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Roulette Strategy – How To Play Roulette And Win

Roulette strategy can be helpful for enjoying this highly social game that encourages camaraderie and packs a healthy dose of suspense. As the wheel spins and you watch that little ball bounce around in hopes that you'll get the coveted 35:1 payout, you can't help but picture how you're going to spend your winnings.

Though Roulette might seem like a simple game on the surface, there are dozens of betting combinations that allow you to place a colorful rainbow of chips across the board. And when you win, you can win big. If you want to learn how to beat the wheel, keep reading for insights on the most popular Roulette betting strategies.

Roulette Strategy Number One – Get to Grips With the Game

The objective of Roulette is quite simple: predict where a tiny little ball will land on a spinning wheel. The wheel is divided into numbered compartments, referred to as pockets, ranging from 0 to 36. Each of the Roulette numbers is assigned a color, either red or black, with the exception of 0 (and 00 for American Roulette), which are green.

You can "win" at Roulette by guessing the outcome of the spin correctly. You can do this by placing a variety of different bets, and tailing your Roulette strategy by betting strategy to increase (or decrease) your odds of winning. Like any luck-based casino game, the lower the odds of winning, the higher the payout.

No matter if you're playing online roulette or test your luck at land-based casinos, you're bound to come across different types of Roulette wheels and tables. There are essentially three types of Roulette: American, European, and French.

While the wheels and tables are mostly the same, the three variations will have different representations and rules regarding the number zero.

Learn the Rules

Before you can figure out how to beat Roulette, you have to understand the rules. Fortunately, the rules are relatively simple, and you can easily familiarize yourself with them by playing roulette online. Once you identify how you want to bet, place your chips on the Roulette table. Many casinos allow you to continue placing bets after the wheel has begun to spin, while other casinos may limit betting action to the timeframe before the wheel is spun.

The ball will bounce around the wheel and eventually land in a single pocket. Wherever the ball settles ultimately determines the outcome of the round. The dealer will then distribute payouts based on where everyone's chips were placed.

Visit our page on how to gamble online for more information.

Get Acquainted With Different Roulette Variations

Depending on where you play, you may see different Roulette variations, including American and European Roulette.

American Roulette has the highest house edge, thanks to having not just one green zero pocket, but two. European Roulette and French Roulette are similar, each having only one zero. French Roulette has additional rules in place for when the ball lands in the zero pocket. One variation is referred to as "en prison," where instead of losing your bet if the ball lands on zero, your chips stay put (in prison, so to speak), and they get to survive another round on the board.

Another rule variation in French Roulette is "la partage." Here if you place an even money bet and the ball lands on zero, you lose half your bet only, instead of the entire bet. Both of these variations help even the playing field between gamblers and the house.

Understand the Roulette Wheel

The Roulette wheel features numbered compartments called pockets that range from 0 to 36. As mentioned, American Roulette has a second zero, and the numbers have background colors that alternate between red and black.

The numbers are in a particular order, which looks random, and they are not numerically sequenced. The type of distribution helps ensure that each spin is independent and unbiased, ensuring there is no predictable outcome based on previous spins.

Understand the Roulette Table Layout

Knowing how the Roulette table is laid out is essential for making informed betting decisions and developing the most successful Roulette strategy. When you see the table, you'll notice that there are several rectangular boxes outside of the colored numbered boxes. This area is referred to as the outside. The numbered boxes are considered the inside.

Another area of the table is the green zero section. If the ball lands here, the house wins, and everyone loses.

There are several different betting options on a Roulette table, allowing you to place bets inside boxes or on lines and corners. These special bets allow you to wager on specific number combinations that can diversify your betting strategy and give you more options to win.

The Most Popular Roulette Strategies

Despite there being numerous strategies that players who want to know how to win at Roulette can employ, they tend to be broken down into two categories: progressive and non-progressive.

Progressive bets involve increasing the size of your bet for each subsequent round. Depending on the exact strategy you use, this might mean increasing or decreasing your bet according to the outcome of your previous wager. The most popular strategies include:

Martingale

Paroli

D'Alembert

Parlay

Fibonacci

Labouchere

As you choose your strategy and plan your bets, be aware that the progressive betting increments do not necessarily have to be equal.

Non-progressive betting, on the other hand, requires that the player place the same wager for each round, regardless of whether the previous spin of the Roulette wheel resulted in a win or loss. The most famous non-progressive strategy is called the "all-in" system, in which you put your entire bankroll on the table each time you bet. If you don't plan on spending all night at the Roulette table, this strategy can get you in and out quickly.

