Understanding Your Chances: Tackling Roulette Odds

Roulette has got to be one of the most famous and classic casino games.

It is a favourite with casino patrons on a global scale. Every enthusiast who visits one of the top of the range online casinos must have an understanding about the odds – this is a necessity to initiate a higher level of play.

When you have read this guide, you will know how these odds work.

Outside Bets

Red, black, even, odd, or numbers 1-18 and 19-36 effectively divide the table in half for betting purposes. As the odds of winning these bets are close to 50% in both European and American roulette, the payout is also equal to 1.

The first, second, or third dozen are less likely to happen (1-12, 13-24, and 25-36). The payout for a dozen bets in European roulette is 2 to 1 and 32.43% in American roulette. This rule also applies to wagers placed in columns. 

Inside Bets

A straight is a bet on a single number. They are the least likely outcome and pay 35 to 1.

Bets on two numbers together are called ‘splits’. Those win at odds of 17 to 1.

A stake is any wager that pools three adjacent numbers together: 4,5,6 is a stake. The payoff on this bet is 11-1.

A corner bet covers the numbers 8, 9, 11 and 12 at 8-1 odds and is sometimes called a square bet or a quarter.

Bet across six numbers for a 5-1 payout on the Six Line.

Roulette Probabilities

Many people who enjoy gambling at casinos or on the Internet either don’t know how roulette probability works or don’t care. How someone decides to play is entirely up to them of course, however, playing without this knowledge is almost guaranteed to affect your long-term results.

Let’s start with the double-zero American roulette probability. The wheel is numbered from one to 36 plus zero and zero zero. Let’s say you decide to bet on the number 17, widely considered to be both the favourite of James Bond and the most bet upon in the game.

With 38 possible outcomes, betting on 17 means putting money on just one of those outcomes. The odds of getting a 17 are 1 in 38. If you landed on this number, your payout would be 1 in 36. This is a callback to the casino’s house edge.

Top Tips

• You can’t lower the house edge or change the odds in roulette but knowing about the odds and probability of winning is vital. 
• There is no guaranteed strategy for victory, but there are ways players can give themselves a better shot.
• Be prepared for every game – research payout percentages before playing. 
• Be smart with game selection –  European roulette has the lowest house edge. 
• Opt for outside bets for better winning chances and higher payout rates,
• Try a low-risk strategy – place two equal outside bets like black and odd. 
• Have fun without risking much money.

It is absolutely mandatory for any roulette player wanting to improve his/her game to master the odds of roulette. From understanding the odds of straight-up to even-money bets and setting their own desired probabilities based on their risk appetites, they can craft a play that balances the thrill of high risk bets with the load security of more risk-averse laid ones.

Roulette Odds

Whether the game of roulette, always a game of chance, is played by spinning the wheel or by knowing the odds, it is up to the player to make an informed decision.