How To Bet On American Roulette
Winning at roulette doesn’t take a magic formula or a secret system. It’s purely a game of luck. So if you’re looking for a secret strategy or surefire way to win, you’ll probably be disappointed by the information on this page. On the other hand, if you’re interested in learning the real odds of winning and what you need to do in order to be a winner, you’ll be thrilled by the info on this page.
- How To Bet On Roulette Table
- Best Bets Roulette
- How To Bet On American Roulette Youtube
- Street Bet Roulette
Betting on an American roulette wheel is no different when you understand the way things work and the way to benefit from them. There Is No Luck By Chance When You Are In The Money Jungle Playing with the precise idea of how to play American roulette strategy helps in staying at the betting table for long. On the American double zero wheel, the house has a 5.26 edge, and there is no betting strategy or system that can change the house edge. If you see any advertisements for a system that claims to beat the game of Roulette, don’t waste your money.
The Odds of Winning at Roulette
An America roulette wheel has 38 numbers on it—the numbers 1-36 (inclusive), a 0, and a 00. Calculating the odds of winning a bet on any single number is simplicity itself—you have one way to win out of 38 possible outcomes, which makes the odds of winning 37 to 1. This bet pays out at 35 to 1 odds.
Of course, the single number bet isn’t the only way to win at the roulette table. A plethora of betting options await the roulette player, in fact. These betting options have different odds of winning, but they also offer different payouts.
Another easy example of roulette odds are the even money bets. 18 of the numbers on the roulette wheel are red. 18 of them are black, and two of them, the 0 and the 00, are green. So if you bet on black (or red), then you have 18 ways to win and 20 ways to lose. Your odds of winning are slightly less than 50%. 18/38 is 47.36%. This bet pays out at even odds.
If you’re paying attention, you’ll notice that in both of these scenarios, your odds of winning are less than the payout odds. This is what gives the house an edge over the player. In the short run, anyone can walk away from the roulette table a winner. But in the long run, the house is always going to come out ahead.
So how do you become a winner at roulette?
The Maximum Boldness Strategy
Let’s assume that your goal is to just double your money. How do you maximize your chances of doing that?
The correct mathematical strategy is to make one bet of your entire bankroll, cross your fingers, and hope you get lucky. If you lose, you’re out of money, but if you win, then you’ve succeeded in your goal.
The maximum boldness strategy entails placing a single even money bet and hoping to get lucky. You’ll have a 47.36% chance of doubling your money.
Suppose, on the other hand, that you’re going to place two bets with half your bankroll. You’ll have to win both bets in order to double your money. What’s the likelihood of that happening?
That isn’t hard to calculate either. When you’re calculating the probability of two events happening, you multiple the probability of each event happening. So you would simply multiply 47.36% by 47.36%.
The result?
22.42%
Your chances of doubling your bankroll drop dramatically in that case, don’t they?
Suppose you divided your bankroll into four separate bets. Your chances of doubling your money would drop even further.
47.36% X 47.36% X 47.36% X 47.36% = 5.03%
So if your goal is to double your money, the best strategy is to place a single bet. The more bets you place on any negative expectation wager, the more likely the house edge is to catch up with you.
You might still walk away a winner in this situation, but it will be a smaller win. And you’ll be less likely to double your money.
What about Systems?
Roulette systems don’t work. Most of them involve increasing or decreasing your bet based on the outcome of your previous bet. The idea is that the odds of losing several bets in a row is smaller than the odds of losing a single bet, and vice versa.
The problem with this line of thinking is that you’re not placing a single wager on a series of bets. You’re placing multiple wagers on multiple events, and the odds of each event are independent of each other.
The house’s edge over the player doesn’t change based on the previous spin of the wheel. If you bet on black and lose, then the odds of black hitting on the next spin are still 47.36%. The probability doesn’t change because of what happened previously.
The most common of these bogus systems is the Martingale system, which requires you to double your bet every time you lose. The idea is that you’ll eventually win back your previous losses plus a single unit.
Here’s an example. Suppose you bet $5 on black and lose. On your next bet, you wager $10 on black. You lose again, so your next bet is $20. This time you win, so you’ve won back the $15 you lose on the first two bets, plus $5.
At first glance, this seems like a pretty good system. But it has two problems.
The first is that you’ll eventually hit a losing streak where your next bet will be too high for your bankroll. It only takes eight losing bets in a row to get to the point where you’ll need $1280 to place your next bet. (The progression looks like this: $5, $10, $20, $40, $80, $160, $320, $640, $1280.) And remember—you don’t just need $1280 for the last bet. You’ve already lost $1275 by this point in your betting progression.
If you do win this $1280 bet, you’ll only be up $5, which means you’re making a large wager for a very small return.
The other problem is that even if you do have a sufficient bankroll to cover this kind of progression, all casinos have maximum bets. If you’re playing at a $5 roulette table, the maximum bet is probably $500 or $1000. So you’ll be unable to continue your progression.
