Guide To Roulette Betting Strategies
French for ‘little wheel’, the roulette table has been around for over 300 years, and so have strategies that attempt to sway the odds in the bettor’s favour.
While you can’t choose where the ball lands, you can choose a system that helps you place your bets on the table in such a way to capitalise on winning streaks and limit the damage of losing runs. Here is a simple guide to betting strategies and the rules of roulette that won’t leave your head spinning like a roulette wheel.
The Roulette Table
Originally designed by Frenchman, Blaise Pascal, the roulette table is a betting system that appears relatively easy to understand from the start, yet people have managed to develop a complex set of strategies that you can use once you’ve got the hang of the basics. Each casino will have it’s own rules of roulette and limits, and you can choose to play roulette online or in-house.
Master The Roulette Wheel
Learn the basics, the table, betting strategies and more with our handy Roulette Tutorial Videos.
Popular Roulette Wheel Variants
The tables themselves can vary in shape and size, and that can seem like the only difference to the untrained eye. However, the main variation is whether they use a French or American roulette wheel.
Your first decision is to choose which kind of wheel is right for you. The rules that apply to each table differ slightly, so comparing your knowledge of the game and willingness to risk against the table rules will help you choose the right game for you.
French Roulette
The French roulette wheel offers odds that tend to be more favourable for the player, with a house edge of 2.7%. The numbers run from 0 to 36, with 1 to 36 divided into red and black; the 0 is always in green. The variant in the table isn’t just for appearances, having one less slot relative to the American table raises the odds in your favour.
American Roulette
With the addition of a double zero (00), the total of numbers on the table add up to 38, with 1-38 split equally into red and black and both zeroes in green. This leads to an increase in the house edge to 5.26%. These tables are usually found in North American casinos, although French tables can be found there, and they will have higher limits and greater minimum betting stakes.
How To Play Roulette
Once you’ve chosen the right table, you need to know how to play roulette! Apart from the wheel, the table is a grid of numbers that allow you place your bets inside, outside; odd, even; black or red.
When all of the bets are made, the croupier will cease betting and spin the roulette wheel, releasing a ball onto the wheel. Once the ball lands in a slot, the winning number and colour is announced.
Roulette Betting Strategies
A few sittings at an online roulette table will give you the confidence to assess the game with a strategic eye. Although each number has an equal chance of being landed upon, various algorithms have been tested throughout the years by players to find a way to beat the house in this game of chance.
Having a strategy when you play will help you focus, and to have a knowledgeable working of a strategy, you need to have a good grasp of mental arithmetics too.
Martingale
One of the oldest strategies, this system works by doubling your original bet when you lose in the hope of recouping your losses when you finally catch onto the wave of a winning run. Ideally, by the time you do set on a win, your winnings will be high enough to cover the loss, and then some.
On the plus side, you have a good chance of recovering your lost bets, but you do need to start low and have a personal limit. Once you’ve won, your bet goes back to the start; the lowest amount you set for yourself.
Reverse Martingale
Simply put, this is a positive progressive system whereby you double your bets upon every win, and revert to your original stake on losing streaks. The idea is to use the house money to make your bets.
Unlike the Martingale, you shouldn’t place your bets anywhere on the table, preferably playing on entire groups of numbers, such as odds or evens, red or black, 1-18, 19-36. Playing repeaters helps you to maintain winning streaks where you can make larger bets.
Fibonacci
It’s all down to sequencing. Fibonacci is safer than the other strategies, this doesn’t mean it’s stale. By using a numerical sequence that allows the stakes to increase by being the sum of the previous two numbers (0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233…), a win at any stage in the game will recoup some of the loses, but not necessarily all.
D’Alembert
Another negative progression strategy, the D’Alembert is similar to the Martingale. However. upon winning you don’t go back to the start, you reduce your bet by a unit; the unit being whatever rate you have set for yourself. The winnings will never be gigantic, but if you’re looking for a safer system that give pleasurable play-time while minimising risk, this one is for you.
Do Roulette Strategies Really Work?
Honestly, that’s up to you to decide. As we said before, each number has an equal chance of being landed on. Yes, roulette is a game of probability, but knowing how to place your bet, and having a system that allows you to focus can help you succeed.
If you’re in it for the long-term, a method that helps you to increase your bankroll will allow you to place larger bets, thus allow a greater return. Having a strategy can also limit your downside, making sure that you never get carried away during a losing run and thus protecting your chips.
Play Roulette Online
Playing live roulette is often, for most people, a real social gaming experience. However, there are some of the better casinos that offer the chance for beginners to practice roulette online. With virtual bankrolls on free demos, these demos give you the chance to try out different systems to find the one that suits you best.
Live online games are similar the real thing so you can play roulette online from the comfort of your own space. Opt for a French or European table for starters and set your limits, then move on to an American wheel when you feel more daring.
