Strategies in Roulette
Roulette is one of the most thrilling and fun casino games around, but it also has among the worst odds for players. There are some strategies in roulette, though, that can improve your chances a little. However, it’s important to remember that no strategy can guarantee you regularly win at roulette. You certainly won’t be making consistent profits using them unless you get consistently lucky. However, with the best roulette strategies, you might find you have better control over your game and can maximize winning streaks and minimize losses from losing streaks. We take a closer look at the most commonly used roulette strategies so that you can find one that fits your style of play.
How to Get Started with Roulette Strategy
Before we dive into the various and numerous strategies you can employ at the online roulette tables, we want to tell you what you'll need to focus on before you choose which works best for you. Roulette is a casino game that takes a lot of dedication and patience to understand - especially with regard to the different bets, odds, and payouts.
For that reason, if you're looking for a strategy you can use to try and beat roulette, you need to remember the following:
- It could be necessary to experiment with various roulette strategies before identifying the most suitable one for your preferences.
- Consequently, there exist diverse categories of roulette strategies to experiment with, each carrying its own strengths and weaknesses.
- While there's no foolproof assurance of winning in roulette, acquainting yourself with the odds and diverse betting options can enhance your likelihood of success.
Understand You Will Not Win at Roulette Every Time
Like with other casino games, the house edge of roulette means the odds are always stacked against you when playing. Roulette is a game of chance that gives online casinos a house edge. Admittedly, the house edge in roulette is fairly low when compared to other casino games, such as video slots, but it is not quite as low as a few other table games, including blackjack.
The house edge basically means the casino will turn a profit on all roulette tables over an extended period of time. The mathematics behind the game ensures this. While you can still enjoy profitable sessions, the results and how the house edge affects each player are random. You could double your money, but the casino will make that back and more from the other players taking part over an extended period of time.
For that reason, never expect to win at roulette, no matter what fancy strategy you use. Your level of success will still come down to chance.
Factors That Will Affect Your Roulette Strategies
There are a number of different factors that will determine which is the best strategy to use when trying to beat roulette. These include the betting limits on the table you're playing, the variation of roulette you're playing, and the different bets you use.
Betting Limits: Before you decide on a roulette strategy, consider the maximum and minimum bet allowed at your current table. This is particularly important if you're opting for a progressive roulette strategy. These require you to increase your bets after either winning or losing a round. With that in mind, you want to ensure you have a minimum bet low enough and a betting limit high enough, so you can continue to increase bets many times before you hit the limit (which is where these strategies can fall apart).
Types of Roulette Games: Additionally, at a roulette casino, you will come across different variants of the game, one which gives double the house edge over others.
- European Roulette: This has a house edge of 2.70%, which equates to an RTP of 97.30%.
- French Roulette: This also has a house edge of 2.70%, which equates to an RTP of 97.30%. However, with the La Partage rule active, that house edge is halved to 1.35%.
- American Roulette: When compared to the European roulette wheel, or French for that matter, the American wheel has an extra pocket. That is the double-green zero (00), which acts in the same way as the single zero. It cancels most bets placed and is where the casino gets its house edge. Therefore, with two green pockets, American roulette has a 5.26% house edge (or 94.74% RTP).
For that reason, you should play European Roulette or French Roulette over the American variation. That is if you value a higher chance of winning. Only play American Roulette if you have no other choice - even then, we'd suggest playing a different casino table game instead.
Different Types of Roulette Strategies
Before delving into the specific roulette strategies you can employ at roulette tables, it's crucial to understand that these strategies can be categorized into two primary types, each aligning with one of the following distinctions:
- Progressive roulette strategies: As a basic explanation, a progressive roulette strategy entails systematically increasing your wager size after every round. This approach necessitates ensuring your bankroll's capacity to accommodate escalating bets, but it also entails heightened risk. Among the strategies falling under this category are renowned names like Martingale, Fibonacci, and D'Alembert, some of the most prominent within the realm of roulette strategies.
