Roulette is a game of halves. Half the wheel is red and half the wheel is black. The exception is the green zero pocket and the double-zero in the American variant. Half the wheel is even, too, while the other half is odd.
In theory, you may think that red/black and even/odd plays should have probabilities of 50/50 or 50% on the roulette odds chart.
This isn’t necessarily the case. Thanks to those green pockets, the American game has odds of 46.37% on “50/50” plays (and, also, on 1-18 and 19-36), while the European wheel offers a slightly better 48.6% – as explained in our roulette wheel types guide.
You can make any play you like, and the odds will change with it. For example, making a play on a single number has odds of 2.63% (2.7% in European roulette). You’re unlikely to find a rarer outcome on the roulette chart unless you plumb for a special side play.
So, overall, the roulette odds chart gives players a chance of between 2% to a fraction shy of half — and you can slice the wheel anyway you like.
We’re not done yet. Let’s break things down further.
Inside or Outside?
It might sound like we’re back to the idea of halves again, but inside and outside plays on the roulette table odds chart are just a way of describing something physical: plays drawn on the inside of the board and plays drawn on the outside.
Outside plays are the ones we’re already familiar with. These have a good chance of winning but low return potential (1:1 – 2:1).
- Red/Black
- Odd/Even
- High/Low
- Column
- Dozen
Inside plays are the opposite. They have a lower chance of winning on the roulette odds chart but better returns when they do hit (5:1 – 35:1). These all sound a bit like poker hands:
- Straight
- Split
- Street
- Corner
- Basket
- Double Street
It’s impossible to change or otherwise manipulate the odds on the roulette strategy chart (so be wary of anybody promising such magic). This leads us to some popular ideas about playing roulette the “right way”, with a certain strategy.
What about Roulette Strategy?
Advanced players do have the option of playing to a roulette strategy that provides a structure for your playing session. These are only useful for protecting your bankroll, however, and work about as well as any chance-based endeavour.
And that’s it! Sign up or log in to test your knowledge of the roulette odds chart. Alternatively, continue your education with our guide to special rules like La Partage and En Prison.
