Roulette Roulette is a fun, exciting and fast moving game with plenty of betting options. To play Roulette, place a chip on a number or a combination of numbers and wait for the Dealer to spin the ball. You can also bet on red or black, odd or even, dozens or high and low numbers. Responsible Gaming. Crown Jewels Roulette pays standard betting terminal roulette odds, so you get 35/1 for a straight-up number, 18/1 for a split and even money for an outside red/black and odd/even bet. The other bets pay accordingly and can include streets, corners and dozens. Crown Jewels Roulette Bonus Game.
Roulette is strictly a game of chance, but understanding your likelihood of success in any given circumstance is vital if you wish to hang in the game long enough to build your bankroll. From bet to bet, table to table, there’s a host of mathematical and strategic factors to consider and we are here to simplify it all and eradicate any confusion.
The term house edge refers to the probability of a bet winning compared to the payout odds offered, and in effect, the amount the player loses relative for any bet made, on average. All common casino games favour the house to some degree, and roulette is no different. For every kind of payout in roulette, they are always a fraction shorter than the actual probability of each bet-type winning, allowing for the house edge. The greater the discrepancy, the greater the advantage the casino holds over the player is.
Although the payouts for European and American roulette games always remain the same (hitting a straight-up number pays out 35 to 1), the mathematical odds of any single number coming up are different across the two versions: the chance we have of the ball landing on our chosen single number is 1 in 37 in the European version, while when playing the American version, the chances of the same occurring are 1 in 38. This is due to the most telling factor in any game of roulette: how many zeros there are on the wheel. In European roulette, there is just one zero (0) and thus 37 numbers in total on the wheel, but in American roulette there are two zeros (0 and 00), and thus 38 numbers in total. That extra zero significantly increases the house edge.
The house edge can be explained as follows: a player who bets on a single number (in the American game), has a probability of 1 in 38 that he receives a payout 35 times his/her wager, and a 37 out of 38 chance of losing his/her wager. The formula to thus work out the edge is: -1 x 37/38 + 35 x 1/38 = −0.0526 (5.26% house edge). For European roulette, the formula is: -1 x 36⁄37 + 35 x 1/37 = -0.0270 (2.70% house edge). This formula will work to find the house edge of any casino games and casino bet, so long as you know the actual chances of winning, and the payout of the wager. For instance, the chance we have of drawing perfect pairs in blackjack of our first two cards (same rank and suit) is 1456 in 86320, and the payout for this side bet is 25 to 1.
So the formula to work out the house edge is: -1 x the number of possible losing outcomes (84864) divided by the total possible outcomes (86320), plus 25 x the number of possible winning outcomes (1456) divided by the total possible outcomes (86320), which is equal to -0.5614, or a whopping house edge of 56.14%.
Note: It is important not to get confused about the different ways the odds in roulette are expressed: continuing on from the above example, we’ve chosen to write the probability of a straight-up bet winning on a Euro table as a 1 in 37 chance, but often the odds will be expressed as 36 to 1. This ultimately means the same thing; when the odds are written as 36 to 1 (or sometimes 36:1) that actually represents the odds against winning, which are 36 non-winning numbers to 1 winning number. In percentage format, it will (or at least should) always be written as a 2.7% (1/37 x 100) chance of occurring.
Now, the zero pocket/s are green in colour and thus do not cover the red and black bets, nor do they cover even and odd wagers, nor wagers placed on the 1-18 or 19-36 bets. So if we bet on black at a European table, our chances of winning would be 18 in 37 (a probability of 48.65%, and the odds against winning of 19 to 18, or in simple form, 1.06 to 1).
In American roulette, the chances of winning the same wager are 18 in 38 (a probability of 47.37%, and the odds against winning of 20 to 18, or 1.111 to 1). The payout for such a bet across all roulette forms is 1:1, evidently less than the odds in both.
Another American feature that pushes the odds in favour of the casino is the existence of the top-line bet. Also called a first five bet, this is when a player wagers on 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3 (not available in European games). The payout for winning on the top line is 6:1, but the odds against winning are in fact 33 to 5 (or in simpler form, 6.6 to 1), with the probability of success just over 13% (five winning numbers divided by a total of 38 numbers).