- Non-Progressive Roulette Strategies: Conversely, non-progressive strategies tend to offer a simpler learning curve and application process for your gameplay, albeit accompanied by their own inherent risks. As the label suggests, a non-progressive roulette strategy involves consistent wagers of the same amount per round. This strategy proves advantageous when managing a confined bankroll or seeking to regulate betting limits.
If you're new to roulette strategies, we recommend you stick to non-progressive systems for the time being. As you get more experience, you can start to experiment with some of the progressive systems in this guide.
Popular Non-Progressive Strategies
Non-progressive systems don’t involve increasing your bet after a round. Instead, they either let you change your bet as you please or don’t allow you to change it at all.
Constant Bet Roulette Strategy
One such approach is the constant bet strategy that involves making the same bet every time with absolutely no variation in terms of the amount you bet or the number(s) you bet on. So, it would mean betting $1 on “0”, for example, for the entire session.
It’s a good way to play the game for a decent amount of time while also retaining a reasonable chance of winning some money.
Constant Proportion Roulette Strategy
Another approach is the constant proportion strategy, which is basically the same as the previous approach. The difference is that instead of an absolute number, the size of your bet will be the same percentage of your budget.
The advantage of this strategy is that your bets will increase as you win, so you have a better chance of winning big. On the other hand, if you lose, your bets will also grow smaller, so you will be able to spend more time at the table.
Andrucci Strategy
The Andrucci strategy is what we'd class higher risk. It is not a betting system as such and requires you to monitor the numbers that win. Essentially, you play 30 rounds, placing a random straight bet each time. As the results come in, you note down the winning numbers. The theory is certain numbers will pay more frequently (although science does not back this up).
Using the notes, you should be able to tell which numbers paid the most frequently during the 30 bets placed. Now, you just place a straight-up bet on those same numbers.
All-In Roulette Strategy
A more aggressive betting strategy is the all-in strategy, which could be considered the nuclear option. In essence, it consists of betting your entire budget every time – that’s if you’re lucky enough to get more than one spin.
James Bond Strategy
Another popular non-progressive betting system is called the James Bond strategy, which was devised by Ian Fleming in his book “Casino Royale.” The system, in essence, involves betting the same amount every round but placing your bets on practically half the table to increase your chances of winning.
An example of how to play using the James Bond roulette strategy to place a €/$20 bet:
- €/$1 on the green zero
- €/$14 on 19-36 (High Numbers) outside bet
- €/$5 on the 13-18 six-line (or double street bet)
With those bets, you have essentially covered two-thirds of the roulette wheel/board which theoretically means you should win 2 out of 3 times (though chance does not work like that). You will only lose when the ball lands on any number between 1 and 12.
The possible outcomes are:
- 1-12: You lose your entire €/$20 stake.
- 13-18: You win €/$25 at 5:1 and have a €/$5 profit.
- 19-36: You win €/$28 at 1:1 and have a €/$8 profit.
- 0: You win €/$35 at 35:1 for a €/$15 profit.
Popular Progressive Strategies
Progressive betting strategies can be classified into three categories, namely positive progression, negative progression or regression, and flat progression. In opposite to non-progressive strategies, these roulette strategies require you to increase or decrease your bets depending on the previous result. However, the three categories above describe the different types of progressive strategies and how and why those bets change.
The Martingale Strategy
While impossible to call it the most successful roulette strategy, the Martingale system is most certainly the most well-known. It is not only used in roulette but in numerous other online gambling games as well. Players use the Martingale system on even money bets or side bets when playing Craps, Blackjack, Baccarat, and online slots. It's even used in sports betting.
Simple to use and understand, the Martingale roulette strategy is based on doubling your even money bet after a loss. If you win, you stay at your original betting unit and continue as normal. After a loss, you double your bet and continue to double your bet each time until you win. At this point, you should have covered all previous losses. You reset back to your original stake and start the process. The problem with this type of strategy is a losing streak could result in you having to place huge bets. Additionally, if you run into the table betting limit, you can no longer double.
Below is an example of how the Martingale might play out:
Bet Number Bet Amount ($) Outcome Total Win/Loss ($) Accumulated Profit ($) 1 1 Loss -1 -1 2 2 Loss -2 -3 3 4 Loss -4 -7 4 8 Loss -8 -15 5 16 Loss -16 -31 6 32 Win 32 1
Note: After six bets, by using the Martingale strategy and winning on the sixth bet, you end up with a net profit of $1.
