What Are the Odds on Roulette? Comprehensive Roulette Odds Guide

Roulette has been popular worldwide for centuries as this game of chance has a certain glamour. Whether you’re playing in Las Vegas or at your favourite local casino, the experience is very similar. 

However, roulette has been gaining even more popularity in Australia in recent years due to one specific reason: the emergence of online casinos. Now that you can enjoy roulette online, there’s no need to travel long distances to visit a casino, and you’re no longer limited to playing at certain times only.

Our team of experts at Betsquare comprises enthusiasts who fully understand the odds on roulette. From European roulette to American roulette and everything in between, we’ve experienced everything the game offers and are adept with numerous roulette strategies. 

Because we’ve been playing for so long, we understand that roulette online isn’t as simple as betting on a number. In fact, you can place many different types of bets, each with its own odds and potential payout. This complete guide will explore the main odds of roulette and some top roulette strategies that can help you aim for a win.

Key Points

There’s quite a bit you need to understand about roulette odds in Australia before you can start playing efficiently, so we’ve broken down this guide into sections that should be easy to understand. 

For example, knowing the difference between the various roulette table odds that you can expect on inside bets and outside bets can significantly impact how you decide to bet when you take your seat at the table. After reading our article, you’ll have a firm grasp on roulette odds and know precisely what to expect when you place each type of bet. 

Here’s a summary of precisely what we’re going to cover in the following sections:

• Basic roulette rules
• What are roulette odds?
• What is the house edge in roulette?
• What are the payouts on a roulette table?
• How do the odds on roulette differ between inside and outside bets?
• The roulette odds for inside bets
• Can you improve the odds on roulette?

The Basic Roulette Rules

Understanding roulette odds is crucial, but what’s even more important is getting a handle on the basic roulette rules. If you don’t know how to play roulette, you might think that your only option is to bet on a number and see if you’re lucky enough to win. But that’s not the case at all.

There are two main versions of roulette: European and American. The main difference between the two is the roulette wheel—in the European version, there are 37 pockets, numbered 1 – 36, plus one green zero. The American roulette wheel has 38 pockets, with two zeroes, which means that the house edge on American roulette is slightly higher. 

Although roulette aims to predict where the ball will land accurately, that doesn’t necessarily mean you must guess the exact number. The roulette table also has areas where you can bet on red/black, odd/even, or different columns of numbers, which should give you a better chance of winning. Just remember, if the ball lands on zero, some of those bets lose, which is why European roulette is more favourable. 

Whether you’re playing land-based or online roulette, the rules tend to be similar, so memorising them before you play is a good idea. One thing to remember when learning how to play roulette is that online roulette tends to have different variations that might come with slightly different rules. For example, some online casinos have live dealer roulette games like Lightning Roulette, which have additional features that may influence the roulette rules. 

What Are the Roulette Odds?

The odds on roulette vary depending on the type of roulette you’re playing (European or American) and the bets you’re placing. For example, the odds on a straight-up bet differ from those on a column or dozen bet.

Put simply, the roulette wheel odds are calculated based on how likely your bet will win. The higher the odds, the less chance you have of winning, but the higher your potential payouts will be if you do win. That’s why inside bets tend to pay more but have a lower chance of winning, whereas outside bets pay less, so you can expect more frequent wins.

When deciding what bets to place, you must understand the roulette winning odds. One way to do this is by looking at a table like the one we’ll include later in this article, but there are other ways to understand the odds, such as playing online for free. 

If you’ve never played roulette before, practising before you decide to play for real money is a good idea. Luckily, there’s a convenient way you can do this online – by using a free roulette simulator. 

The simulator allows you to place free bets to see how the odds work and what the payouts are like, and it’s the ideal way to practice strategies without any risk of losing cash. When you are ready to delve into real money play, you’ll find that some online casinos also have special welcome bonuses that can help boost your balance and allow you to play for longer. 

The house edge is a casino’s advantage over a player. Put differently, it’s the amount of money the casino keeps after all payouts have been finalised. All land-based and online casino games have a built-in roulette house edge. 

For example, pokies can be between 2% and 6%, and the game’s house edge in blackjack can be as low as 0.5%. With roulette, the house edge differs depending on which version of the game you decide to play.

In American roulette, the house edge is 5.26%, and in European roulette, it’s a much lower 2.70%. The house edge is calculated over a long period, so even if it’s low, there’s no guarantee you’ll win during a single gaming session. However, it’s safe to say that the lower the house edge, the better your chance of winning. 

The difference in the roulette house edge between the two versions is that American roulette has an extra zero on the wheel, so there are 38 possible outcomes instead of 37. The additional zero means that even money bets (red/black, odd/even) lose when the ball lands in either of the zero slots, giving them less chance of winning. 

The house edge applies whether you’re playing at a real casino, trying out a virtual online roulette version, or enjoying an immersive online live casino game.

As we mentioned, the type of bet you place will impact the potential payout, with bets with higher odds paying out more if they win.

We’ve put together a roulette payout chart that you can consult at a glance to see all of the potential wins. Depending on your risk tolerance, you might want to base your bets on the roulette table payouts, as detailed below: 

Bet Type	Payout
One number	35:1
Two numbers	17:1
Three numbers	11:1
Four numbers	8:1
Five numbers	6:1
Six numbers	5:1
12 numbers (column/dozen)	2:1
Even money bets (red/black, odd/even, or high/low)	1:1

How Do the Odds on Roulette Differ Between Inside and Outside Bets?

As you’ve probably realised by now, the odds on roulette are very different if you’re placing inside bets vs outside bets. The reason behind this is straightforward – outside bets have a greater chance of winning because it makes sense that the ball is more likely to land in any black pocket than specifically on the number 13, for example. 