This kind of bet boosts the house edge up to 7.89% (by following the formula as shown above), and that is 2.63% higher than any other U.S. wager, and some 5.19% more than all the possible bets in European roulette (if you haven’t realised yet, we are suggesting you stay well clear of such a bet).
French roulette is similar to the modern Euro game, with the aesthetics of the layout being the only outwardly obvious difference. However, there are some subtle contrasts in the betting set-up that make the traditional version an attractive option for real money players.
A key difference is the la partage and en prison rules. In the majority of current-day American and European games, zero goes to the dealer by default – ie. if you make any bet that doesn’t include 0 or 00, you lose outright if the ball lands on a zero. In French roulette however, if you make any ‘even money’ bet (red or black, evens or odds, 1 to 18 or 19 to 36) and the zero comes up, you will usually have two options: enact the ‘half back’ rule, where you reclaim half of your wager and forfeit the rest (la partage), or ‘imprison’ the bet by leaving it in place to play the next spin (en prison, as you would of guessed).
If an imprisoned bet wins on the next spin, it effectively pays for itself – ie. you recover your stake without adding any winnings. If zero happens to be spun again on the second spin, different casinos will hold different rules for imprisoned bets: they may be treated as wins, loses, la partage or en prison again.
This system has a huge impact on the house edge for all even-money bets, as you get two bites of the cherry on a wager that already has more than a 48% chance of winning. This cuts the house’s advantage in half, from 2.70% to 1.35%. As such, these rules are rarely used in brick-and-mortar gambling venues outside of Monte Carlo (although there are establishments in Atlantic City that use a similar method for double-zero games).
As mentioned, the payouts for winning wagers are all but universally standardised across all major forms of roulette.
This is the most in-depth and comprehensive roulette odds/payout table you will find on the Internet:
Bet Type | Payout (Same for Euro and US) | European Odds Against Winning | European Probability In % | European House Edge | US Odds Against Winning | US Probability In % | US House Edge |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Single Numbers | 35 to 1 | 36 to 1 | 2.70% | 2.70% | 37 to 1 | 2.63% | 5.26% |
Split | 17 to 1 | 17.5 to 1 (35 to 2) | 5.41% | 2.70% | 18 to 1 (36 to 2) | 5.26% | 5.26% |
Street | 11 to 1 | 11.43 to 1 (34 to 3) | 8.11% | 2.70% | 11.667 to 1 (35 to 3) | 7.89% | 5.26% |
Trio (European only - 0, 1 and 2, or 0, 2 and 3) | 11 to 1 | 11.43 to 1 (34 to 3) | 8.11% | 2.70% | NA | NA | NA |
Basket American (0, 1, and 2; 0, 00, and 2; or 00, 2, and 3) | 11 to 1 | NA | NA | NA | 11.667 to 1 (35 to 3) | 7.89% | 5.26% |
Basket/First Four European (0, 1, 2, and 3) | 8 to 1 | 8.25 to 1 (33 to 4) | 10.81% | 2.70% | NA | NA | NA |
Corner | 8 to 1 | 8.25 to 1 (33 to 4) | 10.81% | 2.70% | 8.5 to 1 (34 to 4) | 10.53% | 5.26% |
Top Line/First Five | 6 to 1 | NA | NA | NA | 6.6 to 1 (33 to 5) | 13.16% | 7.89% |
Six Line | 5 to 1 | 5.17 to 1 (31 to 6) | 16.22% | 2.70% | 5.33 to 1 (32 to 6) | 15.79% | 5.26% |
Columns | 2 to 1 | 2.08 to 1 (25 to 12) | 32.43% | 2.70% | 2.167 to 1 (26 to 12) | 31.58% | 5.26% |
1st 12, 2nd 12, 3rd 12 | 2 to 1 | 2.08 to 1 (25 to 12) | 32.43% | 2.70% | 2.167 to 1 (26 to 12) | 31.58% | 5.26% |
Red & Black | 1 to 1 | 1.06 to 1 (19 to 18) | 48.65% | 2.70% | 1.111 to 1 (20 to 18) | 47.37% | 5.26% |
1-18 & 19-36 | 1 to 1 | 1.06 to 1 (19 to 18) | 48.65% | 2.70% | 1.111 to 1 (20 to 18) | 47.37% | 5.26% |
Odds & Evens | 1 to 1 | 1.06 to 1 (19 to 18) | 48.65% | 2.70% | 1.111 to 1 (20 to 18) | 47.37% | 5.26% |
Roulette offers a bewildering number of betting options, but the bets are actually straightforward enough. In order to make sure you get the correct payout, you’ll want to make sure that you put your chips in exactly the right place on the table. Missing a payout because your chip isn’t in the right spot is a drag.
