Outside bets meaning: the roulette wagers placed in the boxes around the edge of the number grid, covering large groups of numbers at once. They are red or black, odd or even, low (1–18) or high (19–36), which pay 1:1, and the three dozens and three columns, which pay 2:1. All of them lose on zero under standard rules.
Outside bets cover 12 or 18 numbers and sit outside the numbered grid.
Red/black, odd/even and high/low pay 1:1; dozens and columns pay 2:1.
Zero beats every outside bet unless la partage or en prison applies.
They win more often than inside bets but carry the same 2.70% edge on a single-zero wheel.
Bets included
6 even-money, 3 dozens, 3 columns
Payouts
1:1 or 2:1
Numbers covered
18 or 12
House edge (single zero)
About 2.70%
On zero
Lose (half back with la partage)
Outside bets meaning: the boxes around the number grid
A roulette layout has two zones. The middle is the grid of numbers 1 to 36 plus zero, where chips go on single numbers or the lines between them. Around that grid, along the bottom and down one side, sit larger boxes labelled with colours, words and ranges. Chips placed there are outside bets, so called because they sit outside the numbered area.
The idea is breadth over precision. Instead of naming one number, you back a big group of them: all the reds, all the even numbers, or the second dozen. In return, the payout is small. The opposite approach, backing one to six specific numbers, is covered under inside bets.
Every roulette outside bet, with payouts and odds
Outside bets on a single-zero wheel
Bet
Numbers covered
Payout
Chance per spin
House edge
Red or black
18
1:1
18 in 37 (48.6%)
About 2.70%
Odd or even
18
1:1
18 in 37 (48.6%)
About 2.70%
Low (1–18) or high (19–36)
18
1:1
18 in 37 (48.6%)
About 2.70%
Dozen (1–12, 13–24 or 25–36)
12
2:1
12 in 37 (32.4%)
About 2.70%
Column (any of three)
12
2:1
12 in 37 (32.4%)
About 2.70%
On an American double-zero wheel the payouts stay the same, but the chances fall to 18 in 38 and 12 in 38, and the edge rises to about 5.26%. These are standard figures, consistent with the Wizard of Odds roulette analysis (opens in a new tab).
The six even-money outside bets
Red, black, odd, even, low and high each cover exactly half of the numbers 1 to 36 and pay even money. French tables use their own labels: rouge and noir, impair and pair, manque (low) and passe (high). These six are the only bets protected by la partage and en prison, which can halve their cost on French tables.
Dozens and columns: the 2:1 outside bets
Dozens split the numbers into three blocks: 1 to 12, 13 to 24 and 25 to 36. Columns run lengthways down the grid, so the first column holds 1, 4, 7 and so on up to 34. Each covers 12 numbers and pays 2:1. A dozen groups numbers that sit together on the layout; a column spreads them across the whole range.
A £10 dozen bet that wins pays £20 profit and returns the £10 stake. It loses about two spins in three, so runs of four or five misses are routine.
Outside bets in pounds: three worked examples
£10 on red for 37 spins: £370 staked. Average outcome: 18 wins returning £360 and 19 losses, an expected shortfall of £10, which is the 2.70% edge.
£10 on each of two dozens: £20 per spin covering 24 numbers. A hit returns £30 for a net £10 gain, about 65% of the time. A miss, including zero, costs £20. Wins come often but are half the size of losses.
£10 on red and £10 on black together: pointless. One wins £10 and the other loses £10 every time, except on zero, when both lose. It only adds cost.
Outside bets vs inside bets: what really differs
On a single-zero wheel, a £10 bet on red and a £10 bet on number 17 have the same long-run cost, about 27p per spin. What differs is the shape of results. Outside bets win often and pay little; inside bets win rarely and pay a lot. Neither is a better or worse strategy, and no mix of the two beats the edge, as our roulette bets guide shows. Outside bets also usually allow higher maximum stakes; table limits explained covers why.
