The inside bets are all of the individual numbers which allow for a range of bets: straight ups, splits, corners, streets and six lines. The outside bets are an array of even money and 2:1 bets: red or black, 1-18 or 19-36, odd or even and dozens and columns. Every roulette table can be broken down into two distinct sections: inside bets and outside bets. Let’s have a closer look at the popular 2:1 betting options: the dozens and columns.
Recommended roulette casinos
What are dozens?
Dozens are an outside bet that is separated into three distinct sections, each covering 12 numbers: 1-12, 13-24 and 25-36. Each dozen bet has odds of 2:1.
The dozens bets can be found as a row between the inside numbers and the even money bets.
If a 0 or 00 spins up, then all dozen bets lose.
What are columns?
Column bets act in a very similar way to dozens. Each column bet returns 2:1 and “covers” 12 numbers, but not consecutive numbers like dozens: not 1-12 etc.
Column bets are situated at the very foot of the layout and cover a single vertical line of numbers. Each column bet is situated directly under numbers 34, 35 and 36.
Column one covers numbers 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31 and 34.
Column two covers numbers 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32 and 35.
Column three covers numbers 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33 and 36.
If a 0 or 00 spins up, all column bets lose.
Dozens and columns betting tactics
There is a popular betting tactic of covering two of the three possible betting options for either dozens or columns.
For example, betting on the first two dozens or columns, at $15 per bet has you betting a total of $30 and covering 66% of the available numbers on the layout. Hitting one of your sections sees you lose $15 of your initial investment, but with dozens paying 2:1, you get paid $30 on your winning section.
Including your initial winning $15 bet and your $30 in winnings, you now have $45. When you deduct the cost of the lost $15 from the losing dozen, you find yourself with a handy $15 profit.
Where this scheme can come undone is when the dozen you didn’t bet on spins up, losing you $30 or if a 0 or 00 spins up, losing your initial $30 outlay.
Applying this betting system, to either dozens or columns, does not lower the house edge of 2.7% on European – or single 0 – roulette or 5.26% on American – or double 0 – roulette.
Are columns and dozen bets worth it?
Dozens and columns are a fun way to play roulette and can stretch the first time punter’s dollar a little further while still building suspense. But any red-blooded roulette punter knows outside bets for show, inside bets for the pro. Just don’t be fooled by betting systems: there is no way to reduce the house edge on roulette.
The best thing you can do to improve your chances is basic roulette protocol; play only European or French roulette for their aforementioned favourable house edge compared to American double-zero roulette, and play at casinos offering the best payouts and accessibility of these two variations.