Regardless of your strategy, keep in mind that the house always has an edge, and no strategy or system can beat it in the long term. This is because an even money bet that allows you to double your money will never have even money odds. For example, betting on black does not mean you have a 50% chance of winning because of the 37 (or 38) numbers on the Roulette wheel; only 18 of them are black.

The slight difference between an even money bet and the house odds gives the house a small margin that allows them to predictably win over time.

The Martingale Betting Strategy

The Martingale roulette strategy is simple and easy to follow, so it's ideal for beginning gamblers and those who are new to Roulette. It also happens to be a more well-known Roulette strategy, so if you want support from fellow friends at the table, they'll be able to help you.

The way it works is that you double your bet after each loss. Once you win, you return to your initial bet.

For example, if you start by betting a $10 bet and you lose, your next bet is $20. Another consecutive loss means you bet $40 next. If you win with the $40 bet, you win $80 (which covers your previous losses and yields a small profit), and then you go back to your initial $10 bet and repeat.

If you want to use this strategy, be sure to use it on even money bets: red/black, odd/even, or high/low. Also, to ensure you get the most gameplay from your bankroll, your initial bet should be only about 2% to 3% of what you've got at the table. So, if you're playing with $500, your threshold bet should be between $10 and $15.

Pros:

Easy to understand

Simple to apply

High chance of recovering any losses

Winning bets guarantee at least a small profit

Cons:

A long losing streak can wipe out your entire bankroll

The Reverse Martingale System (Paroli)

Also referred to as "Paroli" and "positive progression staking," the Reverse Martingale is a Roulette betting strategy that involves changing the quantity of your wager based on the outcome of the previous round. Specifically, when you lose a bet, you keep the quantity of your next round of betting the same. However, when you win a bet, you double your stake for the next spin of the wheel.

Like the Martingale strategy, you will only use this strategy on even money bets. The overall goal is to be able to win and double your bet for three consecutive spins. If you win three bets in a row, go back to your original bet.

For example, if your initial stake was $5 and you won, your second bet would be $10. A win here would cause you to next wager $20. If you win that bet, return to your original $5 bet on the next spin. This strategy is considered lower risk because you only increase your wager after winning, instead of progressively increasing your bet on a losing streak.

Pros:

Lower risk strategy than Martingale

Increasing bets are based on wins, not losses

Easy to understand

Flexible betting structure

Cons:

Success depends on winning streaks

May encourage reckless betting among undisciplined players

The D'Alembert Roulette Strategy

Designed for players with bigger bankrolls, the D'Alembert System is named at a 19th-century French mathematician. Therefore, it's stood the test of time and is considered a solid betting formula.

This system is like Martingale, where you bet for even money, but it's less aggressive. The key difference is in how betting increments are structured.

Under this system, you would determine initial bet based on a system of betting units. For example, 1% of your bankroll would be 1 unit. The initial bet should be 5 units, or 5% of your bankroll. From there, subtract one unit for each win, and add one unit for each loss.

So, if you're betting $5 and win, your next bet would be $4. If your $5 bet resulted in a loss, your next bet should be $6.

This strategy can extend your gameplay because, unlike Martingale, you are not doubling your bet each time you lose. Because the betting increments are more gradual, you can stay at the table longer, even if you're in the midst of a losing streak.

Pros:

More predictably control wins and losses

Easy to understand

Flexible bet sizes

Can gradually adjust bets

Cons:

Limited recovery potential

Vulnerability to table limits

The Fibonacci Sequence

Another even money betting system, the Fibonacci roulette strategy is designed for more experienced players who can keep track of bets in different increments. I

This game strategy based on the 13th-century Fibonacci mathematical number sequence where the previous two numbers in a series are continually added together to get to the next number. In other words, each new number in the sequence is the sum of the previous two.

The sequence looks like this:

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55…

The Fibonacci sequence can go on to infinity, but for the purpose of having a Roulette system, the sequence stops at the tenth number, which is 55.

Again, for each loss, you will increase your betting increment to the next number in the sequence. For a win, you go back two numbers in the sequence. For example, if you bet $5 and lose, your next bet would be $8. If you win when you bet $8, you collect $16, and then your next bet would be $3.

The advantage of this system is that since a win doesn't put you back to your initial bet, you can build your bankroll faster if you're on a winning streak.

Pros:

Straightforward and easy to execute

Allows for small, incremental bets

Can help recoup lost bets with a single win

Cons:

Possibility of repeated losses that wipe out your bankroll

The James Bond Roulette Strategy

Is it any surprise that our favorite British secret agent also has a Roulette strategy named after him?

