Roulette Bet Types — Inside, Outside & Call Bets Explained
Every roulette bet type explained: inside bets (straight, split, street, corner, six-line), outside bets (red/black, dozens, columns), call bets, and the payout for each.
Roulette offers more chip placement options than most first-time players realise. The layout that covers the numbered grid is divided into distinct areas — inside and outside — and French tables add a second racetrack-shaped layout for a third category of bets. Understanding each type helps you read the table clearly and choose placements that match your preferred balance between payout frequency and payout size.
Every bet type described here applies to European and French roulette unless stated otherwise. American roulette uses the same bet types with the addition of the five-number basket bet — a placement unique to the double-zero wheel, covered at the end.
Inside bets
Inside bets are placed on the numbered grid itself, covering individual numbers or small groups of adjacent numbers. They pay at higher odds than outside bets but win less frequently. The payout for each is calculated from the formula: (36 ÷ numbers covered) − 1.
Straight up — 35:1
A chip placed entirely within one numbered square covers that single number. Pays 35:1. On a European wheel, the probability of winning is 1 in 37 (2.70%). Despite the long odds, the expected value of a straight-up bet is identical to any other bet on a European table: the house edge is 2.70% regardless of which bet you choose.
Split — 17:1
A chip placed on the line between two adjacent numbers covers both of them. Pays 17:1. Adjacent means sharing a border on the layout grid — horizontally or vertically. Diagonal adjacency does not count. With two numbers covered, the win probability doubles to 2 in 37 on a European wheel.
Street — 11:1
A chip placed on the outer edge of a row of three numbers covers all three numbers in that horizontal row. Pays 11:1. The standard rows are 1–2–3, 4–5–6, and so on through 34–35–36. On a European wheel, three numbers covered gives a win probability of 3 in 37.
Corner — 8:1
A chip placed at the intersection of four numbers — where four squares meet — covers all four simultaneously. Pays 8:1. This bet is also called a square bet or a quarter bet. Win probability: 4 in 37 on a European wheel.
Six line — 5:1
A chip placed on the outer edge between two adjacent rows covers all six numbers in those two rows. Pays 5:1. Also called a double street. With six numbers covered, the win probability is 6 in 37 (16.2%).
Trio (three-number bet including zero) — 11:1
On European and French layouts, a chip on the intersection of 0, 1, and 2 covers those three numbers and pays 11:1. A second trio bet covers 0, 2, and 3. These are specific to the zero-corner configuration on single-zero wheels and are not available on American layouts in the same form.
Outside bets
Outside bets are placed in the labelled areas surrounding the number grid. They cover larger groups of numbers and pay at lower odds, but win more frequently. Note that zero is not covered by any outside bet — this is where the house edge resides.
Red or black — 1:1
The most familiar roulette bet. A placement on red covers all 18 red numbers; a placement on black covers all 18 black numbers. Pays 1:1. On a European wheel, the probability of winning is 18 in 37 (48.65%), not 50%, because the zero is neither red nor black.
Odd or even — 1:1
Covers all 18 odd numbers (1, 3, 5… 35) or all 18 even numbers (2, 4, 6… 36). Pays 1:1. Zero is neither odd nor even; its result settles all even-money bets in favour of the house (or triggers en prison/la partage under French rules).
High or low — 1:1
High covers numbers 19 through 36; low covers 1 through 18. Pays 1:1. Zero is not included in either group. Probability: 18 in 37 on a European wheel.
Dozens — 2:1
The layout is divided into three dozen groups: first dozen (1–12), second dozen (13–24), third dozen (25–36). A chip in any of these areas covers 12 numbers and pays 2:1. Probability: 12 in 37 (32.4%).
Columns — 2:1
The numbered grid has three vertical columns, each containing 12 numbers. A chip placed at the foot of a column covers all 12 numbers in that column and pays 2:1. The three columns are: 1–4–7–10–13–16–19–22–25–28–31–34 (column 1), 2–5–8–11–14–17–20–23–26–29–32–35 (column 2), and 3–6–9–12–15–18–21–24–27–30–33–36 (column 3). Note that the zero is not in any column.
Call bets (French roulette)
French roulette tables feature a secondary oval layout called the racetrack, which mirrors the physical sequence of numbers on the wheel rather than the numerical grid. Call bets are placed on the racetrack and cover specific arcs of the wheel. They are common in European casinos and available on many live dealer online platforms.
Voisins du zéro — “neighbours of zero”
This bet covers the 17 numbers that sit on either side of the zero on the wheel: 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, and 25. It uses nine chips placed as a combination of splits, a corner, and a three-number street. The total chip cost and the payout structure vary by exact placement, but the coverage is 17 of 37 pockets.
Tiers du cylindre — “thirds of the wheel”
Covers the 12 numbers on the opposite side of the wheel from zero: 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, and 33. Uses six chips placed as split bets. With 12 of 37 pockets covered, this bet wins on roughly one third of spins.
Orphelins — “orphans”
Covers the eight numbers not included in voisins or tiers: 17, 34, 6 on one arc, and 1, 20, 14, 31, 9 on the other. Uses five chips. It is the smallest of the three main French call bets.
Neighbours
A neighbours bet covers a specific number plus the two (or more) numbers on either side of it on the wheel. A “5 and the neighbours” bet, for example, covers 5 and the four numbers immediately adjacent to it on the physical wheel. The range can typically be extended to up to four neighbours on either side (a nine-number arc).
Payout reference table
| Bet type | Numbers covered | Payout | Win probability (European) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 1 | 35:1 | 2.70% |
| Split | 2 | 17:1 | 5.41% |
| Street | 3 | 11:1 | 8.11% |
| Corner | 4 | 8:1 | 10.81% |
| Six line | 6 | 5:1 | 16.22% |
| Dozen | 12 | 2:1 | 32.43% |
| Column | 12 | 2:1 | 32.43% |
| Red/Black | 18 | 1:1 | 48.65% |
| Odd/Even | 18 | 1:1 | 48.65% |
| High/Low | 18 | 1:1 | 48.65% |
Every bet on this table carries the same house edge of 2.70% on a European wheel. The payout and frequency change but the underlying expected loss per unit staked is constant. This is what “house edge” means in practice: the probability-weighted return across all possible outcomes always falls 2.70% below break-even.
The five-number basket bet (American roulette only)
American roulette offers one bet type with no European equivalent: the five-number or basket bet, which covers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3 simultaneously. It pays 6:1. The house edge on this bet is 7.89% — significantly higher than the standard 5.26% that applies to all other bets on the American layout. It is the single worst bet available in standard casino roulette and has no rational case for use.
For the rules governing how the ball is spun, what happens when zero lands, and how European, French and American roulette differ at the level of the rules themselves, see Roulette Rules Complete. For a discussion of how these bets fit into a sensible approach to the game, see Roulette Strategy. Try placing these bets yourself — play roulette online free.