Roulette Odds and Payouts: Full Tables for Both Wheels
Roulette payouts are fixed and the probabilities are simple fractions of the number of pockets, so every figure on this page can be checked with a calculator. The key fact is that payouts are set as if the wheel had 36 numbers. The zero (and double zero) creates the gap between true odds and payout, and that gap is the house edge. This page is part of our roulette guide.
European (Single-Zero) Roulette
| Bet | Numbers | Payout | Probability | True odds against | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 1 | 35:1 | 2.70% (1/37) | 36:1 | 2.70% |
| Split | 2 | 17:1 | 5.41% (2/37) | 17.5:1 | 2.70% |
| Street / trio | 3 | 11:1 | 8.11% (3/37) | 11.33:1 | 2.70% |
| Corner | 4 | 8:1 | 10.81% (4/37) | 8.25:1 | 2.70% |
| Six line | 6 | 5:1 | 16.22% (6/37) | 5.17:1 | 2.70% |
| Dozen / column | 12 | 2:1 | 32.43% (12/37) | 2.08:1 | 2.70% |
| Red/black, odd/even, high/low | 18 | 1:1 | 48.65% (18/37) | 1.06:1 | 2.70% (1.35% with La Partage) |
American (Double-Zero) Roulette
| Bet | Numbers | Payout | Probability | True odds against | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 1 | 35:1 | 2.63% (1/38) | 37:1 | 5.26% |
| Split | 2 | 17:1 | 5.26% (2/38) | 18:1 | 5.26% |
| Street | 3 | 11:1 | 7.89% (3/38) | 11.67:1 | 5.26% |
| Corner | 4 | 8:1 | 10.53% (4/38) | 8.5:1 | 5.26% |
| Five-number (0-00-1-2-3) | 5 | 6:1 | 13.16% (5/38) | 6.6:1 | 7.89% |
| Six line | 6 | 5:1 | 15.79% (6/38) | 5.33:1 | 5.26% |
| Dozen / column | 12 | 2:1 | 31.58% (12/38) | 2.17:1 | 5.26% |
| Even-money bets | 18 | 1:1 | 47.37% (18/38) | 1.11:1 | 5.26% |
The Payout Formula
For any standard bet covering n numbers, the payout is (36 ÷ n) − 1 to 1:
- n = 1 → 35:1
- n = 2 → 17:1
- n = 3 → 11:1
- n = 4 → 8:1
- n = 6 → 5:1
- n = 12 → 2:1
- n = 18 → 1:1
Because every bet uses the same formula, the expected return per A$1 on a single-zero wheel is always 36/37 = A$0.9730, and on a double-zero wheel 36/38 = A$0.9474. The only exception is the American five-number bet, which pays 6:1 instead of the 6.2:1 the formula would give.
“To 1” vs “For 1”
Roulette payouts are quoted “to 1”: a 35:1 win on a A$2 straight-up bet pays A$70 profit and returns your A$2 stake, A$72 in total. Some online games and multiplier titles quote “for 1” or “x” totals that include the stake. A “36x” straight-up return is the same as 35:1; a “30x” return is 29:1. Always check which convention the help screen uses before comparing games.
Combining Bets
Covering several bets at once does not change the edge. Example on a European wheel: A$10 on the first dozen and A$10 on the second dozen covers 24 numbers. Any of those 24 returns A$30 on one dozen and loses A$10 on the other: +A$10. The other 13 pockets (25–36 and 0) lose A$20. Expected value = (24 × A$10 − 13 × A$20) ÷ 37 = −A$20/37 = −A$0.54, which is 2.70% of the A$20 staked.
What the House Edge Costs in A$
Expected loss = total staked × house edge. It does not depend on which bets you choose (other than the five-number bet and La Partage).
| Stake per spin | Spins | European (2.70%) | American (5.26%) | French even-money with La Partage (1.35%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A$5 | 100 | A$13.50 | A$26.30 | A$6.75 |
| A$10 | 300 | A$81.00 | A$157.80 | A$40.50 |
| A$25 | 500 | A$337.50 | A$657.50 | A$168.75 |
Live tables typically run far fewer spins per hour than RNG games, so the hourly cost at the same stake is lower live. Auto and speed formats sit between the two. More on hourly pace in live roulette.
Probabilities Over Several Spins
The chance of something happening “at least once” grows with the number of spins, but never reaches certainty.
| Event (European wheel) | Probability |
|---|---|
| A chosen number hits at least once in 37 spins | 63.7% |
| A chosen number hits at least once in 100 spins | 93.5% |
| Five reds in a row | 2.73% |
| Seven losses in a row on an even-money bet | 0.94% (about 1 in 106) |
| Ten losses in a row on an even-money bet | 0.13% (about 1 in 784) |
Losing streaks on even-money bets matter for anyone using a doubling system; the numbers are worked through on our Martingale page. Past results do not change the next spin; see gambler’s fallacy.
Variance: Same Edge, Different Swings
Two players who each stake A$10 per spin on a European wheel have the same expected loss (A$0.27 per spin). Their sessions look very different:
- A$10 on red wins 48.65% of spins. Results move by A$10 at a time, and session totals stay close to the expected value.
- A$10 straight up wins 2.70% of spins (about once in 37). Long dry runs alternate with A$350 wins. A 100-spin session can finish anywhere from about −A$1,000 to several thousand dollars ahead.
Choose bet types for the swing you can afford, not to change the edge. Our inside and outside bets page compares the two styles.
Multiplier Roulette Games
Games such as Lightning Roulette change the payouts: straight-up bets pay less than 35:1 normally (29:1 in Lightning Roulette) and receive random multipliers when a lightning number hits. The overall return is set by the provider and listed in the help screen. See Lightning Roulette.
Roulette Compared with Other Games
| Game / bet | House edge |
|---|---|
| French roulette, even-money with La Partage | 1.35% |
| European roulette | 2.70% |
| American roulette | 5.26% |
| Baccarat, Banker bet | 1.06% |
| Blackjack with basic strategy (3:2, S17) | about 0.4%–0.6% |
Details: blackjack house edge and baccarat odds. The general concept is in understanding casino odds.
Frequently Asked Questions
1 in 37 (2.70%) on a European wheel and 1 in 38 (2.63%) on an American wheel. The payout is 35:1 on both.
Even-money bets win most often (48.65% on a European wheel), but every standard bet has the same 2.70% house edge. With La Partage, even-money bets drop to 1.35%.
The American five-number bet (0-00-1-2-3), which pays 6:1 and carries a 7.89% house edge.
It increases how often you win a spin, but lowers what each win pays. The house edge stays the same.
Stake × 2.70% on a single-zero wheel: A$0.27 per A$10 spin. On a double-zero wheel it is A$0.53.
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