In roulette, it’s possible to pick and wager on more than 20 bet types. From even‑money Red/Black to Lightning numbers with insane multipliers, the choice is abundant.
Since there is such a great selection, some players may find the game to be intimidating when they first start to play.
However, it’s far from being difficult; the only thing to remember is that not all bets are the same.
The guide before you is a study in roulette betting. You’ll discover the best bets in roulette in a ranked list, complete with special rules affecting table odds. We’ll compare the most common roulette bets, explain key rule changes, talk about different wheels, and discuss bankroll tips for aspiring players.
Whatever your goal is – make profit or have fun – knowing all about the best roulette bets helps you play smarter.
Roulette Wheel, House Edge, and Odds
Before picking roulette bets, it’s important to choose the right roulette table. We distinguish three types of roulette based on the wheel:
- European roulette
- American roulette
- French roulette
European and French have the same wheel, but the French table also uses two special rules that change the edge a little bit.
If you’re choosing between European, American, or French roulette, your bet selection matters because of the house edge. European roulette has a single‑zero wheels carrying a 2.70 % house edge.
The American variant has a double‑zero format, which increases that to 5.26 % due to the extra green pocket on the wheel.
French roulette with the En Prison or La Partage rules can cut the edge even more, to about 1.35 % on even‑money bets. The rules state that half of losing bets against zero may be returned or held in prison until the next spin, lowering the edge further.
Odds are also important to understand, as they play a significant role in payouts and bet choices.
So, understanding the difference between payout ratios and actual win probability is crucial. Casinos pay 35:1 on a straight‑up number but true odds would be 36‑to‑1 in European roulette; that shortfall creates the edge.
For every bet type, the house edge is fixed by pocket count and payout. This setup frames the upcoming ranking of bets. You will soon see why even‑money bets with En Prison or La Partage rules outperform most inside bets over time, and why certain exotic or side bets are mathematically poor choices.
Best Roulette Bets – Ranked
With the following bets, players will have the best chances at wining when they play real money roulette. These bets are commonly placed by new and experienced players and they will help players win more money and extend their bankroll.
1. Even Money Bets
These bets are the safest on the table. Regarding payouts, even-money bets are called that because they pay even money (1:1).
There are three even-money bet subtypes, with 6 betting positions in total: Even, Odd, Low, High, Red or Black.
Why are these the best?
They win often and provide players with some winnings so they can enjoy more games. Roulette betting systems are often paired and used for even money wagers.
The optimal solution would be to pick a French roulette table and bet on even-money stakes. That way, the edge would be 1.35%, with a 1:1 payout and you get back half of your wager when you lose thanks to the En Prison rule.
2. Dozen Bets
Dozen bets, or outside bets, are another type of roulette wagers that are very popular. These bets cover a dozen of numbers on the wheel, all under one bet. Therefore, placing a dozen bet automatically means you are placing one wager on 12 numbers.
When you joiun There will be three boxes on the table and the fist box covers numbers 1 through 12, the second covers 13 through 24 and the third covers 25 through 36. Dozen bets are not even money bets as they pay 2:1, but they do hot often and offer some nice chances at doubling the bet that has been placed.
3. The Column Bet
This is also a good bet to place as it has low risk and can win often. The numbers on the wheel will be divided into three different columns and players can bet on one or all of these. All three columns will offer a payout of 2:1 and will help players preserve their bankroll and slowly build up profits from playing.
4. The Snake Bet
This is another outside bet that is a special dozen bet. This bet is placed on numbers 1, 5, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 23, 27, 30, 32 and 34. With this bet, there is a 2:1 payout, the same as standard dozen bets. The snake bet will be placed by placing the chips on the lower corner of 34 on the table.
Special Rules (En Prison, La Partage, Surrender)
Roulette may include special rules that increase the game’s playability – and make some bets better than others. The most famous rules in roulette are En Prison and La Partage, used in French Roulette; and Surrender, used in Atlantic City Roulette.
En Prison / La Partage
Under En Prison, when zero lands on an even‑money bet, your stake is “imprisoned”. You either get it back if the next spin wins, or lose it if it doesn’t. La Partage is simpler: you lose only half your bet immediately. Both cut the house edge to about 1.35 % (from 2.70 %) on French wheels.
Example: You bet €10 on Red, zero shows. With La Partage you lose €5 and retain €5. With En Prison you get €10 locked until the next spin. If Red hits, you reclaim €10; if not, you lose it.
Atlantic City “Surrender”
Some American tables offer “Surrender” rule: on double‑zero wheels, even‑money bets lose only 50% when zero (0 or 00) comes up, so not a full loss. This brings the edge down from 5.26 % to about 2.63 %, which is still nearly double the single‑zero standard. Surrender does not apply to other bets, only even‑money.
Quick Bankroll Tips
Here are some tips for playing roulette online.
- Focus on flat betting even‑money wagers. This maximises eligibility for loyalty comps and cards points, and avoids escalation risk.
- A combo strategy works well. Try to allocate 90 % of your session bankroll to even‑money bets, reserving 10 % for inside bets (e.g. two numbers) to chase occasional higher payouts and keep sessions entertaining.
- Be aware of table limits. Progressive systems like Martingale can quickly hit maxes. Never chase losses, these systems don’t change house edge and amplify risk.
FAQ
- What is the safest bet in roulette?
The best bets are even-money bets on a French wheel with En Prison or La Partage rules because they provide the lowest house edge of around 1.35 %.
- Which bet offers the best potential payout?
Straight-up single-number bets pay 35x the stake, and in live-dealer games such as Lightning Roulette multipliers, these can can go up to 499x or even higher. But volatility is very high.
- How can I find tables with En Prison rules?
Look for French roulette variants labeled “En Prison” or “La Partage.” These are common in European-oriented casinos and licensed live dealer casinos.
- Are mobile roulette odds different than desktop?
No, the house edge is identical whether you play on mobile or desktop. Only the rules and wheel type matter for the odds. Playing on mobile does not affect gameplay in that regard.
- How do bet limits affect strategy?
Progressive betting systems like positive or negative strategies risk hitting table limits quickly because of steep increases of bets after winning/losing. Flat betting, on the other hand, avoids this problem.
- Can zero be even or odd?
No, the zero (and double/triple zeros) are neither even nor odd, and always cause even-money bets to lose unless special rules (such as the French rules) apply.
- Does the Surrender rule exist outside Atlantic City?
It’s rare. It’s mainly found in some Atlantic City casinos and specific US-licensed online tables.
- What proportion of my budget should I use for side bets?
That depends on your preferences. Many players use around 10% for inside bets and 90% for outside bets to balance gameplay and create a balanced house edge.
In Conclusion
Since there are many betting options in roulette, players need to know what eh best bets are for winning and preserving the bankroll. The single best roulette bet is even money bet.
Since the payout is 1:1, the risk is low, but players will not be able to collect massive winnings from these bets. However, they are safe bets and are the perfect bets for those that may just be starting to play roulette online.
The best roulette bets are those that have smaller payouts but win frequently. By placing even money bets and outside bets, players will have more chances to collect winnings and will see their bankroll slowly grow.
These are not bets for high rollers, nor are they preferred by experienced players who like to take risks. For those that are casual players or just starting, these bets make for the best bets at the roulette table, no matter what version of the game is being enjoyed.
The chances of winning outside bets are much higher than when placing an inside bet and even though they are recommended for new players, many professional roulette players will resort to these bets if they have hit a losing streak or just wish to extend their time at the table.
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