This strategy allows you to spread out your risk and potentially increase your chances of winning by placing bets on multiple parts of the table. Specifically, the James Bond strategy requires a minimum bet of $20, distributed as follows: $14 on an even money bet, like red or black. Then add $5 on a double street to cover six numbers, and round out the $20 with a straight-up $1 bet on zero.

It's not recommended to use this strategy when playing American Roulette because of the 00 on that particular wheel.

Pros:

Allows for diversified bets

Potential for high payouts

Clear betting structure

Can be adapted to European and French Roulette

Cons:

Not recommended for American roulette

Limited profit potential

The Parlay Roulette Strategy

Known as a lower risk strategy, the Parlay strategy is the opposite of the Martingale strategy. Instead of increasing your bet when you lose and resetting bets to the original amount when you win, you do the reverse. Now, when you lose, you will decrease the size of your bet down to your initial bet. When you win, you will double your bet. Basically, you are "parlaying" those winnings into your next bet.

To prevent this strategy from getting out of control and wiping out your bankroll with a single bet, you might want to set a "profit limit" or max betting increment. For many players, this looks like stopping the double-betting strategy after four wins and then keeping the bet size steady until you lose.

Pros:

Simple, easy to execute strategy

Potential for high returns

Lower risk than other strategies

Cons:

An entire sequence failing can lead to a big loss

Limited bet control

The Andrucci Strategy

Inspired by chaos theory, the Andrucci strategy relies on the adage of "expect the unexpected."

The strategy involves keeping track of the results and identifying patterns to (theoretically) increase your odds of winning. The idea is that if a number is popular and comes up frequently, it's "hot" and has a decent chance of continuing to appear. Keeping track of results is key to developing the best Roulette strategy using this system.

To execute this strategy, start by placing an even money bet 30 times (or just observe and note the results). You can do this based on red/black or odd/even.

Next, note which numbers came up the most during this 30-roll sequence and put a larger straight up bet on the top number. Stick with this same number for the next 15 to 25 or so spins. To diversify your betting strategy, it's also a good idea to place split bets on any other numbers that came up more than once.

Pros:

An exciting system to play

Potential for high payouts

Psychological satisfaction

Allows for some strategy

Cons:

Very high risk

The bets have little table coverage

Roulette Strategies for Advanced Players

For advanced players who can think on their feet and have a high degree of comfort and familiarity with the layout of the Roulette table, there are additional strategies to try. If you're looking for another Roulette strategy to win a fat stack of chips, you can try the Labouchere or Oscar's Grind strategies.

The Labouchere System

This strategy can be more complicated than the previous systems discussed, but it can be easily tailored to fit different gamblers' playing styles. It is sometimes referred to as the "cancellation system" because it involves canceling numbers in your betting sequence based on wins and losses.

Here's how it works: Start by "reverse engineering" how much you want to win. For example, if you want to win $100, you'll have to calculate how many bets it will take to win that amount. If you say 10, the next step is to break that $100 stake into 10 different bets with different increments.

Start by taking the two bets at the end of your sequence and add them together. If you win, you'll remove those numbers from the sequence. Then keep going until you win the desired amount. If you lose, however, you will add the losing wager to the end of your sequence, and start the process over again.

In theory, you'll win your target amount by completing the sequence, but there's always a possibility you'll lose your entire bankroll before you can reach the finish line.

Pros:

Can be a fun strategy to manage

Involves a structured betting sequence

Can be more flexible than other systems

Often allows for short-term profits

Cons:

More complicated than other systems

Requires being organized to follow correctly

Losing streaks can be prohibitively expensive

The Oscar's Grind Strategy

"Discovered" in 1965 by author Allan Wilson, the Oscar's Grind strategy is similar to the famous Martingale system but with substantially lower risk. It is designed to capitalize on winning streaks while simultaneously minimizing the losses associated with a string of bad luck at the Roulette table.

Like other systems, you start with a base betting unit, which should be a small percentage of your total bankroll. Set a target win amount you'd like to achieve after a set number of bets, and then increase your bet by one unit after each win. In the event of a loss, maintain your bet size – do not increase or decrease it.

Once you reach your target profit, start a new cycle with your base betting unit.

Pros:

Provides a predictable betting structure

Capitalizes on winning streaks

Minimizes losses

Cons:

Not effective without a winning streak

Profits can be slow to accumulate

Roulette Betting Options, Payouts & Odds

At first glance, the Roulette table can be incredibly intimidating. The good news is that once you understand the basics of the table layout, you'll be well on your way to exploring all the available betting options, while clearly understanding the various payouts and odds.

