In the world of casino gambling, there are few games as iconic as Roulette. This game of chance has become a symbol of luxury, extravagance, and high-stakes wins in casinos both in real life and in popular books, movies, and TV shows about gambling. Plus, because wins are heavily rooted in luck, it is a casino game that even beginners can play, making it an even more attractive option for gamblers. 

Playing roulette can be an extremely thrilling experience, the concept is simple and where the ball lands is completely random — the main area players may face difficulty is in learning and understanding the different roulette betting strategies. One of the highlights of the game is the wide selection of bets available to players, from individual number bets to half-the-wheel wagers for a single spin.

While the game may seem simple at first glance, there’s more to roulette betting than meets the eye. So, what are outside bets in roulette? Is there a roulette outside bet strategy that can help players in their decision-making?

Whether you’re immersed in online casino games or enjoying a lively table at a brick-and-mortar casino, outside bets are an enticing option for new and old players alike. If you want to make the most of this popular betting option, it’s always a good idea to begin with the basics and work your way up. With that in mind, here are the fundamentals, and learn all there is to know about outside bets in roulette.

What Are Outside Bets in Roulette

If you’re new to the game, learning the different types of bets you can make in roulette can seem intimidating, but separating the table into two sections, specifically inside and outside bets, can really help simplify your options. When you’re betting on roulette, an outside bet strategy is one of the most basic betting strategies you can try and is, therefore, a great option for inexperienced players. 

A standard roulette wheel has numbered pockets that alternate between red and black colors. Numbers range from 1 to 36, with the US version of the game having two green pockets numbered 0 and 00. The UK version only has one 0 pocket, but the majority of roulette variants found online follow the US format of the game.

Each number on the wheel is placed in a carefully considered position to provide a balanced distribution of payout odds. With 38 pockets in total for US roulette, the odds of hitting a single number are stacked high at +3,700, making broader bets more appealing due to better odds. Here’s where outside and inside bets come into play. Outside bets are one of the two main types of roulette bets and refer to wagers placed outside the area of the roulette table layout. 

Outside vs. Inside Bets in Roulette

Outside bets are placed on the outer sections of the roulette wheel to cover broader categories and multiple numbers. If you’re looking at the roulette table, the two rows of bets directly in front of you and the three columns linked to the individual numbers on the far right, are considered outside bets. 

On the other hand, inside bets are placed inside the wheel and are limited to specific numbers or groups of numbers. Inside bets in roulette are the actual numbers on the checkered black and red section of the table. 

Outside bets give players a lot more opportunities to win and offer higher odds of success overall, but they also have lower payouts compared to inside bets. They can be ideal for beginners and conservative players since the odds for most outside bets are 100. Lower payouts aren’t as much of a drawback when the odds are 100; there are also the options for +200 outside bets to consider.

If you prefer higher payouts with lower odds, inside bets possess exciting potential with a higher risk to match. With a house edge of +1,752 and +3,700 odds for a single bet, the odds of winning are fairly slim, so it’s best to learn as many inner betting tips as possible if you want to chase big wins with your roulette bets.

Types of Outside Bets

Whether you’re playing online roulette or land-based tables, the best outside bets in roulette are the ones that suit your betting style the most. The three most popular options for outside bets are red or black, odd or even numbers, and high or low numbers, but there are also a couple of lesser-known options, such as dozens and columns, for example.

If you’re learning how to bet in roulette, outside bets can be an excellent starting point. Their simplicity and straightforwardness make them accessible to players of all levels of experience. Have a look at each outside betting option available and see if there’s one type you might prefer.

High/Low Bets

High or low bets are wagered on whether the winning number will be in the high range (19–36) or the low range (1–18). This bet category allows players to cover a broader set of numbers. If the ball lands on a number within the chosen range, the bet is successful, and the payout is typically even money.

If you place a high bet, you’re predicting that the winning number will fall within the high range of 19–36. If the ball lands anywhere within that range, you receive a payout equal to your original bet.

Red/Black Bets

Red or black bets attempt to predict the winning pocket’s color. By placing a bet on either red or black, your odds of winning are essentially 100. Like high or low bets, successful red or black bets tend to reward you with even money payouts.

If you decide to place a red bet, you’re predicting that the winning number will be one of the red-colored pockets on the roulette wheel. So, if you put $20 on red and the ball ends up in a red pocket, you walk away with $40 thanks to odds of 100.

Odd/Even Bets

Odd or even bets provide the final odds of 100 for outside bets. Half of the numbers on the roulette wheel are odd, and the other half are even. It’s up to you to decide which side of the coin you’re flipping for.

One thing to remember, though, is that when you make any even-money bet in online roulette or brick-and-mortar games, the two green pockets (0 and 0) are always counted separately from other numbers. There must be a way to give the house an edge in bets with odds of 100, so the green pockets create the +1,752 house edge for both inside and outside bets.

Column Bets

• Column 1: 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31 and 34 
• Column 2: 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32 and 35
• Column 3: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33 and 36

Column bets are the first outside bets with odds of +200. To pull off this pattern, numbers on the roulette wheel are divided into the following three columns:

By placing a column bet, you’re betting that the winning number will be in your chosen column. Column bets typically offer a payout with odds of +200, meaning if you bet $10 and win, you would receive $20 in winnings plus your original bet ($30).

Dozen Bets

Dozen bets focus on three groups of consecutive numbers. The roulette wheel is divided into three one-dozen groups: 1–12, 13–24, and 25–36. Like column bets, these bets usually offer a payout with odds of +200. 

Snake Bets

The snake bet is one of the lesser-known bets in roulette. Also known as the “red snake,” it’s a selection of red pockets that form a zigzag pattern. It involves placing a single bet on 12 numbers: 1, 5, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 23, 27, 30, 32, and 34. 

These numbers are nowhere near each other on the wheel, but the point is to cover them in a non-linear sequence. If the ball lands on any of the numbers included in the snake bet, your payout can be as high as +3,500, making the snake bet the most exciting option for outside betting.

Roulette Outside Bet Tips

If you want to try an outside bet strategy in roulette, there are a few tips and wagering systems that you can use to improve your edge. 

The Martingale System, for example, is one of the most popular and widely used betting systems that outside bettors implement. However, it’s usually considered an advanced roulette system. To take advantage of the La Parage and En Prison rules, it’s only played on Odd/Even, Red/Black, and First 18/ Second 18 and can be extremely helpful in increasing your odds of success, especially in European roulette. 

The 2nd and 3rd Dozens Strategy is another helpful outside bet strategy where you place bets on both the 2nd 12, which covers the numbers 13 to 24, and the 3rd 12, which covers 25 to 36. By covering numbers 13 to 36, this strategy offers a 2-1 payout for a win and has a 63.2% chance of success, providing a balanced approach to minimize risks. However, because of how damaging landing on either the single or double 0 or any number from 1 to 12 can be, this bet usually requires a substantial bankroll to be successful.

The 1st and 3rd Column Strategy is another popular outside betting strategy and is similar to the dozens strategy. With this wager, you place your bets on the 1st and 3rd columns, covering a total of 24 numbers. However, you can’t win both bets, so the strategy pays out even money (at best) for a win. This approach is best suited to risk-averse players looking for a solid chance of profit without exposing themselves to excessive volatility.

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