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Whether you’re a table game newbie or a bona fide gambling veteran, one thing is for sure: when you picture a traditional casino, you see that black-and-red wheel in your mind’s eye, don’t you? Of course you do; surely no one would forget his majesty - the roulette. 

While roulette comes in different shapes and forms (American, French and European roulette anyone?), certain rules are universal. Or, mostly so. Take roulette odds and payout, for example. Have you ever wondered what your odds would be when playing roulette? What about calculating your winning chances? Can it be done at all? And how about the difference between European and American roulette odds, if any?

All that and more will be explored in our blog post today, so sit back and let us take you on a journey through roulette payout odds.

What Are Odds and Payouts in Roulette?

So, what do we mean by roulette odds? Simply put, odds in roulette tell you what your chances of winning are. When we talk about American roulette, that is to say, the game of roulette with double zeros, the odds of hitting a single number are 37:1, as there are 38 numbers on the wheel. However, because of the house edge, the odds are actually 35:1.

In other words, your chances of hitting a single number on a straight-up bet are 37 to 1, but your payout would be based on odds of 35 to 1, thanks to the casino house edge. This rule applies to online roulette, as well.

How to Calculate the Roulette Odds and Payouts

Calculating the roulette odds and payouts could be confusing if you’ve never played roulette before. Might be best if you first familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of the game,easily done with the help of our roulette beginner guide. Nevertheless, there is a fairly simple formula to calculate the odds for your roulette bet.

If, however, you’ve decided to listen to our advice and read up on basic roulette rules first, once you’re feeling confident in your roulette knowledge, you can employ the math to calculate your odds. This is how it goes: divide 36 by the number of squares your wager covers on the table and then subtract 1 from that number. Those are your payout odds.

Roulette Payout Odds Chart

In order to fully grasp how roulette payout odds work, it might be helpful to take a look at the graphic we’ve prepared for you:

European vs American Roulette Odds 

It is extremely important to understand the difference between European and American roulette odds before engaging in either.

We’ve mentioned the American roulette odds already. When we look at it from the other end, the house edge for American roulette is 5.26%.

So, how does the European wheel stack up next to the American? You’ll be pleased to learn that the house edge of European roulette is 2.7%. That’s right - nearly half of the American roulette house edge! This is easily explained; it’s because the European version of the wheel only has one green zero.

Different Odds in Inside vs Outside Bets

In roulette, bets can be sorted into two main categories: 

Inside bets

Outside bets

The name for these types of bets refers to where you would place your chips on the table. If you place your bet “inside” the table, that is to say on any numbers, then you’ve made an inside bet. If, however, you place your bet on spaces that do not contain numbers, then you’ve made an outside bet.

So, what about the odds of each? Outside bets give you a better chance of hitting your mark, but that means scoring a smaller payout. As for the payout of inside bets, they’re the ones that can make or break you. Still, the chances of hitting an inside bet are - you’ve guessed it - lower.

Ultimately, it’s all up to that wheel of fortune!

Does Having a Good Roulette Strategy Actually Work?

Understanding roulette payout odds is a good way to feel more confident when playing a game of roulette. Especially as it can help you make smart decisions when deciding on your betting budget.

Still, you have to remember at all times that roulette, much like most casino games, is a game of chance. That means that, in the end, the wheel is going to do whatever the wheel is going to do. Hey, but that’s what makes it fun, doesn’t it?