Casual gambler who just got into Roulette

I just got my tax refund and decided to gamble a little. I rarely do this, if at all, and it appears that the slogan of this forum topic holds true. My query lies with roulette.

I started with side betting being the novice that I am and figured the odds on the 3rds (1-12 ect) would yield greater chances of winning while minimizing loses. Ive also practiced online and noticed that the odds on 3rds differ. Betting $100 on one of 3rds the yields $200-300 displayed winnings. However, if i bet on the other 3rds (12-24-36) I can use it as insurance. But i am not sure of my exact winnings since the displayed winnings differ depending on where its played 2:1 vs 3:1. My total bet appears to detract from my total winnings, but the winning bet i placed does not appear to have to the same effect in mitigating loss. For example if i bet 100 100 and 75 on each of the 3rds in the same bet and the $75 bet wins, the odds for 3 different possibilities should yield 3x the winnings. So i should have $225 in total winnings. But when subtracted from my total bet there is a $50 deficit naturally.

I dont understand why the part of the bet i won is subtracted from my winnings and not the $200 I bet on the other possibilities that did not prevail. Yet, if the bets were equal you break even. Would this mean the odds are actually 2:1 and not 3, dispite three different out comes? Or is the total amount bet against my winnings being miscalculated. Forgive my diatribe, I forgot to read roulette for dummies.

All three of the thirds pay 2-1. If they paid 3-1, then everybody would bet on all three of them, with something on 0 and 00 "just in case," and always make a profit.
Example: bet 100 on 1-12, 100 and 13-24, and 100 on 25-36. Suppose 32 comes up; you lose 100 on each of the first two bets, but win 300 on the third, for a profit of 100.

You may be confused as to what you are counting as "winnings." If you bet 100 on 1-12 and, say, 6 comes up, you are paid 200, so there will be 300 sitting on that spot (the 100 you originally bet, plus the 200 you just won).

Quote: Renegadewheel

(snip)... Would this mean the odds are actually 2:1 and not 3, dispite three different out comes? ... (snip)

I don't play roulette, but I can tell you that 3/1 is wrong.
I suspect you are making a "conversion error" going from "decimal odds" to "fractional odds".

The sites below, may give better explanations of the different types of odds.

https://www.aceodds.com/bet-calculator/odds-converter.html

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/042115/betting-basics-fractional-decimal-american-moneyline-odds.asp

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Extra/update:

At the casino you are playing at, If the odds are written like this: "$3"or "3" then they are most likely displaying "decimal odds"
and if the odds are written like this: "2/1", then they are most likely displaying "fractional odds".

It probably pays 3 FOR 1 which is the same as 2:1. (2 TO 1)

Quote: Renegadewheel

I started with side betting being the novice that I am and figured the odds on the 3rds (1-12 ect) would yield greater chances of winning while minimizing loses. Ive also practiced online and noticed that the odds on 3rds differ. Betting $100 on one of 3rds the yields $200-300 displayed winnings.

Huh?....at what casino are they paying 3 to 1 for a “dozen” bet? It’s always 2 to 1.

Something isn’t right. Must be 3 for 1.

I think some online casinos try to mis-state your winnings purposely to try and make you feel as though you did better than you really did.

I play at 2 sites. And at both, if I bet $100 and get a blackjack , the words “You Win $250” appear in a big glittery bubble on my screen. Technically I only won $150.

But I guess they look at it like my original $100 was removed from my overall balance figure in the bottom corner as soon as I placed my bet.

Thank you all. I noticed when side betting 1-12 with $1 I win $2 at 1:1 odds if I'm correct. On the thirds I win 3, or at least thats what the simulator said. Now when betting100, 100, 75 on thirds and hit the last one i should be getting 225 back which exceeds the other two bets in total since i should be receiving the initial $75 bet back but instead i lose it costing me $50 which means only the 150 i won is counted. How does the successful bet count against me if its the winning bet im supossed to get back?

Quote: Renegadewheel

Thank you all. I noticed when side betting 1-12 with $1 I win $2 at 1:1 odds if I'm correct. On the thirds I win 3, or at least thats what the simulator said. Now when betting100, 100, 75 on thirds and hit the last one i should be getting 225 back which exceeds the other two bets in total since i should be receiving the initial $75 bet back but instead i lose it costing me $50 which means only the 150 i won is counted. How does the successful bet count against me if its the winning bet im supossed to get back?

What’s the difference between “betting 1-12” and “betting the thirds” ? By thirds do you mean columns ?

You’re using some Roullette terminology that I’ve never heard before

When you bet 100, 100, and 75 on the three columns and win the last one , you should get back 225 for a net loss of 50 on that spin. By the way, it makes no sense to bet 100, 100, and 75 on the three columns on one spin. Why not just bet 25, 25, and 0 and you’ll get the same outcome ? Unless you’re doing it to satisfy a bonus rollover

Quote: michael99000

When you bet 100, 100, and 75 on the three columns and win the last one , you should get back 225 for a net loss of 50

Similarly if one of the 100's wins, you collect 300 for a net gain of 25

Quote:

By the way, it makes no sense to bet 100, 100, and 75 on the three columns on one spin. Why not just bet 25, 25, and 0 and you’ll get the same outcome ?

... And if green comes up, it's better to lose 50 than 275, for the same potential outcomes.(Gain 25, Gain 25, Lose 50, Lose 50 with 0)

Quote: Renegadewheel

Now when betting100, 100, 75 on thirds and hit the last one i should be getting 225 back which exceeds the other two bets in total since i should be receiving the initial $75 bet back but instead i lose it costing me $50 which means only the 150 i won is counted. How does the successful bet count against me if its the winning bet im supossed to get back?

You do get 225 back - but that includes the 75 that you bet. You only make a profit of 225 - 75 = 150 on the winning bet, and you lose 200 on the two losing bets.

Instead of betting on the thirds, bet 100 on red. If red wins, what do you "get back"?

I meant 1-18 sorry bout that

I meant 1-18 sorry about that. It appears that i do not understand how net wins are calculated in roulette. I thought I would win 50 because I thought i would win back the $75 i bet previously, other wise I would only be winning $150 if I'm losing $50 for the entire bet because of the 200 i bet on the other 3rds. What doesnt make sense to me is that if I am winning 225 after betting 75 on 3rds, how is the winning bet counted against me if i am supposed to be winning it back? The only other way i can see this happening is if i only win 150 which is somtimes displayed depending on which online game is played. It seems like I'm the idiot here but i just dont get it.

Quote: Renegadewheel

The only other way i can see this happening is if i only win 150 which is somtimes displayed depending on which online game is played. It seems like I'm the idiot here but i just dont get it.

If you are basing your observations on what is displayed on an online game, then they often declare the 'win' value as the total returned to you including your stake. They don't normally make a song and dance about what you lose. Most consider your wager to be 'lost' when you place the bet, in as much as it is debited from your balance.

Similar will happen if you play roulette in a casino on one of those terminals.

For instance if you put in a £50 note your balance is £50.
You then place £2 on five different numbers, your balance is now £40 with five chips on the layout.
If one of your numbers comes up, the four losing chips disappear, you "win" £72 and the winning chip disappears, and your balance is £112.
If none of your numbers come up, the five chips disappear, and your balance stays at £40.

I did not know this. I have played at the computerized video machines expecting the original bet return as the rule only to get the opposite. While it seems unfair, thats gambling I suppose. However, doing this seems to make certain odds indistinguishable which is where my initial confusion about the odds came from 1:1 vs 2:1. Experimenting with side bets conceived this idea although it's not ground breaking by any means. Thanks again.

Yes, there are age restrictions on gambling and other activities.

Quote: ksdjdj

(snip)
At the casino you are playing at, If the odds are written like this: "$3"or "3" then they are most likely displaying "decimal odds"
and if the odds are written like this: "2/1", then they are most likely displaying "fractional odds".

Update/Correction:
Some online casinos seem to write the decimal odds in the "fractional odds format" (see below)

I was just play testing a game of online/rng blackjack recently because it said on the "felt" - "insurance pays 3/1" (I checked in the rules/help file and it is written as 3/1 there as well).

Note: In case you didn't know, insurance normally pays 2/1 when written as "fractional odds".

Lastly, I don't know if it was written that way to intentionally mislead or not, because in the help file it also said the RTP for the insurance bet was 92.6% for their 6-deck game.

If insurance actually paid 3 to 1, the house edge of an infinite deck game would decrease 32 / 2,197 = 1.46%, giving the non-counting basic strategy player about a 1% advantage in most 3/2 games