What Is a Corner Bet in Roulette? Rules, Payouts & Odds
Roulette is a classic casino game found across the UK in venues and at licensed online casinos. It can look complicated at first, but it is built around a set of simple bets. One of these is the corner bet, which gets its name from where chips are placed on the layout.
This guide breaks down what a corner bet means, how it works, and the payouts you might see. You will also find clear information on the odds involved, with easy numbers and real examples. By the end, you will have a solid grasp of the corner bet and how it fits within European roulette.
What Is a Corner Bet in Roulette?
A corner bet is an inside wager that covers four numbers at once by placing chips on the point where those four number squares meet. Put simply, the chip sits on the shared corner of four numbers on the layout.
For example, placing a chip where 17, 18, 20 and 21 meet means your stake now covers all four of those numbers. If any one of them comes in, the bet wins.
You might hear this bet called a square bet or a quart bet. It sits within the numbered section of the layout, rather than the outside areas such as red or black. Table layouts can vary by version, so it is worth knowing which game you are playing before you start.
How Does a Corner Bet Work on the Roulette Table?
On the layout, numbers are arranged in a grid. A valid corner bet must sit at the exact intersection of four adjoining numbers that form a small square. If the chip is even slightly off that shared corner, the wager may be treated as a different inside bet, such as a split or a street, depending on where it rests.
A single chip or stake on that intersection covers all four numbers. If the ball lands on any of them, you are paid for the win, and if it lands anywhere else, the stake is lost. Players often place several inside bets in the same round, so a corner can be combined with other options, such as splits or straights, to shape how much of the board is covered.
There are a few layout details to keep in mind. The zero square sits on the edge of the grid and does not join any group of four numbers, so it cannot be part of a corner bet. Corners also cannot jump across gaps. For instance, trying to combine non-adjacent numbers or edge pairs that do not form a four-number square will not count as a corner.
Betting limits apply to inside wagers, including corners. Each table sets minimum and maximum amounts, and a corner must meet those limits on its own. If you are unsure how a table treats placement or limits, a quick look at the rules or paytable will usually answer it.
Now that placement is clear, it helps to know what a win pays and how often it might hit.
Corner Bet Payouts and Odds Explained
In European roulette, a corner bet pays 8 to 1. Stake £1 and a winning spin returns £8 in winnings plus your £1 stake, for a total of £9. The same rate scales with your stake, so a £5 corner would pay £40 plus the £5 stake if it wins.
A European wheel has 37 pockets, numbers 1 to 36 plus a single zero. With four numbers covered by a corner, the probability of a hit is 4 out of 37, which is about 10.81 percent. The house edge for European roulette is around 2.70 percent, and that applies to inside bets such as corners.
American roulette uses 38 pockets because it includes both zero and double zero. Your coverage stays at four numbers, so the probability drops to 4 out of 38, about 10.53 percent. Many American games keep the same 8 to 1 payout for corners, which slightly increases the house edge compared with European. As always, the game screen or table signage shows the exact rules and paytable for that version.
Understanding this simple trade off, four numbers for an 8 to 1 return, makes it easier to compare corners with other inside bets you might use.
Common Mistakes Players Make With Corner Bets
Corner bets are straightforward once you know where a chip needs to sit, but a few common errors can still creep in. Most come down to placement or not checking how that table handles payouts and limits.
- Placing the chip off the shared intersection, which turns the wager into a split, street or invalid bet instead of a corner.
- Trying to form a corner with numbers that do not make a four-number square, including attempts to involve zero.
- Assuming a different payout than 8 to 1 on European roulette, then being surprised by the result at settlement.
- Ignoring the version in play. On American tables with a double zero, the probability is different to European, even if the stated payout is the same.
- Misreading the impact of coverage. A corner spans four numbers, but that still means the chance of a hit is about 1 in 9 spins on a European wheel.
- Missing table limits for inside bets, leading to a stake below the minimum or above the maximum for a corner.
A short pause to confirm placement and limits before you spin is usually enough to avoid these slips.
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