Roulette looks simple, and it is: every bet on a given wheel carries the same house edge. What changes is how often you win and how much. Here are the payouts and real odds for every bet, plus the one choice that matters most: which wheel you play.
European vs American vs French
- European roulette: 37 pockets (0–36), house edge 2.70%.
- American roulette: 38 pockets (0, 00, 1–36), house edge 5.26%, almost double.
- French roulette: like European, with La Partage or En Prison on even-money bets, cutting the edge to about 1.35% on those bets.
If a casino offers both, always choose the single-zero wheel.
Payouts and odds (European wheel)
- Straight (1 number): pays 35:1, wins 2.7% of spins.
- Split (2 numbers): 17:1, 5.4%.
- Street (3 numbers): 11:1, 8.1%.
- Corner (4 numbers): 8:1, 10.8%.
- Six line (6 numbers): 5:1, 16.2%.
- Dozen or column (12 numbers): 2:1, 32.4%.
- Red/black, odd/even, 1–18/19–36: 1:1, 48.6%.
Why the house always has an edge
Each payout is calculated as if the zero did not exist. A straight-up bet has 1 chance in 37 but pays as if it were 1 in 36. That small gap is the house edge, and no combination of bets removes it. Learn more in house edge explained.
Betting systems
Martingale, Fibonacci and D'Alembert change the shape of your results, not the expected loss. Martingale in particular produces many small wins and then a rare loss large enough to wipe them out. See realistic strategies.
Roulette and bonuses
Roulette usually contributes little (often 10–20%) or nothing to bonus wagering, and even-money bets on both colours are typically banned while a bonus is active. Read bonus terms explained before using bonus money at the wheel.
18+. Gambling involves risk: only play with money you can afford to lose. If it stops being fun, read our responsible gambling page.
Frequently asked questions
Which roulette has the best odds?
French roulette with the La Partage rule (about 1.35% on even-money bets), then European single-zero roulette (2.70%). American double-zero roulette has a 5.26% edge.
What is the payout for a single number in roulette?
35 to 1. With 37 pockets on a European wheel, the true odds are 36 to 1, which is where the house edge comes from.
Can the Martingale system beat roulette?
No. It wins small amounts often but eventually hits a losing streak that table limits or your bankroll cannot cover.
