number | Lose $10 about 36 spins in 37 | Win $350 | minus $0.27 |
Your chances over a session
Single spin odds understate how lumpy roulette is. Some session-level numbers for a single zero wheel:
| Situation | Chance |
|---|---|
| Your number comes up at least once in 37 spins | 63.7% |
| Your number comes up at least once in 100 spins | 93.5% |
| Red comes up at least once in 3 spins | 86.5% |
| A dozen bet misses 5 spins in a row | 14.1% |
| 10 spins in a row without red | 0.13% |
A number is not "due" after a long absence. Each spin is independent, so the chance of your number on the next spin is always 1 in 37. Systems that chase losses run straight into the session numbers above, which is the subject of our roulette strategy guide.
Pundit tip: before you sit down, check whether the wheel has one zero or two. It is the single biggest difference in what roulette costs you, and it is visible from across the room.
Inside and outside bets
Inside bets are on numbers on the layout: straight up, split, street, corner and six line. They win less often and pay more. Outside bets are on the groups around the edge: dozens, columns and the even-money chances. They win more often and pay less. On a single zero wheel both carry the same 2.70% edge, so the choice is about how bumpy you want the ride, not about value. Our roulette bets guide shows where each one sits on the table layout.
Roulette compared with other games
At 2.70%, single zero roulette costs more per dollar bet than the banker bet in baccarat and more than basic strategy blackjack, but less than a typical pokie. Our how to play baccarat guide has the baccarat numbers, and the casino games guide puts them all side by side.
Roulette is legal in person at licensed Australian casinos; in Victoria, the regulator approves the casino's table game rules. Online roulette is not: ACMA lists roulette among the casino-style games that are illegal to offer online to people in Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the odds in roulette?
On a single zero wheel there are 37 pockets. A bet on one number wins 1 time in 37 (2.70%), a dozen 12 times in 37 (32.4%) and red or black 18 times in 37 (48.6%). Every payout is set slightly below the true odds, which gives the house its edge.
What does roulette pay out?
Standard roulette payouts are 35 to 1 for a single number, 17 to 1 for a split, 11 to 1 for a street, 8 to 1 for a corner, 5 to 1 for a six line, 2 to 1 for a dozen or column, and 1 to 1 for red, black, odd, even, 1 to 18 or 19 to 36.
What is the house edge in roulette?
On a single zero wheel it is 1 in 37, or 2.70%, on every standard bet. On a double zero wheel it is 2 in 38, or 5.26%. The double zero five-number bet (0, 00, 1, 2 and 3) is worse again at 7.89%.
What is the safest bet in roulette?
Even-money bets win most often, about 48.6% of spins on a single zero wheel. They are safer in the sense of fewer losing spins, but they carry the same 2.70% house edge as every other bet, so none is better value.
How many spins does it take for a number to come up?
On average a given number comes up once every 37 spins on a single zero wheel, but that is only an average. The chance it appears at least once in 37 spins is 63.7%, so more than a third of the time you would wait longer.
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