Roulette Sector Betting Calculator: Mastering Wheel Geography

Sector betting targets specific areas of the physical roulette wheel rather than the betting layout. Our calculator shows coverage, probability, and payouts for neighbor bets and sector plays, helping you understand this popular European betting approach.

What Is Roulette Sector Betting?

Sector betting places wagers on numbers based on their physical position on the wheel, not their numerical sequence. The goal is to cover wheel "sectors" in case of dealer signature, biased wheels, or simply for entertainment variety.

Quick Answer: Sector bets cover groups of neighboring numbers on the wheel. A 5-number neighbor bet covers the target plus 2 numbers on each side. European wheel: Voisins covers 17 numbers (45.9% of wheel), Tiers covers 12 numbers (32.4%), Orphelins covers 8 numbers (21.6%). House edge remains 2.7%—sector betting changes coverage pattern, not mathematical expectation.

How to Use Our Sector Calculator

Use the Roulette Sector Betting Calculator →

Select a sector or enter a target number to see coverage and betting requirements.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Select Wheel Type: European or American

2. Choose Sector: Predefined or custom

3. Enter Neighbors: How many on each side

4. View Coverage: Numbers included

5. See Bet Cost: Total units required

Input Fields Explained

Field	Description	Example
Wheel Type	Single/double zero	European
Target Number	Center of sector	17
Neighbors	Numbers each side	2
Coverage	Numbers included	5
Bet Cost	Units required	5
Win Probability	Sector chance	13.5%

European Wheel Layout

Number Sequence

Clockwise from 0:

0-32-15-19-4-21-2-25-17-34-6-27-13-36-11-30-8-23-10-5-24-16-33-1-20-14-31-9-22-18-29-7-28-12-35-3-26

Wheel Sections

Section	Numbers	Count
Zero Zone	0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25	8
Big Series	2, 25, 17, 34, 6, 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10	13
Small Series	22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26	9
Orphans	1, 20, 14, 31, 9 & 17, 34, 6	8

Classic French Bets

Voisins du Zéro (Neighbors of Zero)

Coverage: 17 numbers surrounding zero Numbers: 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25 Cost: 9 units Coverage: 45.9%

Bet	Numbers	Units
0-2-3 trio	0, 2, 3	2
4-7 split	4, 7	1
12-15 split	12, 15	1
18-21 split	18, 21	1
19-22 split	19, 22	1
25-29 corner	25, 26, 28, 29	2
32-35 split	32, 35	1

Tiers du Cylindre (Thirds of Wheel)

Coverage: 12 numbers opposite zero Numbers: 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33 Cost: 6 units Coverage: 32.4%

Bet	Numbers	Units
5-8 split	5, 8	1
10-11 split	10, 11	1
13-16 split	13, 16	1
23-24 split	23, 24	1
27-30 split	27, 30	1
33-36 split	33, 36	1

Orphelins (Orphans)

Coverage: 8 numbers between major sections Numbers: 1, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 31, 34 Cost: 5 units Coverage: 21.6%

Bet	Numbers	Units
1 straight	1	1
6-9 split	6, 9	1
14-17 split	14, 17	1
17-20 split	17, 20	1
31-34 split	31, 34	1

Neighbor Bets

Standard Neighbors

Neighbors	Coverage	Probability	Cost
1 each side	3 numbers	8.1%	3 units
2 each side	5 numbers	13.5%	5 units
3 each side	7 numbers	18.9%	7 units
4 each side	9 numbers	24.3%	9 units

Example: 17 and Neighbors

2 neighbors each side:

• Numbers: 25, 2, 17, 34, 6
• Bet: 5 straight-up wagers
• Cost: 5 units
• Win: 35 units + stake on winner

Probability Analysis

Coverage vs Probability

Bet	Numbers	Probability	Payout (net)
5 neighbors	5	13.5%	+31 units
Tiers	12	32.4%	+12 units
Voisins	17	45.9%	+8-11 units
Orphelins	8	21.6%	+14-22 units

Expected Value

All sector bets:

• European: -2.7% house edge
• Same EV as any other bet combination

Sector betting doesn't change the math.

