Roulette Odds and Payouts: Full Payout Chart, House Edge and Worked Examples

Roulette odds and payouts follow one simple pattern. A straight-up bet on a single number pays 35 to 1, and an even-money bet such as red or black pays 1 to 1. Every bet in between is priced as if the wheel had only 36 numbers. The green zero pockets are where the casino’s edge comes from: 2.70% on a single-zero wheel and 5.26% on a double-zero wheel.

So the payout you’re paid is the same whatever wheel you play. The odds of winning change, though, and that difference is the house edge.

This guide includes a full roulette payout chart for every standard bet, the formula behind each payout, and what the green 0 and 00 pay. It also compares European, French, American and triple-zero tables and works through real examples in pounds. If you’re new to the game, read our guide to roulette rules and bets first.

The chart below shows the standard roulette table payouts, plus your chance of winning on a European wheel (37 pockets: 1–36 and a single 0) and an American wheel (38 pockets: 1–36, 0 and 00). Payouts are shown as “to 1”, which means your original stake is returned on top of the winnings.

Save or screenshot this table if you want a free roulette payout chart to keep beside you. Just check the game’s help screen too, because a few variants change payouts on specific bets.

Each standard roulette payout comes from one formula: payout = (36 ÷ numbers covered) − 1. Cover 2 numbers and you get 36 ÷ 2 − 1 = 17, so a split pays 17:1. Cover 12 numbers and you get 36 ÷ 12 − 1 = 2, so a dozen pays 2:1.

That formula would be fair if the wheel had only 36 pockets. But a European wheel has 37 and an American wheel has 38. The extra green pockets aren’t counted in the payout, so every bet pays a little less than its true odds.

Take a straight-up bet on a European wheel. The true odds are 36 to 1 against: one winning pocket and 36 losing ones. The casino pays 35 to 1. That gap of one unit is the house edge. On an American wheel the true odds are 37 to 1 against, but the payout stays at 35:1, so the gap is bigger.

You can work out the house edge for any standard bet as the number of zero pockets divided by the total pockets: 1 ÷ 37 = 2.70% on European and 2 ÷ 38 = 5.26% on American. That is the theoretical return over a very large number of spins. It doesn’t predict what will happen in any one session.

The roulette wheel payout table stays the same on every variant, but the house edge does not. Choosing the wheel is the biggest decision you make on cost.

La partage gives you back half your stake on even-money bets when the ball lands on zero. En prison instead holds your stake for the next spin. If that spin wins, you get your stake back. Either rule halves the edge on red/black, odd/even and high/low bets to 1.35%. Inside bets, dozens and columns still carry 2.70%.

Triple-zero wheels pay the same 35:1 on a single number but have 39 pockets, so the edge rises to 7.69%. That’s almost three times the cost of a European wheel for exactly the same payouts.

Players often ask about the roulette green payout, as if the zero were a special bet. It isn’t. A straight-up bet on 0 pays 35:1, just like any other number. The 00 payout on an American table is also 35:1. You can split 0 and 00 for 17:1.

The difference is what happens to the other bets when green comes in. Outside bets (red/black, odd/even, high/low, dozens and columns) don’t include the zeros. When the ball lands on 0 or 00, they all lose, unless a la partage or en prison rule applies. That’s how the green pockets create the house edge on outside bets.

The five-number bet to avoid

American tables offer a bet on 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3 that pays 6:1. The formula says five numbers should pay 36 ÷ 5 − 1 = 6.2:1 on the payout scale, and the true odds are 33 to 5 against (6.6:1). At 6:1 the house edge is 3 ÷ 38 = 7.89%. That makes it the most expensive standard bet on the American layout. On a European table, the equivalent four-number top line (0-1-2-3) pays 8:1 at the normal 2.70% edge.

Here is how the roulette game payout works in practice, with typical stakes.

• £5 straight up on 17 (any wheel): if 17 wins, you’re paid £175 and keep your £5 stake, so £180 comes back. On a European wheel the expected loss is £5 × 2.70% = about £0.14 per spin. On an American wheel it’s about £0.26.
• £10 on red, European: you win £10 on 18 of 37 pockets and lose £10 on 19. Expected result: (18 × £10 − 19 × £10) ÷ 37 = −£0.27 per spin.
• £10 on red, American: 18 winning pockets, 20 losing. Expected result: (18 × £10 − 20 × £10) ÷ 38 = −£0.53 per spin.
• £10 on red, French with la partage: when zero lands you lose only £5. Expected result: (18 × £10 − 18 × £10 − £5) ÷ 37 = −£0.14 per spin.
• £20 on the second dozen, European: a win pays £40 plus your £20 stake back. You’ll win about one spin in three (32.43%), but the edge is still 2.70%, so the expected loss is £0.54 per spin.

Over 100 spins of £10 even-money bets, the theoretical cost is about £13.51 on French roulette with la partage, £27.03 on European and £52.63 on American. Real sessions swing well above and below these figures. Short-term results are mostly variance, but the edge always applies over time.

• Confusing “to 1” with “for 1”. 35 to 1 means £35 profit plus your £1 back. A payout of “36 for 1” is the same thing written as a total return. Don’t count your stake twice.
• Thinking bigger payouts mean worse value. On a European wheel, a straight-up bet and a red/black bet have the same 2.70% edge. The only difference is volatility: inside bets win less often and pay more when they do.
• Playing American roulette when European is available. The payouts are identical but the edge almost doubles. Online lobbies often list both side by side.
• Assuming past spins change the odds. Each spin is independent. Five reds in a row doesn’t make black more likely. Your chance on the next spin is still 18 in 37 on a European wheel.
• Expecting a betting system to change the edge. Martingale, Fibonacci and similar progressions change how your stakes are spread out, not the house edge. Our roulette strategies guide shows why.
• Missing side-bet or bonus-pocket rules. Some live and multiplier variants reduce the base straight-up payout to fund the bigger wins. Always read the payout table in the game’s info screen.

1. Pick a single-zero wheel. European roulette costs 2.70%. French roulette with la partage or en prison costs 1.35% on even-money bets.
2. Check the help screen before you play. Confirm the number of zeros, any special rules and the published return to player (RTP). A standard European game should show 97.30%.
3. Avoid triple-zero tables and the American five-number bet. They are the most expensive options in this guide.
4. Match the bet to your bankroll. Outside bets give smaller, steadier swings. Straight-up bets can drain a small balance quickly between wins.
5. Be careful with bonuses. Many casinos count roulette at a low percentage towards wagering or exclude it entirely. Check the terms first; our casino bonus terms guide explains what to look for.

If you prefer a real wheel and dealer, the same payouts apply at most live dealer roulette tables. When you’re comparing sites, our guide to choosing an online roulette casino explains what to check, from wheel types to licensing.

• Standard roulette payouts run from 35:1 (one number) to 1:1 (even-money), using the formula (36 ÷ numbers covered) − 1.
• Payouts are the same on every wheel. The number of green pockets sets the house edge: 1.35%–2.70% French, 2.70% European, 5.26% American, 7.69% triple zero.
• Betting on 0 or 00 pays 35:1. The American five-number bet pays 6:1 at a 7.89% edge, so it’s best avoided.
• Every standard bet loses money over time. No staking pattern removes the house edge.

Roulette is entertainment, not a way to make money. Set a deposit and time limit before you start, never chase losses, and use the deposit limit, time-out and self-exclusion tools your casino offers. Gambling is for adults aged 18 and over. If it stops being fun, take a break and contact a support service such as GamCare or BeGambleAware. You can explore other table games in our casino games section.