Roulette Outside Bets: A Complete Guide

Outside bets come in five types, each covering 12 or 18 numbers. They are common to all roulette variants:

• Column bet: There are three vertical columns with 12 numbers in each on the roulette table. In column bets, the player makes a bet that covers 12 numbers, except for 0 and 00. The payout is presented as 2:1. The probability of winning is 31.60% in American roulette (where a double zero exists) and 32.40% in European roulette, which only contains a single zero.
• Dozen bet: On the bottom of the table, you will find choices marked "1st 12", "2nd 12", and "3rd 12"; each containing a block of 12 numbers. As with column bets, these dozen bets pay 2:1, and the winning odds are 31.60% for double zero or 32.40% for single zero.
• Red/Black: On the roulette wheel, the numbers are divided between red and black. Half of them are each color. Leaves out 0 and 00. A bet on either color covers 18 numbers and pays 1:1; a winning probability is 47.37% for double zero roulette and 48.65% for single zero roulette.
• Low/High: This bet covers either low numbers, such as 1-18, or high numbers, 19-36. Like the Red/Black, this includes 18 numbers, which pay 1:1 and have a winning chance of 47.37% with double zero and 48.65% with single zero.
• Odd/Even: These bets appear in the bottom corners of the table and cover all odd or all even numbers on the wheel. There is also a similar payout to Red/Black and Low/High for the Odd/Even bet: 1:1. Chances for winning are also the same: 47.37% American roulette and 48.65% European roulette.

Some of those strategies depend on outside bets either to increase your winning probabilities or manage your bankroll more fittingly. You can try the following outside betting strategies on different playing styles and budgets, so dig into them and find the one that fits you best.

64% Roulette System

As the name suggests, this is a system engineered to provide a 64% winning chance for you in any given spin. It is a progressive system and thus will involve a string of bets that you have to make. Place 1 unit on two dozen bets at first, and go on tripling the bet in case of loss. Example:

• Place 1 chip on two dozen wagers: 1st 12 and 2nd 12.
• If you lose, move on by tripling the bet: hence 3 chips, 9 chips, 27 chips, and so forth.
• If you win, go to the first step again and repeat the cycle by betting 1 chip again.

That means two dozen bets cover 24 numbers in each spin. With 37 numbers on the wheel, your probability of winning with this method stands at 64.8%, while your chance of losing is 35.2%. This tactic really mimics the Martingale, but is more dangerous in the case of consecutive losses.

Contra Bet

This is another progressive strategy, based on even bets, which pay 1:1; much like the Martingale system. It's progressive, and it's advisable to set the initial bet at 1 percent of your bankroll. If you win, increase the bet by 1x; decrease the bet by the initial wager amount if you lose. Example:

• Suppose you start playing with 5 units and win. The next bet shall be 10 units: 5 * 1 = 5 plus 5 = 10.
• If you lose, subtract from the current bet the value of the original bet, 5 units. Thus, if you go with 10 units and lose, then you will go down to 5 units, that is, subtract 10-5.

This system will avoid extreme bankroll swings but stop playing once you reach a win. The long-term results are usually negative, basically, it is about 'cashing out early'.

Tier et Tout

Developed by a gambler named Thomas Garcia, this is an even money bet strategy. Your bankroll should always be divisible by three. To start you divide your bankroll into three equal parts. Suppose for instance you have a bankroll of 90 units: divide it into three parts of 30 units each.

• Start with a "red" bet of 30 units.
• If you win, it will return 30 units. Your bankroll would go up now to 120 units, at which time you again divide it by three portions of 40 units each, and you bet 40 units on red for the next bet.
• If you lose, make the same bet with all remaining parts of your bankroll.

It's more of a short-term strategy, not really to keep you in the game for long-term survival. You would have lost your entire bankroll just by continuously losing only twice in succession. You should therefore stop playing the moment you secure a profit.

A risk assessment setup may be important in making informed decisions while playing roulette, especially in making outside bets. Examples include Red/Black, Low/High, and Odd/Even classes of bets that have the highest probability of winning. However, they come at a lower payout ratio than inside bets.

One of the most important things needed in playing roulette is understanding risk, especially with outside bets, such as Red/Black, Low/High, and Odd/Even. These types of bets are popular because they have higher chances of winning, but worse wins compared to inside bets.

• Greater win possibilities: When using outside bets, the player stands to enjoy almost a 50 percent win with each round. To put it precisely, betting on either Red or Black gives players a winning percentage of about 47.37 percent to 48.65 percent in games played with either a single or double zero. Other outside bets, such as Low/High and Odd/Even, have the same approximate winning possibilities.
• Smaller returns: Despite the fact that outside bets have higher winning probabilities, their returns remain smaller. The typical Red/Black, Low/High, and Odd/Even bets are on a 1:1 payout, meaning you simply win an amount equal to your bet.
• Determining riskinvolves weighing the upsides and downsides of the various betting strategies. Outside bets are less risky as they have better chances of success, but are not that impressive in results. The players should go through their risk tolerance and goals.
• Effective money management: It is very important to manage one's bankroll effectively. In outside bets, stability can be achieved, and thus it can be best used for a cautious player. Know your risk appetite. Set clear limits for betting to enhance your game experience further.
• Trying a different approach: Each of the strategies carries a different level of risk. For instance, the 64% roulette system is considerably riskier since it progressively bets higher amounts of money. Other strategies, like the Contra bet and Tier et tout, use different kinds of risks. All of these methods can easily be adapted by players to best fit their approach and comfort.