Roulette Strategy and Tips

Roulette Betting Systems Compared

Betting systems tell you how much to stake on each spin, usually on an even-money bet. They are all built to win small amounts often, in exchange for an occasional large loss. Wizard of Odds, who has analysed each of them, puts it plainly: betting systems cannot beat a game with a house edge, and cannot even dent it.

The Martingale in practice

The Martingale is the best-known system and the easiest to test. Start with one unit on red; after each loss, double the bet. When you finally win, you recover everything you lost plus one unit, and start again.

The catch is the losing run. With 63 units you can afford six bets in a row (1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 + 32). Six losses in a row on a European wheel happen only 1.8% of the time from any given start, but over a session they are very likely.

Most runs end with a one-unit win, which is why the system feels as though it works. Now and then a run ends with the whole bankroll gone, and on average the losses outweigh the wins by exactly the house edge on everything you staked. Table maximums make it worse: once the next doubled bet is above the limit, the system cannot continue. Our Martingale strategy guide goes through it step by step.

Why no system can work

The wheel has no memory. Red coming up five times in a row does not make black more likely on the next spin; the chance is still 18 in 37. Every system is a pattern of bet sizes, and every bet in that pattern has the same negative expected value, so the total does too. A system can make small wins more frequent only by making big losses more severe.

Roulette Tips That Actually Help

• Play single-zero roulette, and French roulette with la partage if it is offered. Avoid the American five-number bet.
• Set your stake from your budget, not from your last result.
• Don’t chase losses. Raising your bets to win back what you have lost is how short sessions turn into expensive ones.
• Ignore past results. Result boards and “hot numbers” describe spins that have no effect on the next one.
• Treat bonuses carefully. Check whether roulette counts towards the wagering before you accept one; many bonuses count table games at a reduced rate or not at all.

For the full list of bets and payouts, see the roulette odds guide. For more general advice, see the casino tips section. If gambling stops being fun, free and confidential support is available from BeGambleAware.org.

Also worth a look: 20p Roulette, a single-zero game with 20p chips and a £1 minimum bet on Inspired’s version.

Also worth a look: test any of these systems in a free roulette game with a built-in 1,000-spin simulator.

Roulette strategy: frequently asked questions