Roulette Strategy

Putting Roulette Strategy to the Test

In this guide, we’re going to examine some common roulette strategy tips and ask whether they could help improve your win rate. Now, before we do that, we’ll make a disclaimer: even the best roulette strategy advice is never guaranteed. However, in reality, luck will always play a part in your long-term performance. Therefore, you can never say for certain that roulette tips are going to help you win.

The tips and roulette strategies can give you some options to potentially help you find your groove.

Some call them roulette tricks; others call them betting techniques. Whatever you refer to roulette strategies as, the underlying premise is always the same. By working within the rules of the game, your aim is to gain an edge over the casino. To put it another way, you’re trying to get an advantage.

What is a Roulette Gambling Strategy?

Every casino game, whether it’s roulette, blackjack, slots or something else, always favours the house. However, over the years, mathematicians and punters have proposed ways to negate this advantage. Now, as we’ve said, no roulette betting strategy has a 100% success rate. But, in a game where anything can happen, having a plan is always better than not having one. Therefore, roulette strategy is all about making moves that could either counteract the house edge or give you the upper hand. Of course, roulette rules must always be observed. You can’t cheat to win.

Later in this guide, we’ll outline some of the top roulette betting strategies, such as the Martingale system. These techniques operate within the rules of a game and, in turn, provide a structured approach to playing. However, what they don’t do is give you a way to become a roulette cheat. Not only would that be illegal, but it would also compromise the integrity of a game and, in turn, ruin it for everyone. So, as you’re reading through this guide, just remember that every tip is legal and nothing more than a plan you can use in the same way a football team decide upon their tactics before a game.

Why Are Some Roulette Strategies Better Than Others?

Ok, so we know that roulette tricks are never guaranteed. Indeed, we can never say you can always win at roulette. However, it’s also fair to say that not all betting methods are created equal. Even though we can’t say XX is the best roulette strategy ever or YY is a roulette trick that never fails, we can pick out some of the top options.

For example, tracking past results and searching for patterns is a strategy that almost never works. Unless there’s a bias on the wheel or a glitch in the software, every spin of a roulette wheel produces a random result. This is why roulette games are fair and exciting. It’s also why writing down results in the hope of finding a way to win is futile. In contrast, a roulette strategy such as the Martingale system uses mathematic principles (more on this later). Based on this fact alone, certain roulette strategies fail, while others are more likely to help you improve your chances, at least in theory.

Why Do Some Roulette Strategies Fail?

In reality, all roulette strategies can fail. Because games are random and there are no set patterns, you can’t say that something will always happen/not happen. Therefore, even with the best logic in the world, roulette strategies can fail. Methods such as the Martingale system provide some structure to your betting. Therefore, when you use a legitimate roulette strategy, it stops you from betting random amounts on random numbers and, potentially, losing your money by making silly mistakes.

We’ve already established that certain roulette tips and tricks are better than others and why that’s the case. So, let’s outline the best roulette strategy approaches.

Progressive Betting Strategies

By far the most popular category of roulette betting techniques is those that use a progressive dynamic. As the name suggests, these systems require you to progress, move forward or, in specific terms, increase your bet based on the outcome of a spin. Depending on the method you choose, the system of progression will either be positive or negative.

For positive progression roulette betting systems, you increase your bet each time you win and decrease it when you lose. In contrast, a negative progression system requires you to increase your bet after a loss and reduce it after a win. Both methods have their merits and it’s up to you to choose one that suits your style. To help you decide, here are some of the best progressive roulette betting strategies.

Martingale Strategy

One betting technique, the Martingale Strategy suggests that you to double the size of your bet each time you lose. This system is mainly used for blackjack where the standard payout is 3:2. Therefore, if you want to use it in roulette, you’ll need to bet on the closest equivalents i.e. 50/50 bets such as red/black, odd/even etc. Alternatively, you can use it on 2:1 roulette bets such as 1st twelve.

Whichever category you bet on, the strategy suggests that you double your stake after a loss. You continue to do this until you win, at which point you can revert to your original bet size. The maths dictate that you’ll always make a one-unit profit (i.e. your original bet amount) when you hit a winning spin. The big problem with the Martingale strategy is that it gets costly, quickly. Even if you start with a small bet, the price per spin could exceed your limits. Therefore, while Martingale is good in theory, it can be extremely difficult to implement.

