A column bet in roulette is a wager placed on one of the three vertical columns of numbers on the betting layout. Each column contains 12 numbers, and players can make this bet by placing their chips at the bottom of the chosen column. For example, a player might bet on the first column, which includes the numbers 1, 4, 7, and so on. A column bet offers a payout of 2 to 1, allowing players to cover a broader range of numbers while still enjoying the potential for a reasonable return on their wager.