How to Play Roulette: Rules, Bets and the Wheel Explained
Roulette payouts range from even money on red or black up to 35 to 1 on a single number, with every payout determined by how many of the wheel's 38 pockets your bet covers. Knowing those numbers before you sit down is the single biggest difference between guessing and playing with confidence. This guide covers the payout for every roulette bet, a complete roulette payout chart, your odds of winning each bet, the odds of hitting green, how the house edge works, how to calculate any roulette payout yourself and what those numbers look like at the roulette tables at Palms Casino Resort.
What Are the Payouts in Roulette?
Roulette pays 35 to 1 on a single number, 17 to 1 on a split, 11 to 1 on a street, 8 to 1 on a corner, 5 to 1 on a six line, 2 to 1 on dozens and columns and even money on red or black, odd or even and high or low. The pattern is simple: the fewer numbers your bet covers, the more it pays when it hits.
A payout of 35 to 1 means you keep your original bet and receive 35 times that amount in winnings. Put one chip on the number 17 and if the ball lands there, you collect 35 chips plus the one you bet. Every bet on the layout follows the same to 1 format, and the full set is easiest to see side by side in a chart.
| $5 Bet | $175 in winnings, $180 total return |
| $10 Bet | $350 in winnings, $360 total return |
| $25 Bet | $875 in winnings, $900 total return |
| $100 Bet | $3,500 in winnings, $3,600 total return |
Roulette Payout Chart
The chart below lists all 11 standard roulette bets with the numbers each one covers, its payout and your probability of winning on both the American double zero wheel and the European single zero wheel.
| Bet | Numbers Covered | Payout | American Odds | European Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Up | 1 | 35 to 1 | 2.63% | 2.70% |
| Split | 2 | 17 to 1 | 5.26% | 5.41% |
| Street | 3 | 11 to 1 | 7.89% | 8.11% |
| Corner | 4 | 8 to 1 | 10.53% | 10.81% |
| Five Number (Basket) | 5 | 6 to 1 | 13.16% | N/A |
| Six Line | 6 | 5 to 1 | 15.79% | 16.22% |
| Column | 12 | 2 to 1 | 31.58% | 32.43% |
| Dozen | 12 | 2 to 1 | 31.58% | 32.43% |
| Red or Black | 18 | 1 to 1 | 47.37% | 48.65% |
| Odd or Even | 18 | 1 to 1 | 47.37% | 48.65% |
| 1 to 18 or 19 to 36 | 18 | 1 to 1 | 47.37% | 48.65% |
The five number basket only exists on American wheels because it requires the 00 pocket. The payout column tells you what a win is worth, but the odds columns tell you how often each bet actually lands, and that side of the chart deserves a closer look.
What Are the Odds of Winning Roulette?
Your odds of winning a roulette spin range from 2.63 percent on a single number to 47.37 percent on an even money bet, because an American wheel has 38 pockets and your probability is simply the numbers you cover divided by 38. An 18 number bet like red wins 18 out of 38 spins on average, which works out to 47.37 percent. A single number wins 1 in 38 spins, or 2.63 percent.
Notice that no bet on the layout reaches 50 percent. Red or black feels like a coin flip, but the two green pockets mean it falls just short, and those green pockets are worth understanding on their own because they are also a bet you can make.
What Are the Odds of Hitting Green in Roulette?
The odds of hitting green in American roulette are 5.26 percent, or 2 out of 38 spins, because the wheel has two green pockets in 0 and 00. Betting on a single green number such as 0 alone carries the same 2.63 percent odds as any other straight up bet and pays the same 35 to 1.
Players can also split the two greens with one chip placed on the line between 0 and 00, which pays 17 to 1 and wins 5.26 percent of the time. On a European wheel with only one zero, the odds of hitting green drop to 2.7 percent, or 1 in 37. Those green pockets do more than offer a flashy bet. They are the entire reason the casino holds an advantage on every spin.
How Does the House Edge Work in Roulette?
The house edge in American roulette is 5.26 percent on every bet except the five number basket, which carries a 7.89 percent edge. The edge exists because payouts are set as if the wheel had 36 pockets while it actually has 38. A winning straight up bet pays 35 to 1, but the true odds against hitting one number are 37 to 1. That 2 pocket gap is the casino's margin, and it is identical whether you bet a single number or red.
Triple zero wheels, which have appeared at some casinos around Las Vegas, add a third green pocket and carry the worst odds of any standard roulette game. The tables at Palms use the classic double zero American wheel. In practical terms, a 5.26 percent edge means the casino expects to keep about 5 cents of every dollar wagered over the long run. Individual sessions swing far above and below that average, which is exactly what makes the game exciting. Knowing the edge also lets you work out any payout or expectation yourself with a little quick math.
How Do You Calculate Roulette Payouts?
Roulette payouts follow 1 formula: divide 36 by the number of pockets your bet covers, then subtract 1. The result is your payout in to 1 terms. A corner bet covers 4 numbers, so 36 divided by 4 is 9, minus 1 gives a payout of 8 to 1. A dozen covers 12 numbers, so 36 divided by 12 is 3, minus 1 gives 2 to 1.
To calculate your odds of winning instead, divide the numbers you cover by 38 on an American wheel. This formula works for every bet on the layout, which means you never need a calculator at the table. Memorize the formula once and you can verify any payout the dealer slides your way, including at the tables here at Palms.
Roulette Odds and Payouts at Palms
Palms Casino Resort deals American roulette on 3 tables with the standard Las Vegas payout schedule shown in the chart above, from even money on the outside bets to 35 to 1 straight up. Low minimums leave room to spread bets across the layout while you get comfortable with the math, and every spin earns Club Serrano points toward dining, hotel stays and more across the resort.
From the 35 to 1 thrill of a straight up number to the steady 47.37 percent odds of red or black, every roulette payout traces back to the same 38 pockets and the same simple formula. If you are still learning the flow of the game, start with our guide on how to play roulette, and when you are ready to think about bet patterns, read up on roulette strategy.