How it works
The three columns each hold twelve numbers and pay 2:1, identical to a dozen in every way except which numbers you get.
Columns are worth knowing for one practical reason: they cut across the layout rather than along it, so a column and a dozen can be combined to cover twenty numbers with two chips.
The same bet on each wheel
| Wheel | Pockets | Payout | Win chance | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European (single zero) | 37 | 2:1 | 32.43% | 2.70% |
| American (double zero) | 38 | 2:1 | 31.58% | 5.26% |
Unlike the even-money bets, this one gets no relief from the French zero rules. La partage and en prison apply only to bets paying 1:1, so a dozen or a column costs 2.70% on any single-zero table.
What this bet is actually for
Since every bet on the wheel shares one edge, the only thing bet selection buys you is a variance profile. Covering 12 of 37 pockets means winning often and small; a straight-up bet means winning rarely and large. Both bleed at the same rate.
If your aim is to sit at a table for a long evening on a fixed budget, the wider-coverage bets do that better. That is a pacing decision, not an edge.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the house edge on columns?
- 2.70% European, 5.26% American.
- Is columns a safer bet?
- It wins more often, but the expected loss per unit staked is identical to every other bet on the same wheel. Lower variance is not a lower edge.
- What happens when zero hits?
- You lose. Zero belongs to no outside bet.
- Do the French rules apply to this bet?
- No. La partage and en prison apply only to even-money bets.
House edges on this page are computed from the pocket count and the payout in exact rational arithmetic, then checked against published references before publication. Payouts are standard, but the wheel and the zero rule vary between casinos and between tables in the same casino, so confirm both before you sit down.