Roulette Odds: Probabilities and Calculations
Many hardcore roulette players insist that you need to be skilled at playing roulette, but the reality is that it all comes down to luck. But at its core, roulette is a game of probabilities and odds. Every time you place a bet at the roulette table, you should be aware that the probabilities of a win are not the same for all bets, and they will also not be the same on all variants.
We also need to be clear that the odds and probability are not the same. You may think that they are identical, but they are, in fact, quite different. This is why, in our article, we differentiate and explain them, as well as help you understand and calculate the probabilities and odds for each type of roulette bet.
Odds And Probabilites Explained
We already mentioned that the odds and probabilities on each bet, as well as each version of roulette, are not the same. To make your life easier, we already have a table ready where you can check the values of each bet. We will also explain in detail how to understand each of the values from the table.
Bet | Odds (single zero version) | Odds (double zero version) | How to calculate (single zero) | How to calculate (double zero) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Straight up | 2.70% | 2.60% | 1:36 | 1:37 |
Split | 5.40% | 5.30% | 2:35 | 2:36 |
Street | 8.10% | 7.90% | 3:34 | 3:35 |
Corner | 10.80% | 10.50% | 4:37 | 4:34 |
5 numbers | - | 13.20% | - | 5:33 |
Six Line | 16.20% | 15.80% | 6:31 | 6:32 |
Column | 32.40% | 31.60% | 12:25 | 12:26 |
Dozen | 32.40% | 31.60% | 12:25 | 12:26 |
Even/Odd | 48.60% | 47.40% | 18:19 | 18:20 |
Red/Black | 48.60% | 47.40% | 18:19 | 18:20 |
High/Low | 48.60% | 47.40% | 18:19 | 18:20 |

You can clearly notice that the probabilities differ from one roulette variant to another. If we compare the American probabilities, we notice that the European variant with a single zero comes with higher probabilities for a win. This difference isn’t noticeable on straight bets, with a 0.1% deviation, but it increases when you cover more numbers. Once you move to bets with even money, which covers 18 total numbers the value spikes up to 1.2%.
NOTE! We simply use the two to show you two different ways on how to determine the chance of a win landing.
- The probability is shown in percentage and refers to the probability of winning a specific bet.
- Odds refer to the probability ratio for winning or losing the bet.
Is there a simple way to calculate Odds and Probabilities in Roulette?
If you want to know how to get the probability for a bet to land, have no fear. It’s actually very easy and simple. You simply take the amount of numbers from the bet you used and divide it by the total number of numbers on the table. After that, multiply that number by 100. Here’s what it looks like in real-life examples.
- The European Roulette variant has a total of 37 numbers, ranging from 0 up to 36
- For a straight bet, where you bet on one number, you use the equation 1/37*100
- The number you get is 1/37 = 0.0270, which is your chance of winning the bet
- After you multiply that number by 100, the chance comes down to 2.7%
Here’s what it would look like if you decide to go with an Even or Odds bet. Since there are 18 numbers in total, the formula for the Even or Odds bet looks like this.
- 18/37*100 = 48.64% to win
Once we’re done with the probabilities, we move on to the odds. For them, we see how many chances there are for a win and divide them with the ones for a loss. Here’s how that works:
- European Roulette comes with 37 numbers in total
- A single Dozen Bet includes 12 numbers in total
- So, you can have 25 losing outcomes, 37-12 = 25.
- This means the odds for the dozen bet come down to 12:25
- According to the odds, any 12 wins come with 25 losses on average.
All of the examples we have used so far are from the European roulette variant, meaning they are for single zero variants. In case you want to make the calculations on double zero American roulette, you would need to adjust the equations. In the table below, you will see the formulas, where you simply add the values you need.
Odds = Number of Winning Outcomes Number of Losing Outcomes
Number of Winning Outcomes - total number of numbers covered
Number of Losing Outcomes - total number of uncovered numbers
Probabilities = Number Of Covered Numbers Total Number Of Numbers x 100
Total number of numbers = 37 for single zero roulette
Total number of numbers = 38 for double zero
How to determine the win probabilities in complex bets
In most cases, you are more likely to use several bets at the roulette table rather than only one. This is why, on complex bets, we need to figure out the probability of it landing. Here’s an example of how that would work. One unit goes to the first dozen, and you choose 5 numbers from the second dozen. You also make three split bets on the third dozen. This is what that would look like:

- You have a total of 37 numbers on the table
- The first dozen bet is on 12 numbers in total
- The five straight bets are on 5 numbers
- The three split bets are on 6 numbers
- In total we used 23 numbers; 12+5+6=23
- Divide the number of covered numbers with the full number of positions on the table 23/37=0.6216
- Multiply the end result with 100 to get the probability. The end result is 62.16% of winning the bet
If we’re talking about odds they come out to 23 to 14. This means that every time you hit a total of 23 winning spins, you would also have 14 losing ones.
Note! You should also be aware that with bets like this one, where you combine bets with a low number of positions and bets with a higher number of positions, you determine the odds and probabilities from the maximum number of used numbers. According to the previous example, we used a total of 12 numbers, so the probability is (12/37) x 100 = 32.43%. From that, the odds are 12:25.
Probabilities And Odds For Announced Bets
Some players prefer to play Announced bets, while others call them Called bets. And at some tables, you can find the term French bets. The main detail here is that they come with separate odds.
Called French or Announced Bets, regardless of the name they use, come with different odds. Here, you use a multitude of numbers, in some cases as much as half of the total. So, the odds for Tiers du Cylindre will be quite different from the ones on Voisins du Zero. Here’s what it looks like.
Bet | Odds | Probabilities |
---|---|---|
Voisins du Zero | 17/20 | 45.95% |
Orphelins | 8/29 | 21.62% |
Le Tiers du Cylindre | 12/25 | 32.53% |
Jeu Zero | 7/30 | 18.70% |
Neighbours | 5/32 | 13.8% |
Once you know the probabilities, you can play real money roulette

Using a Calculator to Figure Out The Probabilities in Roulette
Again, to make your life easier and to calculate the probabilities on roulette, we provide you with a simple-to-use calculator. All you need to do is decide on the bet you want to place, and it will figure out the rest itself. This is a simple and efficient way to calculate the probabilities, and anyone can use it. You can give it a shot below.
FAQs
Even money bets come with the highest probability of winning. They have a small payout of 1 to 1, but with outside bets, you cover half of the table, so you have a very good chance of winning. For example, in European roulette, the probability of winning an even money bet is close to 48%.
The 0 and 00 slots give roulette its house edge. Since there can be one or two zero slots, the values differ for each variant. This is how the casino makes its profit in the long run. On European roulette, house edge values dictate that the casino wins $2.7 out of every wager of $100. To get the value on any house edge, simply divide how many zero slots there are by the number of positions on the wheel. For European roulette, it comes down to 1/37 = 2.70%, while for the American double zero variant, it goes up to 2/38 = 5.26%.
Any of the straight-up bets comes with a low probability of winning. For the European variant, it’s 2.7%, while for the American double zero variant, it’s 2.63%.
These rules are quite popular among players because they bring the house edge even lower. In the long run, they can have a positive effect on your winnings and bankroll, but they don’t affect the odds for the outcome of the bet.
RTP in Roulette is defined as the amount of money you are predicted to get back in winnings for a $100 bet.