Roulette Payout Calculator

Roulette Payout Calculator | Calculate Your Potential Winnings

Roulette Payout Calculator

Calculate your potential roulette winnings. Understand odds, payouts, and expected returns for all bet types.

Calculate Your Winnings

Bet Type

Bet Amount ($)

Winning Number (0-36)

Straight Up

Pays 35:1

Split

Pays 17:1

Even Money

Pays 1:1

Remember: gambling involves risk. Never bet more than you can afford to lose.

YOUR POTENTIAL WINNINGS

$350

Including your original bet

PROBABILITY OF WINNING

2.7%

Chance to win this bet

EXPECTED VALUE

-$0.27

Average loss per $1 bet

Understanding Roulette Payouts

How are roulette payouts calculated?

Roulette payouts are based on the odds of your bet winning. Each bet type has different probability. The payout is calculated by multiplying your bet amount by the payout ratio. For example, a straight up bet pays 35 to 1.

What is the house edge in roulette?

In American roulette, the house edge is 5.26%. This means for every $100 bet, you can expect to lose about $5.26 long-term. In European roulette, the house edge is lower at 2.70%.

What’s the difference between American and European roulette?

American roulette has 38 pockets (1-36, 0, and 00). European roulette has 37 pockets (1-36 and 0). The extra 00 in American roulette increases the house edge.

Are there strategies to win at roulette?

Roulette is a game of chance. No strategy can overcome the house edge long-term. Some strategies may help manage your bankroll, but they don’t change the odds of the game.

Roulette Payout: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Your Winnings

You are standing at the roulette table. The wheel is spinning. The ball is bouncing. You feel the excitement. You place your chips on the felt layout. The ball lands. The dealer announces the winning number. But how much did you win? How did the casino figure that out so fast?

Understanding roulette payouts is the key to playing the game smartly. It is not about magic. It is about simple math. The casino pays you based on the probability of your bet winning. The less likely a bet is to win, the more it pays out.

This guide will explain everything about roulette payouts. We will break down every type of bet. We will show you the exact odds. We will explain why the casino always has an edge. Our goal is to make you an expert on how the game pays.

Whether you are a new player or a seasoned veteran, this guide is for you. We will use simple language. We will avoid complex jargon. Let’s demystify the numbers behind one of the most popular casino games.

The Foundation: How Roulette Payouts Work

The core principle of roulette payouts is simple. It is based on odds.

Payout odds are the ratio the casino uses to pay you for a winning bet. They are different from the true odds of the bet winning.

True Odds: These represent the actual probability of an event happening. For example, the true odds of a single number hitting on a European roulette wheel are 36 to 1. There are 36 numbers that cause you to lose and 1 number that causes you to win.
Payout Odds: These are the odds the casino offers you. For that same single number bet, the casino only pays 35 to 1.

Do you see the difference? The true odds are 36 to 1. The payout odds are 35 to 1. This small difference is how the casino makes its money. This is called the house edge.

The payout for every bet in roulette is calculated to give the house an advantage. It is built into the game’s design.

The Two Main Types of Bets: Inside and Outside

All roulette bets fall into two categories. Understanding this is the first step.

1. Inside Bets: These are bets placed on the inner section of the layout, on the numbers themselves. They cover fewer numbers. They have a lower probability of winning. Therefore, they have higher payouts.

2. Outside Bets: These are bets placed on the outer section of the layout. They are named for groups of numbers (like red/black or odd/even). They cover many numbers. They have a higher probability of winning. Therefore, they have lower payouts.

We will now break down every single type of bet in both categories. We will give you the payout, the odds, and a clear explanation.

Inside Bets: The High-Risk, High-Reward Plays

These bets are for players looking for a big win. The chances are lower, but the payouts can be huge.

1. Straight Up (Single Number Bet)

What it is: You bet on one single number (e.g., placing a chip directly on the number 17).
How to place it: Put your chip directly in the center of a number square.
Payout: 35 to 1
Explanation: This is the highest-paying bet in roulette. If you bet $1 and win, you get your original $1 back plus $35 in winnings, for a total of $36.

2. Split Bet (Two Numbers)

What it is: You bet on two adjacent numbers (e.g., 14 and 17).
How to place it: Put your chip on the line that separates the two numbers.
Payout: 17 to 1
Explanation: You are covering two numbers. The payout is half of a straight-up bet. If you bet $1 and win, you get your $1 back plus $17, for a total of $18.

