Types of Roulette Bets

You've got three ways to bet on roulette. Inside bets target specific numbers and pay big when you hit. Outside bets go after colors or odds/evens and hit way more often. Then there are called bets, which aren't about the table layout at all. They cover sections of the actual wheel. Bigger wins mean longer waits. Smaller wins keep you in the game.

We're walking through every single bet and learning what it covers, how much it pays, and when you'd want to use it.

What are the main types of roulette bets?

Let's get specific about those three bet types. Inside bets? You're picking actual numbers on the grid. Hit one and the payout's huge. Outside bets spread across bigger groups - reds, blacks, odds, evens. You'll win more spins, but the payouts stay small. Called bets (sometimes people say announced bets) ignore the table layout. They cover chunks of the wheel itself. You'll see these on European and French games mostly.

Pick your poison: chase big wins or collect steady small ones. Inside bets pay huge, but you're going to wait a while between wins. Outside bets keep your chips alive longer. Smaller wins, but they come around more. Called bets ignore the table and go straight to the wheel. Some players like tracking where the ball actually lands instead of just picking spots on the felt.

Inside bets in roulette

Inside bets live on that numbered grid in the middle of the table. Cover one number? Huge payout. Cover ten? Not so much. A lot of people mix inside and outside bets so they're not just bleeding chips while waiting for one big number to hit.

Straight up bet

Straight up means one number. That's it. Drop your chip directly on any number from 0 to 36 (or 00 on American wheels). Hit it and you get 35 to 1. Nothing else on the table pays better.

Split bet

Split bets cover two numbers next to each other. Place your chip on the line between them. Either one hits and you get 17 to 1.

Street bet

Street bet? Three numbers across one row. Set your chip at the outer edge of the row. Pays 11 to 1. You'll win more often than straight up or split bets, but not by a ton.

Corner bet

A corner bet, sometimes called a square bet, covers four numbers that meet at one point. Position your chip where all four numbers meet. Pays 8 to 1 if it hits.

Line bet

Line bets cover two rows. Six numbers total. Place your chip at the point where two streets meet the outer edge. The payout is 5 to 1.

Basket bet

Basket bets only show up on American wheels. It covers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. Here's the problem: the basket bet carries the worst odds on the entire table. The house edge jumps way higher than any other bet. People who know roulette don't touch it.

Outside bets in roulette

Outside bets run along the outer edges of the layout. They cover way more numbers. More wins, smaller payouts. If you want your chips to last longer without huge swings, stick to outside bets.

Red or black

Bet red or black. Zeros aren't red or black, so this isn't actually 50/50. The payout is 1 to 1.

Odd or even

Bet odd or even. Zeros don't qualify as either. Pays 1 to 1.

High or low

High covers numbers 19 through 36. Low covers 1 through 18. Simple bet. Pays even money.

Dozen bets

The grid splits into three dozens: 1-12, 13-24, and 25-36. Pick one section. Any number in your dozen hits, you get 2 to 1.

Column bets

Three columns run down the table. Pick a column, you've got 12 numbers covered. Same as dozens — pays 2 to 1.

• Even-money bets: red/black, odd/even, high/low
• ‍2-to-1 bets: dozens and columns

Called bets and announced bets

Here's where called bets get different. They target wheel sections, not table positions. You'll mostly see these on European and French tables. They've got French names because, well, French casinos invented them.

Online tables usually show a racetrack graphic. Makes it way easier to place these bets if you've never done it before.

Voisins du Zéro

Translates to "neighbors of zero." This one covers a big chunk of the wheel around zero to 17 numbers. You'll need several chips for this one, spread across splits and corners.

Tiers du Cylindre

Means "third of the wheel." Covers about a third of the wheel, opposite side from zero. Takes six chips to cover 12 numbers with splits.

Orphelins

The "orphans" are numbers not included in Voisins or Tiers. Covers eight numbers with five chips.

Jeu Zéro

The "zero game" targets numbers closest to zero with a tighter spread than Voisins. Four chips get you seven numbers.

Neighbor bets

Pick a number. Then bet that number plus the ones sitting next to it on the wheel. You pick how many neighbors, usually one to five, on each side.

Final bets

Finals means you bet all numbers ending in the same digit. For example, "finals 7" covers 7, 17, 27, and 37. How many chips you need depends on how many numbers end that way.

Roulette bet payouts and odds

The payout matches how many numbers you cover. Cover fewer numbers, get paid more, but you won't win as often. Cover more, win more often, but the payouts drop.

Here's something most people miss: except for that terrible basket bet, every roulette wager has about the same expected value long-term. House edge doesn't change if you bet straight up or red/black. The only thing that changes is how wild the swings get.

House edge for each roulette bet type

House edge is the casino's built-in advantage. In roulette, those zero pockets create the edge. When the ball lands on zero, most bets lose.

• European roulette: One zero pocket creates a lower house edge across all bets
• American roulette: Two zero pockets (0 and 00) increase the house advantage
• Basket bet: Carries the highest edge on the table, which is why seasoned players avoid it

The version you play matters. European roulette beats American on every single bet odds-wise.

Bet differences in European and American roulette

The bets? Pretty much the same across versions. What changes is the wheel setup and how much edge the house gets.

• European: Single zero, lower edge, called bets are widely available
• American: Single and double zero, basket bet available, higher edge overall
• French: Same wheel as European but includes special rules like La Partage and En Prison

Crypto roulette sites usually offer all three versions. Play European or French instead of American. Better odds, same bets.

Imprisonment bets in French roulette

French roulette's got two special rules that cut the house edge on even-money bets when zero shows up. Both rules only work on red/black, odd/even, and high/low.

La Partage rule

Zero hits? You only lose half your even-money bet. The other half comes back.

En Prison rule

If zero lands, your even-money bet stays "in prison" for the next spin. Win next time, you get your bet back. Lose, and the house takes it.

These rules make French roulette the best version if you're playing even-money bets.

Which roulette bets work best for beginners

Start with outside bets. You'll win more often, keep decisions simple, and your chips will last longer.

• Start with outside bets: Red/black and odd/even let you learn the rhythm without burning through chips quickly
• Avoid the basket bet: Worst odds on the table, no upside
• Choose European or French roulette: Lower house edge than American

Online crypto roulette tables often allow lower minimum bets, which gives beginners room to experiment without significant risk.