Roulette Odds & Payouts

How to Beat Roulette by Improving Your Odds

In chapter two of this roulette odds and payouts guide, we look at how players can increase their chances of beating roulette by merely improving their odds. We aren’t referring to any groundbreaking strategies that you’ll need to practice repeatedly, either.

No, see the methods we look at in this chapter are very straightforward. You’ll be kicking yourself for not considering them in the first place.

The four things you need to implement right now will not guarantee that you win every roulette game you play. Instead, they will allow you to maximize your potential winnings.

Know Your Odds

Is it beginning to show just how important it is to understand the roulette’s odds and the role they play? Well, it should certainly be clear by now.

Although many of the outside bets will feature the same even money odds, the inside bets are a different story, and you’ll need to know your odds because they vary significantly in payouts and the chances of winning.

What you will get by knowing your odds is the ability to make smarter moves, making your bankroll last longer by extending your play. This will help you to avoid throwing your money down the drain hoping for a whiff at a longshot.

Choose Your Game Wisely

There are many variations of roulette to choose from, so you must choose your game wisely. Not all variants are the same, and to make things a little more tricky – the paytables can be different.

With slight differences in the paytables, you could be leaving a decent amount of money on the table if you don’t check this first.

Even a variation of just one can make a big difference with your wagers.

So, when you are looking for a roulette game to play – do your research and check out the game before you play. All the information will be found at the table, and if you play online, you’ll get all these details in the game description and features menu.

Outside Bets are Your Best Chance

To ensure that you have the best potential for winning, you might want to stick to the safe game and play the outside bets. Yes, these bets have lower payouts, but the beauty is that with much more attractive odds of winning – you’ll be hopefully seeing more frequent wins.

It is a good idea to pair these outside bets with the minimum table bet. This will help you grind out those wins and have a good chance of staying ahead when cashing out from the table.

Sure, these outside bets aren’t as thrilling as some of the inside bets, nor will they have you hitting huge wins. However, playing with outside bets is an enjoyable way of playing roulette without risking huge sums of money.

Pick European Roulette

We have already covered this in a way, but we felt it was necessary to specifically single out this particular aspect of improving your roulette odds. Regardless of what game you prefer to play or which one you think gives you the best wins – if it isn’t a European variant – don’t bother playing it.

See, playing European roulette games will always be better. From a mathematical standpoint, playing American versions will have you facing an almost double house edge!

There is no reason to be putting yourself out this much when implementing a simple preference will have you experiencing a significantly better house edge.

Probabilities and Payouts of Called Bets

In chapter three, we explore the relatively unknown called bets in roulette games. Here you’ll find probabilities and payouts of fixed called bets and variable called bets as we shine the light on these non-mainstream bets.

What is a Called Bet

A called bet is a selection of bets not included in the traditional grouping of inside and outside bets. Instead, these are bets that cover specific sections of the roulette wheel itself and not the betting layout on the table.

This is the central aspect that sets these bets apart from the normal options.

There are two types of called bets available too:

• Fixed called bets
• Variable called bets

When it comes to making these bets, players do as the name suggests and call the bet they wish to make.

Fixed Called Bets

What you need to consider before making a called bet is the type of bet that suits you. The first of these is fixed called bets, and these work in a way that they will cover the same numbers.

Examples of fixed called bets to include:

Neighbors of zero

This is a bet that covers the 17 numbers nearest to the zero on the roulette wheel. This bet covers the section from the number 22 through to 25. In total, this fixed called bet would cost you nine chips, giving odds of 45.9% given it covers a significant section of the roulette wheel.

Thirds of the Wheel

A bet that covers 12 numbers, which are located adjacent to the neighbors of zero. This covers the numbers opposite the neighbors of zero bet on the wheel – section of numbers from 27 to 33.

This bet costs six chips in total and features a 32.4% odds of winning.

Zero Game

The zero game bet is a bet on seven numbers nearest to the green zero. This bet covers a smaller section of the wheel, numbers 12 to 15, and the zero, making use of split bets.

The Orphans

An orphans bet covers any of the numbers that are not covered by the other called bets. When looking at the wheel, these numbers are in two groupings (called the orphelins – french for orphan) and split the thirds of the wheel and neighbors of zero called bets.

