Roulette has roughly a dozen standard bet types split into “inside” (specific numbers, big payouts, rare wins) and “outside” (broad categories, small payouts, frequent wins). On a European wheel every standard bet has the same long-run cost of 2.70%; roulette payouts are engineered to keep the edge identical regardless of what you back. This page is the full reference table plus the maths behind it.
How Roulette Bets Work
Every roulette bet does one thing: it covers a subset of the 37 (or 38) pockets on the wheel, and pays a fixed multiple of your stake if the ball lands in any of them. The fewer pockets you cover, the higher the payout. That trade-off is the whole game.
Bets split into two families based on where you place chips on the felt:
- Inside bets sit on or between specific numbers in the main 3×12 grid. They cover 1 to 6 numbers and pay 5:1 to 35:1. Low hit frequency, big single wins.
- Outside bets sit in the boxes around the grid (Red, Black, Odd, Even, dozens, columns, high/low). They cover 12 or 18 numbers and pay 1:1 or 2:1. High hit frequency, smaller wins.
French Roulette adds a third family: called bets (also called announced or racetrack bets), which cover sections of the wheel rather than sections of the table layout. Those are described later on this page.
For a refresher on table layout, dealer flow, or what “no more bets” means in practice, the Roulette Rules page covers that ground.
Inside Bets
Inside bets are placed directly on or between numbers in the 3×12 grid. The chip’s exact position determines what’s covered.
Straight Up (1 number)
Chip placed directly on a single number, including 0 and 00. Pays 35:1 on a win. Hit probability is 1 in 37 on a European wheel (2.70%) and 1 in 38 on American (2.63%). The classic high-volatility roulette bet: on average, you win once every 37 spins on European and pocket 35 units.
Split (2 numbers)
Chip placed on the line between two adjacent numbers (vertically or horizontally). Pays 17:1. Hit probability is 2 in 37 (5.41%) on European. Common splits: 0-1, 0-2, 0-3, and the many adjacent-number combinations within the grid.
Street (3 numbers)
Chip placed at the outer edge of a row of three numbers (e.g., 4-5-6 or 16-17-18). Pays 11:1. Hit probability is 3 in 37 (8.11%) on European. The “trio” 0-1-2 or 0-2-3 is also a street bet, placed at the boundary between 0 and the grid.
Corner / Square (4 numbers)
Chip placed at the intersection of four numbers in a 2×2 block (e.g., 1-2-4-5). Pays 8:1. Hit probability is 4 in 37 (10.81%) on European.
Six Line / Double Street (6 numbers)
Chip placed at the outer intersection between two adjacent streets, covering all six numbers in those two rows (e.g., 1-2-3-4-5-6). Pays 5:1. Hit probability is 6 in 37 (16.22%) on European.
Top Line (American only, 5 numbers)
Available only on American Roulette. Chip placed at the corner where 0, 00, and 1-2-3 meet, covering 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. Pays 6:1. Hit probability is 5 in 38 (13.16%). The Top Line is the one bet on the table where the house edge departs from the standard 5.26%: it sits at 7.89%, the worst single bet in mainstream roulette. The maths is broken because the payout is rounded down to a clean 6:1 instead of the 6.6:1 that would have matched edge with other American bets.
Don’t play Top Line
If you’re at an American table and want to cover those same five numbers, place a Trio (0-00-2) and a Split (1-2 or 2-3), or use separate straight-ups. Any combination of standard bets covering the same numbers has the lower 5.26% edge instead of Top Line’s 7.89%.
Outside Bets
Outside bets sit in the boxes around the number grid. Each covers either 12 or 18 of the 36 numbered pockets. They never include 0 or 00, which is why they lose on a zero, and why French Roulette’s la partage and en prison rules apply specifically here.
Red / Black
Pays 1:1. Covers 18 of the 37 pockets (48.65% hit rate on European). The wheel’s number-to-colour mapping is fixed and identical across European, French, and American layouts; see the Roulette Glossary for the full list.
Odd / Even
Pays 1:1. Covers 18 numbers. Same 48.65% hit rate. Zero is neither odd nor even for betting purposes; both Odd and Even lose if the ball lands on 0 (or 00 on American).
High / Low (1-18 / 19-36)
Pays 1:1. Covers 18 numbers. 48.65% hit rate on European. Same zero treatment as Odd/Even.
Column
Pays 2:1. Each column box covers the 12 numbers running vertically up the layout (e.g., the right column is 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36). Hit rate is 12 in 37 (32.43%) on European.
Dozen (1-12 / 13-24 / 25-36)
Pays 2:1. Each dozen box covers 12 consecutive numbers. Hit rate is 12 in 37 (32.43%) on European.
Columns and dozens are mathematically equivalent in EV: 12 numbers covered, 2:1 payout, same house edge. The grouping is the only difference. Some players combine a column and a non-overlapping dozen to cover 24 of the 36 non-zero numbers; that’s a 24/37 hit rate (64.86%), but the EV is still 2.70%, because you’re now staking double.
