Roulette Probability

How do casinos stay in business? Well, let's just say that they don't always pay off a bet in strict accordance with the probability that the win will occur. The difference between the payout and the probability essentially constitutes the "house edge." There's nothing wrong with it; that's just the way it is, and is what the player has to overcome.

For example, in an American roulette game, the odds on either zero (0) or double zero (00) hitting their slot on the wheel is 37 to 1 (because there are 38 possibilities on the wheel). yet they pay out at only 35 to 1 odds. Get it? The same goes for every other single number you can bet.

When you're making a "split bet," you are making a wager that one of two numbers will be spun. the probability that this will happen is one out of 19, or 18 to 1, and the split bet gets a 17 to 1 payout. A "street bet" encompasses any three numbers that comprise a row, and since there are three possibilities out of 38, you divide one number by the other and get 11.67 to 1, which creates some room for the house with the 11 to 1 payout.

Are you following us so far? Let's go further with some more roulette probabilities. The "corner bet" consists of four numbers out of the 38 on the wheel, and therefore it is something that will come out once in every 9.5 tires, which places the odds at 8.5 to 1. The payout for this bet is 8 to 1. The "five number" bet, also known as a "top line" bet, carries odds of 6.6 to 1 against, and pays 6 to 1.

The "dozen bets" cover twelve numbers at once - either the first, second or third dozen - and they pay out at 2 to 1 odds. What you have to keep in mind is that since there is the zero and also the double zero to be included, the probability of your designated dozen being pulled up by the wheel is 12 out of 38, or 2.167 to 1.

Then there are the so-called "even money" bets. We say they are "so-called" because even though they pay out at even money, it is not an even money proposition that they will come out. Once again, you can blame it on the fact that there is that pesky zero and double zero in the game. The "even money" bets are the Odd-Even, Red-Black and Low-High. In each one of these propositions, there are a total of 18 numbers in each of the groups. Since there are 38 possibilities on the wheel, the probability of any of these bets actually paying off is 1.11 to 1.

Of course these games are based on models of probability. Of course, they pay out less than the true odds would dictate. Honestly, which casino game, in which the player competes against the house, doesn't?

The question is whether you can enjoy a game of roulette even with a house edge to deal with.

The probabilities are very great that you can.