Call bets vs inside bets: the difference

The key difference between call bets and inside bets

The simplest way to see it: an inside bet is about the table, a call bet is about the wheel. On the betting layout the numbers run 1 to 36 in a neat grid of three columns. On the wheel they are scattered, so 26 sits beside 0 and 3, and 32 sits beside 15. Inside bets use the grid; call bets use the wheel’s order.

A call bet is built out of inside bets. Voisins du zéro, for example, is nine chips spread across splits, a trio and a corner that happen to cover the 17 pockets nearest zero on the wheel. So every call bet contains inside bets, but an inside bet on its own is never a call bet. This question sits in our casino questions hub alongside other roulette answers.

Inside bets explained: odds and payouts

Inside bets are placed directly on numbers or the lines between them. The fewer numbers you cover, the more the bet pays. Single-zero chances come from counting pockets out of 37:

Each has its own guide: the straight up bet, split bet, street bet, corner bet and six line bet. The Wizard of Odds roulette basics (opens in a new tab) list the same payouts for both wheel types.

Call bets explained: the four classic packages

Announced bets, the more accurate name noted by Wikipedia’s roulette article (opens in a new tab), come from French and European casinos. Each one covers a slice of the single-zero wheel with a fixed pattern of chips:

The Wizard of Odds sector bets page (opens in a new tab) gives the same chip counts and notes that some online games let a neighbours bet use 3 or 7 numbers instead of 5. Each package has a page of its own: voisins du zéro, jeu zéro, tiers du cylindre, orphelins and the neighbours bet.

Call bets and inside bets side by side

The most practical difference is stake size. A £2 straight-up bet costs £2. A £2 voisins costs £18, because it is nine chips. Players new to the racetrack sometimes miss this.

Worked examples: call bets against inside bets in pounds

Tiers du cylindre at £1 a chip (£6). Six splits cover 12 numbers. Whichever number lands, exactly one split wins, returning £18 (17 to 1 plus the stake) while the other five chips lose: a net +£12. That happens 12 times in 37. The other 25 numbers lose £6. Over 37 spins: 12 × £12 − 25 × £6 = −£6, an average loss of £6/37 per spin, which is 2.70% of £6.

Six line at £6. One chip covering six numbers on the grid wins 6 times in 37 and pays 5 to 1, a net +£30. The other 31 numbers lose £6. Over 37 spins: 6 × £30 − 31 × £6 = −£6. Exactly the same average cost as the tiers bet, with half the hit rate and more than double the win.

Orphelins at £1 a chip (£5). A hit on 1 or on 17 returns £36 (17 is covered by two splits, which together return £36), a net +£31. A hit on 6, 9, 14, 20, 31 or 34 returns £18, a net +£13. The other 29 numbers lose £5. Over 37 spins: 2 × £31 + 6 × £13 − 29 × £5 = −£5, again 2.70%.

How to place a call bet and an inside bet online

Online European and French tables usually show the main grid and a racetrack, an oval version of the wheel order, together. Here is the routine for each:

1. Confirm in the help screen that the table uses a single zero.
2. For an inside bet, pick a chip and place it on a number, a line between two numbers, the end of a row or a junction of four numbers.
3. For a call bet, open the racetrack and tap the named section: Voisins, Tiers, Orphelins or Zero.
4. For a neighbours bet, tap a number on the racetrack and check how many neighbours the game adds.
5. Read the total stake before the betting window closes, since call bets place several chips at once.

Some games also let you save favourite combinations. Those are still just groups of inside and outside bets with the same 2.70% edge.

Myths about call bets and inside bets

• Call bets give better odds. They don’t; each chip is an ordinary inside bet at 2.70%.
• Covering a sector follows the dealer’s throw. Each spin is independent, and no sector is ‘due’. See roulette myths.
• Inside bets are riskier, so they cost more. They are more volatile, but the expected cost per pound is the same.
• More chips means more safety. Spreading chips raises the hit rate but also the total stake, and the expected loss per spin grows with it.

Outside bets such as red or black follow the same rule on a standard wheel. Only French La Partage rules change the maths, and only for even-money bets, which are outside bets, not inside bets or call bets.

Call bets or inside bets: which suits you?

Since the house edge is identical, the choice comes down to style and budget. Call bets suit players who enjoy the French tradition and like covering a group of numbers with one tap. Inside bets suit players who prefer to control each chip, or who want a small, simple stake.

If you want a lower cost overall rather than a different shape, the answer is neither: an even-money bet at a French roulette table with La Partage costs 1.35%. Our answer to what is the best bet in roulette compares every option.

Where to play call bets and inside bets in the UK

Call bets need a single-zero game with a racetrack, which you’ll find in a casino’s table or live lobby. Our partner offers are slot-led: bonuses often exclude table and live games or count them at a lower rate for wagering, so check the terms before playing roulette with bonus funds.

18+, terms apply. Casumo – 50% up to £100 on a first deposit of £20 or more after opting in; 10x wagering on the bonus within 7 days, £5 maximum bet while it is active, game, play and payment restrictions. 10bet – choose the casino welcome bonus at sign-up and deposit within 7 days for 100% up to £25; 10x wagering on slots within 3 days, £1,000 maximum bonus winnings, no Skrill or Neteller deposits.

Coral – between 1 October 2026 and 1 February 2027, deposit and bet £10 or more on slots for 100 free spins at 10p on selected games, to be accepted within 48 hours and used within 7 days, with no wagering on winnings; Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards are excluded.

18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.