Roulette Red or Black Bet

Roulette offers a wide array of different betting options, amongst the most simple is the ‘Red or Black’ bet. While it might be very straightforward, it continues to be one of the most popular outside bets placed on a roulette table.

What is a Red or Black Bet in Roulette?

In roulette, a Red or Black bet is a wager that is predicting whether the ball will land on a red or black number on the wheel. A very straight-forward bet, it effectively covers half of the wheel - excluding zero and double zero.

Type	Description	Placement
Outside Bet	A bet on either all red or all black numbers	On the red or black diamond.

How to Play Roulette Using a Red or Black Bet

To place this bet, you simply put your chips on the corresponding color on the roulette table. If the ball lands on a number of your chosen color, you will win.

Is Red or Black Betting Profitable for Roulette?

Using Red or Black betting as part of a broader roulette strategy can be quite successful, with it offering an even-money (1-1) return. The win probabilities attached to this bet are as follows:

European Roulette - 48.65%
American Roulette - 47.37%

With this in mind, it is important to consider the house advantage on every spin when placing this type of bet. The house advantage for European Roulette is 2.7%, while for American Roulette this figure increases to 5.26% due to the additional number - 00.

So, if you placed a $10 bet on ‘Red’ and ball lands on 18 (red), you would win $10, plus your original $10 wager.

Roulette Version	Odds of Winning	Payout
European	18 in 37 (approx. 48.65%)	1 to 1
American	18 in 38 (approx. 47.37%)	1 to 1

Pros of a Red or Black Bet:

A simple bet, which is ideal for beginners
It covers (almost) half the numbers on the roulette wheel

Cons of a Red or Black Bet:

The payout is lower when compared to other roulette bets
Despite offering a high win probability, the house still has a significant edge, especially in American Roulette

Conclusion

The Red or Black bet is a simple and engaging betting option that ensures a broad coverage of the roulette wheel. It continues to be one of the most popular betting options for players, particularly those who are relatively new to the game. It should be noted that the house still retains a significant house edge with this sort of bet, especially if you are playing American Roulette.

Test this bet out at the best casinos to play roulette.