Red Bet
An even-money bet on all 18 red 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 |
Red covers 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 32, 34, 36. A red 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 Red Bet from $500
- European: after 1000 spins at $10 on red, 34.5% of 5,000 bankrolls had busted and the median bankroll was $220.
- American: red for 1000 spins left 64.5% of bankrolls busted with a median bankroll of $0.
Learn How This Bet Fits the Table
Red Bet - Quick Odds Calculator
| Payout | 1:1 |
| Numbers Covered | 18 |
| House Edge (European) | 2.7% |
| House Edge (American) | 5.26% |
Example: A $10 red bet bet wins $10 profit on European roulette 48.6% of the time.
How the Red Bet Works
The red bet is a box in the outside section, marked with a red diamond or the word Red.
Place the chip in that box. It wins when the ball lands on any red number and pays 1 to 1.
Zero is green, so it loses the bet. On an American wheel, 00 loses it too.
When this bet makes sense
Red suits a player who wants a long session with small swings. Wins and losses come at close to the same rate, so the bankroll moves slowly in either direction. Red also overlaps heavily with column 3, which holds eight red numbers and four black. A player who backs red and column 3 together is making a concentrated bet on the red side of the layout. The two bets win together and lose together more often than they go separate ways, so results swing harder than either bet alone.
Mistakes to avoid
- Doubling the stake after every loss to win back one chip, which hits the table limit or empties the bankroll during an ordinary losing run.
- Betting red and black on the same spin, which breaks even on every number and loses both chips on zero.
- Assuming red and black are spread evenly across the layout, when column 3 is mostly red and column 2 is mostly black.