How To Bet In Roulette Games
If you're thinking of playing roulette online, however big or small the stakes, you'll need to get up to speed on how roulette betting works. Blindly putting real money roulette wagers down without having a grasp of the basics can lead to a serious dent in your bankroll. Learn which roulette bets offer the best odds to win and have the highest payouts at any Canadian online casino.
Your Main Bet Options
Roulette bets are divided into two main types: inside or outside. While each offers different odds and payouts, both are subject to the same house edge. American roulette tables have a 5.26% edge and European tables offer a 2.70% edge. Even-money bets placed at European tables with French rules are only subject to a 1.35% house edge.
Inside Roulette Bets
These are the bet spaces located inside the table. Although the inside bets might have higher payouts, they are much less likely to win on any given spin. That said, there's nothing that matches the thrill of hitting a single number for a 35/1 payday!
| Bet Name | Bet Description | Payout | American | European |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Up | A wager on a single number: 1-36. | 35/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% |
| Split | A wager on the line between two numbers | 17/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% |
| Street | Also called a 'row' bet, this is a wager on three connected numbers such as 6, 5, 4. | 11/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% |
| Trio | A wager on a corner connecting three numbers such as 0, 2, 3. | 11/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% |
| Corner | Also called a 'quad' bet, this is a wager on the corner connecting four numbers such as 2, 5, 1, 4. | 8/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% |
| Double Street | Also called a 'line' bet, this is a wager on the line between intersecting rows covering six numbers. | 5/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% |
| Basket | A wager on 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. | 6/1 | 7.89% | n/a |
Outside Roulette Bets
Outside bets are the best choice for beginners. Particularly, even-money bets including even/odd, black/red and high18/low18. These pay out 1/1 but provide a nearly 50-50 chance to win.
| Bet Name | Bet Description | Payout | American | European | French |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Even/Odd | A wager on eighteen even or odd numbers. | 1/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% | 1.35% |
| Black/Red | A wager on eighteen black or red numbers. | 1/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% | 1.35% |
| High 18 | This wager covers numbers 19-36. | 1/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% | 1.35% |
| Low 18 | This wager covers numbers 1-18. | 1/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% | 1.35% |
| Column | A wager on twelve,non-sequential numbers in a column. | 2/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% | n/a |
| Dozens | A wager on twelve sequential numbers in a row. | 2/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% | n/a |
Navigating the Roulette Layout
When you are just starting out in online roulette, it can be difficult to actually find your favourite bets on the table layout. Below is a typical American Roulette table layout.
Hover over the diagram to see where each bet is located, or click on any part of the layout for more info.
| ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ||
| 00 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 30 | 33 | 36 | < |
| B | 2 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 29 | 32 | 35 | < |
| 0 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 31 | 34 | < |
| First Dozen | Second Dozen | Third Dozen | |||||||||||
| 1-18 | Odd | Red | Black | Even | 19-36 | ||||||||
Below is a typical European table layout:
| ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ||
| 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 30 | 33 | 36 | < | |
| 0 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 29 | 32 | 35 | < |
| 1 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 31 | 34 | < | |
| First Dozen | Second Dozen | Third Dozen | |||||||||||
| 1-18 | Odd | Red | Black | Even | 19-36 | ||||||||
A Closer Look at Roulette Bets
Inside Bets
The inside bets in roulette are, quite simply, found on the 'inside' of the table. They offer the lowest chance to win and the highest payouts. The different types of inside bets are explained below.
Straight Up
WHAT IS IT?
The straight up bet is one of the simplest wagers you can make in roulette. These are bets on what the number of the very next spin will be.You can either place bets on multiple single numbers at a time or combine them with outside bets.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Hitting a single number is obviously pretty hard with only a 2.63% – 2.70% chance to win. However, when you win with a straight up bet, you can take advantage of the game's highest payout: 35/1. In other words, for a straight up bet of 1 chip, you would receive 35 chips plus your original chip back on a win.
Split
WHAT IS IT?
The split bet is a double straight up bet. You just have to put your chip stack between the two numbers you want to bet on. If either number is shown, you win.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Split bets have the second highest pay out: 17/1. There is only a 5.26% – 5.40% chance that this type of inside bet will win each spin.
Street/Row
WHAT IS IT?
Taking inside bets to the next level, the street bet allows you to bet on a row of three numbers. Put your chips on the far line of a row, and you'll have marked this bet. See the top row of our sample layout.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Now we start to see just a little bit of action as this kind of bet wins 7.89% – 8.11% of the time. It pays out 11/1.
Trio
WHAT IS IT?