You might be thinking, how often will I have a losing streak of eight in a row, though?
That answer is not often, but it will happen often enough to make sure that you’re not a long term winner at roulette.
So How Do You Win at Roulette?
In the short run, the only way to win at roulette is to get lucky and walk away. In the long run, the only way to win at roulette is to get even luckier and quit while you’re ahead. The more you play a negative expectation gambling game, the more likely you are to become a net loser.
Does this mean you shouldn’t play roulette?
That’s not our point at all. If you enjoy roulette, then play. Just don’t think you can make a living at it by using some mathematically bogus system or strategy. Earmark your roulette money as an entertainment expense. Then play as much as your bankroll allows until you’re no longer having fun.
If you're thinking of playing roulette online, however big or small the stakes, you'll need to get up to speed on how roulette betting works. Blindly putting wagers down without having a grasp of the basics can lead to a serious dent in your bankroll. Learn which bets offer the best odds to win and have the highest payouts at any Canadian online casino.
Your Main Bet Options
Roulette bets are divided into two main types: inside or outside. While each offers different odds and payouts, both are subject to the same house edge. American roulette tables have a 5.26% edge and European tables offer a 2.70% edge. Even-money bets placed at European tables with French rules are only subject to a 1.35% house edge.
Inside Roulette Bets
These are the bet spaces located inside the table. Although the inside bets might have higher payouts, they are much less likely to win on any given spin. That said, there's nothing that matches the thrill of hitting a single number for a 35/1 payday!
| Bet Name | Bet Description | Payout | American | European |
| Straight Up | A wager on a single number: 1-36. | 35/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% |
| Split | A wager on the line between two numbers | 17/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% |
| Street | Also called a 'row' bet, this is a wager on three connected numbers such as 6, 5, 4. | 11/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% |
| Trio | A wager on a corner connecting three numbers such as 0, 2, 3. | 11/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% |
| Corner | Also called a 'quad' bet, this is a wager on the corner connecting four numbers such as 2, 5, 1, 4. | 8/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% |
| Double Street | Also called a 'line' bet, this is a wager on the line between intersecting rows covering six numbers. | 5/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% |
| Basket | A wager on 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. | 6/1 | 7.89% | n/a |
Outside Roulette Bets
Outside bets are the best choice for beginners. Particularly, even-money bets including even/odd, black/red and high18/low18. These pay out 1/1 but provide a nearly 50-50 chance to win.
| Bet Name | Bet Description | Payout | American | European | French |
| Even/Odd | A wager on eighteen even or odd numbers. | 1/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% | 1.35% |
| Black/Red | A wager on eighteen black or red numbers. | 1/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% | 1.35% |
| High 18 | This wager covers numbers 19-36. | 1/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% | 1.35% |
| Low 18 | This wager covers numbers 1-18. | 1/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% | 1.35% |
| Column | A wager on twelve,non-sequential numbers in a column. | 2/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% | n/a |
| Dozens | A wager on twelve sequential numbers in a row. | 2/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% | n/a |
Navigating the Roulette Layout
When you are just starting out in online roulette, it can be difficult to actually find your favourite bets on the table layout. Below is a typical American Roulette table layout.
Hover over the diagram to see where each bet is located, or click on any part of the layout for more info.
| ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ||
| 00 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 30 | 33 | 36 | < |
| B | 2 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 29 | 32 | 35 | < |
| 0 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 31 | 34 | < |
| First Dozen | Second Dozen | Third Dozen | |||||||||||
| 1-18 | Odd | Red | Black | Even | 19-36 | ||||||||
Below is a typical European table layout:
| ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ||
| 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 30 | 33 | 36 | < | |
| 0 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 29 | 32 | 35 | < |
| 1 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 31 | 34 | < | |
| First Dozen | Second Dozen | Third Dozen | |||||||||||
| 1-18 | Odd | Red | Black | Even | 19-36 | ||||||||
A Closer Look at Roulette Bets
Inside Bets
The inside bets in roulette are, quite simply, found on the 'inside' of the table. They offer the lowest chance to win and the highest payouts. The different types of inside bets are explained below.
Straight Up
WHAT IS IT?
The straight up bet is one of the simplest wagers you can make in roulette. These are bets on what the number of the very next spin will be.You can either place bets on multiple single numbers at a time or combine them with outside bets.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Hitting a single number is obviously pretty hard with only a 2.63% – 2.70% chance to win. However, when you win with a straight up bet, you can take advantage of the game's highest payout: 35/1. In other words, for a straight up bet of 1 chip, you would receive 35 chips plus your original chip back on a win.
Split
WHAT IS IT?
The split bet is a double straight up bet. You just have to put your chip stack between the two numbers you want to bet on. If either number is shown, you win.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Split bets have the second highest pay out: 17/1. There is only a 5.26% – 5.40% chance that this type of inside bet will win each spin.
Street/Row
WHAT IS IT?
