How it works
Sometimes called a double street. The chip goes on the outer edge where two rows meet, covering all six numbers at 5:1.
Six numbers is roughly a sixth of the wheel, and this is the bridge between the inside bets and the outside bets in both coverage and payout.
The same bet on each wheel
| Wheel | Pockets | Payout | Win chance | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European (single zero) | 37 | 5:1 | 16.22% | 2.70% |
| American (double zero) | 38 | 5:1 | 15.79% | 5.26% |
The payout is identical on both wheels. The American wheel simply has one more losing pocket, and that single extra pocket takes the cost from 2.70% to 5.26%, nearly double, for a table that looks the same from three feet away.
How long before it hits
Six numbers is about a sixth of the wheel, so a six line lands roughly every six spins: the expected wait is 6.17 spins on a European wheel and 6.33 on an American one. The chance of at least one hit in a run of spins is one minus (31/37) raised to the length of the run, or (32/38) on the American wheel.
| Spins on one six line | At least one hit, European | At least one hit, American |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16.22% | 15.79% |
| 3 | 41.19% | 40.28% |
| 6 | 65.41% | 64.34% |
| 10 | 82.95% | 82.07% |
| 20 | 97.09% | 96.78% |
Compare that with a straight-up number, which needs 37 spins to reach a 63.71% chance of a single hit. The six line reaches 65.41% in six. The two bets cost exactly the same per chip; what you are choosing is how bumpy the ride is, and the six line is the calmest inside bet on the layout.
The arithmetic of the edge in one sentence: 37 chips on the same six line, one a spin, hit six times on average and return 36 chips (six wins at 5:1 plus the six stakes). One chip gone in 37 is 2.70%. On an American wheel, 38 chips, six hits, 36 back: two gone in 38, 5.26%. La partage does not apply; it halves the loss on even-money bets only.
Why the edge never changes between bets
Every payout on a roulette layout is calculated the same way: the casino pays as though the zero did not exist. Cover 6 numbers and you are paid as if there were 36 pockets rather than 37 or 38.
The practical conclusion is unusual among casino games: on a given wheel there is no such thing as a better roulette bet. What varies is variance, not expectation. A straight-up bet and a red bet cost identically per unit staked; one just gets there in a far bumpier line.
The choices that genuinely change your cost are the wheel (European against American) and the zero rule (la partage or en prison). Both are worth more than any bet selection.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the house edge on a six line bet?
- 2.70% on a European single-zero wheel and 5.26% on an American double-zero wheel.
- Does the six line bet have better odds than other bets?
- No. Every bet on a given roulette wheel carries the same house edge. It differs only in variance.
- What does it pay?
- 5:1. A fair payout would be 6:1 on a European wheel, and that difference is the house edge.
- How often does a six line hit?
- About once every six spins: 6 in 37 on a European wheel (16.22%) and 6 in 38 on an American one (15.79%). Over six spins the chance of at least one hit is 65.41%.
- What does a six line cover?
- Two adjacent rows of three, six numbers in total, from one chip placed on the outer corner shared by both rows. It is also called a double street or a line bet.
- Can betting systems beat it?
- No. Each spin is independent and every bet has the same negative expectation, so no combination or progression of them can produce a positive one.
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.