Roulette Outside Bets

Outside bets constitute the second major category of wagers in roulette. As the name suggests, these bets are placed outside the area containing the numbered boxes on the table layout. Outside bets are considered the most basic type of wager one can place in roulette and, as such, are more suitable for inexperienced players.

• Red or Black Bets
• Odd or Even Bets
• High or Low Bets
• Column Bets
• Dozen Bets
• Additional Notes on Outside Bets

These bets are not placed on specific numbers; instead, they are based on other properties, such as the numbers’ colour, their position on the layout, whether the numbers are even or odd, and so on. Compared with inside bets, outside bets involve less risk. Players have better odds of winning with outside bets, but the payouts are smaller.

Below you will find more detailed information on the five types of outside bets.

Red or Black Bets

Red or Black bets are placed on the outcome that the ball will land in either a black or a red pocket. The individual number in the pocket is irrelevant. Red or Black bets are placed in the box located directly beneath the 2nd 12 box. Often, this wager is represented by black and red diamonds on the layout, but on some tables the words “red” and “black” are used instead. On French roulette tables, this type of bet is labelled “Rouge ou Noir”.

Players can place their chips on either all black numbers or all red numbers; zero is excluded from this type of bet. Should the zero come up, all Red or Black bets will lose. Winning Red or Black bets pay out even money or 1 to 1.

Odd or Even Bets

The Odd or Even bet is another basic wager suitable for casual or inexperienced players. The boxes where Odd or Even bets are placed are located on each side of the Red or Black betting boxes. On French roulette tables, this type of bet is labelled as “Pair ou Impair”.

As players might already know, in roulette, there are 18 odd and 18 even numbers.

The name of the bet says it all – players wager that the number on which the ball stops will be either odd or even, according to their choice. Since the chances of winning or losing with Odd or Even bets are virtually equal, winning bets of this type pay out 1 to 1. In the game of roulette, zero is not considered an even number, which is why all Odd or Even bets lose if zero comes up.

High or Low Bets

The black and red numbers on the wheel can be separated into two categories. Numbers 1 through 18 are referred to as Low numbers, while numbers 19 through 36 are called High numbers. The zero does not fall into either category. With High or Low bets, players simply bet that the ball will land on a number within their chosen range. The boxes where this type of bet is placed are labelled 1 to 18 and 19 to 36, respectively. On French roulette tables, the boxes for this type of bet are marked Passe and Manque.

High or Low bets also pay out at 1 to 1 – if a player stakes £10 on Low and the number 6 is spun, the player will receive their original wager plus a further £10.

Column Bets

The 36 numbers on the layout can be divided into three separate columns. Thus, a Column bet enables players to cover an entire vertical line, consisting of 12 numbers, with a single chip. This type of bet is placed in the three boxes located at the far end of the layout, directly opposite the field or fields reserved for 0. It is important to note that, since 0 and 00 are not incorporated into any of the columns, Column bets lose if the white ball lands on either of these numbers. All three boxes are labelled “2-1”. Column bets have a payout of 2 to 1.

Dozen Bets

Dozen bets are placed to the left of the numbered field on the layout, in three boxes which are marked with 1st Dozen, 2nd Dozen and 3rd Dozen. The 1st Dozen covers numbers 1 through 12, the 2nd Dozen covers numbers 13 through 24 and the 3rd Dozen covers numbers 25 through 36. When a player places their chip in one of the three boxes, they cover all numbers in that dozen. Winning Dozen bets pay out 2 to 1.

Players should be aware that, if they prefer, they can wager on two out of the three dozens. Once again, if 0 or 00 is the winning number, Dozen bets are settled as losses.

A Few Additional Notes on Outside Bets

We have already mentioned that even-money bets lose when the wheel stops on zero. It is important to note house rules regarding even-money bets when zero is spun may vary depending on the casino at which you are playing. In most land-based gambling venues in the United States, even-money bets lose whenever the ball lands in one of the two zero pockets, which increases the house advantage.

However, on many European roulette tables, the En Prison rule is applicable to even-money bets. If the zero comes up, players’ chips remain on the layout. If the players win with their even-money bets on the next spin, they will have their original stakes returned without collecting any winnings. Should the bet lose, the house collects the players’ stakes.

The La Partage rule, which is applicable in many European land-based casinos, enables players to collect half of their wagers if the ball lands in the zero pocket. Bear in mind that these two rules are applied predominantly in brick-and-mortar casinos. In most online variations of the game, players lose on even-money propositions when zero is spun.

When discussing the special rules associated with roulette, we should certainly mention the one that applies to surrenders. It is available when playing American roulette, and, in most cases, players can benefit from it in the casinos of Atlantic City. This rule closely resembles the La Partage rule because it is triggered only when the winning number is 0 or 00. Thanks to this rule, the house advantage is reduced to 2.63% instead of 5.26%.

Another factor to take into account with outside bets is the table minimum. Many brick-and-mortar venues prohibit players from placing the minimum table bet on Column, Dozen and even-money propositions. In many cases, players are required to wager at least five times the table minimum with such bets. However, this is not the case online, as web-based roulette variations allow minimum table wagers on Columns, Dozens and even-money bets.