Updated on April 10 2025
When playing roulette games, it's important to understand the house edges and roulette odds.
I find it bizarre that many gamblers play casino games without understanding house edges or what they mean in terms of money won or lost. Most players don't understand what roulette table odds are or how they relate to probabilities.
So, I decided to write this article to educate casinogoers.
The Roulette House Edge: American vs. European Games
Let's compare two main roulette versions:
- American double-zero roulette wheel
- European single-zero roulette wheel
The basic house edge (the odds on roulette) is 5.26% for American wheels and 2.7% for European wheels. American roulette wheel odds are higher because the wheel has 38 pockets versus European wheels' 37.
In terms of money gambled, a player stands to lose:
- 5.26 units per 100 units wagered on American wheels
- 2.7 units per 100 units wagered on European wheels
But how do these house edges translate into probabilities and roulette odds?
ODDS ON ROULETTE: The Probabilities Explained
Many online casino players don't understand the math behind roulette wheel odds. Let's examine the American double-zero wheel first.
An American wheel has 38 pockets: numbers 1-36, plus (0) and (00). If you bet on 17, you have 1 chance in 38 of winning (the probability). But the odds against you are 37-to-1 (one way to win, 37 ways to lose).
Here's where the house edge comes in: While true odds would pay 37-to-1, the casino only pays 35-to-1 on a win. This shortfall of two units creates the house edge. Divide 2 by 38, multiply by 100, and you get 5.26%.
The bottom line: Roulette table odds don't match actual payouts.
American Roulette Odds Chart
| American Roulette Bets | Payout | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|---|
| Even | 1:1 | 46.37% |
| Odd | 1:1 | 46.37% |
| Red | 1:1 | 46.37% |
| Black | 1:1 | 46.37% |
| 1-18 | 1:1 | 46.37% |
| 19-36 | 1:1 | 46.37% |
| 1-12 | 2:1 | 31.58% |
| 13-24 | 2:1 | 31.58% |
| 25-36 | 2:1 | 31.58% |
| Single Number | 35:1 | 2.63% |
| Combination of 2 Numbers | 17:1 | 5.26% |
| Combination of 3 Numbers | 11:1 | 7.89% |
| Combination of 4 Numbers | 8:1 | 10.53% |
| Combination of 6 Numbers | 5:1 | 15.79% |
| Combination of 0, 00, 1, 2, 3 | 6:1 | 13.16% |
European Single-Zero Wheel: Better Chances of Winning
For European wheels, the same principle applies. With 37 numbers (1-36 plus one zero), the probability is 1-in-37, and the true roulette odds are 36-to-1.
However, casinos still pay only 35-to-1, creating a shortage of one unit. This gives European wheels a house edge of 2.7% (1÷37×100).
Try European roulette for better odds!
European Roulette Odds Chart
| European Roulette Bets | Payout | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|---|
| Even | 1:1 | 48.6% |
| Odd | 1:1 | 48.6% |
| Red | 1:1 | 48.6% |
| Black | 1:1 | 48.6% |
| 1-18 | 1:1 | 48.6% |
| 19-36 | 1:1 | 48.6% |
| 1-12 | 2:1 | 32.4% |
| 13-24 | 2:1 | 32.4% |
| 25-36 | 2:1 | 32.4% |
| Single Number | 35:1 | 2.7% |
| Combination of 2 Numbers | 17:1 | 5.4% |
| Combination of 3 Numbers | 11:1 | 8.1% |
| Combination of 4 Numbers | 8:1 | 10.8% |
| Combination of 6 Numbers | 5:1 | 16.2% |
ROULETTE TABLE ODDS: Short vs. Long-Term
Roulette wheel odds are based on mathematical probability, but this doesn't mean you'll win exactly once every 37 or 38 spins. In the short-term, results can vary wildly.
You might win over 20 or 40 decisions several times or not at all. However, as you play more, your results will gradually approach the theoretical odds on roulette.
Is there a way to play differently in the short term? No! Roulette odds remain constant whether you're playing one spin or thousands. You can't out-think the math.
