Contrary to appearances, strategy is an important element of roulette. It can increase your chances of winning, although it usually takes time. It is important to remember that the game always involves what is known as the house edge. So, what are the strategies for playing roulette? How do they relate to other random numbers? What tactics are recommended for novice players? Here are some ways to use the roulette wheel to help you make a profit!
Introduction to roulette strategy
Roulette is not a complicated game. It involves placing specific bets, the variety of which is fairly limited. There are 36 numbered fields in two colours on the roulette wheel, but you do not have to bet on individual numbers. You can bet on whether the ball will land on an even or odd number, on a red or black number, or on a high (19–36) or low (1–18) number. These are known as outside bets, and the types mentioned above give you roughly a 50/50 chance of winning.
Another option is to bet on an entire column, a dozen numbers, or six numbers. You can win in any case, but the fewer numbers you bet on, the higher your potential payout. Betting on more numbers increases your chances of winning, but the payout is smaller.
Almost every roulette system focuses on outside bets, which offer a higher chance of winning. Basing a strategy on inside bets—betting on specific numbers within the field, which have a lower chance of winning—usually does not make much sense. The majority of players, especially on platforms like Wanted Win no deposit bonus codes, prefer to focus on more realistic scenarios when playing roulette.
What is the casino’s advantage?
Roulette is an extremely random game. Mathematically, it follows a chaotic pattern over which there is no control. This is not good news for players, but excellent for casinos. As is well known, casinos make money from losing players. In roulette, the house advantage comes from the green zero fields. Players bet on different combinations of numbers or colours, but when the ball lands on zero, they lose. Over the years, various myths about roulette have arisen, stemming from different places and events.
European and French roulette wheels have one green zero field, while American roulette has two. As you might expect, the version from across the Atlantic increases the casino’s advantage compared to European roulette. In Europe, the house edge is 2.63%, while in the USA it is 5.26%. Even if your roulette system is based on outside bets with theoretically equal odds—those giving a 50/50 chance of winning—this is never truly the case. There is always a green field on the wheel that tips the balance. You can read more about this in our dedicated article on the differences between European and American roulette.
French roulette has some specific rules that slightly reduce the house advantage. For single-number bets, players have two options if the ball lands on zero. Either the croupier returns half of their stake, or the bet goes ‘to prison’ (en prison), meaning it remains on the table. If the number hits on the next spin, the player recovers their money.
Another way casinos maintain an advantage is by imposing betting limits. With some strategies, players may reach the maximum bet allowed and be unable to continue their system. Before playing, it is worth familiarising yourself with the rules of roulette.
The basics of the Martingale strategy
This roulette system is one of the basic methods of gambling and betting, and it is also the most popular. The simple Martingale strategy is based on adjusting your bet depending on the outcome of the previous round. It is an easy method, often recommended for new players. The bettor starts with a relatively low initial stake and places a bet. After each loss, they double their bet. After each win, they return to the initial stake. This way, there is a chance of winning at any time, because sooner or later a bet should succeed.
Of course, the strategy has pros and cons. The advantages of the Martingale system are its simplicity and the pursuit of a win, which is theoretically inevitable. The main disadvantage is the challenge of maintaining your bankroll. After several consecutive losses, your funds can be quickly depleted. The worst-case scenario is losing your entire bankroll before recovering your losses, leaving nothing to continue the strategy.
Reverse martingale strategy
Mathematical logic works both ways, which means the Martingale system also has an opposite. As you might guess, this strategy works in reverse. The croupier spins the roulette wheel, and the player observes the outcome. If they win, they double their bet. If they lose, they return to the initial stake.
Like the basic Martingale strategy, the reverse Martingale follows a progression system. It is considered riskier than the standard approach. Many players therefore use it for 2–3 or 4–5 consecutive wins before returning to the initial stake. The reverse Martingale requires more patience, but players with a larger bankroll can achieve better results. However, it is important to remember that this strategy may eventually hit a barrier in the form of the casino’s betting limits. This applies to both the classic and reverse versions of the system.
