KNOW YOUR ROULETTE ODDS
Roulette odds provide you with the information you need to know how likely you are to win any bet. There are many different bets available on a roulette table, and each one has its own odds. These range from even money bets that pay off nearly half the time, to single number bets that are hard to hit, but which will earn you a lot of money when they do.
Before diving deeper into roulette odds, however, it's important that you understand the basics of how to play roulette. Before every spin, you will have the opportunity to place as many bets as you like all around the roulette table. Each of these bets covers one or more of the numbered pockets on the roulette wheel, and comes with its own specific odds of winning.
When the croupier spins the ball around the wheel, it will eventually fall into one of these pockets. The number and color of that pocket will determine which bets win on that spin. At this point, the croupier will mark the winning number, losing bets are taken off the table, and roulette payouts are made for the remaining winning bets before the next spin.
A roulette wheel in the U.S. Contains 38 equally sized spaces. The wheel is spun and a ball randomly lands in one of these spaces. Two spaces are green and have numbers 0 and 00 on them. The other spaces are numbered from 1 to 36. In the European version, landing on the 0 does not automatically lose the outside bets. In the case of a 0 hitting in the European version, any outside bets are handled depending on 1 of 2 French Roulette variations. The order of the numbers 1 to 36 is the same as in single-zero roulette. The 0, 00, and Logo are all consecutive, with the Logo in the middle. There is an added bet on any green, which pays 11 to 1. The house edge on every bet is 1/13 or 7.69%. The American wheel has both a zero (0) and a double zero (00) on it, while the European wheel only has the single zero. This actually makes a major difference to players. European roulette odds are much better for players, because there is one less pocket on the wheel for the ball to fall into.
AMERICAN VS. EUROPEAN ROULETTE PROBABILITIES
While the American and European games may seem similar at first glance, the two games actually use different roulette wheels. The American wheel has both a zero (0) and a double zero (00) on it, while the European wheel only has the single zero.
This actually makes a major difference to players. European roulette odds are much better for players, because there is one less pocket on the wheel for the ball to fall into. Since both versions offer the same roulette payouts, this means that the odds and house edge are smaller in European roulette.
Some European roulette games offer additional rules that further help the player cut into the house edge. When a casino offers la partage, that means that you will only lose half of an even money bet (meaning bets like odd/even or red/black) if the ball lands on zero.
En prison is a variation of the la partage rule. Rather than getting half of your bet back, the money will instead be put 'in prison'. after which you can win it all back If the next spin results in a win for that bet. In either case, these options offer the best odds in roulette, as they cut the house edge roughly in half.
EUROPEAN | AMERICAN | |
NO | DOUBLE ZERO | YES |
37 | NUMBER OF SECTORS | 38 |
2.7% | HOUSE EDGE | 5.26% |
97.3% | AVERAGE PAYOUT FOR 100 € | 94.74% |
ROULETTE ODDS AND PAYOUTS EXPLAINED
While there are a wide array of roulette bet types to choose from, these options can mainly be divided into two types: inside bets and outside bets. These categories get their names based on where these bets occur on the roulette table layout. Inside bets are placed on the numbers at the center of the table, while outside bets have special betting areas on the outer portion of the board.
Inside Bets
Inside bets tend to have a lower probability of winning, but they offer the biggest roulette payouts. For this reason, they are often the best way to start playing for those who are new to the game, as they give you a chance to earn a big payout on any given spin without having to risk much money on each bet.
Straight: A bet on a single number. If the ball lands on that number, the bet pays 35-1.
Split: A bet on two adjacent numbers on the roulette table. If either of those numbers hits, the bet pays 17-1.
Street: A bet on a row of three numbers on the roulette layout. If any of those numbers wins, your bet pays out at 11-1 odds.
Corner: A bet on a 'square' of four numbers on the roulette betting layout. If any of these numbers wins, the bet pays 8-1.
Six Line: A bet on two consecutive rows, covering six numbers in total. If the ball lands on any of those numbers, you'll win at 5-1 odds.
First Four: This bet is only available on European roulette tables, and covers the zero along with 1, 2, and 3. If any of those four numbers wins, the bet pays 8-1.
Trio: Like a street bet, this bet covers three numbers, but it includes one of the zeros. For instance, a player can make a trio bet covering 0, 1, and 2. If any of those numbers wins, the bet pays 11-1.