If you want to do a deep dive into Roulette rules and gameplay, check out these helpful articles: How To Play Roulette and Roulette Odds.

We also provide you with the best options for where to play online roulette based on different criteria:

Inside & Outside Bets in Roulette

Inside and outside bets refer to where you place your chips on the Roulette table. Again, while it can seem like there are endless variations, they all fall within a select few types of bets:

Inside bets include:

Straight: Placing a bet on a single number by putting your chip(s) in the center of the square.

Split: The option to bet on two numbers simultaneously by putting the chip(s) on the line that straddles their common edge.

Street: The ability to bet on three numbers with a single bet as long as those three numbers are on the same horizontal line. Put your chip(s) at either end of the line.

Corner: As the name suggests, this allows your bet to cover 4 numbers that meet in a corner by placing your bet in the corner that each of the numbers shares.

Line: This wager is placed on a group of six numbers arranged in two adjacent rows. In other words, it's betting on two street bets that each cover three consecutive numbers.

Outside bets consist of placing wagers on the lines outside of the numbered boxes and include:

Column: On the Roulette table, you'll see the numbers laid out in three columns with non-consecutive numbers. A column bet is a wager that guesses the ball will land in one of those three columns.

Dozen: Of the 36 numbers on the Roulette table, you can win by predicting whether the ball lands on 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36, typically labeled as "1st 12," "2nd 12," and "3rd 12."

Red/black: This bet is based on correctly predicting whether the ball will land on a red or black number.

Even/odd: This bet is based on correctly predicting whether the ball will land on an even or odd number.

Low/high: This wager allows you to cover a broad range of numbers with a single bet. Low is for numbers 1-18, and high is for 19-36. Typically, you'll see designated rectangles with these ranges at the corner of the table.

Roulette Payouts

Payouts are based on the amount you'll win if you accurately predict where the Roulette ball will land on the wheel. The lower the odds, the higher the payout, and vice versa. Payouts can be expressed as either a ratio or a multiple of your original bet.

A breakdown of Roulette payouts is as follows:

Bet Payout Straight Bet 35:1 Split Bet 17:1 Street Bet 11:1 Corner Bet 8:1 Line Bet 5:1 Column Bet 2:1 Dozen Bet 2:1 Red/Black Bet 1:1 Even/Odd Bet 1:1 Low/High Bet 1:1 Roulette Odds

Related to the payouts is the concept of Roulette odds, which refers to the probability of a particular outcome occurring. While odds may vary based on the type of Roulette you play, European Roulette odds are as follows:

Bet Odds (approximately) Straight Bet 2.70% Split Bet 5.41% Street Bet 8.11% Corner Bet 10.81% Line Bet 16.22% Column Bet 32.43% Dozen Bet 32.43% Red/Black Bet 48.65% Even/Odd Bet 48.65% Low/High Bet 48.65% Start With Basic Roulette Strategy Principles

Of all the games casino visitors flock to, Roulette is one of the most popular, and having a Roulette strategy is key. Before venturing out to test these systems and strategies in the wild, there are a few basics to understand about Roulette. Keep reading for the best Roulette strategy.

Keep Your Bankroll Limits in Check

Gambling is all fun and games until the losses start to accumulate. Before you sit down at the table, setting a few ground rules for yourself is a good idea.

First, be sure to set a budget, which should reflect the amount of money you can afford to spend on gambling without affecting your ability to pay your bills. Remember, the money you spend on gambling is discretionary income and should only be used for entertainment purposes.

Once you've determined a budget, be sure to stick to it. Decide how much you can afford to wager on a single bet, adhere to those limits, and take a break when necessary. It can be tempting to go on tilt when you're losing and try to win it all back, but this is probably when it's best to cut your losses and step away.

By adopting responsible gambling practices, you can help prevent excessive losses, financial strain that affects your family, and potential gambling-related problems.

Understand RTP & House Edge in Different Types of Roulette Casino Games

All casinos maintain a house edge by adjusting the payouts offered for a wager based on the probability of the player winning. For example, an even money bet will pay you on a 1:1 ratio, meaning a winning $5 bet doubles your money to $10.

However, it's important to note that an even money bet gives you just under a 50% chance of winning. This slightly uneven strategy guarantees that the casino makes money in the long run, no matter how good or long someone's winning streak happens to be. Unfortunately, there is no foolproof winning roulette strategy.

