Manque

In Depth Look at Manque

Specifically, manque includes all the numbers from 1 to 18 on the roulette wheel. This bet is typically placed on the layout’s left-hand section, and it is often referred to as a “low” bet, contrasting with its counterpart, passe, which covers the higher half of the wheel (19 to 36). The manque bet provides a relatively simple and accessible way for players to engage with the game while covering a large portion of the wheel.

The manque bet pays even money, meaning that if the ball lands on a number between 1 and 18, the player wins a payout equal to their wager. For example, if a player bets $10 on manque and the ball lands on a number within that range, the player will receive $20—$10 for their original stake and $10 as the winning payout. This even-money payout makes manque a more conservative choice, offering a higher probability of winning compared to bets on individual numbers, which have much higher payouts but lower odds of success.

Despite its larger coverage of the wheel, the manque bet does not eliminate the house edge. In European roulette, where the wheel has 37 pockets (numbers 1 through 36, plus a single zero), the house edge on all outside bets, including manque, is approximately 2.7%. This is due to the presence of the green “0” (or “00” in American roulette), which gives the house a slight advantage on every bet placed. Essentially, the ball has a 1/37 (or 1/38 in American roulette) chance of landing on the zero, meaning that manque and other outside bets will lose if the ball lands on zero.

The manque bet is often favored by players who prefer a more cautious approach to roulette. It’s an attractive option because it covers nearly half of the wheel, providing a better chance of winning compared to the riskier inside bets on individual numbers or smaller groups. However, it is important to remember that while the manque bet has a higher chance of winning, it still carries the same house edge as all other bets on the table. Players who make consistent manque bets may see more frequent wins, but these wins will be smaller in value compared to riskier bets with higher payouts. It is, therefore, a balanced option for players who want to minimize risk but still have the opportunity to make steady, moderate gains throughout a session of roulette.

Illustrated Example