Low Bet (1-18)
An even-money bet on the low numbers from 1 to 18.
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 |
Low covers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. A low 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 Low Bet (1-18) from $500
- European: after 1000 spins at $10 on low, 34.5% of 5,000 bankrolls had busted and the median bankroll was $220.
- American: low for 1000 spins left 64.5% of bankrolls busted with a median bankroll of $0.
Learn How This Bet Fits the Table
Low Bet (1-18) - Quick Odds Calculator
| Payout | 1:1 |
| Numbers Covered | 18 |
| House Edge (European) | 2.7% |
| House Edge (American) | 5.26% |
Example: A $10 low bet (1-18) bet wins $10 profit on European roulette 48.6% of the time.
How the Low Bet Works
Low, marked 1-18 or Manque, covers every number from 1 to 18.
Place the chip in the 1-18 box, usually at the zero end of the even-money row. A win pays 1 to 1.
Zero sits right next to 1 on the layout, but it is not a low number. Zero and 00 lose the bet.
When this bet makes sense
Low suits a player who wants long, even-paced sessions and likes to keep chips near one end of the layout. It covers the whole first dozen and the lower half of the second, 13 through 18. That overlap helps when you already hold inside bets in the low rows and want an outside bet that pays on the same results. It does little to hedge those inside bets, because a high number or zero beats both at once. If you want a hedge, pair the low inside bets with high or the third dozen instead.
Mistakes to avoid
- Treating zero as a low number because it sits beside 1 on the layout.
- Putting the chip in the first dozen box when you mean to bet low, which covers only 1 to 12 and pays 2 to 1.
- Leaving a winning low bet in place to let it ride, which doubles the stake on the next spin without changing the chance of winning.