Before playing online roulette, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the odds and your chances of winning. That’s a crucial first step for beginners as the roulette wheel is designed with a certain winning probability in mind. However, the odds differ when playing on a single zero wheel compared to a double zero wheel.
This article covers the odds and probabilities of different types of roulette bets, allowing you to have fun with the game, win big, and win often.
Difference between Odds and Probability
Because odds and probability are used interchangeably in casual conversations, most beginners tend to confuse the two terms. However, there’s a huge difference between the two:
Probability
Probability refers to the direct chance of an event occurring based on different factors and it’s usually shown in numbers. For instance, if there are four options to select from, the probability of picking the right one equals 25%.
When betting on roulette, probability and chance aren’t directly shown on the casino website but are crucial like odds. At times, the odds may seem equal for two different events, but the lower the probability, the more a bet isn’t worth the risk.
Odds
Betting odds in roulette represent the probability of an outcome happening or not happening. That means that odds are given by the probability of an outcome not happening divided by its probability of happening.
In roulette, odds also indicate the amount of possible winning you’ll add to your bankroll for every bet you win. They also show the house winnings, so don’t expect casinos to show only the direct probability of odds. As such, you can expect to see roulette odds expressed as 4/1 or 35/1.
Types of Roulette and Odds
To effectively play roulette, one must learn about the three most common types available in land-based and online casinos. They include:
European Roulette (0 Roulette)
European roulette uses a wheel with 37 pockets for the ball to fall on. The packets have numbers 1-36 and there is a place for a zero. These numbers are also colored red and black, but zero is green. That means the probability of winning a single number wager in European roulette is 2.7%.
The house edge in European roulette is 2.7%, meaning that the casino is assured of winning $0.027 for every dollar you wager. When betting on this variation, the odds for a single number wager is 35/1, meaning that for each dollar you wager, you stand to gain $35 when your number wins.
American Roulette
American roulette features 38 pockets, with numbers 1-36 marked in black and red, a single zero, and a double zero (both marked in green). In this variation, the probability of winning a single number wager is 2.63% (0.07% lower than in European roulette).
The most interesting part about American roulette is that the house edge rises to 5.26%. That means the casino gets $0.0526 for every dollar a player bets. However, American roulette has the same odds as the European version. That means every dollar you wager, your possible return is $35.
French Roulette
Similar to European roulette, French roulette has only a single zero. However, the wheel and table numbers aren’t in the same order. Nonetheless, French roulette has the same odds as European roulette.
What makes French roulette a special game is its two main rules – En Prison and La Partage, which allow players to win more. La Partage means players can wager on more than one number. For instance, you can select all even numbers and get half of your cashback.
En Prison means that you can bet on more than a single number like choosing all red numbers and getting a free spin on the wheel. Zero also wins and if you win on the free spin, you get back your wager. However, some online casinos also apply these rules to European roulette.
Roulette Bets, Odds and Probability
Outside Bets and Odds
These are bets made on the outer part of the table and usually include lots of numbers. Statistically, the probability of winning such bets ranges between 31% – 49% depending on your bet. These bets include:
Black or Red
You can choose to wager on either black or red, with the probability of winning being 48.6% in French and European roulette. However, the American version has a 47.4% probability because of the extra number, but the odds for this type of bet remain 1/1 in all variations.
High/Low
High/low bets involve wagering on whether the ball will land in the low numbers of 1-18 or 19-36 (high numbers). The odds are also 1/1 and the probability remains the same as in the black or red wager.
Column
Column bets involve choosing a column with 12 numbers. The probability of winning this bet in European and French variations is 34.43% and 31.58% in American roulette. However, the betting odds are 2/1, meaning you get $2 for every dollar you wager.
Inside Bets Odds and Probability
These bets are placed on the inner part of the roulette table and the winning probability is lower than outside bets. However, they have a huge payout, usually between 5/1 and 35/1. They include:
Straight Bets
A straight bet is common in roulette as it involves choosing one of the numbers on the roulette table, including zeros. However, the probability of winning the bet is 2.63% in American roulette and 2.7% in French and European roulette. Fortunately, it has huge payouts with 35/1 odds.
Split Bets
This type of roulette bet lets you wager on two numbers by placing a chip between them. The probability of winning this bet in European and French roulette is 5.41% and 5626% in American roulette. It also comes with huge payouts at 17/1 odds.