Understand the layout, payouts and volatility before you pick a system.
Roulette looks simple, but there are many different ways to place a chip on the table. Each bet type has its own hit frequency, payout and “feel”. Systems almost always build on these basic bets, especially even-money outside bets.
This guide walks through the main inside and outside bets on a standard layout, explains how they work, and links them back to odds, house edge and volatility.
The layout is usually divided into:
Most roulette systems on this site focus on even-money outside bets, because their higher hit rate makes progression ideas more psychologically appealing.
For underlying probabilities and house edge numbers, see Roulette odds & house edge.
A straight-up bet is a chip placed directly on a single number (for example, 17). If the ball lands on that exact number, you win; otherwise you lose.
| Wheel type | Winning pockets | Total pockets | Typical payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| European | 1 | 37 | 35:1 |
| American | 1 | 38 | 35:1 |
Straight-up bets have the highest variance: you will miss most of the time, but wins pay big. Systems that rely on frequent small wins rarely use them.
Related glossary term: straight-up bet.
A split bet covers two adjacent numbers by placing a chip on the line between them (for example, between 17 and 20). If either number hits, you win.
| Wheel type | Winning pockets | Total pockets | Typical payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| European | 2 | 37 | 17:1 |
| American | 2 | 38 | 17:1 |
Variance is still high, but hits are twice as frequent as straight-up bets. The house edge remains the same as other standard bets on the same wheel.
Related glossary term: split bet.
A street covers a row of three consecutive numbers (for example, 16–17–18) by placing a chip on the outer edge of that row.
| Wheel type | Winning pockets | Total pockets | Typical payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| European | 3 | 37 | 11:1 |
| American | 3 | 38 | 11:1 |
Streets hit more often than splits but pay less. They’re a middle ground between big-win bets and smoother outside bets.
Related glossary term: street bet.
A corner bet covers four numbers that meet at one point (for example, 17–18–20–21) by placing a chip where their squares touch.
| Wheel type | Winning pockets | Total pockets | Typical payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| European | 4 | 37 | 8:1 |
| American | 4 | 38 | 8:1 |
Corners give you more coverage with a single chip, still with a relatively high payout. Variance is lower than straight/split bets but still noticeable.
Related glossary term: corner bet.
A line bet covers two adjacent rows (six numbers total) by placing a chip at the common edge. For example, 13–14–15 and 16–17–18.
| Wheel type | Winning pockets | Total pockets | Typical payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| European | 6 | 37 | 5:1 |
| American | 6 | 38 | 5:1 |
Line bets start to feel closer to outside bets in terms of hit rate, but they still sit on the inside of the layout.
Related glossary term: line bet.
These are the most common outside bets and the foundation for many systems. They pay 1:1 and cover almost half of the wheel.
| Wheel type | Winning pockets | Total pockets | Typical payout | House edge (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European | 18 | 37 | 1:1 | ≈ 2.70% |
| American | 18 | 38 | 1:1 | ≈ 5.26% |
Because they hit often, even-money bets create the illusion of safety. Systems like Martingale, D’Alembert and Oscar’s Grind typically live here.
The Probability Calculator is perfect for exploring even-money hit rates and streaks.
Dozens (1–12, 13–24, 25–36) and columns (three vertical groups of 12 numbers) both cover 12 numbers each. They pay 2:1.
| Wheel type | Winning pockets | Total pockets | Typical payout | House edge (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European | 12 | 37 | 2:1 | ≈ 2.70% |
| American | 12 | 38 | 2:1 | ≈ 5.26% |
Dozen/column strategies can be interesting for experimentation, but the underlying edge is the same as other standard bets on the same wheel.
Some casinos and online games introduce extra rules (like “en prison” or “la partage”) that change how even-money bets are treated when zero appears. These can reduce the effective house edge on certain bets.
Whenever you see unusual rules, check:
You can approximate the impact of these rules using the EV Calculator by adjusting win/lose scenarios.
Two bets with the same house edge can feel very different to play because of volatility: how often they hit and how big the swings are.
| Bet type | Hit frequency | Payout size | Session feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight-up | Low | Very high | Long dry spells, occasional big wins. |
| Split / street | Low–medium | High | Still swingy, but hits more often than single numbers. |
| Corner / line | Medium | Moderate | More frequent small-to-mid wins, still noticeable variance. |
| Dozens / columns | Medium–high | Medium | Fairly active, but with regular misses. |
| Even-money bets | High | Low | Many small wins and losses; ideal for progression systems. |
For a deeper look at how volatility and streaks interact with systems, see roulette system myths and the Losing Streak Calculator.
See how each bet’s odds and payouts create the house edge on your chosen wheel.
Odds & edge guideMartingale, Fibonacci, Labouchere, D’Alembert and Oscar’s Grind all choose specific bet types – mostly even-money.
Open systems libraryUse the tools to simulate odds and EV for the bet types you’re considering.
Tools & calculators