Roulette Bet Types Explained

Roulette is one of the most recognisable casino games in the world, and one of the reasons it's remained popular for so long is the range of bets available at the table.

From betting on a single number to covering almost half the wheel in one move, the variety is wide, and understanding what each bet covers, how it's placed and what it pays is the best starting point for anyone getting to grips with the game.

This guide covers all the main roulette bet types - inside bets, outside bets and call bets - across both European and American roulette variations. Where certain bet types feature in common betting systems, we've noted that too.

At Bally Bet, every roulette game includes a game info section that confirms which variation you're playing and its specific rules. It's always worth checking that before you start.

European roulette vs. American roulette

The two most common roulette variations differ in one key respect: the wheel. European roulette has 37 pockets, numbered from 1 to 36 plus a single zero (0). American roulette has 38 pockets with the same numbers, plus both a single zero (0) and a double zero (00).

Most bet types are available in both variations and work the same way. The difference is that the extra double zero pocket in American roulette means each bet covers a slightly smaller fraction of the total pockets.

Some bets - the basket bet in particular - are exclusive to American roulette. The game info section in each Bally Bet roulette variation confirms which version you're playing.

Inside bets vs. outside bets

Roulette bets are divided into two main categories based on where they're placed on the table layout.

Inside bets are placed on the numbered section of the table, on individual numbers or on small groups of adjacent numbers. They cover fewer pockets, which means they pay out at higher odds but land less frequently.

Outside bets are placed on the sections surrounding the numbered grid, covering large groups of numbers like red or black, odd or even or entire thirds of the wheel. They cover more pockets, which means they land more frequently but pay out at lower odds.

In both cases, if the ball lands on zero (or double zero in American roulette), all outside bets lose unless the specific table rules state otherwise.

Inside bets explained

Straight up

A bet on a single number. The chip is placed directly on the number. The payout is 35:1 - the highest of any standard roulette bet - which reflects how rarely any single number comes up. Available on every number including zero, and double zero on American tables.

Example: you place £5 on number 17. The ball lands on 17. You receive £175 in winnings plus your £5 stake back for £180 in total. Any other number loses the bet.

Split bet

A bet on two adjacent numbers, placed on the line between them on the table. Pays 17:1 if either number lands.

Example: You place £5 on the line between 8 and 9. The ball lands on 9. You receive £85 in winnings plus your £5 stake, so £90 in total.

Street bet

A bet on a row of three consecutive numbers (for example, 7, 8, 9). The chip is placed on the outer edge of the row. Pays 11:1 if any of the three numbers land.

Example: you place £10 on the street covering 13-14-15. The ball lands on 14. You receive £110 in winnings plus your £10 stake for £120 in total.

Corner bet

A bet on four numbers that share a corner on the table layout. The chip is placed at the intersection of all four. Pays 8:1 if any of the four numbers land.

Example: you place £5 at the corner shared by 1, 2, 4 and 5. The ball lands on 4. You receive £40 in winnings plus your £5 stake, giving you £45 in total.

Line bet (six-line)

A bet on two adjacent rows of three numbers, covering six numbers in total. The chip is placed on the outer edge between the two rows. Pays 5:1 if any of the six numbers land.

Basket bet

American roulette only. A bet on five numbers: 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. The chip is placed at the corner shared by these numbers. Pays 6:1 if any of those five numbers land.

Outside bets explained

Red or black

A bet on whether the ball will land on a red or black number. Covers 18 numbers: all the red numbers or all the black numbers on the wheel. Pays 1:1 (evens). If the ball lands on zero (or double zero), the bet loses.

Odd or even

A bet on whether the ball will land on an odd or even number. Like red or black, this covers 18 numbers and pays 1:1. Zero and double zero are neither odd nor even, so if the ball lands on either, this bet loses.

High or low

A bet on whether the ball will land on a low number (1-18) or a high number (19-36). Covers 18 numbers and pays 1:1. Zero and double zero are excluded.

Dozens

A bet on one of three consecutive groups of 12 numbers: the first dozen (1-12), the second dozen (13-24) or the third dozen (25-36). Covers 12 numbers and pays 2:1. The zero and double zero are not included in any dozen. If the ball lands on either, the bet loses.

Example: you place £10 on the second dozen (13-24). The ball lands on 19. You receive £20 in winnings plus your £10 stake, giving you a £30 payout in total. If the ball lands on 25, or any number outside 13-24, the bet loses.

Columns

A bet on one of three columns of 12 numbers as they appear on the table layout. Unlike the dozens, columns don't follow a sequential numerical order; each column contains 12 numbers spread across the full range. Pays 2:1. Zero and double zero are excluded.

