Go Back

Most Common Roulette Numbers – What Numbers to Bet on?

Most Common Roulette Numbers

Perhaps the most common question of all time is, ‘What number hits the most in roulette?’ Roulette enthusiasts are constantly looking for so-called lucky or hot numbers to place their wagers on them, and many believe that some numbers hit more often than others, too.

Unfortunately, the fact about roulette is that it’s an entirely random game, which means that many of these beliefs about roulette are misconceptions or myths. There’s no evidence to prove that one number is more likely to hit than another or any evidence to suggest that some numbers are ‘luckier’ than others.

Despite the facts, many players are interested in learning more about the most common roulette numbers that other players tend to bet on. Similarly, many players tend to play roulette with a betting strategy, even though none of these strategies are foolproof ways of winning.

As long as you keep in mind that roulette is 100% random, there’s no harm in learning about roulette strategies and the most common roulette winning numbers when playing the game. So, if you’re interested in learning more about the most common numbers that other roulette fans are betting on, be sure to read our guide before your next game at an online casino UK.

Different Types of Roulette Wheel Numbers

Before looking at the most common numbers on roulette, it’s important to know a little about the wheel and what it’s made up of. There are two main types of online roulette wheels: the European roulette wheel and the American version.

European Roulette Wheel Numbers

The European roulette wheel is the most common wheel in the UK and is considered the best version of the game because the setup of the wheel gives it a lower house edge. The European wheel has 37 pockets with numbers ranging from one to 36. The other pocket is a green pocket that’s labelled with a zero. You can also bet on the zero like any other number in the wheel, so there are a total of 37 numbers you can place your wager on.

European roulette has a house edge of 2.7%, which is considered very low compared to other roulette variants and other casino games too.

American Roulette Wheel Numbers

The American roulette wheel has 38 numbers instead of 37. The numbers also range from one to 36, but the extra pocket is labelled with a double zero. This means this wheel has two green pockets, one ‘0’ and one ‘00’ pocket. This extra pocket increases the game’s house edge to nearly double, which is why any expert roulette player will avoid this wheel and choose the European version.

American roulette has a house edge of 5.26%, which means the casino has a significantly bigger advantage in this game. And if you’re interested in placing straight-up bets on common numbers, a good tip is to choose games that use the European roulette wheel where the odds are slightly higher in your favour.

There’s also the French version of roulette, which is very common and uses the same wheel as the European version. The only difference is in some of the game rules and bets that can be placed, but these aren’t relevant to the topic of hot roulette numbers in this guide.

Whether you’re playing European or American roulette or perhaps another version of the game, the most common question remains how to find the most common numbers on roulette machine. Despite the random nature of roulette we’ve discussed further above, many players tend to stick to a list of numbers they believe are lucky when choosing their bets.

While there’s no evidence to show that these are the most common winning numbers in roulette, it seems that there are some numbers that always come up when looking for the numbers that players tend to bet on the most.

What are the Most Common Numbers in Roulette?

In the following section, we’ll explore the numbers that the majority of players tend to choose when placing single-number bets on online or live casino roulette games. Remember, it’s possible to wager on multiple straight-up bets, although winning more than one of these bets is impossible.

  • The number 7: The number seven is one of the most common roulette numbers to bet on, but not necessarily for the reason you may think. Many people often consider this number a lucky one, so many gamblers feel comfortable placing a bet on it because they think it might bring them luck. While this is all based on superstition, it’s indeed very common for roulette players to put their money on this number.

  • The number 17: The number 17 is also considered a lucky number by many, although not as much as the seven. The reason why it’s one of the most common roulette numbers casino gamblers tend to bet on is simply because it’s right in the middle of the betting layout. Because of its central position.

  • The numbers 23 and 24: The numbers 23 and 24 are also very popular in online roulette, possibly because of their central position on the table as well. These numbers are close to the number 17. Instinctively, many of us tend to choose numbers that our eyes are naturally drawn to, which is why numbers at the far corners, like the 34, are the least popular numbers.

What are the Most Avoided Roulette Numbers?

Before we explore the least popular numbers in roulette, it’s worth mentioning that, like there are no lucky or hot roulette numbers, there are no unlucky ones either. The concept of unlucky numbers is also a common misconception about this casino game, so it’s important to remember that there are no numbers which you need to avoid if you want to win at live roulette.

Having said that, there are still a few numbers which most players tend to avoid when choosing single-number bets. Below, we’ve listed the most avoided numbers on the roulette wheel:

  • The number 0: The zero pocket is the most avoided number in roulette, most likely because it’s in a separate section on the left of the wheel. Due to the roulette table layout, it’s easy to miss this number because it’s not included with the rest. Many roulette players also avoid it because the zero doesn’t offer the best odds if you’re placing a single number bet and an even money bet too. Unlike the rest of the numbers, the zero is excluded from all even money bets, making it riskier than other numbers in this sense.

  • The number 6: The number six is often considered a bad number, especially by people who tend to be superstitious. It’s also considered an unlucky number due to certain connotations, so many players simply avoid placing their chips on it.

