The Small Bets Guide: Exploring Outside Bets in Detail

On PokerStars, Roulette comes in many different styles, including online casino and live casino versions. The table may look a little different from one game to another, but outside bets usually stay part of the same basic layout.

They are called outside bets because they sit around the outside of the numbered grid, away from the smaller number spaces in the centre of the table. They are usually easier to spot than inside bets, and the choices are often simpler to understand when first looking at the layout. Red/black is based on colour, while odd/even looks at the type of number that lands. Dozens take a little more learning, but once the layout starts to make sense, they are still one of the easier outside bet options to follow.

What Is an Outside Bet in Roulette?

An outside bet is a roulette bet placed around the edge of the main number grid. The main grid is where the numbers from 0 to 36 are shown. On American Roulette, there is also 00. Inside bets are placed on the numbered area or on the lines between the numbers. Outside bets sit in the larger boxes around the grid.

The most common outside bets are red or black, odd or even, high or low, dozens and columns. Red/black, odd/even and high/low are known as even-money bets. They cover 18 numbers and usually pay 1:1. This means a winning bet pays the same amount as the stake in profit.

Dozens and columns cover 12 numbers and usually pay 2:1. They don’t cover as many numbers as the even-money outside bets, so they don’t win as often, but the payout is higher when they do. This is a simple way to look at how Roulette payouts work. The more numbers a bet covers, the lower the payout tends to be. The fewer numbers it covers, the higher the payout tends to be. An outside bet is not a trick or shortcut. It’s just a broader way to place a roulette bet.

Inside Bets and Outside Bets

Roulette bets are usually split into two main groups: inside bets and outside bets. Inside bets are placed on the numbered grid. These include straight-up bets, split bets, street bets, corner bets and line bets. They focus on one number or a smaller group of numbers. Because they cover less numbers, they pay more when they win, but wins happen less often.

Outside bets work differently. They cover larger groups of numbers and sit around the outside of the table. They usually pay less than inside bets, but can create a steadier pace because they cover more of the wheel. A straight-up bet on one number is the clearest example of an inside bet. It covers one possible result. A red/black outside bet covers 18 possible results.

Both bet types belong to the same game. Neither changes the randomness of Roulette, and neither removes the house edge. They just create different styles of play. Inside bets usually pay more because they cover less numbers, but wins don’t land as often. Outside bets work the other way around. They cover more of the wheel, so they can feel steadier, but the payout is lower. That is why outside bets are often a good starting point for understanding the table. The larger boxes are easier to understand, and the idea behind them is simple.

Why Outside Bets Appeal to Players

Outside bets are usually easier to understand because the choices are much clearer. A red/black roulette bet doesn’t need much explanation. The ball lands on a red number or a black number. An odd/even roulette bet is just as simple. The result is either odd or even, unless it lands on zero. Dozens take a little more learning, but they still cover clear groups: 1 to 12, 13 to 24, and 25 to 36.

That makes the whole table feel a bit less intimidating. The table layout can be one of the biggest hurdles in Roulette. A new player may look at the grid and see numbers, lines and boxes everywhere. Outside bets make that layout easier to understand because they sit in larger sections. Players don’t need to focus on the small spaces between number boxes or know how split and corner bets work.

There’s also the feel of the game. A bet on one number might miss many spins in a row, which is normal because it covers a very small part of the wheel. A red/black or odd/even outside bet covers 18 numbers, so wins can land more often across a session. That doesn’t guarantee any particular result, however. The zero is still on the wheel, and on American Roulette, the 00 is there too. These pockets stop even-money bets from being 50/50 bets. If the ball lands on zero, most outside bets lose unless any other special rules say otherwise.

Red or Black Bets

Red or black is probably the most famous outside bet in Roulette. A chip is placed on red or black, and the bet wins if the ball lands on a number with that colour. It doesn’t matter which exact number lands, as long as the colour matches the bet.

A red/black roulette bet covers 18 numbers. On a standard roulette wheel, the numbered pockets are split between red and black, with the zero sitting outside both colours. This is why red and black are not true 50/50 bets. The zero doesn’t count as red or black, so it gives the casino its edge. Red/black usually pays 1:1. That means a winning £1 red bet would gain £1 profit, plus the original stake. This payout is lower than inside bets because red or black covers far more numbers.

Red/black is easy to follow because the result comes down to colour. There’s no row, column or number group to track. Players are just watching to see whether the ball lands on red or black, which makes it one of the easiest outside bets to understand. It is also one of the most visual types of bets. The wheel and table both show red and black, so even newer players can quickly see what result they are looking for.

Odd or Even Bets

Odd or even is another classic outside bet. This roulette bet is based on whether the winning number is odd or even. Odd numbers include 1, 3, 5 and so on. Even numbers include 2, 4, 6 and so on. Like red/black, the bet covers 18 numbers and usually pays 1:1.

Zero isn’t treated as odd or even. If the ball lands on zero, odd/even bets usually lose unless a special rule is in place. On American Roulette, 00 also sits outside odd and even. Odd/even works in a similar way to red/black, but it has a slightly different feel. Some players may prefer colours because they are more visual. Others may prefer odd or even because it feels more number-based. The payout and coverage are the same as red/black in standard Roulette, so the choice is about preference rather than one bet being better than the other.

High or Low Bets

High or low is another even-money outside bet. This bet splits the table into two separate number groups. Low covers 1 to 18, while high covers 19 to 36. A chip is placed on either low or high, and the bet wins if the ball lands in that range. Like red/black and odd/even, it covers 18 numbers and usually pays 1:1.

