Roulette Strategy and Game Guide
It’s easy to understand why roulette has been widely popular since the late eighteenth century. Who can resist the graceful spins of the magnificent wheel, endless ways to wager, and suspense at every turn? Thanks to innovations like online roulette and electronic versions of the game at live casinos, you can now play at a wider range of stakes than ever before. Whether you are a traditionalist who prefers interacting with a tuxedoed croupier or want to pick up the pace with touchscreen roulette on your mobile, winning doesn’t have to be difficult. Keep reading this strategy guide and you’ll have the tools of the trade whenever you find yourself in the presence of the marvellous wheel.
Choosing the Right Game
Before we can begin any discussion on roulette strategy, it’s critical that you understand there are several versions of the game. Whether you play on the internet or at live casinos across the globe, it’s important to know there are American and European versions of roulette. Although the gameplay is seemingly identical, there is one key difference. While European roulette wheels feature 37 numbered slots ranging from 0-36, the American version features an extra 00 slot on the wheel.
As you can probably guess the addition of the 00 increases the house advantage. The likelihood of any number coming up is 2.63% in American roulette and 2.70% in European roulette. While that might seem like not much more than a rounding error, winning strategies require you to capitalise however you can, especially when you’re given a choice of which game to play. More importantly, the odds of a single number coming up are just one factor to consider. When placing even money bets such as even, odd, red, or black, an extra number on the wheel that always loses effectively doubles the house edge. The relatively reasonable 2.70% house edge in the European version of the game quickly balloons to 5.26% in American roulette. If your goal is to win as much as possible, there’s no reason to play the inferior US version. To reduce the house edge on even money bets even further try playing French roulette when it’s offered.
It’s Worth Learning French Roulette
Don’t let the language barrier scare you off. If you want to halve the house edge on even money bets to 1.35%, you’ll want to take your seat at a French roulette table. French roulette tables look a little different, but the gameplay is similar to its European cousin with one exception. When you place an even money bet and the ball lands on zero, not all is lost thanks to the en prison or la partage rule. Always consult the house rules before playing as only one of these rules will apply.
- With en prison, your losing even money stake will remain on the table for the next spin when the ball lands on zero.
- When la partage is offered, you’ll get half of your even money bet back if the ball lands on zero.
Getting to Know Your Bets
Before discussing winning strategies, it’s essential that you understand roulette is a game of chance. Whether you play with a physical wheel or rely on digital versions that use random number generators, there is no skill involved. The outcome of every spin really is random. You’ll have the same chance of winning whether the result is dependent on the laws of physics or a computer algorithm. In addition, there are only three elements that are in your hands. The first is obviously the type of roulette, which we discussed earlier. The second is the size of your bet, which will be subject to table maximum and minimums. The third is the number or numbers you choose to bet on. Unlike some other casino games like blackjack or video poker, you won’t have to make any in-game decisions after placing your bets.
If you’ve been paying attention, you know that you should aim to play European or French roulette. Still, we can’t stress this enough since there’s simply no reason why you should give the house double the advantage. When playing the standard version of the game, you can take advantage of a consistent 2.70% on every bet. Let’s take a look at the different ways to bet and how much they pay.
Straight Up
- Bets on a single number pay 35 to 1, but you are free to bet on multiple numbers.
Split Bet
- By placing your chip on the line that borders two numbers, you’ll bet on both and get paid 17 to 1.
Street
- Place your bet on the edge of a three-number row and you’ll be paid 11 to 1 if you win.
The Corner
- Also known as the four number or square bet, you can place chips on the point where four numbers meet. You’ll be paid 8 to 1 if you win.
The Line
- You can bet on two consecutive rows by placing your chips on the outside border of the six-number region for a potential 5 to 1 payout.
Column
- You can wager on one of the three columns for a 2 to 1 payout by placing your chips on one of the three columns at the bottom of the numerical grid. Bets do not cover the 0 or 00 in the case of American roulette.
Dozens
- Get paid 2 to 1 by successfully betting on whether the winning number will be between 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36.
Odd or Even
- Bet on whether the number is odd or even for a 1 to 1 payout.
Red or Black
- Win even money by wagering on whether the winning number will be red or black.