Top Line: This bet is only available on American roulette tables and covers five numbers in total: the zero, double zero, 1, 2, and 3. If the ball lands on any of those numbers, your bet pays out at 6-1 odds.
Outside Bets
Outside bets cover large sections of the wheel, giving you a better chance of winning your bet. However, they also come with smaller payouts, and may require higher minimum wagers than inside bets.
Columns: A column bet covers one of the three columns on the roulette table layout, each of which contains 12 numbers. If any of those 12 numbers wins, your bet pays 2-1 odds.
Dozens: These bets cover sets of 12 consecutive numbers: 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36. If a number in the range you bet on wins, the bet pays 2-1.
Odd/Even: These bets cover all of the odd or even numbers on the table (note that zeros do not count as either odd or even). If a matching number wins, then your bet pays out even money.
Red/Black: These bets cover all pockets – 18 each – of that color. If the ball lands on that color, you win at even money odds.
High/Low: These bets cover the range of 1-18 and 19-36. Should the ball land on a number in the range you've chosen, the bet pays even money.
Called & Announced Bets
Called and announced bets are roulette bet types that may not be familiar even to many experienced players. These are more frequently seen in European casinos, and they allow players to make bets by announcing them to the croupier. Called bets can be made on credit, while announced bets require a player to actually have the money on the table in order to make them.Typically, such bets are only offered to known players, usually high rollers. In modern roulette, announced bets are far more common than called bets, as most casinos cannot or will not allow their players to wager on credit.
While any bet can be an announced bet, this option is typically only used for complex wagers, most of which are known as the French bets. These bets cover specific portions of the roulette wheel, which takes several chips to accomplish and can be unwieldy to manage on the standard roulette betting layout. Instead, the croupier can manage those bets for players, sometimes by using the 'racetrack' layout seen on some European roulette tables.
Common announced bets include:Voisins du Zero: This bet covers 17 numbers using nine chips. Your payout will be determined by the type of bet covering the winning number: 16 chips on the corner bet, 22 on the trio, or 17 chips if one of the splits wins.
Jeu Zero: The 'zero game' covers just seven numbers using four chips. If a split wins, the bet will pay out 17 chips. If the number 26 hits, you win 35 chips.
Tiers du Cylindre: This bet covers 12 numbers that lie far away from the zero. It takes six split bets to cover these numbers, and you get a payout of 17 chips if any of them wins.
Orphelins: Made with five chips, this bet has varying payouts. The straight bet on 1 pays 35-1, while the split bets would pay 17-1.
Finals: A final bet covers every number that ends in a specific digit. These are all straight bets paying out at 35-1 odds.
Roulette Landing On 01
Full Completes: A full complete is a true maximum bet on a single number. These bets involve heavy risks to the player, with the exact payouts depending on what number is hit, various table maximums, and which number is being maxed out.
You can find out more details on each of these on our called bets and announced bets page.
THE BEST ROULETTE BETS FOR YOUR BANKROLL
Our team of experts has years of experience playing roulette, meaning we know all the pro tips and tricks that can help you get the best roulette odds possible. One of the most important things we can share is how to make the best bets possible each time you step up to the roulette table. Here are our favorite bets in roulette:
THE WORST ODDS TO WATCH OUT FOR
While we're happy to give you tips on how to find the best odds in roulette, the best thing we can do for our players is steer them away from bets that aren't worth their time. By avoiding the worst of the worst options, you'll improve your roulette odds and have more fun playing knowing you aren't getting ripped off.
The biggest example is the Top Line or First Five bet on American roulette tables. While the odds in roulette are very consistent across almost all bets, this particular bet is an exception. This is because payouts in roulette are generally designed to be fair for a wheel with 36 pockets, with the house edge coming from the fact that there are actually 37 (European roulette) or 38 (American roulette) pockets for the ball to fall into.
On an American table, that means that whether you make a straight bet at 35-1 payout, or bet on black at even money, the house edge is 2/38, or 5.26%. However, the Top Line bet covers exactly five numbers (0-00-1-2-3), a number that 36 can't be evenly divided into. Casinos offer 6-1 on this bet, which would only be a fair bet if there were 35 pockets. The result of this is a house edge of 7.89%, which is much higher than on any other bet.
