How it works
One chip on the outside boundary of a row covers all three numbers in it, paying 11:1.
A street is the cheapest way to cover three specific numbers: three straight-up bets would cost three chips for the same coverage and return the same expectation.
The same bet on each wheel
| Wheel | Pockets | Payout | Win chance | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European (single zero) | 37 | 11:1 | 8.11% | 2.70% |
| American (double zero) | 38 | 11:1 | 7.89% | 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.
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 3 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 street bet?
- 2.70% on a European single-zero wheel and 5.26% on an American double-zero wheel.
- Does the street 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?
- 11:1. A fair payout would be 12:1 on a European wheel, and that difference is the house edge.
- 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.