This guide covers every roulette bet with exact odds, payouts, and house edge — starting with a head-to-head comparison of American, European, and Triple Zero variants, then diving deep into 100+ American Roulette probabilities. All math is shown so you can verify it yourself.
Roulette Odds: American vs European vs Triple Zero
The version of roulette you play matters more than any bet you place. The difference between a single-zero European wheel and a double-zero American wheel nearly doubles the house edge — and triple-zero wheels are worse still.
| European | American | Triple Zero | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Slots | 37 | 38 | 39 |
| Zero Pockets | 1 (0) | 2 (0, 00) | 3 (0, 00, 000) |
| House Edge | 2.70% | 5.26% | 7.69% |
| Expected Return | 97.30% | 94.74% | 92.31% |
| Red/Black Probability | 48.65% | 47.37% | 46.15% |
| Single Number Odds | 1 in 37 | 1 in 38 | 1 in 39 |
| La Partage Available? | Yes (1.35% edge) | No | No |
| Cost per $100 Wagered | $2.70 | $5.26 | $7.69 |
House Edge Comparison
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How American Roulette Works
An American roulette wheel has 38 numbered slots: the numbers 1 through 36 (alternating red and black) plus two green pockets — a single zero (0) and a double zero (00). The dealer spins the wheel in one direction and rolls a ball in the other. When the ball lands in a pocket, all bets covering that number are paid according to fixed payout ratios.
The two zeros are the casino’s profit margin. All payouts are calculated as if there were only 36 numbers on the wheel, but there are actually 38. Those two extra green pockets create a 5.26% house edge — nearly double the 2.70% edge on a European wheel.
American Roulette also has one bet that doesn’t exist in other variants: the Top Line (also called the “basket bet”), covering 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. This is the single worst bet on any roulette table — it carries a 7.89% house edge, significantly higher than every other bet’s 5.26%.
American Roulette Payout & Odds Chart
Every bet in American Roulette has the same 5.26% house edge, with one exception: the Top Line bet at 7.89%. The table below shows every available bet, its payout, and your exact probability of winning.
| Bet | Covers | Payout | Probability | Odds (1 in X) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inside Bets | ||||
| Straight Up | 1 number | 35:1 | 2.63% | 1 in 38.0 |
| Split | 2 numbers | 17:1 | 5.26% | 1 in 19.0 |
| Street | 3 numbers | 11:1 | 7.89% | 1 in 12.7 |
| Corner | 4 numbers | 8:1 | 10.53% | 1 in 9.5 |
| Top Line | 5 (0, 00, 1, 2, 3) | 6:1 | 13.16% | 1 in 7.6 |
| Double Street | 6 numbers | 5:1 | 15.79% | 1 in 6.3 |
| Outside Bets | ||||
| Column | 12 numbers | 2:1 | 31.58% | 1 in 3.2 |
| Dozen (1-12, 13-24, 25-36) | 12 numbers | 2:1 | 31.58% | 1 in 3.2 |
| Red / Black | 18 numbers | 1:1 | 47.37% | 1 in 2.1 |
| Odd / Even | 18 numbers | 1:1 | 47.37% | 1 in 2.1 |
| High / Low (19-36 / 1-18) | 18 numbers | 1:1 | 47.37% | 1 in 2.1 |
Expected Value & House Edge
Roulette has a straightforward house edge. The payouts for all bets are slightly lower than the true odds. For example, the odds of hitting a specific number are 1 in 38, but the payout is only 35:1.
For all bets in American Roulette, the house edge is 5.26%. This means the average return on any wager is 94.74%.
A practical example: bet $100 on red. There are 18 red numbers out of 38 total. If red hits, you receive $200 (your $100 back plus $100 in winnings). If any other result occurs (black or green), you lose your $100.
Run the same calculation on any bet — straight up, split, corner, column — and you arrive at the same 5.26% house edge every time. The variance between bet types changes your experience (how wild the swings are), but it doesn’t change the expected cost.
Compare this to European Roulette, where the house edge is only 2.70%. Over 1,000 spins at $100 per spin, American Roulette costs you an expected $5,260 versus $2,700 on a European wheel — a difference of $2,560.
Long-Term Odds & Probabilities
Roulette is rarely a one-spin game. The probabilities shift meaningfully over multiple spins. Hitting a specific number on one spin is a 1-in-38 long shot, but over 26 spins the odds of hitting it at least once are essentially a coin flip.