Roulette payouts are an important part of roulette strategy. They work like this. The odds are stated in the form of x to 1, which means you’ll win x dollars for every dollar you’ve bet. For example, the single number bet offers a payout of 35 to 1. If you win, you’ll get your dollar back plus the $35 for the win.
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On the edge of the table are a series of bets which are “outside” the 38 numbers on the table. Each of these bets refers to a specific set of numbers or colors. If the ball lands on 0 or 00, you’ll lose on any of the outside bets.
The outside bets include:
Red or Black – This bet pays out even odds (1 to 1) if the ball lands on the color you chose.
Odd or Even – This bet pays out even odds (1 to 1) if the ball lands on odd or even, depending on which you chose.
Low or High – This bet pays out even money (1 to 1) if the ball lands on 1-18 if you bet low, or if the ball lands on 19-36 if you bet high.
Columns – The numbers on the layout are organized into three columns of twelve numbers each. A “columns” bet wins if the ball lands on one of the numbers in the column you chose. This bet pays out 2 to 1 when you win.
Dozens – There are 36 numbers on the table, so you can bet on the first dozen (1-12), the second dozen (13-24), or the third dozen (25-36). This bet also pays out 2 to 1.
You can also bet on specific numbers and sets of numbers on the inside of the layout. These bets win less often, but they pay out more when you do win. The house edge on the inside bets is the same as the house edge on the outside bets.
The inside bets for roulette include:
Straight-up – This is a bet on a single number. It pays off at 35 to 1.
Split bet – This is a bet on any two adjacent numbers. You place the chip on the line between the two numbers in order to make this wager. This bet pays out at 17 to 1.
Street bet – This bet covers three numbers. You place your bet on the line outside of the three numbers in the row where you want to win. This bet pays out at 11 to 1.
Corner bet – Some people call this a square bet or a quarter bet. It’s a bet on a corner that makes a square, and it’s a bet on four numbers. A win on this type of bet pays out at 8 to 1.
Five-number bet – You can only make one five-number bet, and it’s the only inside bet that offers different odds from all the others. The problem is that it has a higher house edge, making it the worst bet on the table. This bet is on the numbers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3, and you place the chip on the outside corner line between the 1 and the 0. This bet pays out 6 to 1, but only masochists place this bet.
Six-number bet – Some people call this a line bet. It covers two adjoining rows of numbers. It pays out at 5 to 1.
These payouts all have one thing in common—they pay out less than the true odds of hitting a win. That’s why the casino enjoys a house edge of 5.26% on roulette. Your odds of winning are always less than the payout amounts.
For example, the odds of winning a straight-up bet are 37 to 1. There are 37 numbers on the wheel that lose, and 1 bet on the wheel that will win. But the bet only pays out 35 to 1, not 37 to 1, so the house wins more often than it loses.
A split bet offers you odds of winning of 18 to 1, but it pays off at 17 to 1.
I could list all of them, but you get the idea by now. The casino has an unassailable mathematical advantage on every bet. No betting system or strategy can overcome this advantage.
Of course, in the short run, anything can (and often will) happen. This is called “standard deviation”, and it explains why some people walk away from the roulette table as winners. The mathematically true results only come around the closer you get to an infinite number of spins.
So the best way to approach roulette is as a lark. It’s a fun game. You can relax and socialize while you play. But don’t expect to win, because the odds are against you. And if you do win, walk away and smile, because you beat the odds.