Roulette Strategies

Roulette is a casino favorite in part because of its simplicity, an element that makes it a good game for players new to the casino environment. The rules are easy to learn and the game takes less than a minute to play.

Despite this simplicity, however, a number of strategies have been devised, many of which we've outlined for you below. The goal is to find ways to make money, and while some methods are more effective than others, knowing all of these strategies can only help you at the Roulette table.

Roulette Systems

Every casino, both brick and mortar and online, has roulette players who stare at the spinning roulette wheel and just hope for a win. There's nothing wrong with that, but just as a smart player would know several blackjack strategies, so must a roulette player. Deciding on a roulette strategy allows you to start playing before the wheel spins. It means betting according to a plan and sticking to that plan, knowing that nothing beats a cool head and a time-honored strategy. Here are some systems that work for all the different variations of Roulette.

Martingale and Reverse Martingale System

In the Martingale system, players start with an even money bet on the table and double that bet if they lose. This pattern continues in subsequent rounds: If you lose, you double; if you win, you return to your original bet. This strategy allows you to recoup your losses in a single spin. As long as players don't have an extended losing streak that pushes them over their bankroll, they can quickly recover from losses and bank their winnings.

The reverse martingale is similar, except that players increase their bets after wins and decrease their bets after losses. The goal is to make hot streaks really count, so while there's no mathematical advantage, it can make the game more entertaining.

 

Unfortunately, most online casinos today have ways of preventing the Martingale and Reverse Martingale systems from being used after a certain point (for example, you can't bet over a certain amount) - so you should use these systems with caution online, or choose a casino that allows you to continue.

Fibonacci and Reverse Fibonacci System

Remember the Fibonacci system from Math class? 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 24…

Here’s how using Fibonacci numbers can help with roulette:

• In this case, 1 represents your unit, which is whatever you’re willing to bet in the beginning. Let’s say that’s $10.
• If you lose the first round, you add the next numbers in the sequence and you bet that amount on the next round.
  • In our $10 example, your second bet would be for 1 + 2 in the sequence, or $10 + $20 = $30)
• But if you win, you delete the most recent two numbers of the Fibonacci sequence.
  • In our $10 example, you would delete the 0, and your second bet would be for the first 1 in the sequence, again, or $10.
  • If, however, you were betting after a win that followed three losses, and your first bet was for $10 (or 1), your second bet was for $30 (or 1 + 2), your third bet was for $50 (or 2 + 3), and your fourth bet (your first winning bet) was for $80 (or 3 + 5). At this point, you would remove the 3 and the 5, making your fifth bet worth $20 (or 2, the number directly in front of the two numbers you deleted).
• This lowers your bet and allows a safe return towards the starting amount.

Players appreciate the Fibonacci system because it avoids the high variance of the Martingale system. However, it should be noted that it takes a much longer time to recover losses using the Fibonacci system.

The Reverse Fibonacci, like the Reverse Martingale, instead has winners increase bets after wins instead of losses. After a win, players move one step forward in the sequence, and after a loss, they move two steps back.

Labouchere System

The Labouchere system is perfect for risk-averse players.

Before the game starts, choose a Stop Win. This is the amount of money (within reason) that you would like to win. Let's say the stop win is $50.

Next, make a list that works up to your stop-win in a Labouchere system of even units. For example:

1. Bet the sum of your first and last numbers: 1 + 3 = 4 units Cross out the highest number: 1, 2 Bet your first and last numbers: 1 + 2 = 3 units Add your loss to the list: 1, 2, 3 Bet your first and last numbers

Note: If you lose in step 2 above, you would add the number 4 to your list, so your list would be 1, 2, 3, 4, and you would bet 1 + 4 = 5 in step 4 above.

The Labouchere system works because the stop-win number allows the player to stay focused and aware of his or her strategy. If the stop-win number is $50, the player knows to cross out all the numbers, collect the $50 in winnings, and walk away with a win.

D’Alembert System

The D'Alembert system is one of the simplest. To begin, choose a starting bet. After each loss, increase your bet by one unit. After each win, decrease your bet by one unit.

A word of caution: The D'Alembert System is based on the Gambler's Fallacy - that wins are more likely after a losing streak and losses are more likely after a winning streak. This is completely false, as the odds reset with each new spin of the roulette wheel.

Other Systems

There are many other betting systems for roulette,

but most others rely on the gambler's fallacy mentioned above. Other systems aim to follow "streaks" and look for patterns in randomness, but players must understand that roulette is a game of luck, and no spin is connected to any other spin of the wheel. It is wise to follow systems that offer advice on prudent betting, or systems like the Labouchere that have a stop-win built in to protect your pot from your ambition.

There are many betting systems sold online that promise guaranteed winnings. These are not real roulette systems and should not be trusted.

General Betting Tips

Playing European Instead of US Roulette

A European Roulette table has a green '0' at the top, and an American Roulette table has an additional '00' next to the '0'. This means that there is one more possible place for the ball to land on the American table, and the odds of winning on a European table are slightly better!

Outside and Inside Betting

It is important to understand the difference between outside bets and inside bets at the Roulette table. Outside bets are a shortcut to betting on multiple numbers with a single bet, following a specific pattern found on the outside of each of the numbered boxes (see image below). Inside bets also allow you to bet on multiple numbers with a single bet, but only on individual number spots or a number of adjacent number spots.

Outside bets include:

• Dozen Bets: Players can bet on the first dozen (1-12), second dozen (13-24), or third dozen (25-36) Column bets: The numbers are arranged in three columns on the roulette table, and players can bet on entire columns at a time: Players can place individual bets on adjacent numbers to form an M-shaped "snake" on the table. Some land-based casinos offer this as a standard bet, although most online casinos require players to place these bets individually.

Inside bets include:

• Straight: A bet on a single number Split: Betting on two numbers by placing a chip on the line between them: Also known as a row or line bet, players may wager on a row of three numbers to hit (for example, 4, 5, or 6) by placing a chip on the vertical line separating the inside and outside betting areas of that row.
• Corner: Bets on four numbers at once by placing the chip on the intersection of four numbers.
• A line of six: Also known as a double street bet, the six line allows players to bet on two streets or rows at once. This bet is placed similarly to the street bet, but at the intersection of the vertical line and the horizontal line dividing the two streets you wish to bet on.
• Trio: Players may wager on either 0-1-2 or 0-2-3 in single-zero layout games. The house edge on this bet is higher than on other bets, making it a poor bet.
• The basket: In Double Zero layout games, players may wager 0-1-2, 0-00-2, or 00-2-3. Like the Trio bet, the Corner bet has a higher house edge than other bets.
• Top row: Also available only on Double Zero layout games, this bet allows players to wager on 0-00-1-2-3, and also has a higher house edge.

Other Betting and Money Management Tips

• Roulette is a game of luck, and it’s easy to fall into a negative thought pattern where you are convinced that the wheel is working against you.
• Bet with your head, not your emotions. Never let yourself get caught up in the thrill of a winning streak. Instead of betting on your lucky number, which has lower odds as a single digit, bet on higher odds options like black/red, even/odd, or high/low.
• Be aware of the odds of the table you’re playing on. American tables have an extra number (00). It’s just by a bit, but the odds are still slightly better on European or French roulette tables.
• Never jump into a roulette game without a strategy, even if it’s just a general commitment to a stop-win. It’s easy to fall for the gambler’s fallacy, but remembering why you’re playing and what you’re after can help keep you focused.