Low or High
- Predict whether the ball will land on a number between 1-18 or 19-36 with this outside even money bet./li>
Effective Bankroll Management
Every winning roulette strategy requires sound bankroll management. While it’s certainly fun to empty your wallet and throw your chips down on a single number for a 35 to 1 payout, what’s going to happen if you lose? You’ll either end up playing irresponsibly by spending more than you intended or you’ll have to head home. Of course, you can avoid these scenarios by placing bets that are in line with your budget.
While it doesn’t matter whether you choose inside or outside bets since the house advantage is identical. It’s best to either place a mixture of small bets or stick to the outside bets that pay even money or 2 to 1. While your bankroll won’t balloon immediately, you won’t have to worry about losing it all quickly. Remember that roulette is a game of chance with a reasonable house edge. Even though the casino will take in more money than they pay out, this is only true over the long term. There is lots of variance over the short term, which means there are big winners and even losers. You can stave off those large losses by betting no more than 5% of your bankroll when placing even money bets. It’s smart to lower that percentage proportionally when wagering on other outside bets and even further on inside bets. The goal is to remain in the game as long as possible while you slowly grow your bankroll.
Smart roulette players always avoid American roulette. By choosing European and French versions of the game, you’ll immediately improve your overall odds.
Varieties of Roulette Compared
European
- The UK’s most popular type of roulette features numbers between 0-36 and a 2.7% house edge.
French
- Features an altered table layout and special rules that reduce the house edge to as little as 1.35% on even money bets.
American
- The US version of the game adds a 00 to the wheel and increases the house advantage to 5.26%.
Live dealer
- Uses real croupiers and video conferencing technology to stream an interactive table from the casino floor to your device.
Multi-ball
- This unique version of roulette adds extra balls to the wheel on every spin.
Multi-wheel
- Bet on multiple wheels at the same time, which are all tied to a single betting area.
No Zero
- This rare variety of roulette eliminates the 0 and 00 for better odds.
Roulette Tips
- Always stick to European or French roulette for the lowest house edge.
- Understand that the house has the advantage, but you can win by managing your bankroll properly.
- When playing online, make use of bonuses to boost your bankroll, although not all offers are available to roulette players.
- It’s easier to put your strategy to the test online, since internet roulette lets you play at your own pace.
- Realise that roulette is a game of chance and past results have no statistically significant influence on what happens next.
Frequently Asked Questions About Roulette
What is roulette?
Roulette is a widely popular wheel-based casino game. Players have the opportunity to bet on single or multiple numbers, including predetermined combinations like even, odd, red, and black. After bets are placed, the croupier will spin a wheel in one direction and a ball in the other direction. In a matter of seconds the ball will come to a complete stop and land in one of the numbered pockets. You’ll win if you bet on the winning number, but you can also win by correctly betting on other variables such as whether the number is even, odd, red, or black.
How much do you win if you hit a number in roulette?
If you place a straight up bet on a number, you’ll be paid 35 to 1. Other bets pay less. For example, column and dozen bets pay 2 to 1, while red, black, even, and odd bets pay even money. You can find complete payouts listed above.
What are the odds on a roulette table?
The odds on a roulette table depend on the type of bet you place. Odd, even, red, black, and combined bets on 1-18 or 19-36 pay 1 to 1. Column bets, wagers on the first, second, or third 12 pay 2 to 1. Betting on a single number pays 35 to 1, while wagering on combinations of two, three, four, or six numbers pay 17, 11, 8, and 5 to 1 respectively. Keep in mind that because a European roulette wheel features 37 numbered slots and only pays 35 to 1 at most, the house has an advantage of 2.70%. American roulette should be avoided, as the extra 00 gives the house a 5.26% edge.
How does the game of roulette work?
The game of roulette is simple to play. After placing your bets, the croupier will whirl the wheel in one direction and spin a tiny ball around the edge of the wheel in the opposite direction. The object of the game is to predict where the ball will land when it comes to a complete stop. European roulette wheels feature 37 numbered pockets ranging from 0-36, but you aren’t limited to betting on the outright number. You can also bet on ranges, combinations, red, black, odd, or even.
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