Fibonacci Roulette Strategy
This popular betting system follows the same principle as the Fibonacci number sequence, where the next number is obtained by adding the two preceding numbers:
0, 1, 1 (0+1), 2 (1+1), 3 (1+2), 5 (2+3), 8 (3+5), 13 (5+8), and so on...
In the context of roulette, this sequence determines your wager for each bet, with the amount being the sum of the two previous bets. If you win, you regress two places in the sequence; if you lose, you move to the next number in the sequence. The strategy begins with a $1 betting unit wager.
Bet Number Bet Amount ($) Outcome Total Win/Loss ($) Accumulated Profit ($) 1 1 Loss -1 -1 2 1 Loss -1 -2 3 2 Loss -2 -4 4 3 Loss -3 -7 5 5 Loss -5 -12 6 8 Loss -8 -20 7 13 Win 26 6
Note: After seven bets using the Fibonacci strategy and winning the seventh bet, you end up with a net profit of $6.
Reverse Martingale Strategy (Positive Progression)
One positive progressive betting system is the Reverse Martingale strategy, which is also known as the Paroli roulette strategy. It is quite effective because it gives you a reasonable chance of a big win, but it also ensures the pace of the game is slow enough that you can enjoy playing for a while.
The popular Martingale strategy, which is a regressive system, says that you should increase your bet every time you lose. The idea is to recoup your losses, but statistically, it’s a far more aggressive approach with a much greater chance of quickly losing your money. The idea is to maximize how much you profit from a winning streak.
The Reverse Martingale, on the other hand, requires you to place bigger bets only when you win. The idea is to bet the full amount you won. If the bet loses, you keep placing the same small bet you started with.
Bet Number Bet Amount ($) Outcome Total Win/Loss ($) Accumulated Profit ($) 1 1 Loss -1 -1 2 1 Loss -1 -2 3 1 Win 2 0 4 2 Win 4 4 5 4 Loss -4 0 6 1 Win 2 2 7 2 Win 4 6
Note: With this sequence and the Reverse Martingale strategy, you end with a net profit of $6.
Progressive Fractional Roulette Strategy (Positive Progression)
Another approach is the progressive fractional strategy, which is similar to the reverse Martingale strategy, except it’s ideal for players who don’t want to risk all the money they’ve won. So, with this approach, instead of betting the whole amount you won, you would only bet a portion of it. The percentage is up to you to decide, of course.
Bet Number Bet Amount ($) Outcome Total Win/Loss ($) Accumulated Profit ($) 1 1 Win 2 1 2 1.5 Win 3 2.5 3 2 Win 4 4.5 4 2.5 Loss -2.5 2 5 1 Loss -1 1 6 1 Loss -1 0 7 1 Win 2 2
Note: After 7 bets using the Progressive Fractional Roulette Strategy with three wins followed by three losses, you end with a net profit of $2.
D'Alembert Roulette Strategy (Negative Progression)
Another strategy often used by players attempting to win roulette is the D'Alembert strategy. This is a simple betting system that involves increasing your bet unit by one after a loss and reducing it by one after a win. This is a more passive strategy as you're not doubling or having bets, just increasing or decreasing by a single unit.
Bet Number Bet Amount ($) Outcome Total Win/Loss ($) Accumulated Profit ($) 1 1 Loss -1 -1 2 2 Loss -2 -3 3 3 Loss -3 -6 4 4 Win 8 2 5 3 Win 6 5 6 2 Win 4 7 7 1 Loss -1 6
Note: After 7 bets using the D'Alembert Roulette Strategy with three losses followed by three wins and then a loss, you end with a net profit of $6.
Labouchere Strategy (Negative Progression)
The Labouchere strategy is a regressive system with a twist. Firstly, it’s designed for bets on even chances, such as red or black. The idea is to use a sequence of numbers representing how much you want to bet. That sequence is adjusted depending on your results. Each bet is the first and last number in your sequence. After a win, you remove the first and last numbers from your sequence and after a losing bet, you add the previous bet amount to the end of the sequence.
