Roulette Odds & Payouts: The Whole Menu, Priced
Every roulette payout is calculated as if the zero doesn't exist. It does. That gap is the house edge, and it's identical on every bet, with one ugly exception.
The Payout Table (European Wheel, 37 Pockets)
| Bet | Pays | Win Probability | True Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up (1 number) | 35:1 | 2.70% | 36:1 |
| Split (2) | 17:1 | 5.41% | 17.5:1 |
| Street (3) | 11:1 | 8.11% | 11.33:1 |
| Corner (4) | 8:1 | 10.81% | 8.25:1 |
| Six line (6) | 5:1 | 16.22% | 5.17:1 |
| Dozen / Column (12) | 2:1 | 32.43% | 2.08:1 |
| Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low | 1:1 | 48.65% | 1.056:1 |
Notice the pattern: the payout always sits just under the true odds. That gap is 2.7% of every bet on a European wheel, every bet, same price. There is no "smart" roulette bet, only different variance.
What Changes the Price
The wheel does. American wheels add a double zero: same payouts, 38 pockets, 5.26% edge - and the five-number "top line" bet there carries 7.89%, the worst bet on any roulette layout. French rules refund half your even-money bets when zero hits, cutting those to 1.35%. The full comparison is in the variants guide.
Variance Shopping (the Legitimate Choice)
Outside bets keep you at the table longest: ~48.65% hit rate, small wins, slow bleed. Straight-up numbers hit once per 37 spins on average, long droughts, 35x pops. Same expected cost either way: €2.70 per €100 wagered. Choose the ride, not the "edge" - and if someone sells you a pattern that beats the wheel, the systems guide shows the math that says otherwise. Start with the full roulette guide for table choice. 18+.
Called Bets: The French Menu
European and French tables offer "announced" bets covering wheel sections rather than layout positions. Voisins du Zéro covers the 17 numbers around zero with 9 chips; Tiers du Cylindre takes the opposite 12 numbers with 6 chips; Orphelins picks up the 8 leftovers. None of them change the price - every component bet still pays its standard 2.7% toll, but they change the texture: you're betting on where the ball physically lands rather than on grid geometry. Useful to know so the racetrack on a live table doesn't look like a secret menu. It isn't. It's the same restaurant.
Odds & Payouts FAQ
Which roulette bet has the best odds?
On the same wheel, they're all priced identically, 2.7% European, 5.26% American. "Best odds" questions are really which-wheel questions: French even-money bets at 1.35% are the true answer.
Why does straight-up pay 35:1 and not 36:1?
Because 36:1 would be the fair price on a 37-pocket wheel. The missing unit is the house edge, applied with perfect consistency across the entire layout. Elegant, honestly, the whole business model in one missing chip.
Can I combine bets to improve my odds?
You can combine bets to shape variance, covering more numbers means more frequent, smaller wins. The expected cost stays exactly 2.7% of total stakes. Combination betting is portfolio design, not edge reduction; the systems guide shows where that logic ends.