Red or Black in Roulette: The *Near* 50-50 Bets
TL;DR Version
- Neither red nor black is better — they have exactly the same odds.
- Your chances of winning on a European roulette wheel sit at 48.6% vs 47.4% on an American roulette wheel
- There is no such thing as streaks, each spin of the wheel is independent from the last.
- You can use various betting systems to help manage your bankroll.
The Full Breakdown
Red or black in roulette, while commonly believed to be 50/50, actually has a 47.4% to 48.6% chance of winning, thanks to the green zero/s. It’s not like a coin flip, where you land on heads or tails, and that’s the end of the story, minus a few high-fives when coin-flipping with friends.
Today, we’re explaining how red or black in roulette works on both the American and European wheel, including their odds and payouts. Then, we’ll share strategies that leverage this near-50-50 shot. Friends not included.
What Are the Odds for Red or Black Bets in Roulette?
We love red and black, and yes, that is partly because they remind us of Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia.
But what are the odds of landing on red or black in roulette? We’ll tell you right now, it’s not the same odds that we’d finish the pint if it were here right now, which would be 100%.
Red and black colors cover 18 numbers each. On European roulette with just one green pocket, you have a 48.6% chance of hitting one of those colors (18 out of 37 pockets). On American roulette, with two green pockets, your chances are reduced to 47.4% (18 out of 38 pockets).
But why isn’t it a clean 50/50? That’s thanks to that pesky green zero pocket/s. Like relish in our ice cream. Sorry for the nightmares.
Payouts, Risk, and House Edge Explained
As we mentioned, green pocket or pockets create the house edge. They’re what divides a clean 50-50 shot into something slightly lower, and it differs for each type of roulette.
European Roulette
European roulette is considered the “better” option, thanks to having only one zero.
With 37 pockets total and just one zero, the red or black pockets each cover 18 numbers, and thus, have an 18/37 chance of landing. In percentages, that’s a 48.6% chance. You win even money (1:1), which means if you bet $10, you profit $10 when you win.
Because it has only one zero, European roulette has a 2.7% house edge. As you’re about to see, that’s nearly half of its primary counterpart: American roulette.
American Roulette
American roulette is the type of roulette you’re most likely to encounter in the wild. Why? It has a 5.26% house edge, which is nearly double that of European roulette. Casinos tend to like that kind of thing, which is why, when you play at a land casino, American roulette is the most abundant (online, you’ll almost always find both).
American roulette has 38 numbers instead of European and French roulette’s 37. The final number comes from an extra green pocket, the double zero (00). Because of this pocket, you now only have a 47.4% chance of landing on either red or black. Like European roulette, the payout is 1:1.
French Roulette and Special Rules
French roulette trumps both American and European roulette with a fantastic 1.35% house edge. That calls for a red wine and black truffle snack. BRB.
The wheel looks identical to the European version, with just one green pocket (0), resulting in an equal 48.6% chance of landing on either color. So, where does the lower house edge come from? That’s thanks to two special rules.
- La Partage: If you place an even-money bet (red/black, odd/even, high/low) and the ball lands on 0, you only lose half your bet instead of the full amount.
- En Prison: If the ball lands on 0 after your even-money bet, the casino “locks” your bet in prison for the next spin. If your bet wins on the following spin, you get your original stake back instead of losing it.
How Does Probability Work When Betting on Red or Black?
It’s factoid time. After six reds in a row, the probability that the next spin lands on red or black still remains 48.6% on European roulette, even though it feels like black should be “due.”
The thing is, roulette has no memory. It doesn’t “know” that five reds have already occurred, and it doesn’t remember when you scored a goal on your own team in Junior High soccer. That’s your memory to treasure.
In roulette, the odds of landing on red or black remain the same on every spin.
The odds of hitting six reds in a row are small. For the equation-minded people, it looks like this:
(1/2)6 = 1/64
That means you’d expect a six-spin streak roughly once every 64 sequences on average when ignoring zero pockets. While rare, this outcome is not impossible, as anyone who’s played roulette for a while knows. Streaks like this happen constantly, because that’s simply what randomness does. But like the Beefy Crunch Burrito, nothing lasts forever.
Strategies and Systems for Betting on Red or Black
Thanks to the near-50-50 odds, many popular roulette strategies take advantage of the winning chances.
Martingale System
As the king of even-money betting systems, the Martingale is the quickest way to recover losses and gain back a profit.
After each loss, you double your bet. But beware. Just as a 5-win streak can blow your mind, a 5-lose streak using the Martingale can blow your wallet to bits as you double each time. You’re likely to hit a table limit or drain your bankroll before you recover. Use with caution.
Fibonacci System
The Fibonacci system is far gentler, but gains profits more slowly. Looking at the famous Fibonacci sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21…), you treat each number as a betting unit. For each loss, you take one step forward to help regain it. For each win, you drop two steps back as a protective measure.
D’Alembert System
Another less aggressive approach to red/black betting is the D’Alembert system. You increase one unit after a loss and decrease one unit after a win. It’s a gradual process, steadily building small profits—very Bohemian Rhapsody before it hits you with the opera section.
Addressing Common Misconceptions: The Gambler’s Fallacy
The gambler’s fallacy is the mistaken belief that past outcomes affect future independent events. In roulette, that means thinking black is “due” after five reds. But as you’ve learned from this guide, the roulette wheel has no memory. Every spin starts fresh as a brunch orange juice.
If the roulette is fair and unbiased (which it is, as long as you’re playing at a legit casino), red and black remain equally likely outcomes each spin, ignoring the green zero pocket/s. After five reds, the probability of the next spin landing red or black still remains 1/2.
FAQ: Red or Black Roulette Odds
What are the odds of winning on red or black in European roulette?
Your odds are 18/37, or about 48.6%.
What are the odds of winning on red or black in American roulette?
Your odds are 18/38, or about 47.4%.
Is betting red or black really a 50/50 chance?
No. The green zero(s) make it less than a true 50/50.
What happens if zero lands?
If you’re betting on red or black and you land on zero, you lose your bet, unless special rules like La Partage or En Prison apply in French roulette.
Which betting systems work with red or black?
The Martingale, Fibonacci, and D’Alembert systems are all designed for even-money bets, such as red/black.
Does a streak of reds or blacks change the odds for the next spin?
Nope! Each spin is independent, and your chance remains the same.
What’s the house edge for red/black bets?
The house edge is 2.7% in European roulette and 5.26% in American roulette.