3. Street Bet (Three Numbers)

What it is: You bet on a row of three numbers (e.g., 7, 8, 9).
How to place it: Put your chip on the outer border line at the end of a row of three numbers.
Payout: 11 to 1
Explanation: You are covering three numbers. If you bet $1 and win, you get your $1 back plus $11, for a total of $12.

4. Corner Bet (Square Bet) (Four Numbers)

What it is: You bet on a block of four numbers that touch (e.g., 1, 2, 4, 5).
How to place it: Put your chip at the intersection where the four numbers meet.
Payout: 8 to 1
Explanation: You are covering four numbers. If you bet $1 and win, you get your $1 back plus $8, for a total of $9.

5. Line Bet (Six Numbers)

What it is: You bet on two adjacent rows of three numbers, for a total of six numbers (e.g., 1-6 or 28-33).
How to place it: Put your chip on the outer corner where the two rows meet.
Payout: 5 to 1
Explanation: You are covering six numbers. If you bet $1 and win, you get your $1 back plus $5, for a total of $6.

Outside Bets: The Lower-Risk, Lower-Reward Plays

These bets are more popular with cautious players. You win more often, but the payouts are smaller.

1. Column Bet

What it is: You bet on one of the three vertical columns of 12 numbers. The first column is 1, 4, 7, 10…34. The second is 2, 5, 8, 11…35. The third is 3, 6, 9, 12…36.
How to place it: Put your chip in one of the three boxes marked “2 to 1” at the end of the columns.
Payout: 2 to 1
Explanation: You are covering 12 numbers. If you bet $1 and win, you get your $1 back plus $2, for a total of $3.

2. Dozen Bet

What it is: You bet on a group of 12 numbers. The options are 1-12 (1st dozen), 13-24 (2nd dozen), or 25-36 (3rd dozen).
How to place it: Put your chip in one of the three boxes marked “1st 12,” “2nd 12,” or “3rd 12.”
Payout: 2 to 1
Explanation: This is mathematically the same as a column bet, just a different grouping of 12 numbers. Payout is identical.

3. Red/Black Bet

What it is: You bet that the winning number will be either red or black.
How to place it: Put your chip in the box marked “Red” or “Black.”
Payout: 1 to 1 (also called “even money”)
Explanation: You are covering 18 numbers (all the reds or all the blacks). If you bet $1 and win, you get your $1 back plus $1, for a total of $2.

4. Odd/Even Bet

What it is: You bet that the winning number will be either odd or even.
How to place it: Put your chip in the box marked “Odd” or “Even.”
Payout: 1 to 1
Explanation: This is identical to a red/black bet, just a different way to group 18 numbers.

5. High/Low Bet

What it is: You bet that the winning number will be either low (1-18) or high (19-36).
How to place it: Put your chip in the box marked “1-18” or “19-36.”
Payout: 1 to 1
Explanation: This is the third type of even-money bet, covering 18 numbers.

The House Edge: The Casino’s Built-In Advantage

We mentioned the difference between true odds and payout odds. This difference creates the house edge. The house edge is the mathematical percentage of each bet that the casino expects to keep over a very long period of time.

It is also called the “theoretical win percentage.” It is why the casino always wins in the long run.

The house edge is different depending on which version of roulette you play. This is a critical point.

European Roulette House Edge

The Wheel: Has 37 pockets: numbers 1-36 and a single zero (0).
The House Edge: 2.70%

Calculation: Let’s use a straight-up bet.

True odds of winning: 1 in 37 (36 ways to lose, 1 way to win).
Payout on a win: 35 to 1.
If you bet $1 on every spin for 37 spins, you would expect to lose 36 times and win once.
Total money wagered: $37.
On the one win, you get $36 back ($35 profit + your $1 bet).
So, you wagered $37 and got $36 back. Your net loss is $1.
The house edge is that $1 loss divided by the $37 total wagered: $1 / $37 = 0.0270, or 2.70%.

This edge applies to every single bet on the European wheel. The casino keeps 2.7% of all money wagered over time.

American Roulette House Edge

The Wheel: Has 38 pockets: numbers 1-36, a single zero (0), and a double zero (00).
The House Edge: 5.26% (almost double the European edge!)

Calculation: Same straight-up bet.