This bet also covers three numbers at a time when chips are placed at intersections connecting numbers on the table.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Like the street bet, the trio also has the potential to win 7.89% – 8.11% of the time and pays out 11/1.
Corner/Quad
WHAT IS IT?
To make a corner bet, put your chip stack at the intersection (or corner) where four numbers meet on the layout.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
This type of bet offers a 10.53% – 10.81% chance to win with an 8/1 payout. So, if you bet 1 chip on a corner bet space and the next spin results in a win, then you will receive 8 chips plus your original chip back.
"Many casual gamblers think roulette betting is rather black and red, but nothing could be further from the truth. From inside to outside bets, straights and corners, streets and splits, online roulette has an abundance of betting options."
Double Street
WHAT IS IT?
The double street is just what its name implies - a bet on two 'streets' or rows. You place chips on the far side directly between the two numbers at the end of their respective streets.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Covering six numbers under a single wager gives a double street bet the odds to win of about 15.78% – 16.22% of the time. It pays out 5/1.
Basket / First Five
WHAT IS IT?
The basket bet is a wager on 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. Since it relies on the 00 pocket, it can only be used with American wheels.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
TThis bet has a 13.16% – 13.51% chance to win and pays out 6/1. However, with a house edge of 7.89%, it sticks out like a sore thumb as the single worst bet in roulette.
Outside Bets
Unlike inside bets, o, outside bets cover larger portions of the wheel. This is where you will find even-money bets which pay the lowest but give the highest chance to win. The next highest chance bets include columns and dozens. Both cover about a third of the numbers and payout 2/1.
Even / Odd
WHAT IS IT?
These bets are very simple to make. Just look for the spaces on the layout labeled 'Even' and 'Odd.' Put your chip stack on whichever space you'd like, sit back and watch the wheel spin. There, told you it was easy, didn't we?
Put your chip stack on whichever space you'd like, sit back, and relax. This bet has the standard 5.26 percent house edge.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Because nearly half of the numbers are even and nearly half are odd, one of the bet spaces is going to win almost every spin. 0 and 00 aren't included in this bet giving the casino its edge. So, this type of bet has a 47.37% – 48.65% chance to win but only pays out 1/1.
Red or Black
WHAT IS IT?
This bet is also an even-money wager that covers eighteen numbers at once. Placing a stack on red will cover all the red pockets on the wheel. Placing a stack on black will cover all black pockets. 0 and 00 are green and give the house its edge.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Since most pockets are either red or black, , one of these spaces will win most of the time. Each bet has a 47.37% – 48.65% chance of winning and pays 1/1.
Betting on red or black is one of the most basic roulette bets making it perfect for beginners. Below, you can see what color each numbered pocket is.
| Red | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 36 |
| Black | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 35 |
High 18
WHAT IS IT?
If you bet on high 18, you are wagering that the following spin will result in a pocket numbered 19-36.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Like any even-money bet, the chances of winning are the best of any other bet option, and the payout is the lowest at 1/1. This is another great choice for new Canada players taking online roulette for a spin.
Low 18
WHAT IS IT?
As the name suggests, low 18 is the opposite of high 18. It wins when the ball lands in a pocket numbered 1-18.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Because this covers nearly half of the wheel-head,it will win around half of the time and pay out 1/1.
Column
WHAT IS IT?
The column bet is like the street bet, but it covers twelve numbers in a column instead of three in a row. There are three columns to choose from. Have a look at the numbers each choice covers below.
| Column 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 31 | 34 |
| Column 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 29 | 32 | 35 |
| Column 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 30 | 33 | 36 |
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Betting on a column covers nearly one-third of the wheel for a 31.58% – 32.43% chance to win and pay out of 2/1. Since it should win around once every three spins, this outside bet offers much less risk than any of the inside bets.
Dozens
WHAT IS IT?
The dozens bet, as the name implies, lets you bet on twelve numbers at a time. However, instead of betting on numbers that lie in the same column on the table, you bet on a dozen numbers in sequential order.
These numbers are broken up into three separate dozens:
| First Dozen | 1-12 |
| Second Dozen | 13-24 |
| Third Dozen | 25-36 |
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Just like column bets, these have a nearly 1 in 3 chance to win and pay 2/1.
Picking the Right Bet for You
You now have all the information you need to choose which bet suits your strategy best. Inside bets are best for Canadian players that enjoy a high risk, high reward gaming experience with infrequent, big-money wins. Outside bets are low risk, low reward and work best for players that enjoy more frequent, small wins.
Learning the basics of betting is just the beginning of your roulette journey. Check out some of our related topics at OnlineRoulette.ca:
