Dozens and Columns in Roulette: Payout and Odds
Dozens and columns are the middle ground of roulette: twelve numbers per bet, paid 2:1. You win about a third of the time, roughly twice as often as a single number and a lot less often than red. The house edge is the same 5.26% as everything else on the layout.
How the two bets differ
A dozen is a block of consecutive numbers: 1 to 12, 13 to 24, or 25 to 36, bet in the boxes marked 1st 12, 2nd 12, and 3rd 12. A column is a vertical line of twelve on the layout (1-4-7 ... 34, and so on), bet in the "2 to 1" box at the bottom of that column. Both cover 12 numbers. Both lose on every zero.
| Bet | Pays | Pockets that win | Win chance | House edge (American) | House edge (European) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dozen (1st, 2nd, or 3rd 12) | 2:1 | 12 of 38 | 31.58% | 5.26% | 2.70% |
| Column | 2:1 | 12 of 38 | 31.58% | 5.26% | 2.70% |
The math in one line
Twelve of 38 pockets win. A fair payout would be 13:6 on an American wheel; the table pays 2:1. That small shortfall, every spin, is the 5.26%. On a European wheel the fair price is 25:12 against the same 2:1, which is why the edge there is 2.70%.
The two-dozens "strategy"
The popular idea: bet two dozens at once and you cover 24 of 38 numbers, winning "most of the time." True, you win 63.16% of spins. But each win pays 2:1 on one chip while losing the other, so you net one unit, and each loss costs two. Run the numbers and the expected loss is still exactly 5.26% of the money bet. Covering more of the layout changes how often you win, never how much the casino keeps. The same is true for a dozen plus a column, or any other combination. We looked at the broader family of these ideas in do roulette betting systems work.
When dozens make sense
If you want to win more often than a single number without the near-coin-flip feel of red or black, a dozen is a reasonable middle. It pays enough to feel like a win, and about one spin in three lands. Just know that la partage, the half-back rule on some single-zero tables, does not apply here; it is for even-money bets only. On a French table, red or black is the cheaper seat.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does a dozen bet pay in roulette?
2 to 1. A $10 bet on the 1st 12 returns $20 in winnings plus your $10 if the ball lands on 1 through 12.
What is the difference between a dozen and a column?
A dozen is twelve consecutive numbers (1-12, 13-24, 25-36). A column is twelve numbers in a vertical line on the layout, such as 1, 4, 7 up to 34. Both pay 2:1 and carry the same house edge.
Does betting two dozens beat the house?
No. You win 63.16% of spins, but each win nets one unit and each loss costs two, so the expected loss is still 5.26% of the money wagered on an American wheel.
Do dozens lose on zero?
Yes. Every dozen and column bet loses when the ball lands on 0 or 00, and la partage does not cover them.