So, you’ve learned the rules of roulette and you’ve played the game, but now it’s time to learn a few handy strategies! Well, this is a fine place to find that.
Roulette can be a complex game. This becomes more evident as you delve into studying some of the more popular game strategies out there. This guide aims to simplify it all for you and hopefully provide you with some handy tips to help get the best out of your online roulette experience.
Before we go about studying the strategies of playing online roulette, it should be noted that, even with the best-laid plans and strategies, the house will always have the edge.
The casino always wins in the long run and those who walk away big winners are far and few between. Don’t let that get you down because while you may need some luck to beat the house on average, it is possible to win big on the roulette table!
This guide is not a full-proof aid to help you get one over on the casino, but it will provide you with tools that will give you the best chance of winning.
What are the odds when playing online roulette?
To ensure that you can manage your risk, you need to know what the odds are on betting in the game. Because there is such a wide diversity of betting options available to you, you as the player can select whether you play the high or low-risk game for yourself. Different bet types certainly carry different odds with them.
American Roulette for instance has an extra ‘00’ position on the reels with different rules for winning.
Below are the odds on all betting types for both game styles:
| Bets | Payout | American Odds | European Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | 1.1 | 46.37% | 48.6% |
| Black | 1.1 | 46.37% | 48.6% |
| Even | 1.1 | 46.37% | 48.6% |
| Odd | 1.1 | 46.37% | 48.6% |
| 1st Half (1-18) | 1.1 | 46.37% | 48.6% |
| 2nd Half (19-36) | 1.1 | 46.37% | 48.6% |
| 1st 12 (1-12) | 2.1 | 31.58% | 32.4% |
| 2nd 12 (13-24) | 2.1 | 31.58% | 32.4% |
| 3rd 12(25-36) | 2.1 | 31.58% | 32.4% |
| Line Bet (6 Number Combination) | 5.1 | 15.79% | 16.2% |
| 5 Number (set at 0,00,1,2,3) | 6.1 | 13.16% | N/A |
| Corner Bet (4 Number Combination) | 8.1 | 10.53% | 10.8% |
| Street Bet (3Number Combination) | 11.1 | 7.89% | 8.1% |
| Split Bet (2 Number Combination) | 17.1 | 5.26% | 5.26% |
| Straight-Up Bet (Any single number) | 35.1 | 2.63% | 2.63% |
Is there a low-risk roulette strategy?
There are many inherited strategies in roulette circles that we will get to in due course, but there are some real basics that must be learned first. These are sound principles, that if adhered to will ensure that your roulette session is as positive as possible.
- Approach: Step up to the table and have fun! Playing at online casinos should be all about entertainment. Yes, money can be made, but it is most likely that the house will win.
- Bankroll: Budget for your play. Always set out a portion of money for your game session.
- Self-Control: If you have come with a strategy, stick to it. Play smart and you’ll be sure to have a smile on your face.
- Practice: Thankfully, most online roulette games can be played in demo mode. This means you can play it for free to check things out before placing bets with your hard-earned money.
- Game Version: For low-risk play, always select European Roulette over American Roulette. As is evident from the table above, the odds of winning are better this way.
- Outside Bets: The best way for beginners to start, or for low-risk players to bet, is to play outside bets only. The odds of winning are way better, even though the rewards are slimmer. Play in this way and you can pace yourself and build your bankroll gradually. Outside bets include: Even, Odd, Red, Black, 1st 12, 2nd 12, 3rd 12, 1st Half, and 2nd Half bets.
What are the 7 most popular betting strategies for online roulette?
There is a long list of popular betting strategies used by avid online roulette players the world over. Many of them are designed for high rollers with big budgets. Of course, if they come off, you could be looking at grand rewards.
While many have claimed that these work for them every time, nothing is guaranteed in online gambling, so you should brush these claims off as soon as you hear them.
Because 7 is a lucky number in betting circles, we have opted to provide you with 7 of the most popular systems known. These include:
1. James Bond Bet
If you would like to use a popular low-risk strategy, you can opt to play like James Bond. Unlike many of the other strategies out there, this one holds the least risk of big losses and makes reasonable sense. Your bet includes:
- Big money on 2nd half (19-36)
- Moderate money on a line bet (13-18)
With this bet in motion, the only way you can lose is if the wheel outcome is on numbers between 1 and 12.
2. Parlay Bet
Here’s another strategy for low-risk players. A base bet is made on a 1:1 bet (red, black, odd, eve, 1st half, 2nd half). You will then re-bet the same amount on the same position if necessary. If you win, you will not take the winnings off the table, but leave them on (as a double stake) in hopes of winning back more.
3. The Martingale
Many of you may have heard of this betting strategy, as it has been widely used by online roulette players for decades.
It holds a lot of risks and goes against the advice of many responsible gamblers, who generally caution against chasing your losses. The Martingale is different. It’s essentially a game of double up, where you try to recoup all previous losses quickly.
4. The Grand Martingale
The Grand Martingale is run on the same principle as the standard Martingale but is for players with deeper pockets. Instead of doubling your stake, you will triple the value of the previous stake each time.
5. Reverse Martingale
Also known as the Anti-Martingale, this is a strategy that makes a little more sense for the average player on a strict budget. Here you will half your bet when necessary and only double the bet when you win!
6. The Fibonacci
Named after the famous Italian mathematician, Fibonacci, this betting strategy is based on his observed Fibonacci sequence. The maths guru pointed out that many natural occurrences in the world followed the numeric system.
The sequence is as follows: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55 etc. Can you see the pattern? The number presented is the sum of the two numbers before it. IE (1+0)=1, (1+1)=2, (2+1)=3, (3+2)=5, (5+3)=8, (8+5)=13, (13+8)=21,(21+13)=34, (34+21)=55, etc
Now, in the same way, gamblers increase their bets when necessary. If the initial bet is $10, the next one will be $10 (10+0), the next one will be $20 (10+10), the next one will be $30 (20+10), the next one will be $50 (30+20) etc. This will continue until a win is made.
7. The Labouchere
This strategy might require you to have a pen and paper handy when implementing it so that you can keep track of where you are. This strategy is designed to work best on even bets, as straight-up options could be very risky. How it works:
- Choose the amount of money you want to win. Let’s say $100 for this example.
- Split that amount into a sequence of several numbers that add up to that amount.
- Repeat the bet by adding the last and the first digit to give you your next wager.
- If you lose a bet, you will not subtract the first and last digits, but rather add the bet you lost to the end of the line in the sequence.
If you manage to work through all the numbers in the sequence, that sequence would have been a success.
We have given you a lot to think about in this guide with ample examples to go out and test in the real world. Just remember that no strategy is guaranteed to work, but they do bring some sort of order to the way that you play.
Top online roulette strategy FAQs
Which bets pay the best in online roulette?
If you are in it for high wins, you will have to play straight-up bets for the best reward. This includes betting on any single digit on the board. The payout is 35:1.
What number hits the most in roulette?
While it is difficult to say which roulette number comes up the most frequently, we can tell you that number 17 is a player favourite around the world. This is followed by 23, 24, and 7.
Do I have to be lucky to win roulette?
Roulette games are completely random but many players believe that some keen skill and strategy is needed to be a winner.
Which bets offer the best success?
If you want the greatest success on each bet, then it would be best to place Even Bets. Here you have nearly a 50% chance of winning each round you play.