First Dozen Bet (1-12)
A bet covering the first 12 numbers (1-12) with a 2:1 payout.
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 |
1st Dozen covers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. A 1st dozen 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 Dozen Bet (1-12) from $500
- European: after 1000 spins at $10 on 1st dozen, 46.5% of 5,000 bankrolls had busted and the median bankroll was $130.
- American: 1st dozen for 1000 spins left 66.9% of bankrolls busted with a median bankroll of $0.
Learn How This Bet Fits the Table
First Dozen Bet (1-12) - Quick Odds Calculator
| Payout | 2:1 |
| Numbers Covered | 12 |
| House Edge (European) | 2.7% |
| House Edge (American) | 5.26% |
Example: A $10 first dozen bet (1-12) bet wins $20 profit on European roulette 32.4% of the time.
How the 1st Dozen Bet Works
The first dozen covers 1 through 12. Its box, usually marked 1st 12, sits in the outside section beside the rows that hold those numbers.
Place the chip in the 1st 12 box. Any number from 1 to 12 wins, and the bet pays 2 to 1.
Zero and 00 lose, even though they sit at the top of the layout, right above the first dozen.
When this bet makes sense
A dozen sits between the even-money bets and the inside bets. It loses more often than red or black, so losing runs last longer, and each win pays twice the stake instead of once. Plan for those longer runs and size the stake so a streak of misses does not end the session early. The first dozen suits a player who already favors the low end of the layout and wants a bigger payout than the low bet gives. The first dozen sits entirely inside low, so holding both backs 1 through 12 twice and leaves 13 through 18 with only the low bet.
Mistakes to avoid
- Expecting a dozen to win about as often as red, then raising the stake when the losses come in longer runs.
- Adding straight-up bets on 1 through 12 to protect the dozen, which only raises the amount lost when the ball lands elsewhere.
- Backing the first dozen and column 1 together without noticing that they share 1, 4, 7, and 10.