There are two types of orphans bet, costing either five or eight chips depending on which type you go with.

The ‘Orphans en Cheval bet’ covers four split bets and one straight bet on the number one. This called bet features an overlap on number 17.

The ‘Orphans en Plein bet’ covers all eight numbers in the orphelins sections. This is essentially a straight bet on all eight numbers, thus costs eight chips.

Variable Called Bets

The variable called bets is different from their fixed counterparts; in that they do not remain, the player determines the same as the numbers they cover. These give players more control over the numbers, and you can see the difference between these below.

Examples of the variable called bets include:

The Neighbors

This is a bet on five adjacent numbers. This bet will cost five chips. It is essentially a straight bet on whichever number the player decides is their central number, with the four remaining numbers being the adjacent numbers on either side of the first pick.

The odds of winning here is about 13.5%.

The Finals

This is a bet on the last digit. For example, the finals five-bet will include numbers 5, 15, 25, and 35. Notice all of the numbers end with a five.

The odds of winning with the finals bet will depend on how many numbers are covered. If your finale covers three numbers, you can expect approximately 10.8% chance to win, whereas 8.1% for four numbers.

Useful Betting Strategies When Playing Roulette

Whether you’ve played roulette before or are just starting, it isn’t such a crazy thought to think that online roulette is a simple game to play and win. There’s a wheel, the ball stops on a number, and you guess which number that will be.

It sounds simple enough, but it’s incredibly difficult for players too. There are 37 (or 38) numbers to choose from, making it look like players have drawn the short straw here.

While the chips might look stacked against you and they are – however, some useful betting strategies can be used to remove some of those chips that are against you from the get-go.

Luckily for you, we will cover it all in this fourth chapter of our roulette odds and payouts guide.

Avoid the Obvious Zero

This isn’t our first rodeo, and when you’ve got onto a bull as many times as we have, you learn a thing or two about what to do and what to avoid.

Now, when it comes to riding the beast that is roulette games – there is one thing that you -certainly need to avoid. It’s zero.

Don’t bother betting on it, and sure as heck don’t bother betting on the double zero if you are foolishly playing American variants.

As a beginner, you will likely be sticking to the outside bets, which is great thanks to their steady wins and decent odds of winning. Don’t fall into the habit of getting caught with placing a bet on the zero(s) to cover your ass.

It’s a common theme we see with beginners, especially when taking outside bets like odds or evens and red or black. Players see the zero as a key reason they lose all their money, so they hedge their bets with the zero.

Sure, this would be great when it hits because the payout of 35 to 1 or the beast bet at 6 to 1 is a great stimulant boost to your bankroll.

It’s just that the zero rarely lands. It has the same chance of being the winner, as the other 36 to 37 numbers have. It’s almost like saying, my favorite number is seven, and it is very lucky for me. I am going to always place a straight-up bet on seven.

That is a much better idea because, at least in that example, the reason you have picked seven has some sort of credibility and a logical explanation behind it!

So, what have we learned here? Avoid the zero; don’t even worry about it.

Play with Martingale

If you’ve been following our series of roulette player guides, you would likely know about the Martingale betting strategy. Don’t worry if you haven’t because we are going to cover it for you here.

The Martingale betting strategy is widely considered as the most popular roulette strategy. You might have already used this strategy before without knowing it too. The basic premise behind playing with Martingale is that you follow it up with a bet worth double the previous stake when you lose a bet.

If you follow this strategy, you will cover your losses and be a chip ahead – provided you get that last win. It sounds great because it just about guarantees that you will be back in front once you get a win. However, there are good and bad points of using this strategy, though.

Pros and Cons of Using the Martingale Betting Strategy

When using Martingale in roulette, you will win most of your bets if you make smart bets and not sticking longshots like the straight bet. While this is a positive of using the strategy, is there a negative side?

Yes, unfortunately, the foundation of Martingale is, in effect, promoting the avoidance of the rules of responsible gambling – never chasing your losses. This is because when you lose with this strategy, you must double down on your bet to try to win it back and cover your losses.