If you’re going to place outside bets, remember that while you have a greater chance of winning, the potential payout is also smaller. Below, we’ll give you a quick wrap-up of the odds on roulette inside bets vs outside bets.

The Roulette Odds for Inside Bets

As we mentioned, the roulette odds for inside bets are higher than for outside bets, and while that means you’re less likely to win an individual bet, your payout will be much higher if you do win. The house edge is the same for inside and outside bets, so that’s one factor you don’t need to consider when deciding what you want to bet on. 

The defining characteristic of a roulette inside bet is that it’s made on either one number or a specific group of numbers within the roulette table. To place an inside bet on a land-based roulette table, you put your chips in the relevant area, while if you’re playing online, you need to click on the right spot on your screen.

Here’s a summary of roulette inside bets and how they pay out:

Bet Type	European Roulette Odds	American Roulette Odds
Straight up	2.70%	2.60%
Split	5.40%	5.30%
Street	8.10%	7.90%
Corner	10.80%	10.50%
Basket	N/A	13.20%
Double street	16.20%	15.80%

The Roulette Odds for Outside Bets

The odds of winning an outside bet are much more favourable than inside bets, which makes sense. Outside bets are less specific, so rather than landing on one single number or even one of a group of numbers, the ball only needs to satisfy particular criteria.

For example, if you bet on red, the ball can land in any red pocket, and you’ll get paid the same amount. If you have a relatively small bankroll or are newer to playing roulette, you might prefer to stick to outside bets, as you’ll likely have frequent wins. 

The only downside to outside bets is that the payouts are much lower than with inside bets. For example, rather than getting paid out 35:1, you might only get a 1:1 payout. If you want to bag a big win, outside bets won’t be for you.

Here’s a look at the roulette odds for outside bets:

Bet Type	European Roulette Odds	American Roulette Odds
Red/black	48.65%	47.37%
Odd/even	48.65%	47.37%
High/low	48.65%	47.37%
Dozen	32.40%	31.60%
Column	32.40%	31.60%

Can You Improve the Odds on Roulette?

The simple answer to this question is that no, it’s not possible to improve the odds on roulette because it’s a game of chance. There’s no way to influence where the ball will land on the roulette wheel, and each spin is independent of the one before it, so you won’t ever be able to tell precisely where the ball will land.

Even though you can’t change the outcome, it’s still important to understand the roulette winning odds. Once you grasp the basics, you might decide to apply a roulette strategy like the Martingale or James Bond to try to increase your chances of winning or minimise any losses you have along the way.

These are some of our top tips on using knowledge of odds on roulette to improve your game:

• Always prepare in advance: Even if you’re brand new to roulette in Australia, you should do your research (the first step is reading this guide), and you might even want to note the various odds to make informed decisions at the table. The more prepared you are, the better you’ll understand the potential payouts, and then you can decide whether you value smaller, more frequent wins or prefer to opt for larger, riskier bets. 
• Decide which variation to play: As we mentioned earlier, European roulette has a lower house edge than American roulette, so overall, you’ll have a better chance of winning, especially if you’re placing even money bets. A few other variations, like French roulette and live casino games, have unique features. 
• Use outside bets: If you’re placing inside bets on a single number or even multiple numbers, they’re much less likely to win than if you place less risky bets, such as red/black or odd/even. To increase your chances of winning, you might want to place outside bets rather than inside bets, even though the latter could result in bigger wins. 
• Try a roulette strategy: There are plenty of advanced strategies out there, and if you’re a confident roulette player, you might want to give them a go. For example, the Martingale strategy dictates that you should double your bet amount every time you lose so that you can try to make up for losses down the line when you end up with a win. On the other hand, the James Bond method aims to cover as much of the roulette table as possible with bets because then you’ll have a better chance of a small win with each spin.

Summary

While roulette might seem like a straightforward game at first glance, you must understand precisely how the odds work to use that knowledge to decide on the bets you want to place. 

Our team at Betsquare enjoys playing roulette at land-based casinos, and online, so we think we’ve got a good grasp of how roulette game odds work. We hope we’ve passed that on to you through this guide.

If you’re still relatively new to roulette, it might seem daunting to walk into a casino and start placing bets, so we’d recommend you try online roulette first. This is the ideal way to get to know the odds and general gameplay, and if you’re using real money, you could even stand a chance at winning, just like you would in a traditional casino. 

If you’re ready to sign up and start playing, we have a list of the best gambling sites in Australia where you can play many roulette variations, including exciting live dealer games. And best of all, you might just be able to snag a welcome bonus to help you get started. 

FAQ

Does roulette have the best casino odds?

The house edge for European roulette is 2.70%, and for American roulette, it’s 5.26%. This means that the game offers some of the best odds in the casino world, although some other games like blackjack, baccarat, and certain types of poker might still have better odds. Roulette odds are much better than slots, especially if you’re playing the European version.

Is there a way to consistently win at roulette?

Roulette is a game of chance, so there’s no clear-cut way to ensure you win every time. By understanding the odds, you can make informed decisions about the types of bets you want to place, which might give you a better chance of winning. You could also apply some advanced roulette strategies like the Martingale or James Bond strategy, which could help your chances of winning. 

What is the safest betting strategy for roulette?

The safest roulette strategy is betting on odd/even or red/black. Although these bets have lower potential payouts, they’re much more likely to win than bets on individual numbers. If you want to apply an advanced strategy, you might opt for the James Bond method, which aims to cover as much of the table as possible, so in theory, you should have a win two out of every three times.

Is it safe to play roulette online?

If you want to play roulette online, you must choose a reputable online casino site with the necessary licenses. This is how you ensure that the games are fair and that your personal and financial data is always protected. You can find all of the best Australian online roulette sites here at Betsquare, and when you sign up, you’ll even be eligible for special welcome promotions.