Called Bets (French Roulette)
Called bets, also known as announced or racetrack bets, are pre-defined combinations that cover sections of the wheel, not the layout. They’re standard on French Roulette and many European tables, and they’re called by speaking the bet name (or clicking on a virtual “racetrack” on online tables). Each called bet is actually a basket of standard inside bets placed automatically by the dealer or software.
| Bet | Numbers covered | Chips required | Wheel section |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voisins du Zéro | 17 numbers | 9 chips | Big arc around 0 |
| Tiers du Cylindre | 12 numbers | 6 chips | Opposite side of the wheel from 0 |
| Orphelins | 8 numbers | 5 chips (or 8 “en plein”) | The two leftover sections |
| Jeu Zéro | 7 numbers | 4 chips | Closest to 0 (subset of Voisins) |
Two things to know about called bets:
- They cost more in absolute terms. Voisins requires 9 chips to place. If your unit is RM10, a single Voisins call is a RM90 wager spread across the wheel section.
- The house edge is unchanged. Each chip inside a called bet is a standard inside bet at the standard 2.70% edge. Total expected loss on a 9-chip Voisins call is 9 chips × 2.70% = 0.243 chips per spin.
Called bets exist for stylistic and historical reasons, and because covering wheel sections feels different from covering layout sections to many players. They don’t beat the house. They’re not designed to. For more on the French variant and where to find tables that offer the full racetrack and la partage, see the French Roulette spoke.
Combination Bets and Neighbour Bets
The bet types above can be combined freely. Most online interfaces let you place any number of bets per spin, in any combination, up to the table maximum on each individual position. A few patterns come up often enough to deserve their own labels.
- Column + Dozen. A column and a non-overlapping dozen cover 24 of the 37 (or 38) numbers. Hit rate jumps to 64.86% on European, but you’re staking double on every spin. Net EV stays at 2.70% loss per ringgit wagered.
- Outside + zero insurance. A red/black bet plus a small straight-up on 0 covers the zero gap. The straight-up wins 1/37 of the time and pays 35:1, partially offsetting the loss when the even-money bet hits zero. The combined EV is still 2.70%; you’re just smoothing variance.
- Neighbour bets. Available on most Evolution and Pragmatic Live tables. Pick a number, and the system automatically bets on it and the two numbers on each side on the wheel layout, for five straight-ups total. Five chips placed, five numbers covered, payout structure identical to placing those five straight-ups manually. EV: the same 2.70%.
- Finals (Finales). A French Roulette feature: “Finale 5” places straight-ups on 5, 15, 25, and 35 (four chips total). “Finale 6” covers 6, 16, 26, 36. “Finale 9” covers 9, 19, 29 (three chips, since there’s no 39). Same EV per chip as any other straight-up.
The pattern is consistent. Roulette combinations let you reshape variance (how often you win, how big the swings are) without affecting the long-run cost. Every chip is its own bet at the standard edge of the variant you’re playing. You can’t combine your way to a positive EV any more than you can run your way out of a circular room.
The Master Payout Table
Every standard roulette bet, with payouts, win probability on each wheel, and house edge.
| Bet | Payout | European win % | European edge | American win % | American edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Up | 35:1 | 2.70% | 2.70% | 2.63% | 5.26% |
| Split | 17:1 | 5.41% | 2.70% | 5.26% | 5.26% |
| Street | 11:1 | 8.11% | 2.70% | 7.89% | 5.26% |
| Corner | 8:1 | 10.81% | 2.70% | 10.53% | 5.26% |
| Six Line | 5:1 | 16.22% | 2.70% | 15.79% | 5.26% |
| Top Line (Am) | 6:1 | n/a | n/a | 13.16% | 7.89% |
| Column / Dozen | 2:1 | 32.43% | 2.70% | 31.58% | 5.26% |
| Red / Black | 1:1 | 48.65% | 2.70% | 47.37% | 5.26% |
| Odd / Even | 1:1 | 48.65% | 2.70% | 47.37% | 5.26% |
| High / Low | 1:1 | 48.65% | 2.70% | 47.37% | 5.26% |
French Roulette is identical to European on payouts, but the even-money bets (Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low) have an effective edge of 1.35% instead of 2.70% when la partage or en prison applies.
Why Every Standard Bet Has the Same House Edge
Look down the “European edge” column in the table above. Every entry reads 2.70%. That’s not a coincidence; it’s how roulette payouts are designed.
The maths is simple. For any bet with payout ratio of p to 1 and probability q of winning, the expected value of a 1-unit bet equals (p + 1) × q − 1. On a European wheel, the payouts are calibrated so that (p + 1) × q equals 36/37 for every standard bet. The “missing” 1/37 is the zero pocket; that’s the house edge, expressed as a fraction.
Check three examples:
- Straight up: (35 + 1) × (1/37) = 36/37 ⇒ 2.70% edge
- Red/Black: (1 + 1) × (18/37) = 36/37 ⇒ 2.70% edge
- Corner: (8 + 1) × (4/37) = 36/37 ⇒ 2.70% edge
This is why “best bet” arguments based on hit frequency don’t change long-run cost. A red/black bet hits often and pays little; a straight up hits rarely and pays a lot. The cost per unit wagered is identical. What changes is the variance.
