The best roulette bets for beginners are easy to learn and a reasonable win probability. You’re are still playing at a disadvantage because of the house edge, but these wagers will keep your experience nice and simple without draining your bankroll quickly.
I discuss the top roulette bets for new players in the guide below. In addition to highlighting the easiest bets in roulette, I will explain how each wager benefits new players.
Best Roulette Bets for Beginners Table with Summary
What are the best roulette bets for new players? Low-volatility outside bets are at the core of roulette strategies for beginners because they offer a high chance of winning and are easy to understand.
Here are the best outside wagers that new players should look for at the top roulette casinos. I’ve based the numbers below on European roulette tables.
| Roulette Bet | Payout | Win Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red/Black | 1:1 | 48.65% | 2.70% |
| Even/Odd | 1:1 | 48.65% | 2.70% |
| High/Low | 1:1 | 48.65% | 2.70% |
| Dozens | 2:1 | 32.43% | 2.70% |
| Columns | 2:1 | 32.43% | 2.70% |
European roulette uses 37 slots and only one zero. As a result, your odds as a player increase significantly compared to American roulette, which uses 38 slots and has two zero sections.
Since the payouts for winning are the same, the added green 00 slot drastically increases the house edge at American roulette tables. Your win probability decreases by roughly 1% on any bet, and the house edge is nearly doubled from 2.70% to 5.26%.
As a result, most players, especially beginners, are encouraged to stick to single-zero or European roulette whenever possible.
1. Even Money Bets: Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low
Even money bets are the best choice for new roulette players. They offer a 1:1 payout, meaning a $10 bet pays $10 in profit. These wagers are also among the easiest roulette bets to understand.
There are three types of even money wagers in roulette:
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- Red or black: You bet on the winning color
- Odd or even: A wager on the winning number as either odd or even
- High or low: You bet on the number being low (1-18) or high (19-36)
The win probability of an even-money wager is 48.65% in European roulette. It decreases to 47.37% at American tables because of the extra zero.
Without zeros, even-money wagers would have a 50% chance of hitting, hence the name.
These wagers offer a high hit rate, making them ideal for new players. Frequent wins will help you play longer compared to some of the riskier wagers. Experienced players can also build their systems around even-money bets to minimize their losses.
Placing even money bets is also easy, as they have their own sections on the table. Simply place your stake in the section of the table designated for red, black, odd, even, high, or low. These sections are on the outside of the table, nearest to the players, making them easy to reach in live games.
2. Dozens (1-12, 13-24, 25-36)
Dozens are bets in roulette that cover 12 numbers. The numbers must be consecutive, giving players three options when choosing which dozens bets to make:
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- First dozen: 1-12
- Second dozen: 13-24
- Third dozen: 25-36
Your potential winning numbers cover just under a third of the board, as reflected in the 32.43% win probability. For players at two-zero American tables, the win probability decreased to 31.58%.
The lower odds of winning come with an increased payout. Unlike even-money wagers that have a 1:1 payout, a dozens bet will payout at 2:1.
For instance, if you wagered $10 and won, you would receive $20 in profit instead of $10.
Dozens bets are a nice middle ground for players who still want to keep it simple but prefer to pursue larger wins than even money.
Placing a dozens wager is simple. First, decide which group of 12 you want to bet on: 1st 12, 2nd 12, or 3rd 12. Then, place your wager in the corresponding section on the outside part of the table.
A popular strategy among dozens of bettors is to wager on two sections at a time. This increases your odds of winning up to 64.86%. However, your profit margin decreases, and your risk per round doubles.
3. Columns (Vertical Betting Sections)
Dozens are not the only way to wager on 12 numbers at once. You can also bet on columns of 12 numbers.
The column bets in roulette are:
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- Column 1: 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34
- Column 2: 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, 35
- Column 3: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36
Your probability of winning a columns bet is the same as winning a dozens wager, 32.43%. For American roulette players, the probability decreases to 31.58%.
The payout for columns wagers is also the same as a dozens bet, 2:1.
There are many similarities between dozens and columns wagers. However, the defining difference is the exact numbers that you are wagering on.
Betting on a column versus a consecutive dozen gives you a different number distribution. On paper, this does not change much, but some players prefer one over the other.
To bet on a column, place your chips at the bottom of the column in the odds section. The betting area typically displays the odds: 2 to 1.
More Tips for Roulette Beginners
Knowing the best roulette bets for beginners will help start your journey to mastering the classic game on the right foot. The best strategies for new players heavily rely on high probability wagers, such as even-money bets and columns wagers.
Check out our roulette strategy guide to learn more about how to build systems around high probability bets like the ones above.
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