The Top Line isn't always the only sucker bet on the table. Generally, it's best to avoid unusual side bets that may be added to the game, especially in online roulette. As in other casino games, these side bets are almost always added to make more money off players and come with extraordinarily high house edges.
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR ODDS AT ROULETTE
One of the best ways to improve your odds in roulette is by brushing up on your roulette strategy. While the results of each spin are random, roulette strategies can be used to manage your sessions and get the kinds of results you're looking for.
For instance, let's say you want to maximize your chances of booking at least a small win at the end of a session. Your best bet may be the Martingale System, which asks you to place even money bets, doubling your bet amount after a loss. On the other hand, a player looking for a huge payday would be better off trying something like the Guetting System. We cover many of these systems as well as other ways to improve your odds on our roulette strategy page.
The most important thing you can do to maximize your roulette odds is to get some practice in before you try playing for real money. If you're looking to develop your skills or test a new betting strategy, you'll want to check out the 80+ free online roulette titles which are available for you to try without risking any money.
PLAY AT THE TOP ONLINE ROULETTE SITES
At this point, you should have a strong knowledge of roulette odds and payouts, which bets you want to seek out, and which to avoid. Armed with this information, you should feel confident about playing roulette for real cash at one of our top-rated casinos.
We only recommend the most trustworthy and reputable online casinos for our readers. Any of the sites in the table below will provide you with a safe and secure place to enjoy playing roulette.
Street: A bet on a row of three numbers on the roulette layout. If any of those numbers wins, your bet pays out at 11-1 odds.
Corner: A bet on a 'square' of four numbers on the roulette betting layout. If any of these numbers wins, the bet pays 8-1.
Six Line: A bet on two consecutive rows, covering six numbers in total. If the ball lands on any of those numbers, you'll win at 5-1 odds.
First Four: This bet is only available on European roulette tables, and covers the zero along with 1, 2, and 3. If any of those four numbers wins, the bet pays 8-1.
Trio: Like a street bet, this bet covers three numbers, but it includes one of the zeros. For instance, a player can make a trio bet covering 0, 1, and 2. If any of those numbers wins, the bet pays 11-1.
Top Line: This bet is only available on American roulette tables and covers five numbers in total: the zero, double zero, 1, 2, and 3. If the ball lands on any of those numbers, your bet pays out at 6-1 odds.
Outside Bets
Outside bets cover large sections of the wheel, giving you a better chance of winning your bet. However, they also come with smaller payouts, and may require higher minimum wagers than inside bets.
Columns: A column bet covers one of the three columns on the roulette table layout, each of which contains 12 numbers. If any of those 12 numbers wins, your bet pays 2-1 odds.
Dozens: These bets cover sets of 12 consecutive numbers: 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36. If a number in the range you bet on wins, the bet pays 2-1.
Odd/Even: These bets cover all of the odd or even numbers on the table (note that zeros do not count as either odd or even). If a matching number wins, then your bet pays out even money.
Red/Black: These bets cover all pockets – 18 each – of that color. If the ball lands on that color, you win at even money odds.
High/Low: These bets cover the range of 1-18 and 19-36. Should the ball land on a number in the range you've chosen, the bet pays even money.
Called & Announced Bets
Called and announced bets are roulette bet types that may not be familiar even to many experienced players. These are more frequently seen in European casinos, and they allow players to make bets by announcing them to the croupier. Called bets can be made on credit, while announced bets require a player to actually have the money on the table in order to make them.Typically, such bets are only offered to known players, usually high rollers. In modern roulette, announced bets are far more common than called bets, as most casinos cannot or will not allow their players to wager on credit.
While any bet can be an announced bet, this option is typically only used for complex wagers, most of which are known as the French bets. These bets cover specific portions of the roulette wheel, which takes several chips to accomplish and can be unwieldy to manage on the standard roulette betting layout. Instead, the croupier can manage those bets for players, sometimes by using the 'racetrack' layout seen on some European roulette tables.
Common announced bets include:Voisins du Zero: This bet covers 17 numbers using nine chips. Your payout will be determined by the type of bet covering the winning number: 16 chips on the corner bet, 22 on the trio, or 17 chips if one of the splits wins.
Jeu Zero: The 'zero game' covers just seven numbers using four chips. If a split wins, the bet will pay out 17 chips. If the number 26 hits, you win 35 chips.