For example, with Roulette, an even money bet would be based on the color of the number – either red or black. However, depending on the type of roulette you're playing, there will be either one or two additional colored numbers representing zero or double zero. The addition of these colored numbers decreases your chances of winning from 50% to either 48.6% or 47.3%, respectively.

This is why it's important to stay away from American Roulette and stick with European Roulette and French Roulette – the addition of the double zero decreases your odds of winning even more by giving the house an additional edge.

Practice Betting Strategies by Playing Roulette Games for Free

Before betting real money at the Roulette table, practicing several rounds for free is highly recommended. This allows you to test out any (or all) of the strategies above without risking a dime of your own money. You might find that you prefer one strategy over another and seem to have better luck with it.

As you improve your skills, become more familiar with the table layout, and feel more comfortable structuring and placing your bets, you can graduate to playing Roulette for real cash.

FAQs

Is It Easier To Win a Roulette Game by Following a Strategy?

While there's never a guarantee that you'll win at the Roulette table, having a structured betting strategy can give you an edge. There's even the infamous story of the gambler who beat Roulette, who gained an advantage by identifying a table's drop zone. This allowed him to predictably eliminate a few numbers from the potential spin outcomes, giving him the edge over the house. Without this ability, you can still balance your risk and reward by understanding which bets yield the highest odds while being disciplined about managing your bankroll.

What Is the Best Roulette Strategy?

There's no one-size-fits-all "best roulette strategy" you should follow religiously when looking for how to win at Roulette. That being said, some (potential) winning strategies can give you an edge. You may want to begin your betting journey by focusing on safer, even money bets like red and black or even and odd. These bets give you nearly 50/50 odds, so you can maximize your chances of winning and reduce your chances of losing it all. Though there's no surefire way to win at Roulette, especially consistently, our best advice is to concentrate on the odds. Sure, you can win big by placing a straight bet on a single number, but that's also a recipe for losing your entire bankroll fast – unless you happen to get lucky.

What Is the Best Advice for How To Win at Roulette?

The best advice to increase your odds of winning is to avoid American Roulette and opt instead for the European roulette table (or French). The reason is that American Roulette has a double zero, which increases the gap between your odds of winning and the house edge. When gambling online, practice different strategies like Martingale, Parlay, Andrucci, and others in demo mode. This allows you to get used to adjusting your bets according to these established Roulette strategies.

What Are the Best Roulette Bets?

While placing a straight bet on a random number on the Roulette wheel can lead to a massive payout and an even bigger thrill, this is not considered the best way to play Roulette, nor is it the best Roulette strategy. Instead, even money bets tend to lead to the most predictable steady wins. As a reminder, even money bets have close to 50/50 odds, and they include: Black/Red Odd/Even High/Low

What Is the Best Roulette Betting Strategy for Beginners?

As a beginner, you should be focusing on familiarizing yourself with the Roulette table and getting a grasp on how different bets can pay off. Our top Roulette tips for beginners include the following: Keep bet increments low Follow a strategy (like the ones listed above) Experiment with different strategies until you find one you like Use any online casino bonuses right away As you explore roulette betting systems, we highly recommend you to first play roulette games online for free. This allows you to get a feel for how to win Roulette and identify the best Roulette bets for you without risking any of your own money.

Best Roulette Strategies And Tips 2024 – Learn How To Play And Win At Roulette

Knowing several roulette strategies when spinning the wheel is often a shrewd move when tackling one of the most versatile games offering many betting options, and as a result, winning opportunities. More notably, you can win big using relatively small bets, making it even more enticing.

Luck goes a long way when playing roulette, but a reliable strategy is the best way to maximize your chances of winning. Fortunately, there are many effective roulette strategies that you can use, and they are easy to master with some learning and practice.

Here is an overview of the top five online roulette strategies to turn you into a pro. This guide also includes other roulette basics, including the various game types, bets, payouts, and more, including some casinos to play at – all of which are licensed and safe to use.

The Best Roulette Strategies

Roulette is a strategic game, and reliable strategies are what separate winners from losers. While there are dozens of roulette playing strategies, some are more effective than others. Here is an overview of the five best roulette betting strategies:

The Andrucci Roulette Strategy

The Andrucci roulette strategy is based on identifying patterns and using them to your advantage. Patterns can come up when playing roulette, and finding reliable patterns can help you win huge straight bets despite losing some money on outside bets.

This roulette strategy works by betting many times on different options and analyzing the results. For example, you can bet minimum amounts 30 times and analyze the results. The goal is to identify the most frequent numbers that are more likely to win. You can then place larger straight bets on these numbers for big wins. However, you need a large bankroll to sustain this strategy because you may need to place many even-money bets and a few straight bets before landing a big win.