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Neighbor Bet

Bet: 17 and 2 neighbors (5 units) Numbers covered: 25, 2, 17, 34, 6

If 17 hits:

• Win: 35 × 1 = 35 units
• Cost: 5 units
• Net: +30 units

If 2 hits:

• Win: 35 × 1 = 35 units
• Cost: 5 units
• Net: +30 units

Example 2: Voisins du Zéro

Bet: 9 units on Voisins Outcome: 0 hits

Calculation:

• 0-2-3 trio pays 11:1 for 2 units = 22 units
• Other bets lose: -7 units
• Net: +15 units

Example 3: Tiers Session

Bet: 6 units on Tiers, 10 spins Expected outcomes:

• ~3.24 wins (32.4% hit rate)
• Each win: +12 units
• Each loss: -6 units

Expected result:

• Wins: 3.24 × 12 = 38.9 units
• Losses: 6.76 × 6 = 40.6 units
• Net: -1.7 units (matches -2.7% edge)

Why Players Use Sector Betting

Potential Advantages

Reason	Reality
Dealer signature	Rare, hard to detect
Biased wheels	Modern wheels rarely biased
Ball tracking	Extremely difficult
Entertainment	Valid reason

Dealer Signature Theory

Factor	Consideration
Dealer consistency	Varies significantly
Ball speed	Changes often
Wheel speed	Adjusted regularly
Casino countermeasures	Frequent rotation

Reality: Very difficult to exploit profitably.

Sector Betting Strategy

For Entertainment

Approach	Benefit
Fixed sectors	Easier tracking
Rotating targets	Variety
Classic French bets	Authentic experience

For Analysis

Strategy	Method
Track wheel results	Look for clusters
Chart landing zones	Identify patterns
Calculate significance	Statistical analysis

Required Sample Size

Bias Level	Spins Needed	Detection Difficulty
5% bias	5,000+	Very hard
10% bias	2,000+	Hard
20% bias	500+	Moderate

American vs European Sectors

European (37 Numbers)

Sector	Coverage	Edge
Voisins	45.9%	2.7%
Tiers	32.4%	2.7%
Orphelins	21.6%	2.7%

American (38 Numbers)

Note	Impact
00 disrupts sectors	Traditional bets don't apply
Different wheel layout	Numbers in different positions
Higher edge	5.26% on all bets

Stick to European for sector betting.

Common Sector Mistakes

1. Believing in Patterns

Mistake: "This sector is due" Problem: Each spin is independent Fix: Sector betting is coverage style, not prediction

2. Expecting Lower Edge

Mistake: Thinking sectors beat random bets Problem: House edge is constant Fix: Understand sectors change distribution, not expectation

3. Overcomplicating

Mistake: Complex sector combinations Problem: Higher variance, same EV Fix: Simple neighbor bets or classic French bets

4. Ignoring Bankroll

Mistake: Large sector bets Problem: Multiple units per spin adds up Fix: Budget for total units, not just "1 bet"

Frequently Asked Questions

Do sector bets have better odds?

No. House edge is 2.7% (European) regardless of betting pattern. Sectors change coverage style, not mathematical expectation.

Can I beat roulette with sector betting?

Not through sector betting alone. Only way to gain edge is exploiting genuine wheel bias (rare) or dealer signature (very difficult).

What's the best sector to bet?

Mathematically equivalent. Choose based on coverage preference and entertainment value.

How do neighbors work?

Neighbors cover a target number plus adjacent numbers on the physical wheel. 2 neighbors = 5 total numbers (target + 2 each side).

Why are French bets popular?

They cover visually coherent wheel sections, making tracking easier and adding social/entertainment value at European casinos.

Should I track results?

For fun, yes. For profit, you'd need thousands of spins to detect statistically significant bias.

Advanced Concepts

Building Custom Sectors

Approach	Method
Hot numbers	Target recent winners
Cold numbers	Target due (gambler's fallacy)
Visual tracking	Estimate ball landing zone

Combining Sectors

Combination	Coverage	Cost
Voisins + Tiers	29 numbers	15 units
Full wheel - Orphelins	29 numbers	Variable
Overlapping neighbors	Redundant coverage	Wasteful

Variance Comparison

Bet Style	Variance	Session Swings
Single number	Very high	Wild
5 neighbors	High	Significant
Voisins (17)	Moderate	Manageable
Even money	Low	Smooth

Pro Tips

• European only: Sector betting is designed for single-zero wheels

• Budget for units: Voisins costs 9 units—budget accordingly

• Track for fun: Pattern tracking adds engagement, not edge

• Classic bets work: Voisins/Tiers/Orphelins are balanced designs

• Manage expectations: Sectors are entertainment, not advantage play

Related Calculators

• Roulette Odds Calculator - All bet odds
• Roulette Payout Calculator - Payout analysis
• Roulette Neighbors Calculator - Neighbor coverage
• Roulette Call Bets Calculator - French bets
• Roulette EV Calculator - Expected value

Conclusion

Sector betting adds strategic depth and entertainment to roulette by focusing on wheel geography rather than number layout. Our calculator shows coverage, cost, and probability for neighbor bets and classic French wagers. Remember: sector betting changes how you cover the wheel, not your mathematical expectation. The house edge remains constant regardless of betting pattern.

Calculate Your Sector Coverage Now →

Sector betting transforms roulette from random number picking to wheel geography strategy. While the math doesn't change, the experience does. Use our calculator to understand your coverage, manage your units, and enjoy this classic European approach to roulette.