Roulette Strategy: Tips & Tricks to Improve Your Odds
This page looks at tips and tricks to help you achieve that. In addition, we list roulette strategies that can help you increase your chances of winning or reduce your losses. Some roulette strategies are famous, while others you may read about for the first time.
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Having a strategy for roulette betting is essential. It cuts down on random decisions that can be made in the heat of the moment. In addition, setting guidelines for what to do under certain circumstances can significantly increase your chances of leaving the table with a profit.
Understanding Roulette Odds
Roulette odds are related to the probabilities of winning a bet at the table. Very different from sportsbook odds, you will see ‘37 to 1’ (European Roulette) or ‘38 to 1’ (American Roulette) expressed as a ratio on a table.
The House has an extra edge with the Double Zero slot on American roulette tables. So in an American game, placing a stake on a single roulette number has a one in thirty-eight chance of landing correctly. One unit of stake returns 38 units of profit. It’s high odds because the percentage of actually winning is low at around 2.7%.
You can pick bets with a higher percentage probability for lesser odds. A Red or Black, for example, is selecting one of two outcomes for a 1:1 ratio. Generally, a Red or Black pick will have a 47-48% chance of winning.
A roulette table is split up into Inside and Outside bets. The Inside bets like Singles, Splits (2 numbers) and Corners (4 numbers) refer to the numbers on the Roulette Grid where the riskier bets with lower probability reside. Outside bets are bets with smaller payout ratios like Even/Odd and Black/Red.
The House Edge
It’s worth noting that you won’t get the exact odds from the probability. For example, instead of payout at 37 to 1 on a Single Number, the House may only pay at 35 to 1 odds. It is that difference created between the odds and the payouts that give the casino an advantage over the players. This is called the house edge, and it varies depending on the roulette type and bets you play.
Here are some common expressions of roulette odds based on American tables, with European tables a tiny fraction more positive on each payout because of one less slot.
Popular Roulette Betting Systems
To this day, roulette is one of the most popular casino games. And as long as gambling has existed, people have been using strategies to maximise their winnings.
Having a system in place before approaching a table is a good idea. It takes some emotional betting aspects out of things, as you know how to react to situations. The maths behind the strategies should lead you to profit.
The different roulette betting systems listed below vary from aggressive to conservative. However, they all have their risks.
D’Alembert Roulette Strategy
A good strategy for 1:1 ratio bets. After a loss, decrease the unit of stake in the D’Alembert system by one unit. Following a win, you push the next stake up one unit.
Martingale Roulette Strategy
The popular Martingale strategy involves doubling your stake after every loss until you win. You will eventually get to a place where a win covers all previous losses. However, a losing streak heaps pressure on the system regarding required stake, as does payout limits.
Labouchere Roulette Strategy
A player writes down a sequence of numbers that add to the total they want to win. The first bet is the sum of the first and last numbers. If that bet wins, the numbers are crossed out, and the new end numbers are used for the next stake. After a loss, that loss amount goes to the end of the list, and the process starts again. It’s a time-consuming and complicated strategy to keep track of.
Andrucci Roulette Strategy
The Andrucci is a go-big strategy. It also takes a lot of work and assumes a big bankroll. After playing between 30 and 40 1:1 bets, you note every number that comes up. Then, you study those results to look for the most frequent ones to play going forward.
Fibonacci Roulette Strategy
Each number is the sum of the previous two in the Fibonacci sequence. For a roulette strategy related to the units of stake played each time. After a loss, you go back two steps in the Fibonacci sequence for the next stake. A win, and you go to the following number in the sequence. The strategy can take a lot of work and money to get where you want to be.
Tips & Tricks for Playing Roulette
Roulette should be experienced first before being gambled on. Play some free games online and learn the ins and outs. Get used to the bets, ratios and probabilities. The more you understand, the better your approach to the game will likely be.