Zero is not part of either group, which means a high or low roulette bet loses if the ball lands on zero, unless a game has a special rule that changes how even-money bets work. High or low can be one of the easiest outside bets to follow because the ranges are written on the table. There’s no need to remember the colour of each number or check whether the result is odd or even. The number either falls into the lower half or the higher half of the standard 1 to 36 range.

Dozen Bets

Dozen bets are outside bets that cover 12 numbers. On the Roulette table, the dozens are normally shown in three boxes. The first dozen covers numbers 1 to 12. The second dozen covers 13 to 24. The third dozen covers 25 to 36. A dozen roulette bet wins if the ball lands on any number inside the chosen dozen. If the ball lands outside that group, the bet loses.

Dozens usually pay 2:1. This is higher than red/black, odd/even or high/low because the bet covers less numbers. Instead of covering 18 numbers, it covers 12. This means the hit rate is lower than an even-money outside bet, but the payout is higher when it wins. Dozen bets sit between the very broad outside bets and the more focused inside bets. They still cover a large part of the wheel, but not as much as red/black or odd/even. Some players find dozens easy to understand because the number groups are in order. The first dozen covers the first block of numbers. The second dozen covers the middle block. The third dozen covers the final block.

Column Bets

Column bets are another type of outside bet. A column roulette bet covers one of the three vertical columns on the table layout. Each column contains 12 numbers, so the coverage and payout are the same as a dozen bet. A winning column bet usually pays 2:1. The difference is how the numbers are grouped. Dozens group numbers in order: 1 to 12, 13 to 24, and 25 to 36. Columns group numbers by their position on the table, so the numbers are spread across the layout instead of sitting in one simple block.

A column bet can feel more visual than a dozen bet because it follows the table layout rather than a number sequence. Like dozens, columns don’t include zero. If the ball lands on zero, a column bet loses unless special rules apply. Columns can be a little harder to understand at first because the numbers aren’t grouped as simply as 1 to 12 or 13 to 24. Once the table layout is clear, however, the bet is straightforward. It covers one of three full columns and pays 2:1 if any number in that column lands.

How the Zero Affects Outside Bets

The zero is one of the most important parts of Roulette. It’s also the reason even-money outside bets are not true 50/50 bets. Red/black covers 18 red or 18 black numbers. Odd/even covers 18 odd or 18 even numbers. High/low covers 18 low or 18 high numbers. Without zero, these would split the numbers evenly. But Roulette includes zero, and American Roulette also includes 00.

Zero isn’t red or black in the same way as the other numbers. It’s not odd or even, high or low or part of any dozen or column. On a European-style wheel with one zero, a red/black bet covers 18 of 37 pockets. On an American-style wheel with zero and 00, it covers 18 of 38 pockets. That’s why it’s worth checking which version of Roulette is being played.

Some online Roulette games played on PokerStars can include rules such as La Partage or En Prison on even-money bets. These rules can change what happens when zero lands, but they don’t show up on every format. This is why Players need to check the rules of the specific game before playing. The main thing to remember is that zero still matters. It stops outside bets from being guaranteed or truly even. The wider coverage can make outside bets feel steadier, but the result is still random and the house edge is always there.

Outside Bets in Online Roulette

Online Roulette keeps the same main bet types, but the table can feel different on screen. With online casino roulette on PokerStars, the player selects chip values, places chips on the layout and starts the spin.The digital games are powered by a random number generator, while live dealer roulette streams from a professional studio and uses a real wheel and dealer.

Outside bets can be easier to follow in online Roulette because the boxes are usually shown around the edge of the layout. Red, black, odd, even, high, low, dozens and columns are often marked in their own sections. Some games also show the payout or highlight the numbers covered by a bet, which can help the layout feel less crowded.

The bet itself still works in the same way. A red/black outside bet still covers 18 numbers. An odd/even outside bet still covers 18 numbers. A dozen bet still covers 12 numbers. The result is still random, and every spin is separate. Online casino Roulette can sometimes move faster than live Roulette because there’s no physical dealer or table pace to wait for.  PokerStars players can find different Roulette styles and variations, including titles like Quantum Roulette and Lightning Roulette. Each one can come with its own rules, bonus features and betting types. As some formats add new mechanics to the classic foundation, it’s always important to check the game information.

Outside Bets in Live Roulette

Live Roulette uses a real wheel and a human dealer, streamed through online casino platforms. The player still places bets through the digital table layout. The dealer spins the wheel, the ball lands, and the result is shown on screen. Outside bets work in the same basic way as they do in standard online Roulette.

The biggest difference is how the game feels on screen. Live Roulette usually has a slower pace because there’s a dealer, a countdown and a physical spin. This can give players more time to look at the layout, place chips and follow the result. Outside bets can work well in Live Roulette because they are easy to follow on the table. Red/black, odd/even and dozens are usually shown in their own boxes, and the dealer may call the winning number and colour after each spin.

Final Thoughts: Learning Outside Bets

Outside bets are among the easiest Roulette bets to recognise and follow. Red/black, odd/even, high/low, dozens and columns all sit around the outside of the number grid. They cover larger groups of numbers than inside bets, which is why they usually pay less but can create a steadier pace.

With an outside bet, it’s not about picking one exact number. Instead, the bet covers groups of numbers by colour, number type, range, dozen or column. This can make the roulette bet easier to follow and help the table feel less busy. Red/black is the most visual. Odd/even is simple and number-based. High/low splits the table into two easy-to-read ranges. Dozens group the numbers into three blocks of 12. Columns use the table layout to cover 12 numbers at a time.

Ultimately, outside bets give the player another way to play Roulette. They offer different betting options while still keeping the game simple: a bet is placed, the wheel spins, and the result comes down to where the ball lands.

FAQs