Taking inside bets to the next level, the street bet allows you to bet on a row of three numbers. Put your chips on the far line of a row, and you'll have marked this bet. See the top row of our sample layout.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Now we start to see just a little bit of action as this kind of bet wins 7.89% – 8.11% of the time. It pays out 11/1.
Trio
WHAT IS IT?
This bet also covers three numbers at a time when chips are placed at intersections connecting numbers on the table.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Like the street bet, the trio also has the potential to win 7.89% – 8.11% of the time and pays out 11/1.
Corner/Quad
WHAT IS IT?
To make a corner bet, put your chip stack at the intersection (or corner) where four numbers meet on the layout.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
This type of bet offers a 10.53% – 10.81% chance to win with an 8/1 payout. So, if you bet 1 chip on a corner bet space and the next spin results in a win, then you will receive 8 chips plus your original chip back.
'Many casual gamblers think roulette betting is rather black and red, but nothing could be further from the truth. From inside to outside bets, straights and corners, streets and splits, online roulette has an abundance of betting options.'
Double Street
WHAT IS IT?
The double street is just what its name implies - a bet on two 'streets' or rows. You place chips on the far side directly between the two numbers at the end of their respective streets.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
How To Bet On Roulette Table
Covering six numbers under a single wager gives a double street bet the odds to win of about 15.78% – 16.22% of the time. It pays out 5/1.
Basket / First Five
WHAT IS IT?
The basket bet is a wager on 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. Since it relies on the 00 pocket, it can only be used with American wheels.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
TThis bet has a 13.16% – 13.51% chance to win and pays out 6/1. However, with a house edge of 7.89%, it sticks out like a sore thumb as the single worst bet in roulette.
Outside Bets
Unlike inside bets, o, outside bets cover larger portions of the wheel. This is where you will find even-money bets which pay the lowest but give the highest chance to win. The next highest chance bets include columns and dozens. Both cover about a third of the numbers and payout 2/1.
Even / Odd
WHAT IS IT?
These bets are very simple to make. Just look for the spaces on the layout labeled 'Even' and 'Odd.' Put your chip stack on whichever space you'd like, sit back and watch the wheel spin. There, told you it was easy, didn't we?
Put your chip stack on whichever space you'd like, sit back, and relax. This bet has the standard 5.26 percent house edge.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Because nearly half of the numbers are even and nearly half are odd, one of the bet spaces is going to win almost every spin. 0 and 00 aren't included in this bet giving the casino its edge. So, this type of bet has a 47.37% – 48.65% chance to win but only pays out 1/1.
Red or Black
WHAT IS IT?
This bet is also an even-money wager that covers eighteen numbers at once. Placing a stack on red will cover all the red pockets on the wheel. Placing a stack on black will cover all black pockets. 0 and 00 are green and give the house its edge.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Since most pockets are either red or black, , one of these spaces will win most of the time. Each bet has a 47.37% – 48.65% chance of winning and pays 1/1.
Betting on red or black is one of the most basic roulette bets making it perfect for beginners. Below, you can see what color each numbered pocket is.
| Red | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 36 |
| Black | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 35 |
High 18
WHAT IS IT?
If you bet on high 18, you are wagering that the following spin will result in a pocket numbered 19-36.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Like any even-money bet, the chances of winning are the best of any other bet option, and the payout is the lowest at 1/1. This is another great choice for new Canada players taking online roulette for a spin.
Low 18
WHAT IS IT?
As the name suggests, low 18 is the opposite of high 18. It wins when the ball lands in a pocket numbered 1-18.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Because this covers nearly half of the wheel-head,it will win around half of the time and pay out 1/1.
Column
WHAT IS IT?
The column bet is like the street bet, but it covers twelve numbers in a column instead of three in a row. There are three columns to choose from. Have a look at the numbers each choice covers below.
| Column 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 31 | 34 |
| Column 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 29 | 32 | 35 |
| Column 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 30 | 33 | 36 |
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Betting on a column covers nearly one-third of the wheel for a 31.58% – 32.43% chance to win and pay out of 2/1. Since it should win around once every three spins, this outside bet offers much less risk than any of the inside bets.
Dozens
Best Bets Roulette
WHAT IS IT?
The dozens bet, as the name implies, lets you bet on twelve numbers at a time. However, instead of betting on numbers that lie in the same column on the table, you bet on a dozen numbers in sequential order.
These numbers are broken up into three separate dozens:
| First Dozen | 1-12 |
| Second Dozen | 13-24 |
| Third Dozen | 25-36 |
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Just like column bets, these have a nearly 1 in 3 chance to win and pay 2/1.
Picking the Right Bet for You
How To Bet On American Roulette Youtube
You now have all the information you need to choose which bet suits your strategy best. Inside bets are best for Canadian players that enjoy a high risk, high reward gaming experience with infrequent, big-money wins. Outside bets are low risk, low reward and work best for players that enjoy more frequent, small wins.
Street Bet Roulette
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