Roulette explained
Roulette odds, clearly explained
Compare the chance of a win, the payout and the house edge. Start with the wheel: one extra zero changes the numbers on every standard bet.
48.65%
Red or black, European wheel
18 winning pockets / 37 total
Standard bets at a glance
| Bet | Pockets | Net payout | Win chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight-up | 1 | 35:1 | 2.70% |
| Split | 2 | 17:1 | 5.41% |
| Street | 3 | 11:1 | 8.11% |
| Corner | 4 | 8:1 | 10.81% |
| Six-line | 6 | 5:1 | 16.22% |
| Dozen / column | 12 | 2:1 | 32.43% |
| Red / black | 18 | 1:1 | 48.65% |
| Odd / even | 18 | 1:1 | 48.65% |
| Low / high | 18 | 1:1 | 48.65% |
| Bet | Pockets | Net payout | Win chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight-up | 1 | 35:1 | 2.63% |
| Split | 2 | 17:1 | 5.26% |
| Street | 3 | 11:1 | 7.89% |
| Corner | 4 | 8:1 | 10.53% |
| Six-line | 6 | 5:1 | 15.79% |
| Dozen / column | 12 | 2:1 | 31.58% |
| Red / black | 18 | 1:1 | 47.37% |
| Odd / even | 18 | 1:1 | 47.37% |
| Low / high | 18 | 1:1 | 47.37% |
| Bet | Pockets | Net payout | Win chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight-up | 1 | 35:1 | 2.56% |
| Split | 2 | 17:1 | 5.13% |
| Street | 3 | 11:1 | 7.69% |
| Corner | 4 | 8:1 | 10.26% |
| Six-line | 6 | 5:1 | 15.38% |
| Dozen / column | 12 | 2:1 | 30.77% |
| Red / black | 18 | 1:1 | 46.15% |
| Odd / even | 18 | 1:1 | 46.15% |
| Low / high | 18 | 1:1 | 46.15% |
The wheel changes the odds
A red bet covers 18 numbers. That is 18 out of 37 pockets on a European wheel, 18 out of 38 on an American wheel and 18 out of 39 on a triple-zero wheel. Red and black each pay 1:1 under the standard rules used here.
Probability is not the payout
A straight-up bet pays 35:1 in standard roulette, but its chance of winning is 1/37 on a single-zero wheel. The payout describes the profit on a winning bet. The probability describes how often the event occurs in the mathematical model.
The house edge in one calculation
For a $1 straight-up bet on a European wheel, expected net profit is (1/37 × $35) minus (36/37 × $1), or −$0.027027. The house edge is therefore 2.70%. It is a long-run average per dollar wagered, not a prediction for one session.
Find the answer you need
Use the payout chart for bet-by-bet figures, the calculator for a chosen stake and the probability guide for repeated spins. The wheel and rules guides explain the layout before you work with the numbers.
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A few useful distinctions
No. A payout describes what a winning bet returns. A probability describes how likely an outcome is under a stated model.
These tools calculate from your inputs. They do not predict a spin, hand, race or match.
Total return includes the returned stake. Net profit excludes it. Both are labeled separately.
Sources for the rules and model
These references support the stated rules or probability model. Worked examples and outputs are calculated independently.
- Pennsylvania Code, Chapter 617aWheel geometry and standard bet definitions; mathematical results calculated independently.
- The Venetian, roulette rules and payoutsStandard net payouts and first-five coverage.