Do Roulette Strategies Work?

In reputable, licensed casinos (both online and real ones), the games are audited by third parties to make sure that they cannot be rigged. In roulette, this means that the spinning ball has an equal chance of landing in any one of the pockets on the wheel. However, we cannot go without saying that this does not necessarily make the game fair. As with all casino games you find in our online casinos list, the house edge is hardwired into the rules. Since they make their business off players’ losses, no casino would offer a game which can be easily and honestly beaten by applying a strategy.

Whether a bet is successful or not is exclusively dependent on chance, which is impossible to predict. Roulette strategies are not capable of increasing the chances of a bet winning, but rather are aimed at helping the player manage their bankroll by suggesting values for subsequent bets on roulette.

It is important to understand that employing a strategy during a game of roulette may still not result in a profit. Nevertheless, this is no reason not to stick with a betting strategy having proven efficacy, as it may still help the player to strategically get a few great spins of the wheel.

Choosing a Roulette Strategy

Throughout the years, several types of roulette betting strategies have emerged. In this article, we will introduce and compare the six most popular ones to date, namely:

  1. Martingale
  2. Reverse Martingale or Paroli
  3. Fibonacci
  4. D’Alembert
  5. Labouchere
  6. James Bond

There are several factors which players should take into consideration when selecting the most successful roulette strategy to follow, as each technique is best suited for different situations. Among these considerations are the player’s personal preferences and funds available, as well as the rules in place at the roulette casinos online. To name a few, one might want to consider the following:

  • Preferred playing style: progressive or non-progressive strategies
  • Player’s experience
  • Strategy’s difficulty level
  • Available bankroll
  • Type of roulette wheel (American, French or European)
  • Table’s minimum and maximum bet limits

Progressive VS Non-Progressive Roulette Betting Strategy

A good way of differentiating between different betting techniques is by identifying them as either progressive or non-progressive strategies. A progressive roulette betting strategy involves varying the stake of the next round based on the outcome of the previous, while a non-progressive strategy uses the same fixed stake for every round.

Speech BubbleRoger

In roulette, players seek to minimize risk by placing so-called, even money bets, such as red/black, even/odd or 1-18/19-36 (low/high). Even money means that a winning bet returns the original stake and an equivalent amount in winnings, allowing 50/50 bets.

However, this is not the case with roulette, as the inbuilt house edge makes the odds 47.4% in European or French roulettes and 44.8% in the American variation. Most betting strategies we will explore are most effectively applied by placing even money outside bets.

Progressive Betting Systems

Because the amount to be wagered fluctuates between rounds, progressive betting strategies often require a higher budget and come with a greater associated risk, making them unsuitable for beginners or low rollers. On the other hand, some players opt for progressive strategies because of the alleged chance that it may help limit losses and potentially generate a profit.

Below we have outlined some of the most common betting strategies for online roulette. Keep in mind that the roulette systems that work best are played on European roulette online and not American. This is because the European version has higher odds of winning.

Martingale

The Martingale strategy is perhaps the best-known roulette betting technique altogether, being quite simple to understand and easy to implement. It focuses on recovering the player’s losses through doubling the wager after every loss and retaining the amount in the case of a win.

Such a strategy uses very steep progression and requires a significant bankroll to sustain. If, for example, a player had started from an initial bet of £1 and lost 10 of the rounds, the wager would already be at £512 by this point, following the progression:

1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512

This makes Martingale a relatively high-risk strategy, as the wager may quickly double and could hit the table limit before the player is able to get enough wins to make up the money that has been lost. For this reason, it is not popular among experienced players and not really suitable for beginners.

Fibonacci

Fibonacci is another popular progressive strategy where subsequent bets are placed following the Fibonacci sequence. A player following this technique would raise the stake to the next term after losing a round and go back two numbers in the sequence if the round is successful.

The Fibonacci sequence starts from 0, 1 and is calculated by adding the two previous numbers to obtain the next term:

0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144

Since players cannot place a zero bet, the strategy starts following the sequence from 1, 1. The Fibonacci is another straightforward strategy which offers a slower progression than Martingale, making it better suited for players who prefer to play more conservatively, although it still carries the risk associated with implementing a progressive strategy.

Inverse Martingale or Paroli

As the name might imply, this strategy involves following the Martingale technique with the actions inverted; in this case, a player would double their wager after every win, rather than a loss.

Statistically, this makes this variation slightly safer than the traditional, as it uses the previous round’s winnings to increment the bet, rather than the bankroll, making it ideal for players seeking a lower-risk strategy than Martingale. However, it is worth noting that incrementing each wager by doubling it still leads to a very steep progression.

D’Alembert

The D’Alembert roulette strategy, named after the French mathematician who created it, is very popular with first-timers. It involves first defining a unit amount of money, such as £1, by which the wager will be incremented after each loss and decremented after each win.

Usually, the unit is defined to be around 0.5% of the total available bankroll, as long as this is greater than or equal to the minimum table limit. An example of how such a sequence of wagers might progress is:

RoundBet AmountResult
11win
2 1 lose
3 2 lose
4 3 lose
5 4 win
6 3 lose
7 4 lose
8 5 win
9 4 win

The strategy’s main focus is progressing slowly in fixed amounts, in turn, both increasing and decreasing the wager accordingly. This makes the D’Alembert a very applicable strategy, as bets are less likely to ever hit the table limit. It provides players with an organised way of managing their bankroll and remaining in control of their spending. However, profit-making wins may be less frequent.

