- Roulette side bets are unconventional wagers that some versions of the game offer.
- Side bets in roulette tend to carry larger risk than standard wagers.
- Players need to check game rules for side bet options and assess the odds.
Gamblers love roulette for the variety of ways to play, and roulette side bets expand those possibilities. While these wagers provide paths to diversify roulette plays, they also expand bettors’ risk on each round.
You’ll encounter these additional betting chances as you play online roulette, making it important to understand how they work and the associated risks. You can decide whether the various wagers are a good fit for your betting plan with that knowledge.
Basics of Roulette Side Bets Explained
Most roulette bet types are standard wagers in the game, such as the most common wagers like black or red, and even or odd. The term “side bet” in roulette refers to unconventional wagers that bettors make alongside their main bets.
Side bets in roulette are, like regular bets, dependent upon the result of the upcoming game, but can be much more complicated than typical wagers. These wagers are also normally far riskier in comparison to standard bets.
How Do You Find Roulette Side Bets?
As BetMGM’s roulette betting guide explains in greater detail, betting options fluctuate based on the version of the game you’re engaged in. In no way is that more true than with side bets.
The best way to know for sure which roulette betting options the game you’re considering offers is to check the specific rules of that individual table/title. The game rules will list whether any side bets are available.
What Are Some Examples of Side Bets in Roulette?
A few popular side bets are among the intriguing options in online tables and live roulette.
4-Ball Extra Bet
Like how American roulette games add a green double zero pocket, the Hybrid Dealer Roulette 4-Ball Extra Bet game adds a second wheel inside the game’s main wheel and four more pills to the action. That opens up a new field of side bet options such as wagering on pills landing in pockets of matching colors with payouts as large as 500:1.
Blazing 7s
BetMGM is home to many exclusive online roulette games and some variants that offer exclusive side bet options. The aptly named Blazing 7s Roulette belongs in the latter category, as it offers an exclusive side bet that hits when the pill lands on a number that ends in seven (7, 17, 27, 37) and triggers an accompanying drawing that may pay out up to 1,000:1.
Lucky Ball
In roulette games that allow for it, you can place a separate wager on one of four slots, all of which have a distinct color and will be randomly assigned a number after all bets are in.
If the pill rests in the pocket associated with the color you wagered on, you win.
Hot and Cold Number Bets
Roulette neighbor bets become attractive to players who watch for patterns in roulette results over time, and that’s also the premise for side bets on “hot” and “cold” numbers. Some roulette tables will allow you to bet on or against the trends continuing, with payouts varying based on the structure and timing of the wager.
What Are the Odds of Side Bets in Roulette?
Roulette side bets can rank among the worst roulette bets in terms of the house edge on the wagers. The general rule of thumb is that the narrower the field of winning numbers in a bet is, the less likely you are to win. This is why, unlike with outside bets in roulette, the chances of most side bets hitting are long. Players need to check the exact probabilities of each side bet option in each roulette game that they’re considering so they can evaluate whether these wagers fit their risk tolerance.
What are the Payouts for Roulette Side Bets?
Just as the probabilities for roulette side bets are unique, the payouts are also specific to each type of side bet. Similar to regular roulette wagers, the general expectation is that the less likely the bet is to hit, the greater the potential payout.
For example, because of the slim probability, the payout on the Lucky Ball bet can be as large as 120:1. This means that bettors can get an extraordinary return on a small wager if they get lucky, but it also means that players may use up their bankrolls more quickly than if they stuck to more conservative wagers.
How Do You Place Side Bets in Roulette?
Specific procedures can vary based on the casino and variant you’re playing, but most roulette side bets are either call bets or have a dedicated spot on the table for players to place their chips. A call bet in roulette is one that you place by verbally telling the croupier that you want to make the wager. For example, if you wanted to place a Blazing 7s bet in BetMGM’s Blazing 7s Roulette game, you would place the chips that you want to risk on the appropriate section on the table.
What all roulette side bets have in common is that you must first place a standard bet on the game before you can make a side wager.
Roulette Side Bets FAQ
These are some of the most commonly asked roulette side bet questions:
Which Roulette Games Offer Side Bets?
Only certain roulette titles provide side bets alongside the usual outside and inside bets in roulette. Bettors should check each title’s rules to see which, if any, side bets the game offers.
Are Roulette Side Bets Worth It?
Each bettor needs to assess whether a specific roulette side bet is worth the risk, taking their responsible gambling plan into account.
When Do You Place Side Bets in Roulette?
In most games, the proper time to place a side bet is before the croupier closes the betting for the round. If you arrive after that call, you’ll need to wait for the next round.
Can You Place Multiple Roulette Side Bets on One Spin?
It depends on the specific side bets you’re discussing, but doing so would most likely mean that you’re nearly guaranteed to lose money over time, like betting on black and red at the same time repeatedly.
What Is the Most Common Roulette Side Bet?
The most common roulette side bet is the hot and cold numbers side bet. While this wager allows players to bet on patterns continuing, bettors need to remember that each spin of the wheel is independent and past results aren’t reliable indicators of future events.
BetMGM Casino is On Your Side in Roulette Games
When you’re ready to check out the expanse of roulette side bets, BetMGM is ready to welcome you. BetMGM has the strongest selection of games with side bet options and offers special roulette bonus bets to augment your experience level in the game.
You can register for BetMGM, pick your roulette game, and start building that experience today.
