Roulette’s Different Strategies and Systems

Roulette is one of the most iconic games played at casinos worldwide, both in person and online. The game involves a wheel filled with numbers and a ball that spins and bounces until it lands inside a numbered slot. To find the right winning combinations at roulette, it’s important to know how the numbers work before placing any bets.

Understanding the Roulette Wheel

To understand how to find winning combinations, it’s important to first understand how the roulette wheel works. The wheel is split into 37 different pockets in European roulette, featuring numbers 1 to 36 that alternate from red to black, plus the number 0, which is green. The layout means numbers are deliberately spread out, creating a game of unpredictability.

While European roulette uses 37 pockets, the American version features 38, with a 00 as well as just the 0. This might appear a small difference, but it actually increases the house edge and decreases the chances of punters receiving a payout. For the best odds, always play the European version of roulette.

Types of Roulette Bets

Inside bets focus on specific numbers or small groups of numbers. Of these, straight bets have the highest payout odds, usually at 35 to 1. This is where a player bets on a single number. Players can also place split bets (a bet on two adjacent numbers), street bets (three numbers in a row), corner bets (four numbers in a block) or six-line bets (a bet on six numbers across two adjacent rows). The fewer the numbers, the higher the odds offered.

Outside bets cover broader sections of the wheel. These include red or black, higher or lower, odd or even and the bets on columns or dozens (the latter of which is 1-12, 13-24 and 25-36). These bets have lower odds than inside bets but are much more likely to come in.

Despite the unpredictable nature of roulette, there are certain strategies that can be employed to try and improve the chances of winning.

The Martingale System

This strategy involves doubling the bet after each loss, with the idea being that, eventually, a win will recover all previous losses and yield a profit. However, it’s important to note that this strategy would require a significant bankroll and might risk reaching the maximum table bet before recouping losses.

The Fibonacci Strategy 

Based on the famous Fibonacci sequence, this betting system requires betting according to the sequence itself after a loss and moving back two steps after a win. It can be a slightly confusing strategy and requires knowing the Fibonacci sequence well in order to operate.

The D’Alembert System 

This roulette betting strategy involves increasing the bet by one unit after a loss and decreasing it by one unit after a win. The D’Alembert system is a more conservative approach than other strategies and suits players who might be newer to the game. It is like a more cautious version of the Martingale strategy.

The James Bond Strategy 

This strategy requires covering more than half the wheel with a combination of bets. Generally, a larger bet is placed on the high numbers 19-36, a smaller bet on numbers 13-17 and a small bet on zero. It provides good coverage of the board but requires a higher initial bankroll to lay bets.

Constant Bet Strategy

This simple strategy involves placing the same bet, usually on a single number, repeatedly until it wins. It is an easy way for newer players to get to know how the game of roulette really works. The key to the strategy is that you stop betting once it comes in. If your £5 bet on a single number comes in and returns money, you withdraw and either change the betting strategy or stop playing altogether.