As an example, you use the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 sequence, and your next few hands play out like the following:
Bet Number Sequence Bet Amount ($) Outcome Total Win/Loss ($) Accumulated Profit ($) 1 1-2-3 4 Loss -4 -4 2 1-2-3-4 5 Win 10 6 3 2-3 5 Loss -5 1 4 2-3-5 7 Loss -7 -6 5 2-3-5-7 9 Win 18 12 6 3-5 8 Win 16 28
Note: After 6 bets using the Labouchere Strategy and reaching the end of the sequence (clearing all numbers), you'd have a net profit of $28.
Hollandish Roulette Betting Strategy
Another regressive betting system is the Hollandish betting system, which requires you to increase your bet every time you suffer a net loss from a group of three bets. You place three bets of the same value and establish the net profit/loss of those bets. If there is a net loss, you increase your next group of bets by one unit. This continues until a group of bets puts you into a net profit. At that point, you rest back to your original group bets and repeat the process.
Bet Number Block Bet Amount ($) Outcome Total Win/Loss ($) Accumulated Profit ($) 1 1 1 Loss -1 -1 2 1 1 Loss -1 -2 3 1 1 Win 2 0 4 2 2 Loss -2 -2 5 2 2 Win 4 2 6 2 2 Loss -2 0 7 3 3 Win 6 6 8 3 3 Win 6 12 9 3 3 Loss -3 9
Note: Following the above sequence, you'd end up with a net profit of $9 after 9 bets.
Other Roulette Strategies and Systems to Consider
The roulette strategies mentioned above are the most common. However, the following are some lesser-known strategies that many players use at the roulette tables.
Covering the Table
Although not an exact strategy, many players place bets that will cover a wider variety of results. For instance, a player might bet on red, odd, and the 1st 12 numbers. If all come in at the same time, you win big, but even if one or two bets miss out and you win one, you lose less than you would when placing a single type of bet.
Column/Dozen Betting
A simple strategy that involves just one bet and a potential payout of 2:1, is the Column/Dozen betting strategy. Just bet on one of the dozens or columns to cover 1/3 of the roulette wheel. This should come in 1 in 3 times on average.
Double Street Quad Strategy
This is a combination bet that covers close to half the roulette board. Place two double street bets covering six numbers each, one corner bet, and a straight bet. This covers 17 numbers in total.
Five Quad Strategy
Placing your chip in the middle of four numbers is a quad bet. In a five-quad strategy, you place four of these bets and a single straight-up bet. This bet should come in more often than not, as you're covering 21 numbers.
Tier et Tout Strategy
This is a strategy designed to take advantage of hot streaks. First, you decide how many chips you want to place. Then, you bet one-third of those chips on an even money bet.
- If your bet comes in, you add all profits to your original pot and then bet one-third of the pool on the next bet.
- If you lose the first bet, you then bet the remaining two-thirds of the starting bankroll.
- If the total pot becomes indivisible by 3, you round it down and “bank” the extra. This means you set aside the excess amount rather than betting it, ensuring that you can still divide your betting pool into one-third and two-thirds.
Kavouras Bet
Another interesting strategy, the Kavouras bet, is a combination bet that covers 20 numbers on the roulette wheel. Place one unit on the 0, 1, 2, 3, two units on the double street covering 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36, and a single unit on each of the 8/11, 13/14, 15/18, 17/20, or 27/30 splits.
Oscar's Grind
A simple strategy, Oscar's Grind essentially requires placing a single unit on an even money bet until one unit of profit is made. Of course, if you win straight off, you have that profit and return to the same unit size. However, if you lose and then win, it is at this point that you increase your wager by one unit, but only if this doesn't result in a profit. You continue to do this until you're in profit by one unit—at which point you reset the betting string.
Shotwell Betting System
This is a strategy designed to distribute your bets evenly across the roulette wheel, rather than on the table. You start with a six-line bet and then place straight bets on numbers, ensuring no more than three numbers between your chosen bets. The goal is to have a balanced coverage of the wheel.
