How to Win at Roulette

Roulette is a classic casino game. You can go to any casino that has table games, just about anywhere in the world, and it will have roulette. It’s a fun and fast-paced game that is easy to play and offers many options for winning. It’s easy enough for beginners to learn and enjoy, and has enough betting options that experienced players will love it too. Here is how to win at roulette and everything you should know about this classic table game.

What is Roulette?

Roulette is a game of chance that uses a large wheel that includes 37 or 38 numbered slots, from 0 to 36. Some wheels also include 00. All the spaces are either red or black, except for the 0s, which are green.

Game play involves spinning the wheel and then letting a small, white ball roll on top of it. As the wheel slows, the ball will drop into the slots and settle on one number. It is a game of chance. Players do not touch the wheel, and no skill is involved in how the ball lands.

Players win by betting on the number where the ball will land. Additional bets are available based on the color, the numeric zone, and more.

Placing Bets in Roulette

Betting is really how you “play” roulette, and there are many options for betting. The roulette table features a layout of all the betting options, which includes individual numbers, colors, even and odd numbers, and more. Bets are categorized by where they lie on the table.

Inside Bets

Inside bets are on the field of numbers on the table. You can place a bet on a single number, and if you win, you would get the largest payout available: 35 to 1. For example, if you bet $10, you would win $350.

You can also place bets on the lines between the numbers. For example, if you placed a chip on the line between the 6 and 9, you would win if the ball landed on either 6 or 9. The payout would be 17:1. You can place bets on lines that cover anywhere from two to six numbers.

Outside Bets

Outside bets encompass wagers outside the main number line. These include bets on red or black (any number with that color will win); bets on numbers 1 to 18 or 19 to 36; bets on the first, second, or third series of 12 numbers; and bets on columns of numbers. The higher the likelihood that a win can occur in any of those categories, the lower the payout will be.

Understanding Roulette Odds

Calculating the odds can get complicated. Typically, you will start making bets and begin remembering what the payouts are. However, if you like to know the specifics behind them, you can keep this formula in mind: The probability of winning (or the payout) is equal to all of the number of ways to win divided by the number of ways to win plus the number of ways to lose.

American Roulette

American roulette is, not surprisingly, most common in the United States, and it includes two green pockets: 0 and 00. Because there are more spaces on the board, the odds of winning are different across multiple types of bets.

One key betting difference in American roulette is the availability of the “sucker bet,” which plays on 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. If any of those numbers hit, the payout is 5 to 1.

European Roulette

In European roulette, there is only one 0, but no 00. Some players favor this variant because it brings the house advantage down from 5.26 percent to 2.63 percent, giving players a greater chance to win. But don’t worry: You don’t have to travel to play it! Many casinos offer it as an online option.

Strategies to Win at Roulette

Roulette is strictly a game of chance, and there’s nothing you can do to influence or to predict where the ball will land. However, there are strategies you can use for your betting that will increase your chances of overall success.

Martingale Roulette Strategy

Under this strategy, each time you lose a bet, you double your next bet. You may lose again, but when you finally do win, your gain will be so big that it will offset your losses. You just need to be careful with your starting bet. Otherwise, you might run out of money before you can ever reach the win.

Reverse Martingale Strategy

As the name suggests, this strategy asks you to do the opposite of the Martingale strategy: Instead of doubling your bet after each loss, you double your bet after each win. When you lose, restart your bet to the lowest point.

D’Alembert Strategy

This strategy is similar to the Martingale strategy, but it does not aggressively double the bet. Instead, it gradually increases the bet each time you lose and then decreases each time you win. You would increase or decrease by one “unit,” which could be a $1 chip or a $10 chip, for example. The key is to decide on the unit you will use and be consistent.

This strategy is also applied to “even” bets, which have a 1-to-1 payout. These bets include red/black, odd/even, and 1-18/19-36.

Fibonacci Roulette Strategy

Like the D’Alembert strategy, the Fibonacci strategy works best with even bets that have a higher chance of winning. This strategy takes its name from the Fibonacci number sequence, which builds on the sum of the previous two numbers. Starting from 0, the next number is 1. You add those two together and you get 1. You add 1 and 1 together and get two. A portion of the sequence goes like this:

0 – 1 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 5 – 8 – 13 – 21 – 34 – 55 – 89 – 144 – 233 – 377 – 610

Under the Fibonacci strategy, you would start with one betting unit, and if you lose, go up by the next number in the sequence. You keep increasing your bet in this way until you win. Then you go back two places from where you were when you won. Therefore, if you won at 8 units, you would make your next bet at 3 units.

James Bond Strategy

The famous spy developed this strategy in the movies, and fans everywhere have been using it. With this strategy, you bet $140 on the 19-36 space, $50 on the six line for numbers 13-18, and $10 on the number 0. You can bet different amounts in the same proportions.

Bankroll Management for Roulette

As with any casino game, the best bankroll strategy is to identify at the outset what you are willing to lose and then not to spend more than that. You have to know when to walk away, or else your losses will multiply exponentially. Sure, you always may win big on the next spin, but you can also lose big.

When you win, it’s a good idea to bank what you brought in so that eventually, you are just playing with the casino’s money. When that runs out, you’re done playing for the day, and you leave with what you brought in.

The betting strategy can get repetitive since you’re betting on the same numbers every time, but it can help you win big if the numbers are right.

Tips to Win at Roulette

Choose the Right Table

Every table has a minimum bet. Make sure you are playing at a table that can accommodate your bank roll and your betting strategy. Otherwise, you’ll lose your money fast, when playing at a smaller table could have kept you going longer to make wins and make gains.

Benefits of Using a Betting System

Roulette is a game of chance, so there aren’t a lot of rules or strategies to keep you focused. As a result, you can get lost in the “feeling” of betting and make emotional and irrational choices. Using a betting system can help you stay focused and can help you improve your odds.

Staying Disciplined

Don’t get carried away or swayed by “what if”s. You can easily keep betting and losing money long past when you should have walked away. Know how much you want to risk, and stick to your plan. Then you’ll have enough to return for more fun gaming another day.

Play Roulette at Boot Hill Casino

Visit Boot Hill Casino and Resort today to play a round of roulette and try your luck! You can start small and get a feel for the game, or you can try out one of these tried and true betting strategies. Our friendly staff are always ready to answer your questions about roulette or any of our other games so that you can feel comfortable and informed. Come for the roulette and try out one of our many other table games or slots. We offer low and high stakes to meet your gaming desires. Stay for some delicious cuisine or live entertainment, or spend the night in one of our luxurious rooms. You’ll always have a great time when you visit us!