What Is the Five-Number Bet?

The five-number bet covers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3\. It is also known as the top line bet or basket bet. This wager exists only in American roulette, because that version of the game includes both a single zero and a double zero.

For beginners, this bet is easy to recognize and place, but it is also one of the weakest standard wagers on the table. It gives the casino a bigger advantage than many other roulette bets.

How It Works

American roulette has 38 possible outcomes: the numbers 1 through 36, plus 0 and 00\. The five-number bet wins if the ball lands on 0, 00, 1, 2, or 3\. Any other result means the bet loses.

The payout is 6 to 1\. A winning $1 bet earns $6 in profit, and the original $1 stake is returned. That return may look attractive, but the long-term value of the bet is still poor.

How to Bet

To place a five-number bet at a roulette table, follow these steps:

1 Find an American roulette table with both 0 and 00 on the layout.

2 Wait until the dealer opens betting for the next spin.

3 Put your chips on the section that covers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3.

Make sure the chips are in place before the dealer closes betting and spins the wheel.

This is an inside bet, which means it is placed on the numbered part of the table rather than in the areas used for outside bets such as red or black, odd or even, or high or low.

Why Players Avoid It

The biggest drawback of the five-number bet is its house edge, which is about 7.89 percent. The house edge is the casino’s built-in mathematical advantage over time. The higher it is, the less favorable the wager is for the player in the long run.

That is why many experienced players avoid this bet. Even though it covers five numbers with one chip placement, the payout does not balance the risk especially well. For most beginners, it is better to understand this as a roulette term than to use it often as a bet.

If your goal is to keep the game simple, lower-risk options such as red or black, odd or even, and high or low are usually better starting points at the table.

Payout

If you place $5 on the five-number bet and the ball lands on 0, 00, 1, 2, or 3, the bet wins. With a 6-to-1 payout, you receive $30 in winnings, and your original $5 bet is also returned.

If the ball lands on any other number, you lose the $5. The 6-to-1 payout can make the wager look appealing to a new player, even though its overall value is weak.

FAQ

Why is the five-number bet considered risky?

Because it has a house edge of about 7.89 percent, which is higher than that of many other standard roulette bets. That gives the casino a bigger long-term mathematical advantage.