What Is an Outside Bet? Complete Guide
An outside bet in roulette is a wager placed on betting areas outside the main number grid on the table layout, offering even-money or near-even payouts with lower risk but smaller returns. These bets cover larger groups of numbers such as red/black, odd/even, or high/low (1-18/19-36). For example, betting on red pays 1:1 if the ball lands on any red number. Outside bets matter to players because they provide more consistent outcomes compared to high-risk inside bets, making them suitable for conservative playstyles while understanding the house edge remains around 2.7% on European wheels.
Outside Bet Categories and Payouts
Outside bets include six main categories: red or black (18 numbers each), odd or even (18 numbers each), and high (19-36) or low (1-18) (18 numbers each), all paying 1:1. Dozen bets (1-12, 13-24, 25-36) and column bets (12 numbers per column) pay 2:1, covering one-third of the wheel excluding zero. These bets appear outside the number grid on standard roulette tables used in licensed online casinos.
Practical Relevance in Roulette Play
Outside bets appeal to players seeking lower volatility, with nearly 50% win probability on even-money options, though the zero gives the house its edge. In European roulette, the house edge is 2.7%; American wheels increase it to 5.26% due to double zero. They form the basis for many betting systems but carry inherent risk, emphasising the need for responsible gambling tools like session limits in regulated markets.
| Bet Type | Coverage | Payout | House Edge (European) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red/Black | 18 numbers | 1:1 | 2.7% |
| Odd/Even | 18 numbers | 1:1 | 2.7% |
| High/Low | 18 numbers | 1:1 | 2.7% |
| Dozens | 12 numbers | 2:1 | 2.7% |
| Columns | 12 numbers | 2:1 | 2.7% |
