European Roulette Betting Strategy

Last updated on April 7, 2019

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Understanding the Basics

European Roulette Tips and Betting Strategy: As you might have guessed, there’s little one can do to affect the outcome of a spin of the roulette wheel. The best advice you can get in a game of roulette is to spread your bets and not play risky inside bets too often. Just Because A Roulette Strategy Wins Doesn’t Guarantee It Works. Roulette betting strategies either win in the long term or they don’t, it’s as simple as that. For example, if you decide to use a negative progression strategy after losing a few bets, the end result remains a loss.

House Edge

The house edge is the difference between the true odds and the odds that the casino pays you when you win. Though every bet you make has a certain probability of winning or losing, casino games generally provide a predictable long-term advantage to the casino, or “house”, while offering the player the possibility of a large short-term payout.

If you bet on the flip of a coin, the probability of heads or tails is fifty-fifty, and this would be an even money bet. If you bet a euro and was paid a euro when you won, you would be paid true odds however if the casino only paid you 98 cents every time you won instead of a euro, the house edge in this case would be 2%.

The house edge varies from one game to another and special attention must be taken to choose the tables which have the least house edge and the most advantageous game rules.

Bankroll

This is basically the cash you bring to the gambling table.

My recommendation, even if you’re equipped with the best betting strategy, is never to start with more than you can afford to lose. The idea is to walk away from the table as a winner but bad streaks and very bad luck can happen so before you start betting you must look at your bankroll and think …”This cash is no longer mine!’’

Even Betting

This is when you bet in a way that you can win 1:1 odds. If you play roulette and bet on red or black or high or low you’re betting on an even winning bet.

This is usually the system with the highest probability percentage available (close to 49% depending on the house edge).

Table Limit

This is the maximum amount a casino will let you bet at one go. Table limits can be used to manage, in a limited manner, who plays at tables.

A casino which wants to project a more exclusive image can set the limits higher so that the casual tourist walking through would not be as likely to sit down and play.

Table limits though are usually used so that the casino protects itself from a lucky player that might accidentally, with a stroke of luck, break the bank. Breaking the bank means that a player wins all the available money in the table bank that day. Should that happen, a black cloth is usually placed over the table until the bank is replenished (obviously mechanical tables not online ones).

Roulette at the Casino

Players playing Roulette (French diminutive for ‘little wheel’) have a large variety of betting options.

Placing ‘inside’ bets is either selecting the exact number of the pocket the ball will land in, or a small range of pockets based on their proximity on the layout.

Players wishing to bet on the ‘outside’ will select bets on larger positional groupings of pockets, the pocket colour, or whether the winning number is odd or even. The payout odds for each type of bet is based on its probability.

Normally there are two types of roulette tables; the European with one Zero and the American with an additional Double Zero. The important difference between the two is the difference in the House Edge.

If a player bets on a single number in the American game there is a probability of 1/38 that the player wins 35 times the bet, and a 37/38 chance that the player loses their bet. The expected value thus is −1×37/38 + 35×1/38 = −0.0526 (5.26% house edge).

For European roulette, a single number wins 1/37 and loses 36/37 thus −1×36/37 + 35×1/37 = −0.0270 (2.70% house edge).

Outside bets will always lose when a single or double zero comes up and the presence of the green squares on the roulette wheel and on the table are technically the only house edge.

However, the house also has an edge on inside bets because the pay outs are always set at 35 to 1 when you mathematically have a 37 to 1 chance of winning a straight bet on a single number.

Unlike card games luck has a major role in roulette and to increase the odds of winning most gamblers try to predict the next draw either by trying to calculate the probability or else by using betting sequences in which a win makes up for any prior losses or a combination of the two.

The problem with these kind of strategies is that, remembering that past results do not affect the future, it is possible for the player to lose so many times in a row and by increasing his bets he either runs out of money or hits the table limit.

Although it seems hard I made serious money with this game by using sequence of bets that generate winnings fast enough that they absorb the damage of a one-off losing streak.

Apart from having a good betting strategy before trying to play this game I recommend choosing a European table (or any table with one zero). Ideally try to find a table playing a French Roulette.

The French roulette game has a special and unique rule called La Partage.

The La Partage roulette rule says that if you make an even money bet, and the roulette ball lands on zero, you lose only half your bet (decreasing house edge by half).

Probability

In reality when gambling on a casino table there is no such thing as an event being due. An event is not more likely just because it has not happened for a long time.

