Thus, although multiplier games are mostly based on single-zero roulette, the multipliers fundamentally change the gameplay. First and foremost, they shift the focus of the game. In standard versions, players can place both inside and outside bets, but in multiplier versions, although all bets remain available, the emphasis is on those bets to which multipliers apply. In most games, these are straight-up bets. Usually, the number of “lucky numbers” to which multipliers apply varies from 2 to 10, depending on the game.
The probability that one of these lucky numbers will be the winning outcome is not high. In the table below, you can review the probabilities of betting on lucky numbers and winning with these numbers, in case the player places one straight-up bet for Lightning Roulette.
| Number of Lucky Numbers | Probability of betting on one of the Lucky Numbers | Probability of winning one of the Lucky Numbers |
| 2 | 5.41% | 0.146% |
| 3 | 8.11% | 0.219% |
| 4 | 10.81% | 0.292% |
| 5 | 13.51% | 0.365% |
To calculate this yourself, it is important to understand that this is the calculation of two independent events. The first event is the probability that your bet will be on one of these numbers, and the second event is that this bet will be the winning one. Here is the formula:
Where:
- Number of Lucky Numbers is the number of possible lucky numbers, varying from 2 to 10 depending on the game.
- Total Numbers is the total quantity of numbers on the roulette table. Multiplier roulettes are usually based on European roulette, so there are 37 numbers.
- Lucky Number Drop Probability is the probability that your number will be the one that drops. It is always 1, since only one number can win on the roulette wheel.
For example, let's calculate the probability of winning a lucky number in Lightning Roulette, given that 4 numbers were randomly selected:
As seen from the table, the probability that your bet will become the winning bonus number is very small. However, the probability increases proportionally with the number of bonus numbers. Accordingly, to increase their chances of winning the multiplier, players need to place more straight-up bets; this encourages them to make riskier bets and requires a larger bankroll. Moreover, it effectively limits the gaming session to a single type of bet.
Important notice
Multipliers should be understood primarily as a marketing tactic by game providers. The game mechanics encourage users to concentrate their strategies on applying multipliers. As explained above, this requires a larger bankroll and entails greater risk. This risk stems not only from the fact that the mathematics and statistics of multiplier occurrences are not fully transparent and vary by game, but also from the rarity of maximum multiplier hits.
Furthermore, multiplier bets have a significantly lower RTP than in standard roulette versions. Let’s examine Evolution’s Lightning Roulette as an example. In that game, multipliers apply to straight-up bets, so the payout for straight-up bets without multipliers is reduced to 29:1. Although the provider lists the RTP for straight-up bets as 97.10%, applying the RTP calculation formula from our separate guide yields an RTP of 81.09%. Thus, we see that the expected value of these bets remains negative. Even though high multipliers deliver a more immersive and emotional experience, bankroll losses occur much more quickly. Multipliers may alter game mechanics and make play more spectacular, but they do not change the fundamental nature of roulette.
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08.01.2025