Dealer's Signature
Not really a strategy per see, the dealer's signature is a theory that some dealers always release the ball at the same speed and angle. The belief is this will throw up patterns in the results. Those that use this strategy will monitor the dealer to establish such patterns and bet accordingly.
Column/Dozen Progressive Betting System
This is using progressive betting systems such as the Martingale but using column bets rather than even money bets.
How to Choose the Best Roulette Strategy?
As you can see, there are as many different strategies as there are roulette variants and variations. Before you decide which is the best roulette strategy, you really should have tested them all out beforehand before you play roulette games online. You may find that you have more success with certain betting strategies for the size of the bets you want to place and the bankroll you have.
Aside from the above, your decision may also depend on a few other factors, such as:
- Are you new to playing roulette or an experienced player?
- What is the size of your bankroll, and is this money you can afford to lose?
- What is the reason you play roulette? Is it just for fun, to improve at the game, or simply to make money?
Once you answer the above questions, you can decide which of the best roulette strategies to use.
Our Top Tips When Playing Roulette
Before you start playing roulette online and implementing the different strategies, we suggest you read through our top roulette tips. Here, we give you snippets of advice that could ensure your game improves, you manage losses better and know what not to do at a roulette table. These are general roulette tips and are not specifically tied in with using betting strategies. However, many will work alongside the best betting systems.
Practice on Free Roulette Tables
As with almost any other type of casino game, it is important to practice without the risk of losing money. There are many demo versions of RNG roulette games that allow you to do this. You can try out the roulette betting systems knowing if they don't come off, you haven't lost anything. Once you have an understanding of the best roulette strategy for you, you can then think about putting it into practice on a real money roulette table. You will also have to consider whether non-progressive or progressive strategies work best for you.
Understand the Rules of the Roulette Game You're Playing
Not every variation of roulette is the same, and each will have its own rules, bet types, and odds which will impact the roulette strategy you use. We're not just talking about the French, American, and European roulette variations either. There are a ton of unique titles, such as those with two balls and others that have random multipliers. Make sure you understand the roulette game you're playing.
Place Smaller Bets to Ensure Longer Sessions
Let's be frank, using most roulette strategies will involve following a set betting pattern, so betting your entire bankroll within a few rounds is not going to get the most out of a strategy. The only exception is the all-in strategy which is hardly what we'd even call a strategy. You just go all-in and continue if you win or go home empty-handed if you lose. Instead, you need to establish a minimum bet for your bankroll that allows you to enjoy many rounds. That way, you can test out the most successful roulette strategies in full.
Stick to Outside Bets
Although there are some exceptions, many of the best roulette strategies require you to use place outside bets such as the odd/even or red/black even money bets or 2 to 1 odds bets. This is because these bets will come in often. In the case of even money bets, these are essentially 50/50 odds bets. These work better in a betting system than many of the other bets available. Whether or not you use a strategy, we suggest sticking to outside bets - especially if you're new to roulette.
Take Advantage of Online Casino Bonuses
While it is not always easy to find online casino bonuses for table games such as roulette, some do exist. The only difference is you may have to endure higher wagering requirements when wagering any bonus funds. Match deposit bonuses usually restrict table games to a 5% - 20% wagering contribution. Still, there are other casino bonuses, such as cashback deals, that will give you back a portion of your week's roulette losses.
Try Placing a Few Combination Bets
While we advise new players to stick to outside bets, if you're more experienced, you might want to mix things up by placing combination bets. You could place a few straight bets alongside outside bets such as dozen bets, column bets or snake bets. You could also use your chips to place split bets and corner bets to cover a portion of the roulette wheel. Combination bets work as a way of hedging your bets so that you have a better chance of winning.
Ready to Play Roulette?
These are some of the most popular strategies in roulette to help you enjoy the game while also giving you a chance to some big wins. However, it’s important to remember that no roulette strategy is guaranteed to work because it’s one of those games where players will lose money over the long term. This is not to say you cannot enjoy regular winning sessions, just that the odds are stacked against you over the long term.
When you find the right roulette strategy that suits how you like to play, while they offer no guarantees, they do give you a structured betting plan designed to minimize losses and maximize those times when you hit a winning streak.