Tiers du Cylindre: This bet covers 12 numbers that lie far away from the zero. It takes six split bets to cover these numbers, and you get a payout of 17 chips if any of them wins.
Orphelins: Made with five chips, this bet has varying payouts. The straight bet on 1 pays 35-1, while the split bets would pay 17-1.
Finals: A final bet covers every number that ends in a specific digit. These are all straight bets paying out at 35-1 odds.
Roulette Landing On 01
Full Completes: A full complete is a true maximum bet on a single number. These bets involve heavy risks to the player, with the exact payouts depending on what number is hit, various table maximums, and which number is being maxed out.
You can find out more details on each of these on our called bets and announced bets page.
THE BEST ROULETTE BETS FOR YOUR BANKROLL
Our team of experts has years of experience playing roulette, meaning we know all the pro tips and tricks that can help you get the best roulette odds possible. One of the most important things we can share is how to make the best bets possible each time you step up to the roulette table. Here are our favorite bets in roulette:
THE WORST ODDS TO WATCH OUT FOR
While we're happy to give you tips on how to find the best odds in roulette, the best thing we can do for our players is steer them away from bets that aren't worth their time. By avoiding the worst of the worst options, you'll improve your roulette odds and have more fun playing knowing you aren't getting ripped off.
The biggest example is the Top Line or First Five bet on American roulette tables. While the odds in roulette are very consistent across almost all bets, this particular bet is an exception. This is because payouts in roulette are generally designed to be fair for a wheel with 36 pockets, with the house edge coming from the fact that there are actually 37 (European roulette) or 38 (American roulette) pockets for the ball to fall into.
On an American table, that means that whether you make a straight bet at 35-1 payout, or bet on black at even money, the house edge is 2/38, or 5.26%. However, the Top Line bet covers exactly five numbers (0-00-1-2-3), a number that 36 can't be evenly divided into. Casinos offer 6-1 on this bet, which would only be a fair bet if there were 35 pockets. The result of this is a house edge of 7.89%, which is much higher than on any other bet.
The Top Line isn't always the only sucker bet on the table. Generally, it's best to avoid unusual side bets that may be added to the game, especially in online roulette. As in other casino games, these side bets are almost always added to make more money off players and come with extraordinarily high house edges.
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR ODDS AT ROULETTE
One of the best ways to improve your odds in roulette is by brushing up on your roulette strategy. While the results of each spin are random, roulette strategies can be used to manage your sessions and get the kinds of results you're looking for.
For instance, let's say you want to maximize your chances of booking at least a small win at the end of a session. Your best bet may be the Martingale System, which asks you to place even money bets, doubling your bet amount after a loss. On the other hand, a player looking for a huge payday would be better off trying something like the Guetting System. We cover many of these systems as well as other ways to improve your odds on our roulette strategy page.
The most important thing you can do to maximize your roulette odds is to get some practice in before you try playing for real money. If you're looking to develop your skills or test a new betting strategy, you'll want to check out the 80+ free online roulette titles which are available for you to try without risking any money.
PLAY AT THE TOP ONLINE ROULETTE SITES
At this point, you should have a strong knowledge of roulette odds and payouts, which bets you want to seek out, and which to avoid. Armed with this information, you should feel confident about playing roulette for real cash at one of our top-rated casinos.
We only recommend the most trustworthy and reputable online casinos for our readers. Any of the sites in the table below will provide you with a safe and secure place to enjoy playing roulette.
CASINO | BONUS | RTP | RATING | REVIEW | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | T&C APPLY | PAYOUT | 10 | READ REVIEW | PLAY NOW |
2 | T&C APPLY | PAYOUT | 9.6 | READ REVIEW | PLAY NOW |
3 | T&C APPLY | PAYOUT | 9.3 | READ REVIEW | PLAY NOW |
4 | T&C APPLY | PAYOUT | 9 | READ REVIEW | PLAY NOW |
5 | T&C APPLY | PAYOUT | 9.4 | READ REVIEW | PLAY NOW |
FAQ
🎲 Are roulette odds good?
While roulette odds vary depending on the type of table you are playing at, the odds are generally quite good. That's especially true when compared to other popular gambling options like slot machines, which normally have much higher house edges.