  • The number 13: Unlike the number seven which our society tends to associate with luck, the number 13 is considered the unlucky number. In reality, this number has the same odds of winning as the seven, but many players tend to steer clear from betting on it due to its associations with bad luck.

  • The numbers from 32 to 36: The numbers 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 are also commonly avoided numbers due to their position on the roulette layout. Since these are positioned at the edge of the table, many players tend to avoid them when placing their chips on single numbers.

We’ve summarised the most common numbers in roulette and the most avoided ones in the table below:

Most Common Numbers Most Avoided Numbers
7 0
17 6
23 13
24 32-36

How Do People Pick Roulette Numbers?

Now that we’ve answered the question, ‘What are the most common numbers in roulette?’, you might wonder how players choose which roulette numbers to bet on and what informs their betting decisions. Whenever you’re playing casino games like roulette or baccarat, where you have different bet options available, it’s not always a good idea to pick your bets randomly.

In roulette, there are several bets you can choose from, and each bet type has different winning odds and different payouts too. So, the smartest way to choose your roulette bet is by comparing the odds with the payout to determine the risk level and base your decision on that.

With roulette numbers, choosing the best one is a little trickier because they all offer identical winning odds and payouts. Betting on a single number is a type of straight-up bet with the same odds and payout for any number you choose, including zero.

For this reason, many players tend to get superstitious and rely on common myths and misconceptions to find these so-called lucky numbers when picking their numbers. Another popular method for picking roulette numbers is much like how gamblers might pick their lotto numbers: birth dates, favourite numbers, the number that reflects their age, and so on. For example, many players tend to bet on the same number as their birth date.

Others may rely on what is known as probability theory to pick their roulette numbers. The theory of probability was popularised by Blaise Pascal, the same mathematician often credited with inventing the first version of the roulette game. Along with Pierre de Fermat, Pascal developed a mathematical framework to analyse the probability of an event occurring using logic and statistics.

The only problem with probability theory when picking a roulette number is that the probability of each number coming up is equal. This theory can be used on different bets in roulette, for example, to calculate the probability of the winning number being red or the probability of winning a corner bet.

European roulette has 36 numbers on each wheel, and we can easily calculate the odds and the probability of winning any straight-up bet. With 37 pockets, the winning odds for each number are 1/37, which gives us a percentage of 2.63% using the calculation below:

1 ÷ 37 x 100 = 2.63

This means that the odds of winning a straight up bet are 2.7%. The payout for a winning single-number bet is 17:1, and it’s the same for every number from zero to 36. Despite some common misconceptions about lucky numbers, if you look at the statistical odds, it’s clear to see that each number on the wheel has the same chance to hit in the game. For this reason, it’s impossible to say which are the most common numbers hit in roulette because they’re all the same in terms of odds.

As long as you keep in mind the facts about the roulette casino game, there’s no harm in betting on the most common numbers in roulette or, perhaps, your favourite numbers. After all, there’s no right or wrong way to choose which numbers to bet on if you stick with the straight up bet.

Finally, it’s also necessary for us to mention that straight up bets (betting on individual numbers) are the riskiest types of bets in roulette. If you can guess the exact number the ball will land on, you get a payout of 17:1, the highest prize possible in the game. However, the odds of winning such a bet are certainly not in your favour at around 2.63%, especially compared to other bets.

Even money bets like odd or even, red or black, or low/high numbers, for example, offer a nearly 50% of winning with odds of 46.37%, making them much safer bets. Naturally, the payout is much lower because you only get even money, but it’s less risky to choose this bet as opposed to a single-number bet.

FAQs About Most Common Roulette Numbers

  1. What is the Most Common Number Hit in Roulette?

    • Numbers hit randomly in roulette, so no numbers are more common than others. Some numbers are more commonly bet on than others, such as the 7, for example, but it doesn’t mean that these numbers hit more often.
  2. What Number Has the Best Odds in Roulette?

    • The numbers in roulette have the same odds because there’s one instance of each one on the wheel. This means that the odds are exactly the same whether you bet on the 17 or the 36. Contrary to popular misconceptions, there aren’t any ‘lucky’ numbers that hit more often in roulette because it’s all random!
  3. What is the Number 1 Roulette Strategy?

    • The number one roulette in terms of popularity is the Martingale strategy. Like every other roulette betting strategy, the Martingale system won’t guarantee that you’ll win or even make a profit in the long run, but it’s considered by many to be the best strategy for this game.
  4. What is the Safest Bet in Roulette?

    • If you’re looking for the safest bet in roulette, you’ll want to choose one of the outside bets because these offer the highest winning chances. For example, you’re much more likely to win a bet on odd/even than a single-number bet. So, if you want to play it safe and minimise the risk of losing, look for bets with better winning probabilities rather than bets which pay higher amounts but are difficult to win.
  5. What is the Smartest Bet in Roulette?

    • Once again, we would say that the smartest bet in a game like roulette would be a safe bet because this gives you the highest probability of winning. This means that sticking with outside bets that offer lower payouts but higher winning odds are usually the smartest bets.
  6. Is Roulette 100% Random?

    • Yes, roulette is 100% random, and each spin is entirely random, too. This means that a spin isn’t the result of the spin preceding it and doesn’t influence the result of the next spin, either.