Many people mistakenly believe that if one colour in roulette has won several times in a row then the other colour is overdue and they should bet on it. While the ratio of reds to blacks will always approach 50/50 in the long term, it cannot be concluded that this will happen in the short term.

It does not matter what the history of past spins is; every trial in games of luck like roulette are independent, and each colour is equally likely to come up every time. While playing roulette in actual fact the probability of on colour coming up is of (18/37) which is 48.64%.

Neither the roulette wheel nor the small ball has a memory so the percentage that an even bet will come out is always of 48.64%. However a streak of the same even bets is not a common occurrence and does have a weight on future bets in a certain way.

If you flip a coin a thousand times then it is mathematically likely you will have a certain number of streaks of different lengths. These streaks are fairly regular, in other words you might expect to have 300 streaks of 2, 200 streaks of 3, 100 streaks of 4, 50 streaks of 5, etc and a certain number of longer streaks, 8 or above.

Therefore the longest the streak the less unlikely it is for that particular pattern to come out. While the probability that a certain even bet will come out is a constant 48.64% the percentage that a pattern of a long streak to come out is much much lower. Actually the longer the pattern the less likely it is.

We can calculate how likely it is for a streak of 20 reds to come out by using the following formula: (18/37)20 which amounts to 1 in 1813779.

We can calculate how likely it is for the same number to come out 7 times in a row by using the following formula: (1/37)7 which amounts to close to 1 in 9 Billion. We can calculate how long is the longest likely streak to come out after a 1000 spins by using the following formula:

Run = (-1/ln(probability of loss))*ln(# spins).

So for us: Run =(-1/ln(0.53))*ln(1,000,000) = 21.76.

So 22 is exactly what you should expect for the maximal run.

An understanding of the law of the large numbers leads to a realisation that what appear to be fantastic improbabilities are not remarkable at all but, merely to be expected.

Let’s imagine a scenario where two players, one with a big bankroll and one with a small one start playing at the same casino table. If a game is fair it is still true that if it is played until one player loses all his money, then the player who started with most money has the better chance of winning.

The richer man’s advantage can be calculated: If one player’s capital is X and another player’s is Z, then the probability that the player who began with X is ruined in a fair game played to a conclusion is Z/(X+Z) and therefore that the probability that he will ruin his opponent is X/(Z+X).

This overwhelming advantage to the player with the larger capital is based on a fair game. When a player tries to break the bank at a casino, he is fighting the house edge as well as an opponent with much larger resources.

Even a small percentage in favour of the casino reduces the probability of the player ruining the casino to such an extent that his chance of profiting is minute.

Roulette Betting Strategies

Although some of these systems are specific for the roulette most systems and sequences can be used for any kind of wagers starting from coin tossing to horse racing.

Even if your game is something unique or exotic, testing a betting system on a roulette platform before is quite prudent because in practice roulette is a basic and quick game of betting on a number or group of numbers selected by a RNG (Random Number Generator).

Most online casinos offer a variety of casino tables that you can test with token money. These are the best training platforms available before trying your luck with real money.

Most of these systems are being sold by people (scamme…’cough cough’) on other websites promising high returns, constant weekly income and unimaginable wealth.

I have acquired almost all these systems and software and never found any that was constantly successful and could beat the house edge in the long run.

Flat Betting vs Progressive Betting

Flat betting is when you wager the same amount of money with each game played while progressive betting is when you increase the bet when you lose a previous game with the intention to make up for it with a consecutive win.

In my opinion unless you have a system that can accurately predict future draws (highly unlikely) flat betting is nonsense. The following is a quick test to explain the difference. The Flat Better will bet €5 each time while the Progressive better will use a sequence of (€5, €10, €20, €40):

Result of Draws Flat Betting Progressive Betting
Lost -5 -5
Lost -5 -10
Win +5 +20
Lost -5 -5
Lost -5 -10
Lost -5 -20
Win +5 +40
Total -15 +10

Obviously this time the player using progressive betting was lucky that he didn’t lose the last bet.

Scatter System

I had a lot of faith in this one when I first heard about it. Even the reason behind it is very poetic in my opinion.

Basically the idea is to focus on the roulette wheel and realise that with time all sections of the wheel will be hit. Like tiles in a yard when it starts raining, the first drop will hit one tile, the next will hit another but after a few seconds all tiles will be hit.

How to use it:

With this system you focus on inside bets. By using a software or printout of a roulette wheel you start marking down the numbers that are drawn until you find a patch of numbers next to each other that have not been hit.