❤️ What is the best bet in roulette?
If you want the best odds in roulette, you'll want to find a European roulette table where you can take advantage of la partage rules on even money bets. Under those conditions, the house edge is just 1.35%.
🎰 What are the best roulette bet combinations?
There are many different roulette bet combinations that are effective, with the best one depending on your goals at the table. Familiarizing yourself with bet systems can help you determine what works for you, and what doesn't.
💰 How much is a roulette chip worth?
The most common value for a roulette chip in an American casino is one dollar. However, this amount can vary depending on how much you buy in for at the table. When you purchase your chips, your croupier will set a value that leaves you with a reasonable amount of chips to play with: buy in for $100, and you'll get dollar chips; start with $10,000 on the table, and each chip might be worth $100 instead.
❓ Are roulette tables rigged?
Generally speaking, roulette tables are fair. Casinos have a mathematical advantage and don't need to cheat to get roulette odds they are happy with. However, there have been plenty of cases where biased wheels have made some numbers appear more often than others – something that attentive players can take advantage of.
CASINO | BONUS | RTP | RATING | REVIEW | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | T&C APPLY | PAYOUT | 10 | READ REVIEW | PLAY NOW |
Roulette is one of oldest casino games and its origins could easily be traced to more than a millennium ago when various simplified versions of it existed as a form of entertainment. Today, gamblers have access to dozens of betting systems, strategies, and even cheating devices that promise long-term success to those who dare use them. Still, there are only two simple concepts they need to grasp in order to improve their play and their chances of winning and that is the odds and the casino advantage that is built-in in every roulette game.
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Knowing the odds is essential in playing roulette or any other game of chance where players' decisions have no impact on the outcome of the round. Games of skill, in contrast, typically require at least basic knowledge of the rules and give skilled players the opportunity to improve their chances of winning. Unlike classic casino games such as blackjack or poker where individual actions can significantly change the outcome, roulette is a game of pure chance where the outcome is completely random.
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Once players recognize this fact, they can truly understand the nature of roulette and learn how to optimize their play to avoid significant losses on the roulette table. Those who want to be successful in the long term need to learn the basic probabilities in this game and determine how likely to win or lose any given bet is. Moreover, all roulette fans should bear in mind that every bet they place is more likely to lose than to win – this is how casinos manage to always make a profit even with the occasional big wins they have to pay out.
So, what is probability and is there a difference between the true odds in roulette and the casino odds offered to players? These are fundamental questions that need to be answered honestly before gamblers sit around the roulette table.
Probability and True Odds
Often, the terms 'probability' and 'odds' can be confused by even professional casino players. Although they are, indeed, very similar in terms of their usefulness and relevance to evaluating different roulette bets, the two are quite different – at least theoretically.
First of all, players should know that if fair and unbiased, roulette wheels produce random results with every spin. Each of the numbers is equally likely to win or, rather, equally likely to lose. At the same time, for each number from 0 to 36, there are only two possible outcomes – a win or a loss.
Probability
The probability is the likelihood of any given outcome compared to all outcomes that are possible. Expressed as a number, the probability always exists between 0 and 1 – 0 would indicate that something is impossible to occur, while 1 would mean absolute certainty for the outcome. Even chances, for example, would be expressed as a 0.50 probability. In roulette, we have either 37 or 38 numbers in total, so these are all the possible outcomes.
Let us take the single-zero roulette wheel where for each number, there is only 1 way to win and 36 ways to lose. So what is the probability that the ball will fall on 17 in the next spin, for example? We can calculate it by dividing the number of ways to win by all possible ways – 1/37, which is 0.027. For most people, the probability is easier to understand as a percentage, so we simply multiply the decimal by 100 and we get 2.70%.
True Odds in Roulette
Now that we have established what probability is and how it is determined in roulette, we can compare it to the notion of 'odds'. Odds are also used to describe the chance of an event occurring but they compare the number of ways it can occur to the number of ways it cannot occur. The odds of any particular number winning in roulette could be simply displayed as 1:36 or 1/36 where 36 is, once again, the number of ways to lose.
Sometimes, when it comes to expressing the odds of a particular bet in roulette, they would be in reverse, indicating the odds against winning. Using the same example, the odds of the number 17 against winning would be 36:1, or 36 to 1. These are known as 'true odds' as compared to what some players refer to as 'casino odds'. There is a huge difference between the two terms, but it will be explained in detail in the following section.