The D-Alembert Roulette Strategy

The D-Alembert strategy is reliable and can make you handsome profits at relatively lower risk. It works best for bets with even-money payouts, not straight-up bets. The strategy involves betting five units and either subtracting or adding one unit when you win or lose, respectively. For example, you can start with a bet of $5 and then bet $4 when you win or $6 when you lose.

A bet size of 1% of your bankroll is recommended when using the D-Alembert strategy. The small bet sizes make losses easily manageable. Additionally, you can easily recover the losses and turn a profit with a few wins.

The Fibonacci System

The Fibonacci system is a popular mathematical sequence whereby two numbers add up to make a new number. The basic Fibonacci sequence is 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21, and so on. Similarly, your bet sizes should follow the same sequence if you are on a losing streak. For example, if you bet $1 on red and lose, you should then bet $2, $3, $5, and so on until you win.

Eventually, a win will help you recover all losses and make a small profit. You then reset your bet size when you win. However, you can only use this strategy on bets with even-money payouts. You also need a considerable bankroll to use this strategy, considering how fast the bet sizes can add up – the bet size increments also make this one of the most complicated strategies for playing roulette.

The Martingale System

The Martingale system is one of the simplest roulette playing strategies. It works much like the D-Alembert strategy, with a few differences. It primarily involves consistency in your betting options and wagering amounts. The strategy is simple: double your bet size after every loss while betting on the same option until you win. Eventually, you win enough to cover your losses and earn a small profit.

For example, if you bet $1 on red and lose, then you should bet $2, then $4, $8, and so on until you win. Suppose you win $16 when you bet $8. Your total bets would be ($1+$2+$4+$8) $15, so you would have a profit of $1. You then reset the bet size back to $1 when you win.

However, it is worth noting that this strategy mostly works for bets with even-money payouts, limiting you to outside bets. You also need a substantial bankroll to keep doubling your bet sizes. Knowing when to quit or reset after a long losing streak is also important.

The Paroli Roulette Strategy

The Paroli roulette strategy is essentially the opposite of the Martingale system. The idea is to double your bet size every time you win instead of reducing it. Unlike the Martingale system, you reset your bet sizes to the starting amount after a loss.

The Paroli strategy is one of the most rewarding strategies for roulette, but it can also be risky, considering that your bet sizes keep increasing. To this end, it would be safe to stop doubling your bet sizes after four consecutive wins, depending on your bankroll.

The Rules of Roulette

Roulette rules and playing styles vary slightly depending on the game's variation. Here is a step-by-step overview of how the game works on a roulette table:

Bets are made by placing chips on the table either on numbers, a color, or number ranges

The croupier (dealer) closes the betting session after all bets have been placed

The croupier then spins the wheel and rolls the ball in the opposite direction

The croupier announces the results after the ball lands on one of the slots

The croupier collects all of the losing bets and pays out to the winner

The aim is to predict where you think the ball will land on the roulette wheel. The more specific your bet, the bigger the payout will be. You will get a more considerable payout for betting on the exact number it landed on than you will for selecting the right color, red or black, or choosing the right range of numbers.

There is much more to learn about how roulette works, depending on your preferred variation. While some people simply choose their 'lucky' numbers, others have mathematical strategies or betting patterns to try to cover the biggest amount of numbers on the board. It also helps to use a roulette calculator to work out the odds.

Top 5 Tips on How to Win at Roulette

Choosing a roulette strategy that you enjoy is just one of many things you can do to win more at roulette. You can still do more to increase your likelihood of winning and sharpen your roulette skills over time. Here is an overview of five tested and proven tips to help you improve your winning streak:

1. Study the Roulette Rules & Practice

Roulette involves many moving parts. The rules are many and vary depending on different roulette versions. However, every rule is important because it can determine whether you win or lose. To this end, studying and understanding the rules is crucial to your game.

Playing over and over again is the best way to understand roulette. It not only makes understanding the rules easier but also gives you a feel of how the game works. Fortunately, you can play different roulette variations as many times as you want at most online casinos that offer free roulette. You can also play low-stakes games to add some excitement and inspiration to the experience.

2. Understand the Roulette Table & Various Inside Bets

The roulette table's layout is fundamental to how the game works and the potential outcomes. The numbers' positions and other factors matter depending on the bet type. Additionally, roulette table layouts differ depending on the game type – for example, American roulette features two zeros, while European roulette features one.