| Event | Probability | Odds | Formula |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hitting the same color consecutively | |||
| Same color over 2 spins | 22.44% | 1 : 3 | (18/38)² |
| Same color over 3 spins | 10.63% | 1 : 8 | (18/38)³ |
| Same color over 4 spins | 5.03% | 1 : 19 | (18/38)⁴ |
| Same color over 5 spins | 2.38% | 1 : 41 | (18/38)⁵ |
| Same color over 10 spins | 0.06% | 1 : 1,757 | (18/38)¹⁰ |
| Hitting the same number consecutively | |||
| Same number over 2 spins | 0.07% | 1 : 1,443 | (1/38)² |
| Same number over 3 spins | 0.002% | 1 : 54,871 | (1/38)³ |
| Same number over 4 spins | 0.00005% | 1 : 2,085,135 | (1/38)⁴ |
| Avoiding 0 and 00 | |||
| Neither zero over 1 spin | 94.74% | 18.0 : 1 | 36/38 |
| Neither zero over 5 spins | 76.31% | 3.2 : 1 | (36/38)⁵ |
| Neither zero over 13 spins | 49.52% | 1 : 1 | (36/38)¹³ |
| Neither zero over 20 spins | 33.91% | 1 : 2 | (36/38)²⁰ |
| Neither zero over 100 spins | 0.45% | 1 : 222 | (36/38)¹⁰⁰ |
| Neither zero over 200 spins | 0.002% | 1 : 49,683 | (36/38)²⁰⁰ |
| Missing a specific number | |||
| No hit over 5 spins | 76.31% | 3.2 : 1 | (37/38)⁵ |
| No hit over 20 spins | 58.66% | 1.4 : 1 | (37/38)²⁰ |
| No hit over 26 spins | 49.99% | 1 : 1 | (37/38)²⁶ |
| No hit over 100 spins | 6.95% | 1 : 13 | (37/38)¹⁰⁰ |
| No hit over 200 spins | 0.48% | 1 : 206 | (37/38)²⁰⁰ |
| No hit over 500 spins | 0.0002% | 1 : 617,925 | (37/38)⁵⁰⁰ |
Odds Betting on Even Chances (1:1 Bets)
Even-money bets — red/black, odd/even, high/low — are the most popular wagers in roulette. They pay 1:1 and hit 47.37% of the time on an American wheel. Here’s what happens when you repeat them.
Betting on Even Chances 5 Times
Betting $100 on even chances 5 times gives you a 45.07% chance of coming out ahead:
| Result | Probability | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Win 5 times (win $500) | 2.38% | 1 : 41 |
| Win 4+ times (win $300+) | 15.63% | 1 : 5.4 |
| Win 3+ times (win $100+) | 45.07% | 1 : 1.2 |
| Win 2 or fewer (lose $100+) | 54.93% | 1.2 : 1 |
| Win 1 or fewer (lose $300+) | 22.21% | 1 : 3.5 |
| Win 0 times (lose $500) | 4.04% | 1 : 24 |
Betting on Even Chances 20 Times
Over 20 even-money bets of $100, the probability of ending in the green drops to 32.23%:
| Result | Probability | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Win 20 times (win $2,000) | 0.00003% | 1 : 3,091,873 |
| Win 15+ times (win $1,000+) | 1.15% | 1 : 86 |
| Win 13+ times (win $600+) | 8.75% | 1 : 10 |
| Win 11+ times (win $200+) | 32.23% | 1 : 2 |
| Break even exactly | 17.14% | 1 : 5 |
| Win 9 or fewer (lose $200+) | 50.63% | 1 : 1 |
| Win 7 or fewer (lose $600+) | 18.89% | 1 : 4 |
| Win 5 or fewer (lose $1,000+) | 3.55% | 1 : 27 |
| Win 0 times (lose $2,000) | 0.0003% | 1 : 375,899 |
Betting on Even Chances 100 Times
Over 100 bets of $100, your chance of ending ahead drops to 26.5%. The house edge has a long tail:
| Result | Probability | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Win 70+ times (win $4,000+) | 0.0004% | 1 : 256,765 |
| Win 60+ times (win $2,000+) | 0.75% | 1 : 132 |
| Win 55+ times (win $1,000+) | 7.67% | 1 : 12 |
| Win 51+ times (win $200+) | 26.50% | 1 : 3 |
| Break even exactly | 6.93% | 1 : 13 |
| Win 49 or fewer (lose $200+) | 66.57% | 2.0 : 1 |
| Win 45 or fewer (lose $1,000+) | 35.48% | 1 : 2 |
| Win 40 or fewer (lose $2,000+) | 8.41% | 1 : 11 |
| Win 30 or fewer (lose $4,000+) | 0.03% | 1 : 3,298 |
Probability distribution when betting on even chances 100 times. Orange line: break even (50 wins). Highlighted area: 95% of all outcomes fall in this range.
The breakeven point is 50 wins out of 100. Because win probability is 47.37% (not 50%), the distribution shifts toward the losing side. Over time this small tilt compounds. You’ll end up within 40-57 wins about 95% of the time.
Odds Betting on 8:1 Chances (Corner Bets)
Corner bets cover four numbers at once with a payout of 8:1. The odds of winning are 1 in 9.5 (10.53%), which means higher variance than even-money bets. You lose more individual bets, but each win returns significantly more.
