Even and Odd Roulette Bets Explained
An even or odd bet is an outside roulette wager that pays 1-to-1 if it wins. Since each option covers close to half the numbered pockets, these bets are often considered comparatively favourable for players. The guide below explains how zero pockets on the wheel affect that apparent advantage.
How Even and Odd Bets Work
Roulette offers many wagers, each with its own chance of winning and payout. Some are riskier but pay more when successful; others win more often but return less. This range gives cautious players and those seeking more excitement different ways to play.
Roulette Wheel Layout: Even and Odd Numbers
Both European and American roulette wheels have 36 numbered pockets, from 1 to 36. European roulette also has a zero pocket, while American roulette has zero and double zero.
Of the 36 numbered pockets, 18 are even and 18 are odd. Neither zero nor double zero is part of either group. An even or odd bet wins only if the ball lands on a numbered pocket with the selected parity.
*The diagram above highlights the structural difference between European and American wheels: the American version has an additional double-zero pocket.
Inside and Outside Bets
Wagers when playing roulette generally fit into two groups. An inside bet covers one number or a small cluster of neighbouring numbers; it has a lower chance of winning but a larger payout. An outside bet covers more pockets, increasing the chance of a win but paying less. Even and odd bets are outside wagers because each covers nearly half of the wheel’s numbered pockets.
Bet Type Risk Level Potential Payout House Edge (European/American) Inside Bets Single Number High 35:1 2.70% / 5.26% Split High 17:1 2.70% / 5.26% Street High 11:1 2.70% / 5.26% Outside Bets Even/Odd Low 1:1 2.70% / 5.26% Red/Black Low 1:1 2.70% / 5.26% High/Low Low 1:1 2.70% / 5.26%
Note: The table above compares inside and outside bets by risk and potential return, helping you consider where to place your chips.
Comparing Other Outside Bets
Even and odd are not the only popular outside bets. Players can also wager on red or black, or high or low numbers. Like even/odd bets, these options have chances close to 50% on a European wheel, with similar odds on an American wheel. They differ in how they group numbers: colour bets follow pocket colours, while high/low bets split numbers by range.
Bet Type Chance of Winning (European/American) Payout Distinctive Features Even/Odd 48.64% / 47.36% 1:1 Easy to understand, with a chance close to 50% Red/Black 48.64% / 47.36% 1:1 Chance close to 50%; colours are easy to follow visually High/Low 48.64% / 47.36% 1:1 Spreads wagers across options, with a chance close to 50% Dozens 32.43% / 31.58% 2:1 Higher payout; covers 12 numbers Columns 32.43% / 31.58% 2:1 Higher payout; covers a vertical set of 12 numbers
Note: The table shows that even/odd, red/black and high/low each have a chance close to 50%. Dozens and columns are less likely to win, but offer larger potential payouts.
Winning Chances and the House Edge
Imagine a roulette wheel with 36 numbered pockets, from 1 to 36, and no zero or double zero. Half the pockets would be even and half odd, giving either wager a chance of 18/36 = 0.5, or 50%. In this simplified example, every pocket belongs to one of the two groups, so the bets would be fair and the wheel would have no house edge.
A real wheel has more than 36 numbered pockets: European roulette also has a zero. An even or odd bet therefore wins with probability 18/37 = 48.64%. The odds of winning are 1.01-to-1, but the payout is still 1-to-1. Because the payout does not reflect the actual chance of winning, the approximate house edge is 2.7%.
American roulette has a double-zero pocket as well, reducing the chance of winning an even or odd bet further. The probability is 18/38 = 0.4736, or 47.36%. A win still pays 1-to-1, even though the true odds are 1.11-to-1. The resulting house edge is approximately 5.26%.
Understanding the House Edge
The house edge is the casino’s statistical advantage over many plays. A 1-to-1 payout may seem fair, but the zero pockets make the chance of losing greater than the payout suggests. An even or odd bet has a better chance on a European wheel than on an American one, though both give the house an advantage. Of the two, European roulette has the lower edge for this bet.
The “En Prison” Rule
French roulette and some European roulette games use the “En Prison” rule. The French phrase means “in prison”: when a spin lands on zero, an even or odd stake may be held for the next round rather than settled at once. This reduces the house edge on even-money bets, so check the table rules to find out whether the rule applies.
Summary
Even and odd are popular roulette bets, with modest payouts and less risk than many inside bets. They cover a large portion of the numbered pockets and may help your bankroll last longer, but they do not eliminate the house edge.
These bets are not for everyone. Some players prefer the excitement of a higher potential payout: a single-number bet can pay as much as 35-to-1, but the chance of winning is far lower. Players attracted to that higher-risk possibility may prefer it to betting only on even or odd.
