Roulette Strategy Guide: Systems, Tips & How It Works
There are multiple Roulette strategies available, all of which take different approaches. We’ve put together a guide that explains how they work and the benefits and drawbacks they offer. Keep in mind that there are risks involved in every strategy, and there is no foolproof way to guarantee a win in Roulette.
There’s a house edge when you play Roulette, and it’s a game of chance – even when you have a Roulette betting strategy in place. After you’ve studied our rundown of the most popular strategies and how to use them, why not try Roulette in demo mode to see how they work for you?
Can You Win at Roulette Using a Strategy?
It is possible to win in the short term using a Roulette strategy. However, the house edge that is built into the game means that in the long term, no strategy can overcome this built-in disadvantage. An example of this is the Martingale Roulette strategy. It works by doubling the stake on every loss for even-money bets. This then covers the previous loss and returns a profit when you eventually land a win. However, it can quickly rise to extremely high levels, which can go well above your bankroll or the limits of the table. In this situation, returning to a profit would be impossible.
The house edge for European Roulette is lower than that of American Roulette due to the double zero space on the American wheel. European Roulette has a house edge of 2.7%, compared to the 5.26% in American Roulette. This can become significant for long-term betting strategies.
Most Popular Roulette Betting Strategies
There are lots of different betting strategies available for Roulette, all of which focus on the bets you place rather than the spinning of the wheel. The bet you choose is the only control you have over the game, so it’s the only way to create a strategy. Each strategy takes a different approach, and they all have their own benefits and drawbacks.
Martingale Strategy
The best-known of all Roulette Strategies, the Martingale strategy is relatively simple to understand. You place a bet on an even-money outcome, such as black/red or odd/even, and then wait for the wheel to spin. If you win the bet, you keep your stake at the same level; if you lose it, you double your stake. This continues until you win a bet, and then you return your stake to the starting point.
This is a risky strategy because it’s possible to experience a long losing streak, even when choosing even-money bets. If you lose 10 in a row, your new stake will be 512x as high as your original stake; if you lose 20 in a row, it will be more than 500,000x your original stake. This means that a long losing streak will cause you to use up all of your budget or go over the table limit.
Fibonacci Strategy
This also uses even-money bets, but it’s a more complex progression for the stake sizes. It entails following the Fibonacci sequence, which involves adding together the previous two stakes for the next one when you lose. So, the sequence is 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, and so on. Instead of going back to the start when you win, you go back two spaces.
This means that if you reached 55 units for your bet and you won, your next bet would be 21 units. If that won, you’d go to 8 units for your next one. If you lost again, you’d start moving back up one space at a time.
It’s not as risky as the Martingale strategy because the stake doesn’t increase as quickly. However, you need a strong winning streak to return to lower levels, which can be challenging.
D’Alembert Strategy
This is one of the simplest strategies to follow for Roulette betting. When you lose, you increase your stake by one unit. When you win, you reduce your stake by one unit. It’s nowhere near as risky as the other strategies, but it requires longer winning streaks than losing streaks, which is statistically unlikely.
If you’re a low-risk player, this is a simple strategy that comes with a lower chance of rising to extreme stake levels.
Paroli Strategy
This is essentially the reverse of the Martingale strategy. Instead of doubling on a loss, you double on a win. It continues until you win three in a row, and then you revert to your original stake. So, three in a row would be 1 unit, 2 units, and 4 units. Then, for the next bet, you go back to 1 unit. If you lose at any point in the system, you go back down to 1 unit.
The risks here are that you’re never placing bets that cover previous losses; you’re just trying to capitalise on winning streaks. However, it doesn’t cover losses on long losing streaks. It's best suited to players who prefer positive progression and want to limit their losses during cold streaks.
Choosing the Right Roulette Version
There are two main Roulette versions available to players: European and American. Although American Roulette is traditionally more popular, European Roulette has become the more popular choice in recent years.
European Roulette Strategy
European Roulette has a single green zero on its wheel. This leads to a lower house edge, especially when playing even-money bets. It’s preferred for strategic play because having just one green zero means there’s a better chance of landing even-money bets.
American Roulette Strategy
The biggest difference between American and European Roulette is the extra green zero on an American wheel. This is what increases the house edge; there are two spaces that cause all even-money bets to lose as opposed to just one. Although it might not make a huge difference in short-term games, it will become very obvious in long-term play.
Live Roulette Strategy vs RNG Roulette
There are real-life Roulette wheel games available online, along with games powered by software. Let’s take a look at the differences each game offers.
RNG Roulette This is a game powered by software, and a random number generator (RNG) decides where the ball lands each time. It’s just as fair as playing with a real wheel, but it’s all powered by mathematics and computer animations.
Playing an RNG Roulette game will give you a much faster experience, with less waiting time between rounds. They also offer demo versions, so it’s a great way to try out strategies first. On top of this, the minimum bets are usually lower in RNG Roulette games.
Live Dealer Roulette
A live dealer Roulette game is precisely what the name suggests. Instead of software controlling the game, it has a real dealer who drops the ball into a spinning wheel. These games take longer than RNG versions because the dealer takes people’s bets and chats a bit between rounds. Although it’s slower, it does provide a more immersive casino experience.
Choosing between the two varieties comes down to personal preference. There’s no difference in how you apply the strategies; the games work the same way.
Bankroll Management for Roulette
Bankroll management is vital when you’re playing Roulette, and it’s far more important than any strategy. If you jump straight in and bet everything on your first round, you’re finished if you don’t win. No strategy can account for that, which is why you must be careful.
- Set a fixed budget before playing.
- Use flat betting if you’re unsure.
- Avoid chasing losses.
- Set win and loss limits.
Each of these bullet points will help you to set a sensible bankroll and play in a responsible manner. A fixed budget gives you limits, which will stop you from making emotional decisions. Flat betting means you don’t need to keep track of your system, and it removes the potential for stakes to grow to unsustainable levels.
Chasing losses will almost always end up with you betting more than you can afford. The Martingale strategy is a typical example of this. Chasing losses with this strategy will lead to you having extortionate bets in no time.
Win and loss limits are a useful way to know when to stop. If you hit your win limit, walk away happy with what you have. If you hit your loss limit, it’s time to stop. Both of these boundaries will help you avoid betting more than you can afford.
Roulette Strategy Tips for Beginners
These simple tips will help you to improve your gameplay while maximising your enjoyment.
Start with outside bets
Outside bets include even-money bets like odd/even. Playing with these bets provides smaller potential wins but significantly lowers the risk. It’s the best way to start, and it stops you from increasing the house edge even more with riskier bets.
Choose European roulette
European Roulette has a single green zero space. It’s essential to play this way as it increases your chances of winning. While there are no foolproof ways to guarantee you will win, playing European Roulette can increase your chances of winning.
Use demo mode to test strategies first
Demo mode is the perfect way to find out which strategies suit your play style best. You can play through all of the different techniques without spending any of your bankroll. This gives you the ability to refine them and learn to use them without making any mistakes. It won’t guarantee you’ll win, but you can still test which strategies are most likely to work best for you.
Understand payout structures
Understanding payout structures enables you to avoid Roulette games that pay out lower amounts. Fully comprehending how they work will give you a chance to approach the game with an open mind and use them to your advantage. Play within limits
Limits are essential for Roulette betting. When you set a predetermined marker for when to walk away from the table, you will have a better chance of leaving with a profit and reduce your risk of walking away with nothing.