This sets players up for the next downside, which is if you get into a losing streak, your bets can stack up quickly, creating two problems:

1. Players must place larger bets because the strategy requires doubling your bet after each loss.
2. Successive losses mean fast and large increases in betting values, causing players to hit the table limit (or their bankroll limit) and unable to continue using the strategy effectively.

How to Use Martingale in Roulette

First, you’ll need to decide what roulette bet that you are playing. The Martingale method will work best if you are following up with the same bets and maintain consistency.

Look for a bet that has great odds and start your bet with the table minimum. In roulette, we suggest going with something like odds/evens or red/black. While these bets’ gameplay isn’t as entertaining, it aims to reduce the chance of stacking up larger successive bets, which would create a situation where players cannot withstand the significantly higher bets.

If you go with the odds/evens, place the minimum table bet – $5. If you lose this bet, you will need to repeat the bet with double the wager amount, i.e., $10.

Say, for example, that you lose the bet again, you would place yet another odds/evens bet with double the new amount – so, this time, your wager would be worth $20.

See how fast the costs can rack up; it has escalated from $5 up to $20 – a 400% surge on only the third bet.

Now, consider this with your $20 bet, your luck has changed, and you win your bet. This will put you ahead by your initial stake, covering your losses of $5, $10, and the $20 stake for the bet (total of $35$) – thanks to the win of $40.

With your upcoming bet, you won’t follow the same practice or sit with the same amount. Instead, take things back to the beginning and start all over again with your $5 stake again.

Three Column Betting Strategy

One of the popular bets in roulette is the column bet. It’s a simple outside bet that pays 2 to 1 and features respectable odds of winning at almost 33%. While the columns are popular on their own, players can use a great betting strategy to make the game more lucrative.

This strategy is known as the three-column betting strategy, or for a better name, it’s also been called the column king system. It allows players to get some decent coverage of the betting layout without going too crazy.

It lowers the risks you face while maximizing your odds. Remember, though, the house edge will always remain the same – 2.7% on Euro variants and 5.26% for the American variants.

This strategy uses the columns; however, it is also possible to adapt it to bets on the dozens. Implementing is straightforward, and the aim is to cover as much ground as possible to grind out steady smaller wins. The idea is to place an equal stake on two of the three columns, which leaves just the one column (and the zero) left for the loss.

It will keep you playing for longer with the odds of winning being close to two thirds. All wins will pay 2 to 1, which means every win will put you ahead by one chip.

Whenever you get a win, remove that column from your next bet and place the minimum chip bet on the column that was not covered in the previous game. Whenever a column bet loses, increase your bet on that column by the same amount. It is best to stick to units and simply add a unit – we recommend using the table minimum as your units – so a single $5 chip in most circumstances.

If you are unlucky and get no wins, add a unit to the stake on both columns in the losing bet and leave the third column.

James Bond Special

When you think of casinos, and in particular, the roulette table, there is one person that is synonymous with the game. This isn’t any normal person or player, either. It’s the world’s best and sexiest secret operative – 007 James Bond.

You won’t need to be an international secret agent to improve your odds with this James Bond special.

So, you are wondering how does it work?

How to Use th4e James Bond System

It is a straightforward betting method, so you will always be placing the same value of wagers each round. It is possible to use a progressive betting approach, but we suggest keeping it simple, i.e., there is no need to increase your bets on losses to cover.

On every round that you play, place the following bets with the below amounts:

• $10 stake on the zero
• $140 stake on the 19-36 half of the table
• $50 stake on the 13-18 inside bet

Although Bond always seems to get his man in the end, don’t expect this method to guarantee you those wins.

Playing with this James Bond system will give you excellent odds of winning. Losses will only occur if the winning number is one of the first 12 numbers.

Alternative Bets to Maximize Your Odds

If you are looking for something else, you could always have a go at devising your roulette strategy to improve your odds of winning and maximize your coverage of the wheel. This is possible because roulette is a game of chance, meaning those odds will be tweaked and combined to get the best results.

There are some alternative bets that you could include in your winning roulette strategy to help you reduce the risk.

You will need to combine some of the below alternate bets. Just remember not to fall into the fallacy that certain numbers are lucky or ‘due for a win’. In roulette – all spins of the wheel are unique and do not correlate to the previous spin.