Explore the suitable tables that fit and play with strategies on a piece of paper first in dry runs to find the ones that appeal to your style. Always manage your bankroll, never play with more than you can afford to lose and stick to your predetermined plan.
The biggest tip for playing roulette is knowing when to call it a day and walk away.
Factors that Affect Roulette Strategies
As can be seen above, there are different approaches players can take. There are also factors at the table that can affect strategies.
Type of Roulette – There are European, American, and French roulette rules and tables. There are even more variations of the game at online casinos. The different games have different rules, and American Roulette has that extra slot compared to European tables. American play returns the worst odds value.
Payouts & Limits – Different roulette games will also have their different payouts and betting limits to factor in. A payout limit could hinder what you need to win to cover previous losses.
Bankroll – All roulette strategies do assume very deep pockets. If a losing streak happens, you will have to reach deeper and deeper into it, waiting for a win to fall. The bottom can be hit before that happens.
Roulette System Bets: What type of bet does a given roulette strategy require? Are they Inside or Outside bets? Make sure you are happy with what a strategy calls for regarding risk.
Roulette Variations & Their Strategies
There are three traditional versions of roulette, American, European and French. Here is a breakdown of what they are and what it means regarding strategy.
American – The table which has the extra slot. The Double Zero favours the House, cutting down fractionally on the value across the rest of the table compared to European. Even though there is an extra slot, the payouts do not change.
European – Arguably the most popular form of Roulette with the standard 36 numbers and the green zero segment. European House edge is at 2.7%, meaning there is better value there against American ones.
French – Depending on your game, the green zero can pay back half of an Even bet or leave the chips to ride for the next spin. So there is extra insurance with ‘la partage’ or ‘en prison’ under French rules. The edge is the same as European tables.
Top 10 Tips to Win at Online Roulette
- Play for better odds and returns at French or European tables
- Stick to mostly outside bets for lower risk
- Look for low minimum bet tables
- Avoid single-number bets
- ‘Surrender’ or ‘In Prison’ rules create an advantage
- Play practice games to familiarise yourself with action
- Learn the rules inside out
- Diversify your plans
- Have a roulette betting strategy
- Manage your money
Ready to Play Roulette Online?
Online roulette can be enjoyed on a website or an app in various ways. There are random number-generated outcomes at virtual or live dealer tables to play. A roulette strategy can still be applied.
The same types of bets can be played, such as red or black, odd or even, single numbers or groups of numbers. You will want to check the payouts at the online tables first before playing, as they vary greatly.
Online roulette is easy to learn and fun to play, but it also involves risk and uncertainty, but plenty of online casinos offer free play for practice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the most successful roulette strategy?
There is no one size fits all best strategy. But arguably, the most popular roulette strategy is the Martingale System, primarily because it is probably the one that is used the most.
What is the safest roulette strategy?
Strategies or options like a Reverse Martingale or the simple D’Alembert, where stake decreases after a loss, can suit beginners better. Also, strategies that focus on lower-risk Outside bets.
What is the smartest bet in roulette?
Sticking to the Outside of the table is usually the best way. The Even bets, Columns or 12s are decent ways to go. Target the smaller odds as seeking more frequent smaller wins is a sensible approach.
What is the 3 2 rule in roulette?
It is a roulette strategy that tries to cover many numbers. For example, three chips go on a 1:1 bet, while two chips go on a Column.
What numbers hit most in roulette?
Every number has an equal chance of being hit on a given spin. 17 has long been associated with being a lucky number at the table. Others point towards 7, 17, 23 and 24.
Will any roulette strategy guarantee that I win each time?
If you covered every number on a Roulette table, the House edge would take away that profitability immediately because of all the lost stakes. So no roulette strategy can guarantee a profit – think of them as instructions instead.
Will I need a different strategy for winning at online roulette compared to offline?
Not really. A standard roulette strategy would still follow the same principles as a progression betting strategy. In addition, strategies can be taken online.
