- Side bets in roulette are secondary wagers that accompany main bets on a spin of the wheel.
- Availability of side bets can vary from one roulette table to the next.
- Roulette side bets can feature additional winning conditions and specialized payout structures.
Roulette side bets add variety to players’ experiences and give bettors new ways to mix higher-risk wagers into their betting plans. While the payouts for these bets can be larger than the returns for standard roulette bets, side bets require extra caution because they depend on a narrow set of circumstances to pay off. These wagers are definitely not for those who are only interested in the safest roulette bets or those who try to take advantage of low-volatility roulette betting systems.
If you’re interested in side bets in online casino games, it’s important to check the rules of all the roulette games that you want to play. Not all roulette games offer side bets, and even when they do, the side bets may differ. This is why preparation is key to trying your luck with roulette side wagers.
What Are Side Bets in Roulette?
Side bets are secondary wagers that bettors make in addition to the standard roulette bets. Roulette betting rules vary by game or table, so always confirm the options before placing any wagers.
Some of the games that allow side bets have dedicated spots for these wagers on the roulette table. Consult the game rules to confirm the exact procedures.
What Are the Odds of Roulette Side Bets?
Each side bet has unique odds. The rules of the specific game you’re considering, whether that’s American or European roulette or another version of the game, will detail the exact roulette payouts for all the available options.
It’s important to note that roulette side bets differ from inside or outside bets in that their structure usually makes them much less likely to hit. Always consider whether they’re a good use of your bankroll if you can place them in a digital or live dealer roulette game.
What Are Some Examples of Roulette Side Bets?
Here are a few examples of the side bets that you can make in special versions of roulette:
Lucky Ball
The Lucky Ball side bet invites players to wager on one of four color-coded betting areas. The payout dynamics are diverse and the structure can vary from one game to the next.
After the croupier closes betting, the game randomly assigns each colored betting area a specific payout and wheel pocket. Should the pill (the ball that travels across the wheel) rest in the pocket that corresponds with the slot the player chose, they receive the appropriate payout.
Payouts range from +600 (6:1) to +12000 (120:1). The probability of this bet hitting is 1 in 37 or 1 in 38, depending on whether you’re playing European or American roulette.
Some players enjoy this bet because it diminishes the difference between roulette and slots with its unpredictable elements.
Jackpot Streets Double Six
The Jackpot Streets Double Six side bet is a side bet that also brings a pair of dice into the equation. Part of the bet is a traditional street roulette bet (a wager on the pill to rest in any of three pockets whose corresponding numbers form a horizontal line on the table), but the other element is a simultaneous single roll of the dice to produce a pair of sixes. The Jackpot Streets Double Six bet can be a good choice for people who are comfortable with roulette split bets because it incorporates the standard street bet but vastly increases the stakes.
The probability of your street bet hitting is 3 in 37 or 3 in 38 depending on the game, while the chances of the dice roll producing a pair of sixes is 1 in 36, making it difficult to hit both the double 6 on the dice and your roulette street bet.
If you do manage to hit your street bet, the payout follows a straightforward scheme. If your roulette wager hits, your dice roll will determine which of the following rewards you’ll receive:
- A double 6 on both dice leads to a +9000 payout (90:1)
- A 6 on one die results in a +1700 reward (17:1)
- If neither die shows a 6, a +500 payout (5:1) awaits
Roul 8
The Roul 8 side wager resembles the Jackpot Streets Double Six but is affected by whether you land an 8 and a roll of three special dice.
Payouts depend on the interaction between the pill and the “infinity dice,” which are blank on five sides but show an infinity sign on the sixth face. Players get the maximum payout, which can be as lucrative as 888x your wager on some tables, if the pill lands in the eight pocket and all three dice come up infinity.
Some tables also grant smaller payouts for partial results, like two of the dice showing the infinity sign.
What Is the Best Strategy for Roulette Side Bets?
If you’re just learning about which color comes up more often in roulette and other aspects of the game, it’s wise to take a cautious approach with roulette side bets. As any good roulette guide will say, the key is understanding the risks you’re taking and accounting for them in your betting plan.
As long as you have accounted for the roulette odds of these bets in your plan, it’s up to you whether to place any of these wagers. Avoid using them to chase losses, and stick to your limits no matter how the game goes.
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