Roulette bets also vary and come in different categories, such as inside and outside bets. Inside bets are the most popular betting options. They come in six types, and each type has its pros and cons. Some bets can cost or reward you, so understand how they work before wagering. Understanding other bets types can also help expand your betting options.

3. Use the Best Roulette Betting Strategies

Luck can only get you so far when playing roulette. Roulette is a strategic game, and using an efficient strategy can help increase your winning rate considerably. However, each strategy's efficiency varies depending on different factors, including the game version, bet limits, and bet types. To this end, using the wrong strategies can hurt your game.

Ideally, you should learn and back-test as many roulette strategies as possible, depending on your preferences. You can also develop your own personalized roulette strategy based on your unique tastes.

4. Visit a Reputable Online Roulette Casino

A casino's quality determines your overall gaming experience. For example, unregulated casinos may not play fair, making winning difficult. A casino site with bad web design can also make for poor-quality images, making the game less engaging. In contrast, you wouldn't have much to worry about when playing at a trustworthy, high-quality online casino.

Choosing the right casino entails considering various factors. Overall, the casino should offer your preferred roulette variations, reasonable promotions, good web design, flexible bet limits, and fair gaming policies. Most importantly, it should be licensed and regulated.

Fortunately, virtually all online casinos offer roulette. Most of the casinos also have downloadable mobile apps, enabling you to play roulette on the go.

5. Manage Your Bankroll & Roulette Payouts

You can play roulette for free as many times as you want. However, playing for real money makes it more exciting and rewarding. Losing is also a part of the game, hence the need to manage your bankroll.

Proper bankroll management involves managing your losses. Ideally, you shouldn't risk more than a certain percentage of your bankroll, depending on how much you have. Smaller bankrolls require tighter strategies, while larger ones can allow you to take more risks. However, you should only play for real money after practicing and mastering an effective roulette strategy – remember to always gamble responsibly on roulette.

Managing your roulette payouts is also important. The idea is to win more to pad up your bankroll or take the profits. For example, you can withdraw half of your payouts and use the other half to continue playing.

There are also a number of roulette strategies on Reddit, while social media is another place to pick up some tips on spinning the wheel – do research those giving an opinion first, though.

Roulette Strategy Factors

Roulette involves many probabilities and potential outcomes. To this end, the efficiency of different strategies for playing roulette depends on various factors, including the following:

1. Roulette Betting Limits

Every roulette game has minimum and maximum bet size limits. Some are minimal, while others are only suited for high-stakes players.

High betting limits may be unsustainable for some strategies depending on the size of your bankroll. For example, bet sizes using roulette strategies based on increasing your bet sizes after every loss (such as the Martingale and Fibonacci online roulette strategies) may quickly add up to hundreds of dollars when starting with a minimum bet limit of $10.

2. Roulette Game Type

Some roulette strategies work better at some variations than others. For example, strategies for European roulette are less effective with American roulette because of the extra zero and higher house edge. To this end, it is prudent to back-test your favorite roulette playing strategies using your favorite roulette games. Overall, some roulette variations are easier to win than others – most strategies work best for European and French roulette.

3. Roulette Bet Choice

Roulette bets vary in type. For example, even-money bets are based on broader options, such as red/black or odd/even. While straight bets are based on specific numbers. The former can yield many but small wins, while the latter can produce fewer but larger wins.

Some strategies only work for even-money or straight bets, while others work for both. For example, the Martingale strategy only works for even-money bets, while the Andrucci strategy works for both even-money and straight bets.

Roulette Games to Play

Roulette comes in different variations with slightly different layouts, playing styles, and rules. It is important to distinguish and understand each version to avoid confusion when playing. Here is an overview of the five most popular roulette types:

European Roulette

European roulette is the simplest and most popular roulette variation. This version has only one green pocket, meaning a lower house edge (2.70%) than other versions.

The layout features 36 regular numbers divided into three columns of 12 numbers plus a green zero at the top for a total of 37 slots. The odds of hitting one of the numbers are 36/1, but they technically add up to 37/1 when you factor in the zero segment which you can also bet on. However, there is one significant catch when playing European roulette: all even-money bets and straight bets on other numbers lose if the ball lands on zero.

American Roulette

The American version of roulette takes everything one notch higher than the European version. Most notably, it features two zero pockets (one for 0 and another for 00), bringing the total to 38 pockets. It also features a higher house edge of around 5.26%.

As with European roulette, all even-money and straight bets lose if the ball lands on either of the green numbers. You can still win big playing American roulette but you might have to weather more losses due to the extra 00 pocket. You can find out more about American Roulette in our guide.