Call bets explained

Call bets are a group of bets that correspond to specific sections of the physical roulette wheel rather than sections of the table layout. They're more common in European roulette and are typically available at higher-stake tables in physical casinos, though they appear in some online and live roulette variations too.

Voisins du Zéro (Neighbours of Zero)

A fixed call bet covering 17 numbers on the wheel that sit near the zero, specifically 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2 and 25.

Tiers du Cylindre (A Third of the Wheel)

Covers 12 numbers on the opposite side of the wheel to the Voisins du Zéro section: 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16 and 33. Placed as a series of split bets.

Jeu Zéro (Zero Game)

Covers seven numbers close to zero on the wheel – 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32 and 15. A smaller version of the Voisins du Zéro, covering only the numbers immediately surrounding zero.

Les Orphelins (The Orphans)

Covers the eight numbers not included in either the Tiers or the Voisins sections – 17, 34, 6, 1, 20, 14, 31 and 9.

Neighbours

A variable call bet on a specific number and the two numbers either side of it on the wheel, covering five numbers in total. You choose the central number; the game covers the four surrounding it alongside it.

The specific numbers covered depend on which number you select, since they're determined by the wheel's physical layout rather than the table's numerical order.

Bet types and betting systems

Some roulette bet types are commonly associated with specific betting systems, which are structured approaches to how a player increases or decreases their stake based on previous spins. These systems don't change the outcome of any spin, which is always determined by chance, but they do define a pattern for how some bets are managed across a session.

The Martingale doubles your stake after each loss, typically applied to even-money outside bets, with the logic that a win eventually recovers previous losses. Stakes can escalate quickly on a losing run.

The Fibonacci uses the mathematical sequence - 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 and so on - to determine stake size after a loss, with a more gradual escalation than the Martingale.

The D'Alembert increases your stake by one unit after a loss and decreases it by one after a win, again typically on even-money bets – the most conservative progression of the three.

If you’d like to read more about these strategies, our dedicated roulette strategies article covers how each one works in full.

Street bets and dozens feature in systems where players want to cover sections of the wheel efficiently without placing multiple individual chips. A street bet covers three numbers with a single chip, which suits players managing their chip count across a session.

The dozen bet - covering 12 numbers at 2:1 - appears in approaches like the two-dozen system, where a player backs two of the three dozens simultaneously to cover 24 numbers at the cost of a reduced net return on any win.

Columns work on the same principle as dozens and are used interchangeably in similar approaches.

Corner bets, covering four numbers at 8:1, allow players to target specific sections of the table with a single chip in a way that sits between the coverage of a street and the broader reach of a dozens or columns bet.

Things worth knowing when choosing a roulette bet

Know what it is you're covering

Before placing any bet, it's worth being clear on which numbers it covers and what it pays out. Game info sections are the best place to get this information for the specific variation you're playing.

Inside and outside bets work differently

Inside bets cover fewer numbers and pay more; outside bets cover more numbers and pay less. Neither type is inherently better, they simply reflect different approaches to risk and return, and the outcome of any spin is always determined by chance regardless of which bet type is placed.

Zero affects outside bets

In both European and American roulette, the zero pocket (and double zero in American) sits outside all outside bet categories. A red/black or dozens bet loses if the ball lands on zero, which is worth bearing in mind when considering how coverage translates to the full wheel.

American roulette has 38 pockets, European has 37

This means any bet on an American table covers a slightly smaller fraction of the total pockets than the same bet on a European table. The payouts are the same across both variations; it’s the coverage as a proportion of total pockets that differs.

Set a budget before you start

Roulette moves quickly and, as you’ve seen, there’s a variety of bet types available. Use the spend limit tools in your Bally Bet account to set a budget before you play and stick to it across the session.

Roulette bet types FAQs

Which roulette bet covers the most numbers?

Even-money outside bets - red or black, odd or even, high or low - each cover 18 numbers, the largest coverage of any single bet type. Dozens and columns each cover 12 numbers. Inside bets cover between one and six depending on the type.

What is the difference between European and American roulette?

European roulette has 37 pockets to American roulette’s 38. Numbers range from 1-36 in both versions; but European roulette features a single zero while American roulette features a single zero and double zero (00).

Do call bets work the same way in online roulette as in a physical casino?

They’re available on some online roulette variations but not all. In a physical casino, they're typically placed verbally with the dealer. Online, they're placed via a dedicated call bet section of the interface where available.

All offers mentioned correct at the time of writing but may be subject to change.