Grand Martingale – a modification of the classic method
When playing roulette, you can also use a third system related to the Martingale methods. This strategy involves a slight modification, keeping it simple to follow. First, you set a base bet. If you lose, you double the previous bet and add the base bet. For example, if the base is $10, the stakes would be:
- Bet $10 – lost
- Bet $30 (2 × $10 + $10) – lost
- Bet $70 (2 × $30 + $10) – won
- Bet $10
This strategy works on mechanisms similar to the basic Martingale. At first glance, it looks almost identical, with the key difference that the base amount is added each time. You spend slightly more on losses, but this increases the chance of achieving a larger win later.
The D’Alembert system in roulette
When playing roulette using the D’Alembert system, the player, like in the Martingale system, follows a progression rule. The difference is that here it works in a linear manner. In other words, the bettor sets a fixed nominal bet that does not multiply. In this strategy, the stake increases by a set amount after each loss and decreases after each win. For example, after three consecutive losses, the player would increase the stake by three times the initially set value. To avoid confusion, it is recommended to keep a record of your bets. This is helpful for various roulette strategies and can always serve as a useful reference.
Since the stake increases linearly, there are no sudden jumps as in the Martingale system. The D’Alembert system allows you to play roulette even with a small budget. Of course, while the chances of winning are reasonable, you cannot expect huge payouts. D’Alembert is a strategy for patient, calm players, reducing stress and offering a very low level of risk. And what if we keep subtracting a given amount until there is nothing left to subtract? In that case, we simply play with the remaining amount.
Labouchere – a long-term strategy
Playing roulette with the Labouchere system requires a little more knowledge, as it is one of the more original strategies. It differs significantly from Martingale or D’Alembert. However, like the strategies mentioned earlier, it is recommended for even/odd or red/black bets, meaning outside bets are still preferred. Labouchere approaches the game differently, as it requires the player to decide in advance how much they aim to win. This target amount is then divided into smaller numbers.
For example, if you plan to win $100, you might divide it into: 10, 10, 20, 20, 10, 10, 20. Before placing a bet, add the two outer numbers in the sequence—in this case, 10 and 20. The sum is $30, and this is the stake you should play. If you win, both numbers are crossed out, and you move on to the next two outer numbers (10 and 10). If you lose, the lost amount is added to the end of the sequence on the right, and the process starts again from the beginning.
This system can be interesting, but it requires careful management. The key is to determine the total amount you want to achieve. You must also consider the betting limits set by the casino, as over time you may find that your desired bet is too high, highlighting the house advantage. For this reason, Labouchere is recommended for playing smaller amounts. Unlike the aggressive Martingale, this system allows you to recoup losses gradually, working in cycles rather than relying on large, immediate wins.
Fibonacci – a system based on numbers
To counteract the casino’s advantage, you can try using the Fibonacci system. It is more accurate to call it a sequence, as that is what this strategy is known for. In this system, each stake is the sum of the two previous stakes. The calculation starts at 1. When applied to roulette, the Fibonacci sequence looks like this: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, and soon.
Using this strategy in the casino is somewhat similar to the Martingale system. Here, too, the stake depends on the outcome: after a loss, the player increases their bet; after a win, they move back in the sequence. Fibonacci may seem unusual, but it has features that help protect the player. In practice, only a long losing streak can be problematic for those with a small bankroll. Additionally, the profits from this strategy are modest, and achieving them, while likely, can be slow and require patience.
Player psychology and strategy selection
The history of roulette is quite long, and almost from the beginning, various strategies have been developed to help players beat the casino. However, it is important to remember that, mathematically, there is never any certainty. Luck plays a key role in roulette, as no one can influence the ball rolling on the wheel. Even in European roulette, the house advantage in the form of the zero and possible betting limits gives casinos the upper hand. Sooner or later, the casino will come out ahead, although some players will, of course, win occasionally. This applies to both online casinos and traditional casinos.
When sitting at the roulette table, it is essential to be aware of the casino’s advantage. Patience is always needed. In stressful moments, when the game is not going well and several losses occur, bettors often give in to pressure. They begin to play nervously, trying to win back losses at all costs. They bet more, make riskier decisions, and often leave the game quickly. This should be avoided. The purpose of a roulette strategy is to organise your play. By sticking to a pattern, you can avoid falling into these traps. Some people hope to treat roulette—online or in a traditional casino—as a steady source of income, but this is not possible. No strategy offers a 100% chance of winning.