Outside bets, UK rules and bonus terms
Roulette is not covered by the online slot stake limits of £5 and £2, so outside bet maximums are set by the table. RNG roulette must take at least 5 seconds per game cycle and offer no autoplay since 17 January 2025; our table game speed rules page has the background. Bonus terms often exclude or reduce the contribution of roulette, and some name outside bets specifically, because covering red and black together was once used to clear wagering. Read the game weighting section of any offer. If you find yourself staking more to win back losses, the National Gambling Helpline via GamCare (opens in a new tab) is free on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day.
Where to place outside bets at UK-licensed casinos
Each of the two casinos below operates under a UK Gambling Commission licence. Coral’s app lists roulette and live casino, and PlayOJO lists live casino; check each lobby for single-zero tables. Neither welcome offer applies to roulette. Coral (18+, new players, 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027): deposit and bet £10 on slots to get 100 free spins on selected games at 10p each, accept within 48 hours, use within 7 days, no wagering on winnings, with some payment methods excluded. PlayOJO (18+, new UK customers excluding Northern Ireland): first deposit of £10 or more for 80 free spins at 10p on Big Bass Bonanza, with no wagering and cash winnings, via the designated offer link only. Terms apply. See the roulette bonus explainer or the casino glossary.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Coral reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the PlayOJO reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, UKGC account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What are outside bets in roulette?
Outside bets are roulette wagers placed in the boxes around the numbered grid, each covering a large group of numbers. They include red or black, odd or even, low or high, which pay 1:1, plus dozens and columns, which pay 2:1. On a single-zero wheel they carry about a 2.70% house edge, and they all lose when zero lands under standard rules. See online roulette and roulette odds for the full layout.
Do outside bets lose on zero?
Yes, under standard rules every outside bet loses when the ball lands on zero, because zero is not red or black, odd or even, high or low, and belongs to no dozen or column. French tables can soften this for the six even-money bets: la partage returns half the stake and en prison holds it for another spin. Dozens and columns get no such help. Read the zero entry and our French roulette guide.
What is the best outside bet in roulette?
On a single-zero wheel all outside bets have the same edge of about 2.70%, so none is cheaper than another. The exception is a French table with la partage, where the even-money bets drop to about 1.35% while dozens and columns stay at 2.70%. Whichever you choose, the house keeps a share over time. Our answer on the best roulette bet and the la partage entry explain the difference.
How much do outside bets pay?
Even-money outside bets pay 1:1, so £10 on red wins £10 profit and returns your stake. Dozens and columns pay 2:1, so £10 on the first dozen wins £20 profit plus the £10 back. Payouts are the same on European and American wheels, but the American version wins less often because of 00. Feature games may vary, so read the help screen. The roulette bets guide and even money entry go further.
Can you win money long term with outside bets?
No, outside bets lose money on average over time, like every roulette bet. On a single-zero wheel you can expect to lose about £2.70 for every £100 staked over the long run, though short sessions can finish either way. Systems that double stakes on red or black after losses, such as the Martingale, only change how losses arrive. The Martingale system page and our betting systems guide show the maths.
What is the difference between a dozen and a column bet?
Both cover 12 numbers and pay 2:1, with the same 2.70% edge on a single-zero wheel; they just group numbers differently. A dozen backs a consecutive block: 1–12, 13–24 or 25–36. A column backs one of the three lengthways rows on the layout, such as 1, 4, 7 and up to 34. Neither has better odds than the other. See roulette bets explained and European roulette for layout diagrams.
Why do casino bonuses exclude outside bets?
Some bonus terms exclude or limit outside bets because covering both colours, or nearly the whole table, was once used to meet wagering requirements with little risk to the bonus. Casinos responded by excluding roulette, reducing its contribution or naming specific bet patterns as not allowed. Since 19 January 2026, wagering is capped at 10 times the bonus, but game rules still apply. Check the 10x wagering cap page and our game weighting guide.
Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Get free support from GamCare or NHS gambling support, or block yourself from all UK-licensed gambling sites with GAMSTOP.
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