First Column Bet
A bet covering the first column of 12 numbers (1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34).
By the numbers
| European | American | |
|---|---|---|
| Pockets covered | 12 / 37 | 12 / 38 |
| Payout | 2:1 | 2:1 |
| Chance to win a spin | 1 in 3.1 (32.43%) | 1 in 3.2 (31.58%) |
| 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) | 9 / 20 | 10 / 20 |
Column 1 covers 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34. A column 1 bet hits at least once in 10 spins 98.0% of the time, in 50 spins 100.0%, in 100 spins 100.0% (European). On an American wheel: 97.8%, 100.0%, and 100.0%.
Flat betting First Column Bet from $500
- European: after 1000 spins at $10 on column 1, 46.5% of 5,000 bankrolls had busted and the median bankroll was $130.
- American: column 1 for 1000 spins left 66.9% of bankrolls busted with a median bankroll of $0.
Learn How This Bet Fits the Table
First Column Bet - Quick Odds Calculator
| Payout | 2:1 |
| Numbers Covered | 12 |
| House Edge (European) | 2.7% |
| House Edge (American) | 5.26% |
Example: A $10 first column bet bet wins $20 profit on European roulette 32.4% of the time.
How the Column 1 Bet Works
Column 1 is the long row of numbers 1, 4, 7, and so on up to 34. It runs the full length of the number grid, from the zero end to the far end.
Place the chip in the box at the far end of that row. The box usually shows the payout, 2 to 1, rather than a column name.
Any number in the column wins at 2 to 1. Zero and 00 lose.
When this bet makes sense
Column 1 is the color-neutral column. It holds six red numbers and six black, so it does not lean toward either color bet. That makes it a clean addition for a player who already holds red or black and does not want the column to double up on the same color. A column also cuts across every dozen, so column 1 and any dozen bet share some numbers. Like a dozen, a column loses more often than an even-money bet, and its losing runs last longer.
Mistakes to avoid
- Confusing column 1 with the first dozen and expecting it to hold only low numbers, when it runs all the way to 34.
- Putting the chip in the wrong 2 to 1 box, since the three boxes look alike and none of them names its column.
- Raising the stake after a few misses, when a column often loses several spins in a row.