The quickest way to read roulette odds is to start with the number of pockets on the wheel, not with the name of the bet.
- Single-zero roulette: 37 pockets — 1 through 36 plus 0
- Double-zero roulette: 38 pockets — 1 through 36 plus 0 and 00
- Triple-zero roulette: 39 pockets — 1 through 36 plus 0, 00, and 000
The familiar payouts — 35:1 on a straight number, 17:1 on a split, 2:1 on a dozen, 1:1 on red — are built around the 36 numbered pockets. Every extra green pocket lowers the probability of the standard winning areas without increasing the payout.
Main roulette odds chart
The table below assumes the usual standard payouts and no special zero rule such as la partage or en prison.
| Bet | Numbers covered | Payout | Single-zero hit rate | Double-zero hit rate | Triple-zero hit rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight | 1 | 35:1 | 2.70% | 2.63% | 2.56% |
| Split | 2 | 17:1 | 5.41% | 5.26% | 5.13% |
| Street | 3 | 11:1 | 8.11% | 7.89% | 7.69% |
| Corner | 4 | 8:1 | 10.81% | 10.53% | 10.26% |
| Six line | 6 | 5:1 | 16.22% | 15.79% | 15.38% |
| Dozen | 12 | 2:1 | 32.43% | 31.58% | 30.77% |
| Column | 12 | 2:1 | 32.43% | 31.58% | 30.77% |
| Red / Black | 18 | 1:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% | 46.15% |
| Odd / Even | 18 | 1:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% | 46.15% |
| 1–18 / 19–36 | 18 | 1:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% | 46.15% |
For the standard bets in this chart, the usual house edge is:
| Wheel | Standard-bet house edge |
|---|---|
| Single zero | 2.7027% |
| Double zero | 5.2632% |
| Triple zero | 7.6923% |
That is the main comparison. Changing from a straight-up number to red does not lower the percentage house edge on an ordinary wheel. Changing from double zero to single zero does.
The probability formula
If a wager covers (w) winning pockets on a wheel with (N) total pockets, then the probability of winning one spin is:
[ P(\text{win}) = \frac{w}{N} ]
For a corner bet on a single-zero wheel:
[ P(\text{win}) = \frac{4}{37} \approx 10.81% ]
For the same four-number corner on a double-zero wheel:
[ P(\text{win}) = \frac{4}{38} \approx 10.53% ]
The bet still pays 8:1 in both cases. The extra zero pocket is why the American version costs more over time.
If you want to enter a different pocket count or coverage directly, use the Roulette Odds Calculator.
Payout is not the same as total return
Roulette odds are normally stated to one. A 35:1 straight-up payout means a $10 winning wager earns $350 profit and the original $10 stake is also returned.
So:
- stake: $10
- profit: $350
- total amount returned after the win: $360
This distinction matters because some electronic interfaces display a “for one” return instead. If a screen says 36 for 1, that can be economically equivalent to 35 to 1 when the returned stake is included. Check how the game labels its paytable rather than comparing the printed numbers blindly.
New Jersey’s regulated roulette payout schedule lists the standard minimum payouts, including 35:1 straight, 17:1 split, 11:1 three-number, 8:1 four-number, 5:1 six-number, 2:1 column/dozen and 1:1 even-money wagers. See N.J.A.C. 13:69F-5.2.
For a payout-only reference, see Roulette Payouts.
True odds show where the casino margin comes from
“True odds” compare losing outcomes with winning outcomes before the casino payout is applied.
For a single straight number:
| Wheel | Winning pockets | Losing pockets | True losing-to-winning odds | Casino payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single zero | 1 | 36 | 36:1 | 35:1 |
| Double zero | 1 | 37 | 37:1 | 35:1 |
| Triple zero | 1 | 38 | 38:1 | 35:1 |
On a single-zero wheel, a fair straight-up payout would need to compensate for 36 losing pockets for every winning pocket. Roulette pays 35:1 instead. On wheels with extra zeros, the gap grows because the number of losing pockets increases while the standard payout stays at 35:1.
The same structure appears on the other standard bets. A single-zero six-line wager covers 6 pockets and loses on 31, giving true losing-to-winning odds of (31:6), or about 5.17:1, while the casino pays 5:1.
That payout gap is the house edge expressed through the layout.
Why most standard bets have the same house edge
This surprises many new players. A straight number is hard to hit and red is easy to hit, but the payout scales with the coverage.
For a standard wager covering (w) numbers, the conventional payout is based on a 36-number game. On a wheel with (N) total pockets, the expected profit per $1 wager is:
[ EV = \frac{w \times p - (N-w)}{N} ]
where:
- (w) = winning pockets;
- (p) = profit paid per winning $1 wager;
- (N) = total wheel pockets.
Take red on a double-zero wheel. Red covers 18 pockets and pays 1:1:
[ EV = \frac{18(1) - 20}{38} = \frac{-2}{38} \approx -0.05263 ]
So the expected loss is about 5.263 cents per $1 wagered, a 5.26% house edge.
Now take a straight number:
[ EV = \frac{1(35) - 37}{38} = \frac{-2}{38} \approx -0.05263 ]
Same edge, very different hit frequency and volatility.
For the conceptual explanation, see Why Most Roulette Bets Have the Same House Edge.
