Roulette Odds and Payouts
The fairly old game of roulette is a fan favorite, and often draws viewers by the numbers whenever a game is going. More than any other table game, it requires visually impressive accessories – most of all, the roulette table and its backgammon color scheme. Although the specific rules depend on whether you're playing the American version of roulette with its odds-increasing double zero extra space, or the European version that lacks the double zero (and so is competitive with the other table games, in terms of your chances at winning the prize), you can count on the availability of single bets, combinations bets and the bets along the spectrum connection these two extremes.
Although the casino house has what seems like a definitive edge in the American version of roulette with the green-colored – usually – double zero, a strategic approach to roulette can increase your odds of winning – sometimes drastically, if you have patience. The pockets where the roulette ball can land number 37 in the European version and 38 in the American. Placing a bet on either one of these alternately-colored (red or black) slots locks you into one-to-one payout ratio 1:1, which the green colored zero slot can adversely affect (for you) by reducing the prize a bit. As you can imagine, this is even more significant in the American double zero version of the originally French game. More specifically:
- European roulette: the house edge is just 2.7% because of a single zero slot. Becomes competitive with other table games.
- American roulette: the house edge is almost double at 5.3%, since it has both a single zero working against you and a double zero slot working against you. Not at all competitive with other casino games, although still very fun and mesmerizing. Often, US casinos will have many incentives that make it more than worth your while to play.
Payouts in Roulette; Both Board Types
- A single number bet pays 35 to 1; the American Wheel is 37 to 1; the European Wheel is 35 to 1
- A two number split bet pays 17 to 1; the American Wheel is 18 to 1; the European Wheel is 17.5 to 1
- A three number bet pays 11 to 1; the American Wheel is 11.67 to 1; the European Wheel is 11.33 to 1
- A four number bet pays 8 to 1; the American Wheel is 8.5 to 1; the European Wheel is 8.25 to 1
- A five number bet pays out 6 to 1; the American Wheel is 6.6 to 1; this option isn't available on the European Wheel
- An Even bet is 1:1 payout; the American Wheel is 1.05:1; the European wheel is 1.01:1
- An Odd bet is 1:1 payout; the American Wheel is 1.05:1; the European wheel is 1.01:1
- The same odds follow for High/Low and Red/Black bets as the Odd/Even combinations on either roulette wheel version.
You can see the trend, and how it is harder to win on the American roulette board. Indeed; the five number bet, which isn't even available on the European board, is a potentially devastating bet for you the player, as the house edge is largest on it, and the payout is as bad as it gets. A close inspection on the bets shows you that your best chances lie with the even numbers/odd number combinations and red/black, high/low.
When playing roulette, to maximize your chances find a casino house that plays with the La Parage rule, which enhances even money bets by reducing the house edge from 2.7% to just 1.3%; making it the luckiest game in the casino for you for that term. It entails giving you back half your bet if the zero shows up, which of course means the house loses 50% of what it would otherwise gain in straight roulette.