French Roulette

French roulette is the fairest roulette variation, even slightly better than European roulette. It features only one zero segment, like European roulette. However, unlike the latter, even-money bets don't automatically lose when the ball lands on zero – instead, the chips are locked into place until the next round. Additionally, even-money bets only lose 50% of the stake when zero wins, while the other half goes back to the player.

French roulette can be rewarding when using reliable roulette betting strategies. Overall, this variation has a house edge of only 1.35%.

Auto Roulette

Auto roulette is a fast-paced version of European and other versions of roulette. This version's main aspect is that the dealer is an automated program. Automation allows the program to produce dozens or hundreds of games per hour, making it ideal for high-frequency players. Another notable aspect is that the game runs 24/7.

Besides the automated dealer, auto roulette follows the same rules as other roulette versions. Roulette playing strategies also work well for this version, but you should consider your bet sizes considering the high-frequency betting.

Mini Roulette

Mini roulette works exactly as it sounds. It features a smaller layout comprising 13 numbers instead of the standard 37 to 38 numbers. However, the general rules remain the same. However, like French roulette, you only lose half of your bet if the ball lands on zero for all non-zero bets, making it fair. The best roulette strategies work well for this roulette version once you get used to the smaller layout.

Roulette Payouts

One of the best aspects of roulette is that you can win big payouts with relatively small bet sizes. However, the payouts and odds vary depending on the bet type and other factors.

Here is an overview of the common inside bets' odds and payouts:

Bet Type Description European Roulette Odds American Roulette Odds Payout Straight Bet Bet on 1 number 2.7% 2.6% 35:1 Split Bet Bet across 2 numbers 5.4% 5.3% 17:1 Street Bet Bet across a line of 3 numbers 8.1% 7.9% 11:1 Double Street Bet Bet across 6 numbers over two lines 16.2% 15.8% 5:1 Corner Bet Bet across 4 numbers in a quad 10.8% 10.5% 8:1 Basket Bet Only available in American roulette covering 0, 00 and the top line 1, 2, 3 – 13.2% 6:1

Here is an overview of the odds and payouts for outside bets:

Bet Type Description European Roulette Odds American Roulette Odds Payout Odd or Even Odd or even number 48.65% 47.37% 1:1 Red or Black Red or black tile 48.65% 47.37% 1:1 High or Low Will the winning number be 1-18 (low) or 19 – 36 (high) 48.65% 47.37% 1:1 Column Bet on 12 numbers in one column 32.4% 31.6% 2:1 Dozen Bet on 12 numbers in a third 32.4% 31.6% 2:1

The bets covered above are the most popular roulette bet types. The bet types with the highest odds also have the best payout probabilities, so don't be afraid to take risks once in a while.

The odds and payouts vary for other exotic roulette bet types, such as number combinations. Understanding the odds and payouts can help you determine the safest bet sizes depending on the size of your bankroll.

Playing Roulette Online

There are obvious differences between playing roulette online and playing in person.

The in-person experience is everything you see in the movies – the smart croupier, the wheel, the ball, and the colorful roulette board, not to mention the player interactions. Although online roulette can never be as immersive as this, there are benefits to playing online roulette too.

First, the convenience, you can play whenever and wherever you want from your home or on mobile so you don't have to physically go to a specific place. Secondly, you can move around tables, try out different variations, different stake levels, different strategies, all in your own time.

Playing in person can be intimidating, especially if you're at a particularly busy table with hands moving all over the board. With online roulette you don't feel any external pressure, you can try out as many strategies as you want without the scrutiny of other players.

Online roulette can also offer different modes, either electronic roulette or live dealer, so you can choose what type you'd like to play and take part in as much or as little interaction as and when you choose.

Online roulette is 24/7 so it never closes and you can find many free online games too, so you can practice and experiment without it costing you a cent. The best online roulette casinos offer an excellent range of games, live dealer experience and quality graphics so you can really enjoy all the fun roulette has to offer.

FAQs

How do you start playing roulette?

You need an active player account at a trustworthy online casino to start playing roulette. Register and then navigate to the roulette section of the casino. You can play online roulette for free or for real money.

What is the best tip for winning at roulette?

Using a reliable strategy is the best tip for winning at roulette. A good strategy can increase your likelihood of winning while keeping your financial losses in check. However, some online roulette strategies are riskier than others.

Is roulette skill or luck?

Roulette, as with all gambling, is based predominantly on luck, however, you can use strategies such as those in this guide to significantly increase