To make this even clearer, let us see the odds for probably the most commonly placed bet in roulette – red/black. If we place our chips on red, the probability would be 18 out of 37, while the odds would be 19:18 against us because there would be 19 ways to lose against 18 ways to win. In percentages, the probability would be 18/37 = 0.48648648648, 48.65%.
Casino Odds
Roulette Landing On 0 Gravity
When determining whether a roulette bet has good or bad odds, experienced players take into account not only their probability of winning and the true odds but also the potential reward they could bring. Each bet pays out differently, depending on its likelihood of winning – the less likely a given outcome is to occur, the more its potential payout would be. There is a sound logic behind this and in a perfect world where casinos would not have to make a profit, the payout of every bet would be equal to the odds against winning.
Let us take a look at the straight bet in European roulette – the odds against the player here are 36 to 1 (36:1) because as we have already shown above, there are 36 ways for this bet to lose and only 1 way to win. In order to offer a reward that would match the risk, the casino would be expected to pay players 36 to 1. In other words, it would be expected to return the original stake and to pay out winnings that are worth 36 times the amount of the bet.
Casino Odds Additional TipsIn reality, this does not happen, however, and the house gives a slightly lower payout of 35:1 on winning straight-up bets. The idea is that on every winning wager, players pay a small fee to the casino and in this case, it is one unit. The difference does not seem significant but it is how casinos gain their advantage over players – by paying every winner just slightly less than they should have. Over time, this tiny difference makes a large profit for the house and provides a guaranteed income in any possible scenario.
These payouts offered by casinos are sometimes referred to as 'casino odds' due to their visible similarity. And while both are expressed as ratios of two numbers, they are never equal – the odds against winning are always slightly higher than the casino odds. The closer the casino odds get to the true odds of any given bet, the lower the advantage of the casino.
Roulette House Edge Explained
Clearly, the payout does not correspond to the true odds of roulette bets. This advantage of the casino over its patrons is called house advantage and can be easily demonstrated with the following example – we bet $1 on the number 17 and win. If given the true odds for this bet (36:1), we would receive our initial $1 stake back plus $36 as a payout. Instead, casinos pay us $35 and the original $1 bet but they keep the $1 difference.
The same concept applies to all bets in the game, which results in an average house edge of 2.70% for single-zero roulette and 5.26% for double-zero roulette. There are several formulas for calculating the house edge but probably the simplest one is the following – we need to subtract the casino odds from the true odds against success and then, to multiply that by the probability of success. So, the formula will look like this:
House Edge = (True Odds – Casino Odds) x Probability
When we substitute with the numbers we have already used for the straight bet, we get – (36/1 – 35/1) x 1/37 = 1×1/37 = 0.02702702702, or 0.027. Cafe de rome casino hotel. To express it as a percentage, we multiply by 100 and get 2.70%. Several other formulas exist, but they all eventually come to the same conclusion and percentage for the house edge.
Roulette House Edge Additional TipsWhat this means for the players is that they can expect to lose 2.70% of their wager when playing a single-zero roulette. For every $100 they bet, they would lose on $2.70 on average. Of course, this is a theoretical ratio between the stake and the expected loss but things could be very different in real life. If we place a $100 chip on red, we can either win or lose its entire value. But we cannot win the bet and lose $2.70 at the same time.
So, the house edge can only get closer to reality with hundreds or even hundreds of thousands spins of the roulette wheel. It is a theoretical concept and while this may sound too vague to players, it is a good indicator of how much money they can expect to lose over time. Of course, they might win hundreds of dollars by the end of one gaming session or lose hundreds more in the next one. Still, they are less likely to lose their bankroll if they stick to specific games and bets where the casino has the lowest advantage.
Beating the Odds in Roulette
The idea that by using a complex strategy one could beat the odds in roulette is very popular but equally misleading. There are countless guides, books, and websites dedicated to convincing people that there is a guaranteed method of winning in this game. In fact, various betting systems, often inaccurately called 'strategies', have been developed over the years, as well as ways that would supposedly help players exploit the imperfections of physical roulette wheels and overcome the house edge.