The alternative bets that you can use together to maximize your odds include:

• Line bet – covers six numbers, pays 5 to 1, and has a 16.2% odds of winning
• Square bet – covers four numbers, pays 8 to 1, and has a 10.8% odds of winning
• Street bet – covers three numbers, pays 11 to 1, and has an 8.1% odds of winning
• Split bet – covers two numbers, pays 17 to 1, and has a 5.4% odds of winning
• Beast bet – American roulette games only covering the first five numbers, including both zeros, has a 13.2% odds of winning and pays 6 to 1

Roulette Odds Frequently Asked Questions

In our fifth and final chapter of this roulette odds and payouts guide, we explore the most frequently asked questions regarding the odds in roulette. Here you’ll get answers to all of these and should not have any trouble getting started with improved roulette odds.

Does Roulette Offer Good Odds for Players

Roulette games have a high house edge, especially when compared with most of the mainstream casino games. Despite this edge, you can experience great odds if you follow some of the tips and tricks that we have recommended in this guide.

Following our advice will allow you to maximize your odds for a rewarding experience. Some of these tips include playing the right games – look for European variants, and sticking with smarter bets – avoid the huge paydays and opt for the safer bets.

What are the Best Odds in Roulette

In terms of which bet gives you the best odds in roulette, we consider the bets with fair payouts and realistic chances of wins. These are typically the outside bets which pay even money or two to one. Bets include the odds or evens, red or black, or the low or high bets.

The odds for the above bets are:

What is the Best Bet in Roulette

Unfortunately, the best bet in roulette is entirely up to perspective, depending on what you seek to get out of the game, whether it is scoring big wins, playing for longer, simply enjoying your gameplay, or avoiding losses.

If you are looking to purely hit rich and feel like lady luck is on your side, then a straight bet which pays 35 to 1 would be a nice big payday.

The problem is that the odds of winning this type of bet is very low.

If you want to play at the table for longer, then focusing on the line bet with its 5 to 1 payout and having six numbers working the table for you. This gives a low-risk option with decent reward potential.

For players who aren’t fussed on the game’s enjoyment factor and just want to minimize their risks of losses – outside bets paying even money are your best option, so the odds or evens are red or black.

We recommend making up your own strategy, which takes advantage of line bets and square bets to get lucrative payouts and flexible odds. Plus, you’ll enjoy the technical aspect of the gameplay this way.

What are the Odds of Hitting Red or Black in Roulette

The odds of hitting on a red or black bet in roulette is very high. This bet offers the best odds in the game, so the payout is only even money. If you are playing a European roulette game, then you can expect odds of 48.60%, whereas American variants feature a 47.40%.

Can You Win at Roulette Every Time if You Understand the Odds

Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee a win every time in roulette. Even if you fully understand the odds that are available and play with the best-proven strategy. When you are learning the odds, you will have the best chances of winning because you will be playing with the best bets instead.

So, overall, understanding the odds will help increase your chances of winning – it’s not a guaranteed win every game, though.

Can Roulette Betting Systems Improve Your Odds

Roulette is a game of luck, and popular strategies for players looking to get the most bang out of their bets is to include a betting system to direct their playstyle. These betting systems can have fantastic results for players and certainly improve the risk and reward you face.

However, these roulette betting systems are not able to improve your odds of winning.

This doesn’t mean that you should skip over utilizing some of the popular betting systems. These methods can be an excellent way for players to add much-needed structure to their play.

Conclusion

We hope you have enjoyed following through the five chapters in this comprehensive roulette odds guide and picked up a thorough understanding of how roulette odds and payouts can be utilized for maximum benefit.

With the key aspects of this guide covered, we have explored the various odds for the significant number of bets available in the game. Plus, we shared some brilliant insights into using this newfound understanding to improve your chances of winning.

Sure, you won’t be guaranteed wins, but undoubtedly you will have greater respect for the various aspects of the game that are pivotal in deciding how to play smartly.

In summary, each of the components in this guide has real value and should never be overlooked when playing roulette.

If you are still hungry for knowledge about playing and how to win at roulette, we recommend checking out our guide on how to play plus these helpful roulette tips and tricks. Plus, at CasinoToday, we share a range of top casino games guides and the best deposit bonus codes for all the reputable online casino sites.