Inside bets meaning in roulette

Inside bets meaning: chips on the numbered grid

The roulette layout has a central grid holding 0 and the numbers 1 to 36. Anything placed inside that grid, on a number, on a line between numbers or on a crossing point, is an inside bet. The term exists to distinguish these targeted wagers from outside bets, which sit in the boxes around the edge and cover 12 or 18 numbers at a time.

Where your chip sits decides which numbers it covers. Dead centre of a box covers one number. On a line between two boxes, two numbers. On the outer edge of a row, three. On a cross, four. On the outer edge where two rows meet, six. The game highlights the covered numbers when you hover or tap, which is the easiest way to confirm.

Every inside bet, with payouts and odds

Standard figures, consistent with the Wizard of Odds roulette guide (opens in a new tab). On American double-zero tables, every inside bet except the top line has an edge of about 5.26%.

The simple rule behind every inside payout

You do not need to memorise the payout list. Take 36, divide by the number of numbers your chip covers, then subtract 1. One number: 36 ÷ 1 − 1 = 35. Two: 18 − 1 = 17. Three: 12 − 1 = 11. Four: 9 − 1 = 8. Six: 6 − 1 = 5. The rule prices every bet as if the wheel had 36 pockets. The zero pocket is the 37th, and that is the casino’s margin.

The American top line breaks the pattern. Five numbers would need a payout of 6.2:1 to match the others, but it pays 6:1, which is why its edge is so much higher. Our American roulette guide explains how to spot it.

How often inside bets win over 10 spins

Higher payouts come with longer gaps. This table shows the chance of at least one win, and of none, over 10 spins on a single-zero wheel.

Compare that with an 18-number outside bet, which misses all 10 spins only about 0.1% of the time. This is the practical meaning of volatility at the roulette table.

Inside bets in pounds: a worked example

Say you spread £10 across inside bets each spin: £2 straight up on 17, £2 on the 17/20 split, £2 on the 13-14-15 street, £2 on the corner 17-18-20-21 and £2 on the six line 31 to 36. If 17 lands, three of those chips win: £70 + £34 + £16 = £120 profit on the winners, minus the £4 lost on the street and six line, so you finish £116 up for the spin. If 32 lands, only the six line wins: £10 profit on it minus £8 lost elsewhere, a net gain of £2. Most other numbers lose the full £10.

However the chips are arranged, each one still carries the 2.70% edge, so the expected cost is about 27p per £10 spin. Our bankroll basics guide shows how to set a stake that survives long gaps.

How to place inside bets online

1. Check the table’s inside-bet limits, often listed per number in the info panel.
2. Pick a chip and tap the exact spot: centre, line, row edge or cross.
3. Confirm the highlighted numbers match what you intended.
4. Use the racetrack, if offered, for call bets such as neighbours or tiers, which are bundles of inside bets.
5. Review the total stake before confirming; inside bets add up quickly.

The how to play live roulette guide covers live controls and European roulette explains the single-zero layout.

UK rules and inside-bet myths

Roulette is not covered by the online slot stake limits; maximums come from the table. Since 17 January 2025 RNG roulette must take at least 5 seconds per round with no autoplay, following the Commission’s speed of play decision (opens in a new tab). Hot-number panels and sleeper numbers have no predictive value, a point our answer to can you predict roulette explains. If roulette is taking more time or money than you planned, GAMSTOP (opens in a new tab) self-exclusion covers all UK-licensed gambling sites at once.

Inside bets at licensed UK roulette tables

Coral and PlayOJO are both UK Gambling Commission licensees. Coral’s casino app lists roulette and live casino, and PlayOJO lists live casino; check the lobby for table limits on inside bets. Their welcome offers are slot spins, not roulette credit. Coral (18+, new players, 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027): after depositing with a qualifying method and betting £10 on slots, you get 100 free spins at 10p on selected games, which must be accepted within 48 hours and used within 7 days, with no wagering on winnings. PlayOJO (18+, new UK customers excluding Northern Ireland): a first deposit of £10 or more gives 80 free spins at 10p on Big Bass Bonanza, no wagering, cash winnings, not combinable with other offers. Terms apply. See the Coral review or the full glossary.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set deposit limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.