Betting on Corners 5 Times
With $100 on corner bets 5 times, you have a 42.66% chance of hitting at least once — and one hit is enough to profit $400 net:
| Result | Probability | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Win 4+ times (win $3,100+) | 0.06% | 1 : 1,778 |
| Win 3+ times (win $2,200+) | 0.99% | 1 : 100 |
| Win 2+ times (win $1,300+) | 8.93% | 1 : 10 |
| Win 1+ times (win $400+) | 42.66% | 1 : 1.3 |
| No win (lose $500) | 57.34% | 1.3 : 1 |
Betting on Corners 20 Times
Over 20 corner bets, you need at least 3 wins to turn a profit. This happens 35.32% of the time:
| Result | Probability | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Win 6+ times (win $3,400+) | 1.43% | 1 : 69 |
| Win 5+ times (win $2,500+) | 5.21% | 1 : 18 |
| Win 4+ times (win $1,600+) | 15.24% | 1 : 6 |
| Win 3+ times (win $700+) | 35.32% | 1 : 2 |
| Win 2 or fewer (lose $200+) | 64.68% | 1.8 : 1 |
| Win 1 or fewer (lose $1,100+) | 36.25% | 1 : 2 |
| No win (lose $2,000) | 10.81% | 1 : 8 |
Betting on Corners 100 Times
Over 100 corner bets, you need 12 wins to show a profit. The probability: 36.11%.
| Result | Probability | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Win 20+ times (win $8,000+) | 0.36% | 1 : 278 |
| Win 16+ times (win $4,400+) | 5.87% | 1 : 16 |
| Win 14+ times (win $2,600+) | 16.50% | 1 : 5 |
| Win 13+ times (win $1,700+) | 25.19% | 1 : 3 |
| Win 12+ times (win $800+) | 36.11% | 1 : 2 |
| Win 11 or fewer (lose $100+) | 63.89% | 1.8 : 1 |
| Win 10 or fewer (lose $1,000+) | 51.39% | 1 : 1 |
| Win 8 or fewer (lose $2,800+) | 26.26% | 1 : 3 |
| Win 6 or fewer (lose $4,600+) | 8.80% | 1 : 10 |
| Win 4 or fewer (lose $6,400+) | 1.62% | 1 : 61 |
Probability distribution when betting on 8:1 chances 100 times. Orange line: break even (12 wins). Highlighted area: 95% of all outcomes fall in this range.
With corner bets, both the upside and downside widen compared to even-money wagers. Your probability of showing any profit is actually higher (36.11% vs 26.50%), and your chances of a big win increase too — but so do the chances of a significant loss. Same house edge, different ride.
Odds Betting Straight Up (Single Numbers)
Straight-up bets are the most volatile wager in roulette. The odds of hitting are just 1 in 38 (2.63%), but the payout is 35:1. This creates extreme variance — most sessions result in losses, but a single hit can wipe out many losing bets at once.
Betting on Single Numbers 5 Times
With $100 on a single number over 5 spins, you have a 12.48% chance of hitting at least once. One hit nets $3,100 after the other 4 losses:
| Result | Probability | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Win 2+ times (win $6,700+) | 0.66% | 1 : 151 |
| Win 1+ times (win $3,100+) | 12.48% | 1 : 7 |
| No win (lose $500) | 87.52% | 7 : 1 |
Betting on Single Numbers 20 Times
Over 20 straight-up bets, you only need 1 hit to profit. One win nets $1,600 ($3,500 – $1,900 in other losses). This happens 41.34% of the time:
| Result | Probability | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Win 4+ times (win $12,400+) | 0.17% | 1 : 602 |
| Win 3+ times (win $8,800+) | 1.49% | 1 : 66 |
| Win 2+ times (win $5,200+) | 9.63% | 1 : 9 |
| Win 1+ times (win $1,600+) | 41.34% | 1 : 1.4 |
| No win (lose $2,000) | 58.66% | 1.4 : 1 |
Betting on Single Numbers 100 Times
Over 100 straight-up bets, you need 3 wins to profit. The probability: 49.16% — almost a coin flip:
| Result | Probability | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Win 8+ times (win $18,800+) | 0.50% | 1 : 198 |
| Win 6+ times (win $11,600+) | 4.90% | 1 : 19 |
| Win 4+ times (win $4,400+) | 26.98% | 1 : 2.7 |
| Win 3+ times (win $800+) | 49.16% | 1 : 1 |
| Win 2 or fewer (lose $2,800+) | 50.84% | 1 : 1 |
| Win 1 or fewer (lose $6,400+) | 25.72% | 1 : 3 |
| No win (lose $10,000) | 6.95% | 1 : 13 |
Probability distribution when betting on single numbers 100 times. Orange line: break even (3 wins). Highlighted area: 95% of all outcomes fall in this range.
This is the fundamental variance tradeoff in roulette: all bets share the same 5.26% house edge, but the distribution of outcomes is radically different. Even-money bets give you a smooth, predictable bleed. Single-number bets give you a wild ride with the same expected cost. The expected number of wins over 100 spins is 2.63 (100 x 1/38), and the breakeven point is 3 wins.
If you want to explore how variance shapes outcomes across many gambling scenarios, our Poker Variance Calculator demonstrates the same mathematical principles applied to poker.
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