Simple Paroli System (Reverse Martingale)

Essentially the reverse of Martingale, the Paroli roulette betting system gets you to double your stake following a win. In technical terms, this is a positive progression betting system while the Martingale strategy is based on negative progressions. As with its counterpart, Paroli can become very costly, very quickly. However, you do have the option to stop any time you’re on a winning streak. However, that in itself requires a certain amount of experience and timing to get right.

D’Alembert System

This roulette strategy requires you to adjust your stake following both wins and losses. Devised by Jean le Rond d’Almbert, the technique sees you increase your stake by one unit following a loss and decrease it by one unit after a win. In essence, this roulette betting trick strikes a balance between Martingale and Paroli.

Because you’re constantly switching and only ever moving up or down by one unit, the price per spin doesn’t increase too quickly. This means it’s more affordable and you won’t hit the table betting limit as quickly. What’s more, it’s slightly more flexible and seems to suit the fluctuations of wins and losses you’ll experience when you play roulette online or offline.

Non-Progressive Betting Strategies

If progressive roulette strategies require you to change your stake after certain results then non-progressive don’t. Although you can alter your bets, you do it of your own accord. Because this technique doesn’t include fluctuating bet sizes, you can focus on numbers instead. 

The James Bond Strategy

A bit of a novelty strategy, to play online roulette like the famous spy, you need at least 200 credits. With your credits ready to roll, you wager 140 on the high numbers option (19-36), 50 on a six-number split that encompasses 13 to 18, and 10 on zero. If any high numbers hit, you’ll make an 80-coin profit. If 13 to 18 hits, you’ll make 100 coins. Finally, if zero hits, you’ll have a 160-coin profit.

Betting on Neighbouring Numbers

A roulette strategy that a lot of seasoned players uses is neighbours. The theory here is simple: bet on a number and then place additional bets on its neighbours. In this context, neighbours are numbers that appear next to each other on the roulette wheel. For example, if you look at the number five, its neighbours are 10 and 24. By using the neighbours technique, you’re hoping that the ball lands in a certain section of the wheel. When it does, you should have a better shot at winning.

From a purely theoretical perspective, the Martingale strategy is the best roulette betting strategy. However, as mentioned, it doesn’t work as well in practice, unless you’ve got unlimited funds and the table doesn’t have any betting limits.

In the absence of these dynamics, you can’t get the best out of Martingale. Therefore, if you’re searching for the best roulette strategy ever, we suggest using the one that suits you. Use the information we’ve given you, test out some options at our roulette tables and pick one that aligns with your bankroll and preferences.

Even the best roulette strategy can’t guarantee you a winning run. However, that doesn’t mean you should throw caution to the wind and approach the game without a plan. With this in mind, here are a few points to consider before you start betting:

How much should you bet?

This is the most important roulette tip we can give you: never bet more than you can afford, and always gamble responsibly. Your bankroll should consist of funds you’d be okay with losing. In other words, the money isn’t integral to your life. However much you have in your bankroll, we’d suggest using around 3% of it during a single session.

Find the Right Table

Here at Paddy Power Games, we’ve got plenty of options. From European roulette with 37 numbers to North American (38 numbers) and Live Quantum Roulette, there are plenty of ways to play. Your job is to find the table dynamics that most excite you.

What are the minimum and maximum bets in roulette?

Each roulette table has different betting limits. If you’re a low stakes player, look at options such as 20p Roulette. For those with more to spend, our Premium tables allow you to wager hundreds per spin.

What are the roulette payouts in a standard game?

Roulette is popular because it gives you options. If you’re fairly risk-averse, you can make a general bet such as red or black. If you prefer high returns, straight-up bets on a single number are available. As a standard, roulette payouts range from 1:1 up to 35:1.

However, there are certain games with different roulette payouts. For example, the payout for a single number in Quantum Roulette is 29:1, while it’s 35:1 at standard tables. However, the counter here is that Quantum Roulette features bonus options that allow you to win up to 499:1 for a correct pick.

What is the best game to choose?

The general answer here is Europe roulette or French roulette. Both of these are single-zero games, which means there are 37 numbers in play and payouts topping 35:1. In contrast, American roulette tables feature 38 numbers and payouts topping 35:1.

