Welcome to the wonderful world of Roulette and the infamous 5 number bet. What’s infamous about a nondescript, oh so harmless bet you may ask?. Well, what we can tell you off the bat is that NO ONE wants to play it, and for good reason. Keep reading and we’ll tell you exactly why.
There are so many different ways a player can stake claim to the table and bet on a game of Roulette, and arguably the single WORST way would be to opt for the Five-Number Bet or “basket bet” as it’s known in some circles. Why might you ask? We’ll dive into that in a moment, but first, let’s unpack this bet a little further.
What is the Five-Number Bet in Roulette?
The five-number bet is an inside bet (i.e a bet located in the inner section of the table). This bet is only utilized on American roulette tables because it is done using the double zero, which is only found on American tables.
The bet is not popular for players, as it carries a massive house advantage. If you were to make this bet, you would need to lay your chips on 5 consecutive numbers. These being the 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. In order to make this bet, you would need to place your chips on a block (section of the table) shared by all 5 numbers.
Roulette 5-Number Bet Standing Odds and Payout Potential
When you place a 5-number bet in a game of American Roulette, The odds are completely stacked in the house's favor from start to finish. So with that in mind and as a big red disclaimer, we would advise against using this bet (which is why our strategy section will deal with wagers that carry higher chances for returns)
The odds of winning stand at 6 to 1 (in the house’s favor). For you to beat the house, the ball will need to land on any one of the 5 numbers wagered.
The odds are stretched over five different points in the wheel, meaning that, even if you hit one of the numbers, the odds (and resulting payout) is diluted from the start. As an example, If you were to wager, say ₤20, you’ll only get ₤70 in return if it hits one of the numbers you originally staked your money on. The house advantage is fixed at 8%. All in all, there are far better wagers you can opt for to get the most out of the game and (hopefully) more than a solid return on investment.
As a rule of thumb, the more spins you play, the higher the probability of hitting the right number becomes. The probability will constantly increase but it will never reach 100% so with that said, there is no sure way to tell whether the five-number bet will ever hit. Which enforces the fact that this is a rather risky wager and should be avoided.
The varying probability of winning with a 5 Number Bet can be broken down into the following ratios…
1 spin carry a 14% winning probability
2 spins carry a 25% winning probability
3 spins carry a 35% winning probability
4 spins carry a 45% winning probability
5 spins carry a 52% winning probability
6 spins carry a 59% winning probability
7 spins carry a 65% winning probability
And lastly, 8 spins carry a 70% winning probability
So, that’s it from us. Avoid this bet if you can, as there is no solid strategy you place the odds to your advantage. Rather, do your research on other roulette bets that carry a higher probability and make the work to your advantage.