True odds of winning: 1 in 38.
Payout is still 35 to 1.
Bet $1 on 38 spins. Expect to lose 37 times and win once.
Total wagered: $38.
On the win, you get $36 back.
Net loss: $2.
House edge: $2 / $38 = 0.0526, or 5.26%.

The “Five-Number Bet” Exception: In American roulette, there is a special bet called the “basket bet” or “top line bet.” This is a bet on 0, 00, 1, 2, 3. It pays 6 to 1. The true odds are 33 to 5. This bet has a massive house edge of 7.89%, making it the worst bet on the table. You should always avoid it.

Key Takeaway: Always try to play European Roulette (single zero). The lower house edge means your money will last longer.

Roulette Payouts Chart: A Quick Reference Guide

Here is a simple table to summarize all the bets, their odds, and their payouts.

Bet Type	Numbers Covered	Payout	European Roulette Odds of Winning	American Roulette Odds of Winning
Straight Up	1	35 to 1	2.70%	2.63%
Split	2	17 to 1	5.41%	5.26%
Street	3	11 to 1	8.11%	7.89%
Corner	4	8 to 1	10.81%	10.53%
Line	6	5 to 1	16.22%	15.79%
Column / Dozen	12	2 to 1	32.43%	31.58%
Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low	18	1 to 1	48.65%	47.37%
Five-Number (US only)	5	6 to 1	N/A	13.16%

Note: The “Odds of Winning” column shows the probability of a single bet winning. It is the inverse of the true odds.

How the Dealer Calculates Payouts So Quickly

It seems like magic, but it is a simple system. Dealers are highly trained. They also use mental shortcuts.

They know the standard payouts. They have memorized that a straight-up bet pays 35-to-1, a split pays 17-to-1, etc.
They calculate by “units.” They think in terms of your chip value. If you have $5 chips on the table, a 35-to-1 payout means 35 x $5 = $175, plus your original $5 chip.
They use the wheel as a guide. Often, they will place a marker (a “dolly”) on the winning number on the layout. This helps them and the players see the winning spot clearly. Then they quickly scan the table for all chips that are on or touching that number.
They pay outside bets first. These are the easiest. They just match the color of the chips in the winning outside bet boxes. Then they move to the more complex inside bets.

It is a skill that takes practice. But for the dealer, it is just simple multiplication based on standard ratios.

Strategies and Myths: What Payouts Can and Cannot Tell You

Many players develop “systems” to beat roulette. It is important to understand that no system can overcome the house edge in the long run. Roulette is a game of independent trials. This means that every spin is completely random and has no connection to the previous spin.

Common Myths:

“The number 7 is due to hit!” This is called the Gambler’s Fallacy. After twenty spins without a 7, the odds on the next spin are still exactly the same: 1 in 37 (or 1 in 38). The wheel has no memory.
“I have a betting progression that guarantees wins.” Systems like the Martingale (doubling your bet after a loss) seem logical. They help you recover losses and make a small profit. But they are incredibly dangerous. A long losing streak will require you to make a huge bet to cover previous losses. You will eventually hit the table limit or run out of money. The house edge always remains.

The Only Real “Strategy”:
The only smart strategy is to choose the game with the best odds. This means:

Play European Roulette over American Roulette whenever possible. The 2.70% house edge is much better than 5.26%.
Stick to outside bets if you want to play for a longer time. The nearly 50/50 odds mean your bankroll will last longer, even though the payouts are smaller.
Set a budget and stick to it. Never chase your losses. Roulette is a game of chance, designed for entertainment. The payouts are exciting, but the odds are always in the house’s favor.

Conclusion: Play for Fun, Understand the Math

Understanding roulette payouts empowers you as a player. You are no longer confused by the dealer’s actions. You know exactly what to expect when your bet wins. You understand why some bets pay more than others.

Most importantly, you understand the house edge. You know that the game is designed for the casino to win over time. This knowledge allows you to set realistic expectations.

Play roulette for the thrill of the spin. Enjoy the social atmosphere of the table. Celebrate the exciting 35-to-1 payout when it happens. But always gamble responsibly. See the payouts for what they are: a well-calculated reward for beating the odds on a single spin. The math, however, always favors the house in the long run.

Now you are equipped with the knowledge. You can approach the roulette table with confidence. You understand the language of payouts and odds. Place your bets wisely, and most importantly, have fun.

Roulette Payout Calculator