Column bet in roulette

Which numbers a column bet in roulette covers

On a roulette layout the numbers run in rows of three, so they also form three long lines of twelve, one for each position in the row. Those lines are the columns. At the end of each, away from the zero, sits a box usually marked 2 to 1. A chip in that box backs every number in the line.

The colour counts come from the standard list of red numbers given in Wikipedia's roulette article (opens in a new tab): 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 32, 34 and 36. Zero, and the double zero on American tables, sits outside all three columns. Like the dozens and even-money bets, the column is one of the outside bets on our roulette hub.

Column bet roulette payout and odds

Wikipedia's payout table lists every column at 2 to 1, the same as each dozen. A column has twelve numbers, so the chance of a win is identical to a dozen bet: 12 in 37 on a single-zero wheel and 12 in 38 on a double-zero one, as Wizard of Odds' roulette basics (opens in a new tab) confirms for twelve-number bets.

Odds against of 25 to 12 means that for every 12 winning pockets there are 25 losing ones. A fair bet would pay a little over 2 to 1 (about 2.08 to 1), so the flat 2 to 1 is where the casino's margin comes from. Our roulette odds guide covers the difference between the chance of winning and the price you are paid.

The house edge on column bets, per £100 staked

A clean way to think about the edge is to ask what happens to every £100 you put through a column bet over a very long run. On a single-zero wheel you get back about £97.30 on average, and on a double-zero wheel about £94.74. The rest, £2.70 or £5.26, is the house edge. Wizard of Odds' house edge table (opens in a new tab) lists those same two figures for roulette as a game.

The sum behind it: in 37 spins with £1 a spin, twelve wins pay £2 each (£24) and 25 losses cost £25, so you are £1 down for every £37 staked. Because that ratio is fixed, a bigger stake simply scales the cost. It never improves the odds.

*At £5 a spin, £50 only lasts 25 spins if some of them win. The gap between the small average cost and the speed at which a budget can run out is why the stake matters more than the edge in a short session.

Column bet or dozen bet: what actually differs

Columns and dozens share the same payout, chance and edge, so the choice comes down to which twelve numbers you prefer. A dozen takes four rows in a block; a column takes one number from every row. That gives the column some quirks worth knowing.

None of these differences changes the cost. They matter only if you are combining bets and want to know how the numbers overlap, which the next two sections show.

Combining a column bet with a dozen

Every column crosses every dozen in exactly four numbers. The first column and the first dozen, for example, share 1, 4, 7 and 10. Put £10 on each and the 37 outcomes break down like this:

Add it up over 37 spins: 4 × £40 plus 16 × £10 is £320 won, while 17 × £20 is £340 lost. The £20 shortfall on £740 staked is 2.70%. The overlap creates an occasional bigger win, but the average cost is unchanged.

Column and colour combinations

Because the second column is mostly black and the third mostly red, some players pair a column with the opposite colour to soften losing spins. Take £10 on the third column (8 red, 4 black) and £10 on black.

The total over 37 spins is 4 × £30 + 8 × £10 = £200 won against 11 × £20 = £220 lost, so −£20 on £740, or 2.70% again. Pairing bets this way can make a session feel smoother, with fewer big swings, but it never makes it cheaper. On a French table, La Partage would return half the black stake on zero, trimming the cost of that part of the bet only.

How to place a column bet

1. Pick a single-zero table if you can, as the edge is half that of a double-zero one.
2. Select your chip value.
3. Find the box marked 2 to 1 at the end of the column you want. On a horizontal layout these sit on the far right; on a vertical mobile layout they are at the bottom.
4. Tap the box and check that the twelve numbers of that column are highlighted.
5. Confirm the bet before betting closes.

Column bet myths and mistakes

• "Follow the hot column." Results boards show past spins only. Each spin is independent, so a column that has hit five times running has the same 12 in 37 chance next time.
• "Two columns can't both miss for long." Two columns cover 24 numbers and still miss 13 times in 37. Missing three spins in a row happens about 4.3% of the time.
• "A column covers the whole wheel evenly, so it is safer." The column's numbers are spread around the wheel, but that has no effect on the chance; 12 pockets are 12 pockets.
• "Combining columns and dozens finds an edge." Every part of the combination carries 2.70%, so the whole does too. See roulette betting systems for why spreads and progressions fail.
• Mixing up wheels. Moving from a single-zero to a double-zero table roughly doubles the cost of the same column bet.

Column bets at live and RNG roulette tables

Columns appear on every standard roulette layout, whether the result comes from a random number generator or a real wheel. In live roulette a dealer or an automated wheel spins the ball on camera; in RNG games certified software picks the pocket. The 2 to 1 payout and the edge for the wheel type stay the same. In Lightning Roulette, Evolution keeps outside bets such as columns at their standard payout and changes only the straight-up price. If you are deciding between formats, our RNG against live roulette page sets out pace, limits and atmosphere.

UK online roulette rules for column bettors

Roulette sits outside the online slot stake limits, so the table's own minimum and maximum decide what you can put on a column. Since 17 January 2025, though, every UK online casino game, roulette included, must follow the Commission's responsible product design rules (opens in a new tab):

• no autoplay, including at live tables (a re-bet button is fine);
• at least 5 seconds per game cycle for non-slot games;
• no playing several games at once;
• net spend and time spent shown in real time.

Credit cards cannot be used, and your age and identity must be verified before you deposit. If gambling is causing harm, the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) is free 24 hours a day, and the NHS runs specialist clinics such as the National Centre for Behavioural Addictions (opens in a new tab). Our safer gambling section covers limits and self-exclusion.

Where to play column bet roulette in the UK

None of the offers below is a roulette offer, and table and live games are often excluded from bonuses or count for less towards wagering. Check each casino's game lobby for its roulette tables. 18+ and terms apply.

• Casumo: 50% bonus up to £100 on a first deposit of £20 or more, opt-in required; the bonus must be wagered 10x within 7 days, £5 maximum bet while active, game, play and payment restrictions apply.
• 10bet: 100% bonus up to £25 for new UK customers who choose the casino welcome bonus and deposit within 7 days; wager it 10x on slots within 3 days, maximum bonus winnings £1,000, Skrill and Neteller excluded.
• Coral: deposit and bet £10 on slots to get 100 free spins at 10p each on selected games, accepted within 48 hours and valid for 7 days, no wagering on winnings; some payment methods 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.