Roulette is one of the best-known and most-played [live casino games(/livecasino) in and out of Vegas, especially online. There are plenty of reasons for this, and one of them is that it’s a highly varied game. However, we would forgive you for thinking that roulette was simple, regardless of whether you play the American or European version.

Roulette bets come in a variety of sizes and shapes and, of course, a variety of risks. Many people choose to ‘straight bet’ on the game – i.e., pick a number they think will win – but if you take a quick look at a standard roulette table, you’ll see that there are a few different markets and odds you can choose from during play.

In this guide, we discuss the different roulette bets available and consider the best bets for beginners.

Bets on roulette: what are the two main types?

Roulette bets are usually divided into two main categories: inside bets and outside bets. We’ll break these down individually shortly, so let’s focus on a quick overview for now.

These two bet types allow players to choose between specific numbers or groups on the wheel. In some cases, players find the odds on an inside bet to be higher than on an outside bet.

That said, like all casino games, online or offline, roulette is completely random. Therefore, there’s no pattern to whether or not you’ll win on an outside bet compared to an inside bet.

Inside bets on roulette

Inside roulette bets take place within the number grid. In European roulette, that’s the numbered table from 0 to 36.

These bets allow players to choose individual numbers or groups that appeal to them. These types of bets are a little less rigid compared to the groups you pick from the outside category, but in many cases, the odds of winning on them are lower.

Outside bets on roulette

Outside roulette bets typically carry shorter odds and cover broader groups of numbers and colours. Outside bets let players cover more of the board in a single wager.

You can spot outside bets on a roulette table either below or adjacent to the number grid mentioned above. We run through the different markets and bets you’ll find in this grid a little further down.

Breaking down inside roulette bets

As mentioned, inside bets tend to focus on individual numbers or on groups of numbers that a player might choose from scratch.

Let’s examine some of the most common inside bets in roulette and what they mean in practice.

Straight up bet

Straight up bets are the most straightforward wagers in roulette. To place a straight bet, pick a number from the grid, such as 1, 35 or 36.

As you might imagine, the odds on straight bets are longer than most. However, many beginners choose straight bets while they test out the game for the first time.

Street bet

A street bet is sometimes known as an ‘inside row’. That’s because it typically covers one of the formal rows running down the number grid on a roulette table.

For example, a row eligible for a street bet might be 13, 14 and 15. You would place chips on each of these numbers to place a street bet. The odds are shorter for street bets compared to single or straight up bets simply because you’re betting on more numbers!

Split bet

Split bets are smaller versions of the street bet in that you still bet on adjacent numbers, but they’re not necessarily in a line – and you only pick two.

Some players and casinos call this the ‘Cheval’ bet. You simply need to pick two numbers from the grid that touch. For instance, 22 and 23 touch horizontally, and 22 and 25 touch vertically. Both are eligible for the split bet.

Corner bet

Corner bets are similar to split bets, as they follow the same ‘touching’ principle but double the numbers involved. These bets are sometimes called ‘squares’ for an obvious reason – you’re betting on a square of numbers inside the grid!

So, you might choose 31, 32, 34 and 35 as a corner or square bet. That’s because it’s a square of numbers that are two across and two down.

First five bet

The first five bet applies to American roulette games, simply because it includes the ‘00’ space, which is exclusive to this style of the game.

In some online casinos, this is called the ‘basket’ bet. In this bet, you place chips on the first five numbers appearing in the table’s number grid.

So, if you’re playing American roulette and place a first five or basket bet, you would choose 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. It’s a common misconception that the first five applies to 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Line bet

Finally, line bets or six-line bets are also fairly straightforward. In some cases, we call them ‘double street’ bets because it’s double the numbers you pick in a street bet.

To place a double street or six-line bet, you need to place chips on two rows of numbers that touch. So, you could choose 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21.

Breaking down outside roulette bets

Outside bets on roulette tend to have shorter odds, but this doesn’t always mean that they are more likely to convert. Let’s take a look at the typical bets you’ll see on the outside grid on a typical roulette table.

Red or black

Red or black bets are some of the most well-known wagers to make in roulette. It’s almost a straight 50/50 wager, in that the majority of the roulette wheel is split up into either red or black spaces.

That said, there’s also the green 0 if you’re playing European roulette, and also the green 00 if you’re playing American roulette. Therefore, there’s still a chance of losing even if this particular market seems cut and dried.

Red or black tends to be a beginner’s wager, though it’s usually a go-to for people who want to try to preserve their bankroll for longer.

At some casinos and specialist tables, you might find that there’s a third 0 space – the 000 – which opens up a ‘green’ bet. Naturally, this bet carries longer odds than red or black simply because there’s less opportunity for you to land on a green!

Odd or even

Odd or even bets, as the name suggests, revolve around you betting on whether or not the roulette ball will land on an odd or an even number.

If you land a 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9, for example, you win on an odd bet, and if you land a 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 (and so on), you win on an even bet.

However, watch out – again – for the tricky 0 and 00, depending on the type of roulette you play. Neither 0 nor 00 are odd or even in this game, meaning that the odds here are pretty much the same as red or black.

One thing to watch out for when betting on red or black or odd or even is falling into a pattern trap. Some players feel that because there has been a long run of recent red winners, for example, a black number will be due to appear.

That’s never the case though. Roulette is completely random, and chasing patterns, wins and losses is a fast way to risk losing your bankroll on a hunch. Bet responsibly and make sure to use any deposit or payment limiting tools if you’re concerned.

Column bet

Column bets are fairly self-explanatory. This is where you bet on the whole of a column inside the roulette table’s number grid.

So, if you choose the second column, you would bet on 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32 or 35 to appear. This bet is a little similar to the dozen bets, which we cover below!

Dozen

Dozen bets are similar to column bets in that you place wagers on entire sections of the number grid. However, as this is an outside bet, you’re not actually touching the number grid on the table at all!

When looking at a roulette table, you might notice three groups – 1st 12, 2nd 12 and 3rd 12. These refer to the three dozens that the grid splits into. So, the first dozen is 1 through 12, the second is 13 through 24, and the third is 25 through 36.

Again, you cannot include any of the 0s here.

High or Low

Again, high or low bets are quite straightforward, but as with the other bets examined here, they also carry risk.

At a roulette table, you might typically see the groups 1-18 and 19-36 listed on either side of the outside betting grid. 1-18 indicates a ‘low’ bet, and 19-36 is a ‘high’ bet. Essentially, you’re betting on whether a number from the low end of the grid will appear or if you’ll spin in a high number.

Again, the 0 and 00 spaces are missing, and these outside bets don’t consider the green spaces, so bet wisely.

What are the best roulette bets to place?

There are no ‘best’ roulette bets to place, simply because ‘best’ could mean higher or lower odds, depending on the player! Certainly, the safest bets in roulette are likely those with the widest markets, so red or black, odd or even, and high or low.

However, there’s always a chance that the dreaded 0 or 00 (or even the 000 in some games) will pop up. It’s always a good idea to look at the odds carefully before you place any chips down and confirm a bet.

The bets with the longest odds in roulette are straight wagers. This means that if you pick a single number outright to win, rather than a group, you have much less chance of your bet converting. However, again, roulette is completely random – there is no legitimate way to know what numbers will appear or when.

Therefore, again, bet responsibly! Croupiers at real casinos and on live roulette games have no control over the game’s outcome, so set clear limits for your bankroll and know when to walk away.