Inside Bets in Roulette
Inside bets are wagers placed on specific numbers or small groups of numbers located on the inner grid of the roulette table layout. These bets offer higher payout ratios but lower probabilities of winning compared to outside bets.
What Are Inside Bets in Roulette?
Inside bets are placed directly on numbered sections of the roulette table layout. The betting area includes numbers 0 through 36 (and 00 in American roulette), arranged in a grid format. Players place chips on individual numbers or on the lines between numbers to indicate multi-number combinations.
Inside bets are characterized by:
- Higher payout ratios (5:1 to 35:1)
- Lower probabilities of winning (2.70% to 16.22% in European roulette)
- Coverage of 1 to 6 numbers per bet
- Placement on the numbered grid or its boundaries
List of All Inside Bets
There are five standard inside bet types in roulette:
- Straight Up – Bet on a single number (35:1 payout)
- Split – Bet on two adjacent numbers (17:1 payout)
- Street – Bet on three numbers in a row (11:1 payout)
- Corner – Bet on four numbers that meet at a corner (8:1 payout)
- Six Line – Bet on six numbers across two rows (5:1 payout)
Straight Up Bet (Single Number)
A straight up bet is a wager on a single number, including 0 in European roulette or 0 and 00 in American roulette. You place your chip directly on the number you wish to bet on.
Payout: 35:1
Numbers covered: 1
European probability: 2.70% (1/37)
American probability: 2.63% (1/38)
This is the highest-paying standard bet in roulette. If you wager $10 on number 17 and win, you receive $350 in winnings plus your $10 stake back for a total return of $360.
Split Bet
A split bet covers two adjacent numbers on the table layout. You place your chip on the line that separates the two numbers. Adjacent means horizontally or vertically touching, not diagonally.
Payout: 17:1
Numbers covered: 2
European probability: 5.41% (2/37)
American probability: 5.26% (2/38)
Example: Placing a chip on the line between 14 and 17 creates a split bet. If either number hits, you win.
Street Bet
A street bet (also called a row bet or a line bet) covers three numbers in a horizontal row on the table layout. You place your chip at the end of the row on the outer edge.
Payout: 11:1
Numbers covered: 3
European probability: 8.11% (3/37)
American probability: 7.89% (3/38)
Example: Placing a chip at the edge of the row containing 4, 5, and 6 creates a street bet on those three numbers.
Corner Bet (Square Bet)
A corner bet (also called a square bet) covers four numbers that meet at one corner on the table layout. You place your chip at the intersection point where all four numbers touch.
Payout: 8:1
Numbers covered: 4
European probability: 10.81% (4/37)
American probability: 10.53% (4/38)
Example: Placing a chip at the corner where 16, 17, 19, and 20 meet creates a corner bet on those four numbers.
Six Line Bet (Double Street)
A six line bet (also called a double street) covers six numbers across two adjacent horizontal rows. You place your chip at the outer corner where the two rows meet.
Payout: 5:1
Numbers covered: 6
European probability: 16.22% (6/37)
American probability: 15.79% (6/38)
Example: Placing a chip at the intersection of the rows containing 1-2-3 and 4-5-6 creates a six line bet on all six numbers.
Inside Bets Payout Chart
| Bet Type | Numbers Covered | Payout Ratio | EU Probability | US Probability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Up | 1 | 35:1 | 2.70% | 2.63% |
| Split | 2 | 17:1 | 5.41% | 5.26% |
| Street | 3 | 11:1 | 8.11% | 7.89% |
| Corner | 4 | 8:1 | 10.81% | 10.53% |
| Six Line | 6 | 5:1 | 16.22% | 15.79% |
For the complete list of all roulette bets including outside bets, see the roulette payout chart.
Odds and Probability of Inside Bets
Inside bets have lower probabilities than outside bets because they cover fewer numbers. However, they compensate with higher payout ratios.
In European roulette with 37 total pockets:
- Straight up: 1 number covered = 2.70% probability
- Split: 2 numbers covered = 5.41% probability
- Street: 3 numbers covered = 8.11% probability
- Corner: 4 numbers covered = 10.81% probability
- Six line: 6 numbers covered = 16.22% probability
Despite different probabilities, all inside bets carry the same 2.70% house edge in European roulette and 5.26% in American roulette. No inside bet offers better mathematical value than another.
For a detailed explanation of how roulette odds work, see roulette odds explained.
Risk vs Reward in Inside Bets
Inside bets represent a high-risk, high-reward approach. They win infrequently but pay substantially when they hit.
A straight up bet wins only 2.70% of the time on a European wheel, meaning it loses roughly 36 out of 37 spins. However, when it wins, the payout is significant at 35:1.
Conversely, a six line bet wins 16.22% of the time but pays only 5:1. This bet offers more frequent wins with lower variance.
Neither approach changes the house edge or improves long-term expectation. The choice between inside bets depends on personal risk tolerance and session variance preference.
When Players Use Inside Bets
Players choose inside bets when they:
- Prefer the potential for large single-spin payouts
- Accept high variance and long losing streaks
- Want to bet on specific numbers or number patterns
- Enjoy the excitement of chasing high-payout outcomes
- Have adequate bankroll to sustain extended losing runs
Inside bets are popular for their dramatic payout potential, but they require patience and bankroll depth to weather the statistically expected losing stretches.
Common Mistakes With Inside Bets
Believing certain numbers are due to hit. Each spin is independent. Past results do not influence future outcomes. A number that has not hit in 100 spins has the same 2.70% probability as any other number on the next spin.
Chasing losses with increased stakes. Increasing bet size after losses does not improve probability. It only increases risk and potential loss magnitude.
Thinking inside bets have worse odds than outside bets. All standard roulette bets have the same house edge. Inside bets do not carry a worse long-term expectation than outside bets.
Spreading too many inside bets to increase coverage. Placing many inside bets simultaneously reduces payout potential and increases total risk without improving expected value.