Understand roulette bets and payouts. Explore inside, outside, and call bet odds, chip placements, and table payout ratios.
Last updated:Online roulette tables offer plenty of ways to bet, depending on how much risk you want to take. Before you put down your first chip, it helps to understand how the layout works, where to place your bets, and how the payouts are calculated.
Key Takeaways: Roulette Bets and Payouts
- Inside vs Outside Distribution: Inside bets target single numbers or small clusters with payouts ranging from 5:1 (six line) to 35:1 (straight up), while outside bets cover broad categories like red/black, dozens, or columns for lower payouts (1:1 or 2:1) at higher hit rates.
- Automatic Stake Returns: Winning wagers in both categories automatically return the original bet alongside the profit ratio (e.g., a $10 straight up wager on 17 yields $350 in profit plus the original $10 stake for a total return of $360).
- Announced Sector Bets: Racetrack wagers like Voisins du Zéro and Tiers du Cylindre allow players to cover physical wheel arcs with preset combinations, though every included chip maintains the standard European 2.70% house edge.
- The Unfavorable Five-Number Bet: Exclusive to American double-zero layouts covering 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3, the basket bet pays 6:1 against true odds, giving the house a steep 7.89% edge compared to the standard 5.26% across other American wagers.
Inside and Outside Bets
Roulette bets fall into two main groups: inside bets and outside bets.
Inside bets sit directly on the numbered grid, covering single numbers or small clusters of adjacent numbers. Because they cover fewer pockets, they pay out more, but the odds of hitting them on any given spin are lower.
Outside bets sit in the boxes around the edges of the main grid. They cover broader categories like colors, odd or even numbers, and groups of 12 or 18 numbers. These bets hit much more frequently, but they come with smaller payouts. For a full breakdown of the house edge across both categories, check our roulette house edge guide.
Inside Bets
Inside bets let you wager on specific numbers or small groups on the main grid. On a screen, you place them by clicking directly on a number, a dividing line, or an intersection.
| Bet Name | Covered Numbers | Chip Placement | Payout Ratio |
| Straight up | 1 | Inside a single number square | 35:1 |
| Split | 2 | On the line between two adjacent numbers | 17:1 |
| Street | 3 | On the outer edge of a three-number row | 11:1 |
| Corner | 4 | At the intersection of four numbers | 8:1 |
| Six line | 6 | On the outer boundary corner of two rows | 5:1 |
A straight up bet covers a single number. If you put $10 on 17 and it hits, you get $350 in profit plus your original $10 chip back, making $360 total.
A split bet covers two adjacent numbers, placed on the line dividing them. A $10 split on 8 and 9 pays 17:1 if either number lands, giving you $170 in profit plus your stake.
A street bet covers a horizontal row of three numbers, placed on the outer boundary line of that row. A $10 bet on 1, 2, and 3 pays 11:1, returning $110 in profit along with your original bet.
A corner bet covers four numbers that meet at a shared corner. Placing $10 on the intersection of 10, 11, 13, and 14 pays 8:1, returning $80 in profit.
A six line bet covers two adjoining rows (six numbers total), placed on the outer corner where the rows meet. A $10 bet here pays 5:1, yielding $50 in profit plus your chip.
These are the standard payouts. Multiplier game shows such as Lightning Roulette change some of them, as explained in our online roulette formats guide.
Outside Bets
Outside bets sit in the larger boxes around the edge of the layout. They group numbers together by common characteristics, giving you better chances to win on each spin with lower payouts.
| Bet Name | Covered Numbers | Chip Placement | Payout Ratio |
| Red/Black | 18 | In the Red or Black box | 1:1 |
| Odd/Even | 18 | In the Odd or Even box | 1:1 |
| Low/High (1-18 / 19-36) | 18 | In the 1-18 or 19-36 box | 1:1 |
| Dozens | 12 | In the 1st 12, 2nd 12, or 3rd 12 box | 2:1 |
| Columns | 12 | At the bottom of a vertical column | 2:1 |
Red/black bets let you wager on the color of the winning pocket. A $10 chip on red pays even money ($10 profit plus your $10 bet) if a red number hits.
Odd/even bets work the same way: putting $10 on even pays $10 profit plus your stake if the ball lands on an even number.
Low/high bets (often called 1-18 and 19-36, or manque and passe in French roulette) cover either the lower or upper half of the numbers. A $10 bet on 19-36 returns $10 profit if a high number lands.
Dozens cover 12 numbers at a time: 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36. A $10 bet on the second dozen pays 2:1, giving you $20 in profit plus your stake if a number between 13 and 24 hits.
Columns also cover 12 numbers, but they run down the long vertical rows of the layout. Placing $10 on the first column pays 2:1, returning $20 in profit.
If the ball lands on 0 or 00, standard outside bets lose entirely unless a surrender rule such as La Partage is active (see the roulette house edge guide).
Announced Bets (Call Bets)
Announced bets (often called call bets) are preset combinations that cover specific wheel sections rather than neighboring spots on the table grid. You find them mostly on European and French single-zero tables, usually through an oval racetrack display next to the main layout.
The main fixed call bets include Voisins du Zéro, which uses 9 chips to cover 17 numbers around zero; Tiers du Cylindre, which uses 6 chips on splits to cover 12 numbers on the opposite side of the wheel; Orphelins, covering the remaining 8 numbers with 5 chips; and Jeu Zéro, which covers the 7 numbers closest to zero using 4 chips. You can also make variable call bets like Neighbors, where you pick a number and cover it along with two pockets on either side using 5 chips, or Finals, which covers all numbers ending in a specific digit.
Placing an announced bet does not change the math. Every individual bet within these combinations still carries the standard 2.70% European house edge.
The Five-Number Bet (Top Line or Basket)
The five-number bet, sometimes called the basket or top line, is only found on American double-zero tables. It covers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3 at the same time. You place it by setting your chip on the outer corner where the line between zero and 1 intersects the side rail.
If any of those five numbers land, the bet pays 6:1. A $10 bet gives you $60 in profit plus your $10 back, for a $70 total payout.
Because a 6:1 payout is mathematically low for covering 5 out of 38 pockets, this wager carries the worst house edge on an American table at 7.89%. To see why players generally avoid it, check our roulette house edge guide.
Next Steps
If you are new to the table, start with how to play online roulette. You can find every roulette guide in our roulette hub. Always treat roulette as paid entertainment, set limits before you play, and visit our responsible gaming page for more help.
❓ Roulette Bets and Payouts: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best bet in roulette?
Are table limits different for inside and outside bets?
Can you bet on 0 and 00?
Is there a five-number bet on European tables?
Author:
Lucas Portela
Owner, BoldGambler • Avanhandava/SP
Oddsmaker, affiliate and content creator in the iGaming industry.