Unfortunately, these methodologies have been repeatedly proven to be inefficient in securing winnings over the long term. Moreover, their short-term usefulness is doubtful and the reason is obvious to most expert-level players – roulette is a game with fixed odds that cannot be changed even with the best strategy. As explained above, the outcome of every spin of the roulette is random and based on probability. The house edge, therefore, also remains the same almost as a proof for the popular saying that the house always wins.
Roulette Strategies
The so-called roulette strategies are, in their essence, betting systems based on a progression where the amount of the stake changes after a certain outcome. Famous methods such as the Martingale or the D'Alembert suggest that you increase your bet after every loss, hoping that, in the end, one winning bet will compensate for all the losses. There are also systems where the bet is decreased, while in others, it remains the same throughout the entire game session. Overall, the idea is to help players minimize their losses or even generate some decent winnings over the long term.
While none of these betting progressions provides a fool-proof way to win, another type of strategies comes with exactly this claim. These strategies are based on the notion that you can increase your chances of winning by covering a large part of the table. Indeed, this sounds logical at first and certain methods even suggest that you should cover much more than 50% of the table. This strategy, however, will be too costly for most players, especially after a few losing spins.
If not used carefully, both betting systems and roulette strategies may 'eat up' players' entire bankroll within a short period of time. Placing neighbor bets or any other type of announced bets could be detrimental to those who are not well prepared to suffer serious losses. In conclusion, even the best methods and combinations of bets cannot aid you in beating the odds and overcoming the built-in casino advantage.
Advantage Play
Some roulette players rely on quite different methods for securing winnings. Known as advantage play methods, these include any strategies that give players either a statistical or a mathematical advantage over the casino. If employed successfully, they can beat the standard roulette odds and even if it is just by a little, it should be enough to provide players with long-term winnings. Unlike the betting strategies and systems described above, advantage play does not revolve around the betting layout but rather, around the wheel.
It can be used in both online and land-based casinos and online, advantage players would try to use special software that records and analyzes the results of hundreds of spins. The aim is to find a pattern in the winning numbers (such as repeating sequences of winning numbers) and then, to use it to make predictions. However, most online casinos nowadays offer roulette games based on RNG (random number generator) so finding patterns would be impossible as the outcome of every spin is random.
Lost 400 pounds gambling calculator. When it comes to playing a roulette game with a physical roulette wheel, however, advantage play is much more different. Players who try to use this technique would typically stand by the roulette table for at least 40-50 spins and write down all the winning numbers in the hope that they would be able to spot numbers that come out more frequently than others. In fact, sometimes they observe the wheel for hundreds of spins before they can notice repeating numbers, patterns or some irregularities.
Advantage Play Additional TipsThis method was mostly used in the past when casinos did not have such strict maintenance rules and protocols, while the wheels and other gaming equipment were manufactured in a manner that today would be deemed unacceptable. Players who wish to turn the odds in their favor these days need to be extremely discreet if they plan to observe the wheels before the casino security become aware of them. Exploiting roulette wheels' bias and imperfections for one's profit is not usually met with understanding from casinos.
How to Increase Player's Chances of Winning
There are no reliable ways to actually beat the odds when playing roulette and even if such methods exist, they are neither simple nor acceptable by casino standards. Yet, players can increase their chances of winning by following several basic principles that can be applied to both online and brick-and-mortar casinos.
First of all, choosing a good roulette table is essential and obviously, single-zero roulette games are a much better option than double-zero games, which are mostly offered in casinos across the United States. The house edge in the American-style roulette is twice as high due to the additional sector on the wheel, the green 00. But picking French or European-style roulette variations is just the first step in learning how to maximize players' expected value.
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Second, players should always base their play around wagers with the lowest possible house edge. Of course, the best bets in roulette are the outside bets, which cover large portions of the wheel and require a single chip to be wagered. These include black/red, even/odd, and low/high, where the advantage of the casino is 2.70% while the player's odds of winning are the highest. It is true that the payouts are not particularly attractive but these bets are less risky options in the game.
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When choosing a bet, players need to compare the casino odds to the true odds and find the type of bet where these two as close to each other as possible. Often, the most attractive payouts are offered for bets which the casino pays much less than their actual worth. As a general rule of thumb, players should remember that the less risk they take, the less they can expect to win. All the good payouts, however, come with exceptionally bad odds and require a great tolerance for risk.