It’s also why every betting system fails: each individual bet inside the system carries the same 2.70% expected loss, no matter how the stakes are sequenced. Combining negative-EV bets cleverly produces a negative-EV strategy.
Top Line on American breaks the identity only because the payout doesn’t round cleanly. With 5 numbers covered on a 38-pocket wheel, a true 2.70%-equivalent payout would be 6.6:1. American Top Line pays 6:1, leaving extra house edge for the casino. It’s the only standard bet on the table that’s worse than the variant baseline.
The practical takeaway: pick your bet based on what kind of session shape you want (lots of small wins or a few big ones), and pick your variant based on edge (French < European << American). For the full strategic framework, see the Roulette Strategy spoke.
Roulette Payouts on Branded Variants
Branded roulette products (Lightning Roulette, XXXtreme Lightning, Quantum Roulette, and similar) modify the standard payouts to fund random multipliers. The structure is consistent across products:
- Straight-up payouts are reduced. Instead of the standard 35:1, base straight-ups pay less (typically in the 19:1 to 29:1 range depending on the product).
- Selected “lucky” or “boosted” numbers pay much more. Each round, one or more numbers are randomly assigned a multiplier (commonly 50x to 500x, with some XXXtreme variants going higher).
- Outside bets and non-straight-up inside bets pay standard. The branded mechanic touches straight-ups only on most products. Red/black, dozens, columns, splits, corners, and so on pay the same as on the underlying European wheel.
The effective house edge on branded variants is slightly higher than the underlying wheel (commonly around 2.9% to 3.0% on Lightning-family products compared to European’s 2.70%), and variance is much higher. For the current multiplier structure and effective edge on Evolution’s Lightning Roulette specifically, see the Lightning Roulette spoke.
Outside bettors are unaffected
If you only play red/black, dozens, or columns, branded variants like Lightning Roulette deliver identical EV to standard European. The reduced straight-up payout funds the multiplier; outside bets carry no such trade-off. Same money, slightly different production value.
Bet Sizing and Table Limits
Live roulette tables in Malaysian-facing casinos typically post separate minimum and maximum stakes for inside and outside bets. Standard ranges across Evolution and Pragmatic Live tables (subject to change by operator and table tier):
| Table tier | Outside bet min / max | Inside bet min / max |
|---|---|---|
| Low stakes | RM1 / RM2,000 | RM0.20 / RM100 |
| Standard | RM5 / RM5,000 | RM1 / RM250 |
| High roller / VIP | RM50 / RM50,000 | RM10 / RM2,500 |
Notice that the outside maximum is much higher than the inside maximum, even though outside bets pay less. The reason is exposure: a maxed-out straight-up on a high roller table pays RM87,500 on RM2,500 wagered; a maxed-out red/black pays only the stake back. The casino caps the inside maximum to keep variance under control.
This shapes how high-stakes play works in practice: serious money on roulette goes onto outside bets, because that’s where the table limit allows the volume. The cinematic image of a player going all-in on a single number is mostly fiction; modern table limits prevent it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which roulette bet has the highest payout?
The straight up bet (one number) pays 35:1, the highest on the table. On a RM10 stake, a win returns RM350 in winnings plus your RM10 stake. The hit probability is 1 in 37 (2.70%) on European and 1 in 38 (2.63%) on American.
Which roulette bet wins most often?
Even-money outside bets (Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low) win 48.65% of the time on European Roulette and 47.37% on American. They pay 1:1, so a win equals your stake.
Do all roulette bets have the same house edge?
On a European wheel, yes: every standard bet has a 2.70% edge. On an American wheel, every standard bet has a 5.26% edge except the Top Line (0, 00, 1, 2, 3), which has a 7.89% edge because the 6:1 payout doesn’t match the bet’s probability. French Roulette’s even-money bets effectively halve to 1.35% via la partage.
What are the “racetrack” bets I see in live roulette?
The racetrack is a visual representation of the wheel that lets you place called bets: Voisins du Zéro, Tiers du Cylindre, Orphelins, and Jeu Zéro. Each is a pre-defined combination of inside bets covering a specific section of the wheel, not the layout grid. Standard on French Roulette and most Evolution European tables.
Does combining bets reduce the house edge?
No. Every chip you place is its own bet at the standard edge. Stacking a column with a dozen, or covering 24 numbers via two bets, raises your hit frequency but also doubles your stake. The expected loss per ringgit wagered stays at 2.70% (European) regardless of how the chips are distributed.
What’s the worst bet on a roulette table?
The American Top Line (0, 00, 1, 2, 3), with a 7.89% house edge. Every other bet on an American table sits at 5.26%, which itself is roughly double the European edge. The Top Line punishes you twice over.
Knowing the payouts is one piece. Putting them to use is another. For how to choose bets based on variance and session goals, head to the Roulette Strategy spoke. For the mechanics of betting rounds, the dealer flow, and what happens at “no more bets,” see Roulette Rules. Variant differences in detail are covered in European vs American Roulette and French Roulette. When you’re ready to pick a table, our Online Roulette in Malaysia roundup lists the operators with the strongest variant selection. The full Roulette pillar ties everything together.