- Roulette games provide players with many bet options.
- Wager options cover a range of complexity and risk levels.
- Players should evaluate betting choices for fit with bankroll and risk tolerance.
Every time you place a bet on a game of roulette, you’re risking your money in the hopes that your prediction about where the roulette pill (ball) will rest proves to be accurate. There are many different ways to either lose or win a bet in roulette, and they all come down to chance.
While you can’t control these random outcomes when you play roulette online, you can carefully select the bets that best match how you prefer to play the game. Making those selections begins with understanding the different bets in roulette.
What Are Roulette Bets?
In roulette, players place bets on where they think the ball, known as the pill, will land once the wheel stops spinning. BetMGM’s roulette betting guide lays out more details about the various ways to do that, but that’s the basic concept for all wagers in the game.
There are two main types of roulette: American and European roulette. The main difference between these two versions is that the American roulette wheel has an additional green 00 (double zero) pocket for a total of 38 pockets instead of the 37 in European roulette, adding more variance to even the most basic bet types.
There is also different roulette terminology relating to roulette wagers that you’ll also need to understand as you learn the ins and outs of betting. Many of these terms are covered below.
What Are Inside Bets in Roulette?
The main difference between inside vs. outside roulette bets is placement on the grid on the table. Roulette inside bets are found on the inside of the grid on the roulette table. These wagers tend to have longer odds of hitting compared to outside bets, but they also offer more valuable payouts in comparison to outside wagers. Here’s a list of the inside bets:
- Corner: A bet that covers a square of four adjacent numbers on the table (for example, 10, 11, 13, and 14). This bet usually pays out 8 to 1.
- Line: A wager that covers two adjacent rows of three numbers on the table (for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6). The standard payout on a line bet is 5 to 1.
- Split: A bet that covers two adjacent squares on the table (for example, 19 and 20). Winners usually receive a 17 to 1 payout.
- Straight: A bet that covers a single number on the table. Lucky players normally get a 35 to 1 return on this venture.
- Street: A wager that covers a horizontal line of three adjacent numbers on the table (for example, 28, 29, and 30). If this bet hits, it pays 11 to 1.
What Are Roulette Outside Bets?
Roulette outside bets lie on the outside of the grid on the table. Compared with inside wagers, these tend to be safer bets, but you sacrifice potential payout value for that security. Here’s a list of outside bets:
- Black/red: A bet that the pill will land in a pocket of the corresponding color. This is an even-money bet with a 1 to 1 payout.
- Column: A bet that covers one of three vertical columns on the table that consists of 12 numbers. You get a 2 to 1 payout if the actual result falls within that range.
- Dozen: A wager that covers one of three sets of 12 numerically sequential numbers on the wheel, like 1-12. If the pill cooperates with your prediction, the payout is also 2 to 1 here.
- Even/Odd: A final even-money bet that covers either the even or the odd numbers on the wheel.
- High/Low: Another even-money bet that covers either the high numbers (19-36) or the low numbers (1-18).
Roulette Bet Types and Odds
| Bet Type | Payout | True Odds |
| Black/Red | 1 to 1 | 18 in 37 European, 18 in 38 American |
| Column | 2 to 1 | 12 in 37 European, 12 in 38 American |
| Corner | 8 to 1 | 4 in 37 European, 4 in 38 American |
| Dozen | 2 to 1 | 12 in 37 European, 12 in 38 American |
| Even/Odd | 1 to 1 | 18 in 37 European, 12 in 38 American |
| High/Low | 1 to 1 | 18 in 37 European, 18 in 38 American |
| Line | 5 to 1 | 6 in 37 European, 6 in 38 American |
| Split | 17 to 1 | 2 in 37 European, 2 in 38 American |
| Straight | 35 to 1 | 1 in 37 European, 1 in 38 American |
| Street | 11 to 1 | 3 in 37 European, 3 in 38 American |
What Are Call Bets (Announced Bets) in Roulette?
Call bets in roulette are bets that you call for or place verbally. Players should ensure that the croupier acknowledges their requests before the betting closes for the round.
These bets include Voisins de Zero, which covers the numbers adjacent to the zero on the wheel, Tiers du Cylindre, which covers the numbers between 12 and 33 on the wheel, including 12 and 33, and the Orphelins, which covers 17-6 and 1-9 on the wheel.
There is also a “subcategory” of call bets known as neighbor bets. Players construct these wagers by choosing a number and then selecting how many of that number’s wheel “neighbors” they want to cover in accordance with the game rules.
Side Bets in Roulette
Side bets can be the ultimate in high-stakes play in the main types of roulette. The availability of side bets fluctuates based on game rules, but all of them are secondary wagers that you place in addition to your principal bet.
The Lucky Ball bet is a good example as it is a straight bet with a twist. Chance determines which number your bet will cover, and if your luck holds, you can enjoy a payout as large as 120 to 1.
Other roulette side bets that may be available are the Blazing 7s (a wager that covers all the numbers that end in seven on the wheel) and hot/cold number bets (wagers that let you bet on patterns continuing in the game). Each roulette game that makes these wagers available will have unique payouts for them, so check the game rules before you start playing.
Which Roulette Bets Offer the Best Value?
Payouts in this game are a reflection of the roulette wheel odds and the casino house edge. Value, then, is a matter of comparing the roulette payouts by bet type against your comfort with risk and the parameters of your gambling budget.
For example, if you’re a conservative player with a smaller bankroll, split and straight bets could be the worst roulette bets for you because of the low probability and high chance to exhaust your bankroll quickly. Meanwhile, a person with a higher tolerance for risk and a more flexible budget might find columns and dozens bets more enjoyable because they can provide a more lucrative return.
Roulette Betting FAQ
Here are some of the most commonly asked roulette betting questions:
Can You Bet on the Green Zero in Roulette?
Yes. Betting on the green zero can be done via a straight bet on that pocket, a split bet in American roulette, or a trio bet in American roulette.
Can You Place More Than One Bet on a Single Round of Roulette?
Yes. Some roulette games have side bet options and most versions have few, if any, rules about placing multiple bets on the same spin. However, it often doesn’t make sense to do so, as in the case of betting on black and red together in roulette.
How Do Roulette Bets Work?
With most bets, players simply place the chips they want to risk on the designated spot on the table for that wager. After the croupier closes the betting for the round, the wheel starts to spin and the pill drops. When the wheel stops spinning, the croupier announces the result and processes the chips on the table, collecting chips from lost bets and paying out winnings.
What Are the Best Roulette Bets for Beginners?
In general, it’s best to play conservatively as you learn the game. For that reason, bets such as black/red, even/odd, and high/low are recommended because they have player-friendly probabilities.
Place Your Roulette Bet With BetMGM Casino
Having had the roulette betting options explained and odds broken down for you, you’re ready to try your luck at this casino classic game of chance. Browse BetMGM’s stellar selection of online RNG roulette and live dealer roulette titles and prep your betting plan for your session so you can gamble responsibly.
You can also check out the tremendous bonuses, such as the BetMGM casino welcome bonus, that could be applicable to roulette games and start earning BetMGM Rewards as soon as you register for BetMGM. While there are numerous ways to bet on roulette, the only place to play the game is BetMGM.
