Roulette Outside Bets
| Updated: Outside Bets – Higher Chances of Winning and Smaller Payouts
Roulette is a casino game that has remained popular over the years. With its simple rules, the game attracts many players looking for an exciting experience. Luck plays the main role, but understanding the available betting options is also important. One of the game’s most interesting features is the wide variety of bets it offers.
The idea behind roulette is straightforward. A wheel with numbered pockets from 1 to 36 is spun, and players predict where the ball will land. Bets can be placed on a particular number, color, or range of numbers. Odds and payouts vary by bet type, and this variety makes the game versatile. To place a bet, players position chips on a particular section of the betting layout. Depending on the bet, chips are placed on the inside or outside section of the layout.
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This article provides detailed information about the five types of outside bets. They allow players to wager on different properties of numbers, with the available options being Red or Black bets, Odd or Even bets, High or Low bets, Column bets, and Dozen bets. Although they offer smaller payouts, outside bets have higher chances of winning.
Roulette Betting Layout
The inside section of the layout consists of small squares representing the numbers from 0 to 36, plus 00 in the American variation of the game. This section is used to place an inside bet on a number or group of numbers. For example, suppose a player wants to bet on the number 17. The chance of the ball landing in that particular numbered pocket is 1 out of 37, or 1 out of 38 in American roulette. Inside bets are therefore considered riskier, but their payouts are much higher.
The other section of the layout represents various categories of numbers. To place an outside bet, players need to position their chips on the preferred section. The categories usually represent two opposites, such as black or red and high or low. By placing an outside bet, players wager on all the numbers in the chosen category. Outside bets have a higher probability of winning than inside bets and may be easier for inexperienced players to understand.
Black vs Red Bets
This bet is placed on the color of the numbered pocket in which the ball will land. The wheel is made up of small pockets that are alternately colored black and red. The only exception is the zero pocket, along with the double-zero pocket on an American table, which is colored green. Under standard rules, if the ball lands in a green pocket, all red and black bets lose.
To bet on black or red, players position their chips in the box representing their chosen color. These boxes are usually placed under the 2nd 12 box. To make them easier for novice players to identify, they are marked with a red or black diamond. In some cases, the boxes are filled with red or black or are named after the colors they represent. On a French table, all bets are labeled in French, and this bet is known as “Rouge ou Noir”. The important factor is not the number itself but its color.
The wheel has an equal number of black and red pockets. Therefore, the chance of the ball landing on a red pocket is the same as the chance of it landing on a black pocket. On a single-zero wheel, each option covers 18 of the 37 pockets, with the green zero providing the house edge. The probability of making the correct prediction is therefore 18 out of 37. The payout is 1 to 1, also known as even money. For example, if players wager $5 on red and the ball lands in a red pocket, they win the bet and receive a total of $10, including the original stake.
Odd vs Even Bets
The name of this bet speaks for itself. Players try to predict whether the winning number will be even or odd. To place an even or odd bet, they position their chips on the corresponding box on the layout. These boxes are located on either side of the red and black boxes, under the “1st 12” box for even numbers and the “3rd 12” box for odd numbers. Even numbers from 1 to 36 end in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8. Under standard rules, the zero pocket causes both even and odd bets to lose. On a French table, this type of bet is labeled “Pair ou Impair”.
The number itself does not matter, only the category into which it falls. Because the wheel contains an equal number of odd and even numbers from 1 to 36, winning bets pay even money.
High vs Low Bets
The numbered betting options from 1 to 36 can be divided into two categories: high numbers from 19 to 36 and low numbers from 1 to 18. There is no need to memorize these ranges because the division is straightforward. The first 18 numbers belong to the low category, while the remaining 18 belong to the high category.
With this type of bet, players try to predict whether the winning number will be in the high or low range. To place the bet, they put their chips on the corresponding box. These boxes are positioned on either side of the Even and Odd boxes. They are clearly labeled “1 – 18” and “19 – 36”. The French name for this bet is “Passe et Manque”. Each option covers 18 numbers, and a winning bet pays even money.
Column Bets
The roulette table layout groups the numbers into three vertical columns, each consisting of 12 non-consecutive numbers that follow an every-third-number pattern. With a column bet, the player covers one-third of the numbers from 1 to 36. Because a column bet covers fewer numbers than an even-money bet, it offers a higher payout. A winning column bet pays 2 to 1. The French name for this type of bet is “Colonne”.
To place a column bet, players put their chips in the box at the end of their preferred column. At the end of each column, there is an additional box displaying the bet’s payout. This is where the chips should be placed. The aim is for the ball to land on a number in the chosen column.
Dozen Bets
The betting layout is divided not only into columns but also into three dozens, each consisting of 12 numbers. They are easy to identify on the layout because they are organized in large boxes outlined with thicker lines. Under each dozen, there is an additional box marked 1st 12, 2nd 12, or 3rd 12. Depending on the preferred dozen, the chips are placed in one of these three boxes. As with the other outside bets, zero and double zero are excluded. By placing a dozen bet, players cover one-third of the numbered options from 1 to 36. The payout is also 2 to 1.
This type of bet is very similar to a column bet, with the main difference being that the numbers in each dozen are consecutive.
Additional Factors of the Game
The house always has a mathematical advantage over the player. Roulette has three main variations, and the house edge differs among them. In American roulette, the house edge is 5.26%, while the European variation has a house edge of 2.70%. Therefore, even-money bets do not provide a true 50% chance of winning. The probability is approximately 48.65% in European roulette and 47.37% in American roulette.
The third variation, French roulette, includes two additional rules that can reduce the house edge. The La Partage and En Prison rules apply when the ball lands on zero and players have placed an even-money bet. These rules provide an opportunity to recover all or part of the stake. As a result, the house edge can be reduced to 1.35%. These rules are more common at brick-and-mortar casinos and may not be available in online versions of the game.
Another important factor is the table limits. These differ from one table to another, so players should become familiar with the specific rules before placing a bet. At a physical table, a small plaque usually displays the minimum and maximum stakes. Some casinos set higher minimum wagers for outside bets. However, online casinos may allow players to place the general table minimum on even-money bets, columns, and dozens.
Outside bets are preferred by many inexperienced players because they are simple and have a higher probability of winning. Although they offer smaller payouts, they cover more numbers than inside bets.
FAQ
Outside bets in roulette are wagers placed on larger groupings of numbers, with players making bets on colors (red or black), odd or even numbers, and high (19-36) or low (1-18) numbers. Outside bets are popular because they offer higher chances of winning compared to inside bets, making them ideal for beginners or those looking to play with lowered risk levels.
When you bet on red or black, you’re predicting that the ball will land on a pocket of your chosen color. Since the roulette wheel is evenly divided between red and black pockets (excluding the green zero or double zero), this gives you nearly a 50% chance of winning. Payouts for these bets are 1 to 1.
High or low bets allow you to wager on whether the ball will land on a low number (1-18) or a high number (19-36). Like the red or black bet, this type of outside bet offers almost a 50% chance of winning and also pays out at 1 to 1, making it a safer bet, suitable for conservative players.
Both column and dozen bets cover 12 numbers on the roulette table. Column bets are placed on one of the three vertical columns, while dozen bets are wagered on groups of 12 numbers (1-12, 13-24, or 25-36). Both types of bets offer a 2 to 1 payout, but they cover different sets of numbers on the layout.
Table limits dictate the minimum and maximum bets you can place. While outside bets are considered safer, many casinos require higher minimum bets for these types of wagers compared to inside bets. Always check the table limits before playing to ensure they match your betting strategy and bankroll management plan.