However, if we’re talking specifics, the best roulette game to choose is the one you like. You may have a thing for double-zero games. Alternatively, you might enjoy bonus games such as Quantum Roulette. At the end of the day, roulette is meant to be enjoyable. Therefore, you should always choose the variant you like the most.

In tandem with choosing the right playing conditions, you should also keep the following roulette tips and tricks in mind:

Never bet more than you can afford to lose. You should sit down with no more than 3% of your total bankroll.

Stop after winning a big score. Even though the cash amount will vary depending on how much you started with, you should consider stopping for a while after having a positive return on your investment.

Don’t chase losses with rushed bets. In other words, don’t let emotions push you into making mistakes and betting more than you can afford to lose.

Play a single-zero wheel if you can. The best roulette odds are available on single zero tables because they offer 35:1 max payouts with 37 numbers in play. In contrast, double zero tables feature 38 numbers but the same 35:1 max payouts.

Play for fun and don’t simply play for money. Casino gaming should be seen as entertainment and not a way to make money. Enjoy it and, if you win, consider it a nice bonus.

Set yourself strict limits and only gamble within the limits. This roulette tip goes back to the idea of only betting amounts you can afford to lose. Before you start your session, look at the table’s betting limits and decide how much you want to spend. Once you’ve done that, allocate around 3% of your money for that session to a single spin and continue working on this basis.

Can you win at roulette every time?

Even though it’s possible, it’s not probable. The best roulette strategy could help in the short term, but it’s not a guarantee. Basically, you can never say for certain what’s going to happen when you play roulette online or offline.

Do previous spins affect future spins?

No. One of the biggest gambler’s fallacies out there is that one roulette spin influences another. This isn’t true and you shouldn’t let it cloud your judgement.

Does waiting for a trigger to bet increase your chances of winning?

No. Even though progressive roulette betting strategies get you to increase or decrease your bets based on certain results, this doesn’t improve your chances of winning or losing.

Does volatility influence the chances of winning?

Yes. In fact, volatility and luck are the reasons no single roulette strategy can guarantee you a win.

What is the safest bet in roulette?

Based on standard roulette odds, the safest bets to make are red/black, odd/even, low (1-18) or high (19-36). If it wasn’t for the presence of zero, these would be 50/50 propositions. In reality, they offer odds of just under 50%.

Should you base a betting strategy on the table layout?

In general, the answer is no. All standard roulette variants have the same fundamentals, which means any betting strategy should work. However, if the game has unique features, such as the cash back option for betting on zero in French roulette or the bonuses in Quantum, you may want to adjust your bets accordingly. As a tip, we’d suggest focusing more on the bonus features and less on standard bets if you’re at one of these tables.

What number hits the most in roulette?

In reality, all numbers have an equal chance of hitting. Despite what some superstitious people might say, no roulette number hits more often than any other.

Do the physical properties of the wheel and the ball influence the results?

At a land-based casino, if there are irregularities with the wheel or the ball, this can produce a bias that affects the results of a game. However, when you play online at a licensed site such as ours, this isn’t a problem. Trustworthy casinos are audited by third parties, who ascertain the fairness of their games, including all roulette games. 

Should you use a different strategy online compared to a physical casino?

No. In answering how to win at roulette machines, you can also learn how to play online. Our games have the same roulette rules and dynamics as their offline counterparts. So, you can use the same techniques in either setting.

Can roulette be rigged?

When you play online at a licensed casino, every game is tested and certified as fair. Here at Paddy Power Games, our software is constantly monitored by third-party agencies to ensure nothing is rigged. Therefore, you can play roulette with us safe in the knowledge that everything is 100% fair.

Are roulette strategies illegal?

No. As we said at the start of this guide on how to win at roulette, every technique outlined is legal. As long as you stay within the rules, no betting strategy can ever get you in trouble with the law or the establishment.

Get Online and Test Out the Best Roulette Strategies Today

So that’s about all we’ve got to say about roulette strategy and how you can bring some order to the chaos that is games of chance. The important point to remember in all of this is that winning at roulette isn’t always easy. We can tell you some of the roulette tricks people use. We can explain the theories behind them and why they could work. However, when you’re on the dancefloor and spinning the wheel, lady luck has ultimate control.

Therefore, you should see roulette tips as a guide rather than the answer. If you can do that, you’ll get a lot more from your betting experience. To put this advice into practice and enjoy some of the best roulette games online, use our sign-up link to create your first account and become a Paddy Power Games player.