The American five-number bet is worse than the rest
On a traditional double-zero layout, the 0-00-1-2-3 five-number wager is a special case. It covers five pockets and commonly pays 6:1.
Its expected value is:
[ EV = \frac{5(6)-33}{38} = \frac{-3}{38} \approx -7.89% ]
That is worse than the normal 5.26% double-zero edge.
The difference is not caused by the shape of the chips or by “inside” versus “outside” betting. It is caused by a payout that is too short for five winning pockets.
The Wizard of Odds roulette analysis likewise lists the conventional American five-number bet at a 7.89% house edge while the other ordinary double-zero wagers are 5.26%.
French zero rules can change the even-money edge
A single-zero wheel already has a lower standard edge than a double-zero wheel. Some French-style games go further by applying la partage or en prison to eligible even-money wagers when zero appears.
Under a simple la partage rule, half of an even-money wager is returned when the ball lands on zero. For a $1 red wager on a single-zero wheel:
- 18 red outcomes win $1;
- 18 black outcomes lose $1;
- zero loses only $0.50.
The expected value becomes:
[ EV = \frac{18(1)-18(1)-0.5}{37} = \frac{-0.5}{37} \approx -1.351% ]
So the house edge on the eligible even-money bet falls from about 2.70% to about 1.35%.
Do not apply that figure to a table unless the rule is actually offered. French Roulette Rules explains the settlement differences.
Coverage changes volatility, not the standard percentage price
Two bets can carry the same house edge and still feel completely different. A straight number wins rarely but pays 35:1. Red wins almost half the spins but only pays 1:1. The expected percentage loss can be the same while the short-term distribution is very different.
That distinction matters if you use the chart to choose a wager. A higher hit rate is not a hidden discount; it is a trade between frequency and payoff. Covering 18 numbers produces many small wins and losses. Covering one number produces many losses interrupted by an occasional large win.
For example, on a single-zero wheel:
| Bet | Hit probability | Net profit on a $10 win | Standard house edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight | 2.70% | $350 | 2.70% |
| Corner | 10.81% | $80 | 2.70% |
| Dozen | 32.43% | $20 | 2.70% |
| Red | 48.65% | $10 | 2.70% |
The chart therefore answers two separate questions. Hit probability tells you how often a wager wins on one spin. House edge tells you the long-run average percentage cost. Neither number by itself describes how smooth or rough a short session will feel.
Why wheel type dominates small bet-choice differences
If the payouts are standard, moving from double-zero to single-zero roulette cuts the house edge from about 5.26% to 2.70% regardless of whether you prefer straights, corners, dozens, or red/black. That is a much larger mathematical change than switching between two ordinary bet shapes on the same wheel.
A player who likes straight numbers is not mathematically forced to abandon them for red; the more consequential question is whether the straight number is being played on a 37-, 38-, or 39-pocket game and whether the payout is still 35:1.
Probability of winning is not probability of leaving ahead
The chart answers one-spin questions. It does not tell you the chance of finishing a session in profit.
A player placing $10 on red for one spin has a 48.65% chance of winning that spin on a single-zero wheel. A player making 100 red bets is dealing with a distribution of many wins and losses, not one 48.65% event. Session outcome depends on the number of bets, stake changes, bet combinations, and the sequence of results.
Likewise, covering more numbers raises hit frequency but reduces the payout. It does not automatically improve expected value.
For the difference between one-spin probability and long-run cost, use Roulette Odds together with Roulette House Edge.
A $100-action comparison
Suppose two players each put $100 of total action through roulette.
- Player A uses standard single-zero bets at 2.70% house edge.
- Player B uses standard double-zero bets at 5.26%.
- Player C uses standard triple-zero bets at 7.69%.
Expected loss is:
[ \text{Expected Loss} = \text{Total Action} \times \text{House Edge} ]
So the long-run expected costs of $100 action are approximately:
| Wheel | Expected loss per $100 action |
|---|---|
| Single zero | $2.70 |
| Double zero | $5.26 |
| Triple zero | $7.69 |
Actual results from $100 of play can be far above or below those amounts. The table is a pricing comparison, not a prediction for one session.
What to check on an unfamiliar roulette game
Before using any odds chart, confirm the rules on the actual game:
- How many green pockets are active? 0 only, 0 and 00, or 0/00/000?
- Are the standard payouts intact? A short-pay electronic game can have a worse edge than the wheel count suggests.
- Does the table offer la partage or en prison? Those can improve eligible even-money bets.
- Are there unusual combination bets? Their payouts may not share the standard edge.
- Is the display quoting “to one” or “for one”? Do not mistake total return for profit.
The best roulette comparison is usually not “Which pattern should I bet?” but “What wheel and settlement rules am I buying?”
Quick reference
- Lowest standard edge among ordinary wheels: single zero, about 2.70%.
- Standard double-zero edge: about 5.26%.
- Standard triple-zero edge: about 7.69%.
- Single-zero even-money bets with la partage: about 1.35% when the rule applies.
- Traditional American 0-00-1-2-3 five-number bet: about 7.89%.
- Straight numbers pay more because they hit less often; they do not normally have a better percentage return than other standard bets on the same wheel.
Use this chart for the arithmetic, then use European vs American Roulette when choosing between wheel types. The wheel count and zero rule usually matter more than the visual shape of the wager.