Black Bet
An even-money bet on all 18 black numbers on the roulette wheel.
By the numbers
| European | American | |
|---|---|---|
| Pockets covered | 18 / 37 | 18 / 38 |
| Payout | 1:1 | 1:1 |
| Chance to win a spin | 1 in 2.1 (48.65%) | 1 in 2.1 (47.37%) |
| House edge | 2.70% | 5.26% |
| Expected loss per 100 spins at $10 | $27.03 | $52.63 |
| Median spins to first hit | 2 | 2 |
| Longest miss streak in 100 spins (typical / 1-in-100) | 6 / 12 | 6 / 12 |
Black covers 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 31, 33, 35. A black bet hits at least once in 10 spins 99.9% of the time, in 50 spins 100.0%, in 100 spins 100.0% (European). On an American wheel: 99.8%, 100.0%, and 100.0%.
Flat betting Black Bet from $500
- European: after 1000 spins at $10 on black, 34.5% of 5,000 bankrolls had busted and the median bankroll was $220.
- American: black for 1000 spins left 64.5% of bankrolls busted with a median bankroll of $0.
Learn How This Bet Fits the Table
Black Bet - Quick Odds Calculator
| Payout | 1:1 |
| Numbers Covered | 18 |
| House Edge (European) | 2.7% |
| House Edge (American) | 5.26% |
Example: A $10 black bet bet wins $10 profit on European roulette 48.6% of the time.
How the Black Bet Works
The black bet is the outside box marked with a black diamond or the word Black, usually next to the red box.
Place one chip in that box. Any black number wins, and the bet pays 1 to 1.
Zero and 00 are green. Either one loses the bet.
When this bet makes sense
Like red, black suits slow bankroll movement and long sessions. The difference shows up when you combine it with other bets. Column 2 holds eight black numbers and four red, so black and column 2 back the same part of the layout. Backing black with column 3 does the opposite. Column 3 is mostly red, so when black loses, the column often pays. That pairing smooths the results of a session, and each bet keeps its own house edge.
Mistakes to avoid
- Switching to black after a run of reds because black seems due, when the wheel has no memory of past spins.
- Treating a long run of black in one session as proof that the wheel is biased.
- Playing black on an American wheel, where 00 adds a second losing pocket, when a single-zero table is available.