Roulette outside bets are the wagers placed in the boxes around the edge of the number grid: the dozens and columns, each paid at 2 to 1, plus six even money boxes (the two colors, odd, even, and the low and high halves) paid at 1 to 1. Each one covers 12 or 18 numbers, so they win far more often than bets on single numbers and pay far less.
None of them covers zero. That one detail explains most of what follows.
At the table
The bets
Three dozens, three columns, red, black, odd, even, low and high.Payouts
2 to 1 on dozens and columns, 1 to 1 on the even money boxes.Win chance
32.43% or 48.65% per spin on single zero; 31.58% or 47.37% on double zero.House edge
2.70% single zero, 5.26% double zero, about 1.35% on even money with la partage.Minimum
Usually each outside bet must meet the table minimum on its own.On zero
All outside bets lose on standard rules.
What are outside bets in roulette?
Look at a roulette table and you will see the numbers 1 to 36 in a grid of three long rows, with the zero or zeros at one end. Everything inside that grid is inside betting. The boxes running along the outer edge are where outside bets go.
- Along the long side: the dozen boxes, one for each block of twelve numbers.
- Past the high end of the three rows: three small boxes printed 2 to 1, the columns.
- On the outer strip: the six even money boxes, with low numbers at one end, high numbers at the other, and Even, the two color diamonds and Odd between them.
You set the chip squarely inside the box. There are no lines to straddle, which makes outside bets the easiest to place correctly. For a full labeled picture, see the table layout.
All six roulette outside bets, side by side
| Box | Paid at | Count | Numbers inside it | Win chance, 37 pockets | Win chance, 38 pockets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dozen | 2 to 1 | 12 | One block of twelve: low, middle or top | 32.43% | 31.58% |
| Column | 2 to 1 | 12 | Every third number, e.g. 1, 4, 7 up to 34 | 32.43% | 31.58% |
| Either color | 1 to 1 | 18 | The 18 numbers of that color | 48.65% | 47.37% |
| Odd or Even | 1 to 1 | 18 | The 18 odd or 18 even numbers | 48.65% | 47.37% |
| Low (1 to 18) | 1 to 1 | 18 | The bottom half of the grid | 48.65% | 47.37% |
| High (19 to 36) | 1 to 1 | 18 | The top half of the grid | 48.65% | 47.37% |
The colors get their own guide on red or black, and the 12 number bets, including column patterns and two dozen plays, are on dozens and columns.
Roulette inside vs outside bets
New players often ask which side of the table is better. The cost is identical. What differs is how the results arrive.
| Question | Inside | Outside |
|---|---|---|
| Numbers per bet | 1 to 6 | 12 or 18 |
| Payout range | 35 to 1 down to 5 to 1 | 2 to 1 or even money |
| Wins per 100 single zero spins | about 3 to 16 | about 32 to 49 |
| House edge | Same as outside, except the American top line | 2.70% or 5.26% |
| Helped by la partage | No | Even money boxes only |
| Table minimum | Often counted across all your inside chips | Usually per box |
So outside bets give a smoother ride, and inside bets give bigger jumps with longer droughts. The overview of roulette inside bets covers the other half of the table.
Outside bet minimums and limits
The small sign on each table, the placard, lists the minimum and maximum bets. In most casinos, each outside bet has to meet the table minimum by itself. If the minimum is 10 units, a 5 unit chip on red is not accepted, but you might be allowed to spread 10 units across several inside numbers. Maximums on outside bets are often set higher than on single numbers, because they pay so much less.
Minimums go up on busy weekend nights and come down at quiet hours. The details are in roulette table limits.
Worked examples in units
- One dozen. You put 6 units on the 2nd 12. The ball lands on 20. You win 12 units and keep your 6, so 18 come back.
- Two even money boxes. You put 4 units on odd and 4 on 1 to 18. The ball lands on 7, which is both. Each bet wins 4, so you are up 8. Had it landed on 22, both would lose.
- A column and a color. You put 5 units on the middle column and 5 on black. The ball lands on 0. Both bets lose, 10 units gone. Under la partage, black would hand back 2.5, half its stake, while the column still loses.
Want to see how these behave over a few hundred spins? Load the same chips onto the free roulette simulator and let it run; it spends play credits, nothing real.
What zero does to roulette outside bets
Zero is the reason outside bets pay what they do. It is not in any dozen or column, it has no color, and the layout gives it no parity. So whenever 0 (or 00) comes in, every outside chip loses on standard rules.
French tables offer a softer rule for the six even money boxes only. La partage returns half the bet; en prison holds it for one more spin. That halves the edge on those boxes to about 1.35%. Dozens and columns get no such help. See roulette green for every bet on a zero result.
Common outside bet mistakes
- Hunting for the column box. Look for the small box printed 2 to 1 past the highest number in each row, not the long dozen strips along the side.
- Betting under the minimum. An outside chip below the placard minimum gets handed back.
- Pairing opposites. Red with black, or odd with even, guarantees a loss on zero.
- Treating frequent wins as profit. Winning half the spins still leaves the edge in place. Choose a firm loss ceiling and an end time, then hold to them.
Questions players ask
What is an outside bet in roulette?
It is any bet placed in the boxes outside the number grid: a dozen, a column, or any even money box. Each covers 12 or 18 numbers.
Which roulette outside bet has the best odds?
Win rate goes to the even money boxes: 48.65% of spins with a single zero. Every outside bet carries the same edge, though French rules make the even money boxes cheaper at about 1.35%.
Do outside bets lose on zero?
Yes, on standard rules every outside bet loses when 0 or 00 lands. La partage and en prison give back half of even money bets on French tables, but never dozens or columns.
What is the minimum for outside bets in roulette?
Each outside bet usually has to meet the table minimum on its own. The minimum is shown on the placard and changes with the casino, the day and the hour.
Are inside or outside bets better in roulette?
Neither costs less: both cost 2.70% where there is one zero and 5.26% where there are two, apart from the American five number bet. Outside bets win more often and pay less; inside bets do the reverse.
How many outside bets can I place at once?
As many as you like, within the table maximum. Each box is settled on its own after the spin.