ExSpadeRoulette Odds and Payouts by Bet and Wheel Type
Roulette payouts do not change just because a standard wheel has more zeros. A straight-up bet still pays 35 to 1. What changes is the chance of winning: a single-zero wheel has 37 pockets, a double-zero wheel has 38, and a triple-zero wheel has 39. Maryland’s published roulette rules specify those three wheel sizes and equally spaced compartments (Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency).
Under standard payouts and rules, the wheel type matters more to expected cost than whether you choose red, a corner or one number.
Standard roulette payout chart
“35 to 1” means a $1 winning bet earns $35 in profit and returns the original $1 stake, for $36 back in total.
| Bet | Numbers covered | Payout | Total returned on a winning $1 bet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 1 | 35 to 1 | $36 |
| Split | 2 | 17 to 1 | $18 |
| Street | 3 | 11 to 1 | $12 |
| Corner | 4 | 8 to 1 | $9 |
| Six line | 6 | 5 to 1 | $6 |
| Dozen | 12 | 2 to 1 | $3 |
| Column | 12 | 2 to 1 | $3 |
| Red or black | 18 | 1 to 1 | $2 |
| Odd or even | 18 | 1 to 1 | $2 |
| 1–18 or 19–36 | 18 | 1 to 1 | $2 |
These standard payoffs appear in both Maryland’s rules and New Jersey’s roulette regulation. Zero and double zero are not odd or even; MGM’s game guide also states that 0 and 00 do not count for odd/even bets (MGM Resorts).
Chances of winning on each wheel
Assuming a fair wheel with equally likely pockets:
Win probability = numbers covered ÷ total pockets
| Bet | Single zero, 37 pockets | Double zero, 38 pockets | Triple zero, 39 pockets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 2.70% | 2.63% | 2.56% |
| Split | 5.41% | 5.26% | 5.13% |
| Street | 8.11% | 7.89% | 7.69% |
| Corner | 10.81% | 10.53% | 10.26% |
| Six line | 16.22% | 15.79% | 15.38% |
| Dozen or column | 32.43% | 31.58% | 30.77% |
| Even-money bet | 48.65% | 47.37% | 46.15% |
The green pockets explain why red is not a 50–50 bet. On a double-zero wheel, for example, red wins on 18 pockets and loses on the 18 black pockets plus 0 and 00: 18 winning outcomes against 20 losing outcomes.
House edge: 2.70%, 5.26% or 7.69%
At standard payouts, most bets on the same wheel have the same expected cost:
| Wheel | Standard house edge | Expected loss per $100 wagered |
|---|---|---|
| Single zero | 2.70% | $2.70 |
| Double zero | 5.26% | $5.26 |
| Triple zero | 7.69% | $7.69 |
These figures describe a long-run average over total money wagered, not the amount a player is certain to lose in one visit. For the underlying concept, see how expected value prices a wager.
Check the arithmetic with a $10 straight-up bet
On a single-zero wheel, a straight-up bet wins on one of 37 pockets. A $10 winner produces $350 profit; any of the other 36 results loses $10.
Expected value = (1/37 × $350) + (36/37 × −$10) Expected value = $9.46 − $9.73 = −$0.27 per spin
The expected loss is therefore 27 cents per $10 wagered, or 2.70%.
A $10 red bet has the same expected loss on that wheel:
Expected value = (18/37 × $10) + (19/37 × −$10) = −$0.27
The bets do not feel alike. The straight bet usually loses and occasionally wins $350; red wins almost half the time and pays only $10. They have the same expected value but very different variance.
Why more zeros make standard bets worse
The paytable is built as if there were 36 outcomes. A one-number winner returns 36 units including the stake; a two-number winner returns 18; a four-number winner returns nine. Those returns would be fair on a theoretical 36-pocket wheel.
Casinos add one or more green pockets without increasing the standard payouts. Each added losing outcome raises the house edge:
- Single zero: 1/37 = 2.70%
- Double zero: 2/38 = 5.26%
- Triple zero: 3/39 = 7.69%
Choosing single zero instead of double zero cuts the standard expected cost by almost half. Choosing a broader bet does not do that; it mainly trades a higher hit rate for a smaller win. Compare that principle across games in the house-edge table.
The double-zero first-five bet costs more
The American-layout “first five” or “top line” bet covers 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3 and pays 6 to 1. It is an important exception to the usual 5.26% double-zero edge. New Jersey’s rules define those five numbers and the 6-to-1 payout (New Jersey Administrative Code).
For a $1 wager:
Expected value = (5/38 × $6) + (33/38 × −$1) = −$3/38 = −$0.0789
That is a 7.89% house edge, worse than the other standard bets on a double-zero wheel.
Check the exact table rules
Some tables use special multipliers, bonus bets or a half-back rule when zero lands. Those are separate paytables and should not be evaluated with the standard chart. Maryland’s published rules, for example, authorize Roulette X variants that reduce the ordinary straight-up payout while offering larger payouts on randomly selected numbers (Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency).
Before betting, check:
- Whether the wheel has one, two or three green pockets.
- Whether a special rule changes what happens to even-money bets when zero lands.
- Whether the game uses standard payouts or a multiplier paytable.
- Whether the table minimum applies to each wager or the combined amount placed.
Past results do not make the next number more or less likely on an independent, random spin (MGM Resorts). Changing stake sizes after losses changes volatility and the size of possible losses, not the wheel’s expected value; the Martingale math shows why. If playing, treat the calculated loss as an entertainment cost and set a limit before the first spin.