Labouchere

Another progressive strategy is Labouchere, which involves first splitting the desired win amount into multiple smaller, more affordable bets, making sure to keep the amounts above the minimum threshold. Considering, for example, an initial wager of £10, this may be broken down (in no particular order) as:

1, 2, 1, 1, 2, 1, 2

The first and last numbers, in this case, 1 and 2, are then summed to get the next bet amount, in this example, £3. If the bet loses, the number is appended at the end of the sequence and for a winning bet, both the numbers used are crossed out.

The advantage of this betting technique is that it makes it very easy for players to manage their budgets. However, in the case of a losing streak, the sequence could become quite long, and one must pay attention to follow the sequence most closely throughout the game.

Non-Progressive Betting Strategies

Non-progressive strategies use a fixed ante in each bet, which might be viewed as anticlimactic for some since the stakes remain the same through each round. However, this means such strategies are better at minimizing risk and protecting the player’s bankroll, making them ideal for shorter-term betting.

Such strategies are applicable for other games than roulette and can be applied to blackjack casinos online as well.

James Bond

The most well-known non-progressive roulette strategy is the James Bond strategy, originally designed by Ian Fleming, the author of the James Bond series, who claimed this was the optimal roulette combination. This technique places the same wagers on every spin:

  • £14 on 19-36 (the high numbers)
  • £5 on 13-14-15 and 16-17-18 (a six line)
  • £1 on 0

Notably, this strategy does not follow 50/50 bets, which makes it appear risker. However, these wagers cover 2/3 of the numbers on the roulette wheel so that the chances of winning are even greater than with even-money bets.

One disadvantage of this strategy is that it requires a higher minimum bet than other strategies, so it may not be the best option for every player. On the other hand, players using this strategy can more clearly plan out their potential spending since it uses non-progressive bets.

Roulette Tips

Further to implementing an online roulette system, here are a few additional tips players can follow to pursue advantage at casinos.

  • To offset some of the risk, players should always seek to play smart and bet small, taking care to not overplay their hand.
  • Another good tactic is to claim bonuses, such as the welcome bonus at online casino European, to boost the player’s bankroll, giving them more chances to play and hit a winning combination.
  • Moreover, when choosing a roulette game, it is advisable to choose one with a French or European wheel rather than the American variation, as the additional 00 pocket in the latter makes it harder to win.
  • It is also important to note that whichever strategy is selected should be followed throughout the entire game, as switching techniques would defeat the point of adopting a strategy altogether.

Conclusion

In this guide, we have explored the most common roulette betting strategies to date. As we have seen, each technique has its own pros and cons, which make it more suitable for certain situations.

In essence, all roulette strategies mentioned would be worthwhile and powerful allies to take into the casino, although the final arbiter of the extent of their success is ultimately luck. It is crucial that players remember to keep within their limits and know when to stop.

No roulette strategy is fool proof and will eventually fail, at which point it would be time to call it quits, collect the winnings, and walk away. Exercising responsible betting can be the key differentiator between a smaller profit and a significant loss, making it essentially the most effective strategy players can follow.

FAQs

Is there a winning strategy for roulette?

While there are several strategies that claim to increase your odds in roulette, there’s no foolproof strategy that guarantees a win. Roulette is a game of chance, and the outcome of the spin is independent of any previous spins. It’s crucial to remember that no strategy can alter the house edge. However, certain strategies can help manage your bankroll or add structure to your gameplay.

Do roulette systems work?

Roulette systems like the Martingale, Fibonacci, and D’Alembert systems have been widely adopted by many players. These strategies work by adjusting the amount of your wager based on previous outcomes. However, it’s essential to understand that these systems do not influence the randomness of the game. They can help structure your betting patterns and add excitement to your gameplay, but they cannot guarantee a win or overcome the house edge.

What is the best roulette betting strategy?

The best roulette betting strategy is one that aligns with your playing style, budget, and risk tolerance. For risk-averse players, making even-money outside bets like red/black or even/odd can be a good strategy. Meanwhile, more daring players might prefer the high-risk, high-reward approach of betting on single numbers. Strategies like the Martingale or Fibonacci systems can be used to manage betting amounts, but remember, no strategy can guarantee a win.

What is the roulette James Bond strategy?

The James Bond strategy is a flat betting system popularized by the legendary spy character. It involves covering more than half of the outcomes on the table to increase the chances of winning. For instance, with a total bet of $200, you could place $140 on high numbers (19-36), $50 on the numbers from 13 through 18, and $10 on zero. This way, the only way you can lose is if the numbers 1 through 12 are landed.

What is the roulette strategy black and red?

The black and red roulette strategy involves placing bets on either the black or red color. This strategy is based on the law of averages, suggesting that if a particular color has not been hit for some time, it’s more likely to be hit soon. However, it’s important to note that each spin in roulette is independent, and previous results do not influence future outcomes. This strategy can add a layer of excitement to your gameplay but doesn’t guarantee a win or change the house edge.

author
Kate WebbEditor in Chief

With over ten years of experience working with gambling and writing about casinos, Kate brings a lot of knowledge to CasinoTop3.com. Kate oversees all the content written on CasinoTop3.com to ensure it contains factual information with value to you as a player.