Is the five-number bet in American roulette a bad bet?
Yes. The top line (0, 00, 1, 2, 3) is the worst bet on the double-zero layout. Every other bet there costs less.
The five-number bet wins 13.16% of spins, pays 6 to 1 and has a 7.89% house edge. Every other bet on a double-zero wheel: 5.26%.
Play roulette with the odds trainerRoulette odds for every bet
Every bet on a double-zero layout
| Bet | Numbers | Pays | Chance | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up (one number) | 1 | 35 to 1 | 2.63% | 5.26% |
| Split (two numbers) | 2 | 17 to 1 | 5.26% | 5.26% |
| Street (three numbers) | 3 | 11 to 1 | 7.89% | 5.26% |
| Trio (a zero and two numbers) | 3 | 11 to 1 | 7.89% | 5.26% |
| Corner (four numbers) | 4 | 8 to 1 | 10.53% | 5.26% |
| Top line (the zeros and 1, 2, 3) | 5 | 6 to 1 | 13.16% | 7.89% |
| Six line (six numbers) | 6 | 5 to 1 | 15.79% | 5.26% |
| Column (12 numbers) | 12 | 2 to 1 | 31.58% | 5.26% |
| Dozen (12 numbers) | 12 | 2 to 1 | 31.58% | 5.26% |
| Red/black, odd/even, 1-18/19-36 | 18 | 1 to 1 | 47.37% | 5.26% |
Why
Roulette payouts follow one formula: a bet on n numbers pays 36/n − 1 to 1. For five numbers that is 6.2 to 1, but the bet pays 6 to 1, and the missing fraction is pure extra edge on top of what the zeros already take. On a single-zero wheel the matching bet covers four numbers (0, 1, 2, 3), pays the full 8 to 1 and costs the same as everything else.
The top line on other wheels
| Wheel | Numbers | Pays | Chance | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single zero (European) | 4 | 8 to 1 | 10.81% | 2.70% |
| Double zero (American) | 5 | 6 to 1 | 13.16% | 7.89% |
| Triple zero | 6 | 5 to 1 | 15.38% | 7.69% |