Roulette Wheel Odds on Proposition Bets
Roulette odds work the same way for every bet the game offers. For example, let's just focus on the even-money bet of roulette's well-known "red or black."
The bet is called even money because, a win pays one unit for every one-unit wagered. But the probability and odds of roulette are not one-to-one.
To expand on this, let's say you bet on red. There're 18 red numbers and 18 black numbers. You want red to hit; you don't want black to hit. However – and it's a BIG however – you also don't want the green zero or, on the American wheel, any of the two zero pockets, i.e. (0) or (00) to hit. Those are also losing bets.
What follows are the roulette odds for both roulette wheel variants:
- You will win 18 times and lose 20 times on American double-zero wheels.
- You will win 18 times and lose 19 times on European single-zero wheels.
Since the payout is one-to-one what are the roulette table odds here?
- They are 20 to 18 (or 10 to 9) on American double-zero wheels. This roulette variant shorts roulette gamblers two units, which means 38 into 2 shows the edge to be 5.26 percent; and
- 19 to 18 on European single-zero wheels. This roulette variant shows the edge to be 2.70 percent.
Other Roulette Bets and Their Odds
There are some other roulette bets that come in with greater or lesser house edges. You can read about these in our roulette tips article.
Conclusion: Choosing the Best Roulette Odds
It goes without saying that if you're going to gamble on roulette games, you're probably better off playing on roulette tables with single-zero wheels.
The roulette table odds on American double-zero wheels place roulette gamblers at a disadvantage. The structure of roulette odds - set by math (for both roulette variants) - means roulette gamblers stand to lose less by betting on European roulette games.
Ready to apply your knowledge of roulette odds? Explore our comprehensive Roulette Strategy Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions About Roulette Odds
What are the odds on roulette?
The odds on roulette are based on the type of roulette wheel being bet on. The chances of winning a bet placed on a single number for the two main wheel types are: 46.37% on American double-zero wheels (with 38 pockets) and 48.6% on European single-zero wheels (with 37 pockets).
What are the odds on a roulette table?
Table odds are based on the house edges which are 2.7% on European wheels and 5.26% on American wheels.
The odds of winning are dependent on what bets you place on a roulette table. If you bet on a European wheel, the odds of winning on a single number with a payout of 35:1 is 2.7%. An even-money 1:1 bet is 48.6%. The odds on winning a 2:1 bet is 32.4%. And then; two numbers 5.4%, three numbers 8.1%, four numbers 10.8% and six numbers 16.2%.
What are the odds on 0 in roulette?
The odds of winning a bet placed on green zero played on a European roulette wheel is 48.6%. And a bet on any zero pocket, i.e. 0 or 00 on an American roulette wheel is 46.37%.
What are the odds on red and black roulette?
The odds on roulette for even-money chance bets like red or black are 46.37% on American double-zero wheels and 48.6% on European single-zero wheels.
Should I bet on double-zero roulette?
If you want your bankroll to stand a better chance of lasting longer, you should avoid double-zero roulette wheels with 38 pockets and bet on European roulette wheels with only 37 pockets.
Is roulette a fair game when it comes to the odds of winning?
With a 48.6% chance of winning even-money bets on a European roulette wheel i.e. betting on 18 roulette numbers, that's close to a 50:50 chance. I think that's fair given the casino has to make a profit from its 2.7% house edge.
Red or black in Roulette vs. Player or Banker in Baccarat: What are the best odds?
It's a no-brainer that betting on the Banker in Baccarat is the best bet because the house edge is 1.06%. But because of the commission on Banker wins, when betting on many decisions, better options are Player bets in Baccarat with a house edge of 1.24% or take advantage of the 1.35% even-money bets in French roulette with the La Partage rule.
Player bets in baccarat are not affected by tie outcomes, but a few zero outcomes in roulette can have a bigger negative bearing on the odds of winning compared to Banker outcomes having an advantage over Player outcomes, over the long-run due to the drawing rules.
Originally published in 2016 and updated in 2025 by Frederico Pereira