The time when you start betting is referred to as the ‘entry point’ and to be safe these are good guidelines:

Adjacent Number Entry Point (Spin Number)
12 14
11 16
10 17
9 18
8 20
7 24
6 30

If for example you get 9 neighbouring pockets on the wheel and 18 spins have passed its time to bet. Put €1 on each of those 9 numbers and spin.

If you win you get €36 less the €9 you have bet. If you lose you must bet €1 on each of those 9 numbers again.

Keep in mind that each time you lose a spin you’re losing (bet on each number x number if adjacent numbers) and if you win you get (bet on each number x 36).

Therefore you must create a sequence of bets so that when you start betting by the time you win, you still get all the money you bet back plus a small profit.

In the case of 9 numbers a successful sequence would be 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12, 16 ….hopefully you’ll win before you have to go further.

The thought behind this system does make sense. In the long run no part of the wheel will not get hit. Probability will convince you that after 30 spins a group of 6 numbers next to each other is due to get hit but from experience I can assure you that ‘due to’ is loser talk and sometimes even if its expected it does not happen soon.

What is annoying about this system is that you wait and wait and when it’s almost time to start betting the section gets hit and you start waiting again. Once you start betting, after a few spins from the sequence you notice how fast the bankroll is going down and unless you have a decent amount put aside you can consume that before your section is hit.

European Roulette Betting Strategy Poker

The excessive waiting and steep increase in wagering makes this system very unnerving.

Dozen Bets

A very common system that has been sold for years is this system where you bet either on one of the 3 columns or else on one of the 3 sections (Low, Middle, High).

The fact that Casinos, these past few years, have been creating e-books explaining this system, and asking people to try it on their online roulette makes you already wonder how successful this system is in the long run.

Since the table pays €2 for every €1 your betting progression is not as steep as other systems and thus gives the player the illusion of being safer.

How to use it:

Spin in vain without betting until you notice that a certain section or a certain column has not been drawn for 7 spins. When this happens start betting this sequence until you win: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 13, 20, 30, 45, 67 …

This system does work for a few times but eventually (sooner than you might think) you’ll hit a streak much longer than your sequence and end up losing all your previous winnings and half your original bankroll.

The more you wait to start betting the safer the system becomes but the more irritating it is because you end up waiting more than actually betting.

Since the progression is less steep than others it can afford to be much longer but as experience will show you …its still not long enough.

A variant of this system is betting on 2 dozens at the same time. Since you’re betting on (24/37) its hard not to win and in fact most of the time you make your money back and get an extra 50% profit.

The issue with this system is that you’re risking of losing 4 times as much as you’re chancing to win.

Software

I managed to acquire the most popular software available. The way most work is that you input the number drawn on the roulette and after a few initial spins the software will tell you where to bet.

One popular program will ask you to put 5 units in different positions per bet (eg. Even, high, black, middle section and 3rd column) and most of the time you do win 2 or 3 of them.

Whether you lose or win the software will always tell you to bet 5units.

While testing it I realised the software is calculating probability and assuming for example that if even came up 3 times in a row now its worth betting on odd. I didn’t trust this system with real money and in fact I lost a 100 token money in less than half an hour.

Another publicised program is very similar but betting is different. If you lose on a certain even bets the software will tell you to increase the wager on the next spin on so forth.

I didn’t like the display much but this proved to be slightly a bit more effective but still a loser and unlike other systems you don’t feel much in control.

Other software I tested where not as intrusive and didn’t tell me when and what to wager but gave me statistics and indications on what will probably will be drawn next.

What was interesting to learn when I analysed the data from most of these software was that in the long run after thousands and thousands of spins the number of red numbers will be as much as black ones, the even numbers as much and the odd ones, the high as much as the low, and even the numbers drawn will almost even out.

The ‘Dopey Experiment’

The idea is to divide one’s roulette session bankroll into 35 units. These units are bet on a particular number for 35 consecutive spins. If the number is draw during these spins, the player makes a profit and can repeat the system.

There is a (1 − (37 / 38)35) * 100 = 60.68% probability of winning within 35 spins on an American roulette and close to 62% on a European.

Biarritz System

Usable only on the Roulette table this system focuses on inside bets.

You basically wait and record 111 spins (37×3) and spot the numbers that have not come out since. You then start a betting progression on those selected numbers depending on the numbers available (similar betting strategy like the one used in the Scatter System.

Differential Betting

Systems using flat bets generally contain long lasting stagnation phases, which make a strategic play uneconomic: expenditure of time and the yield are in no profitable relation to each other.

Based on this realization and the fact that even money chances are ruled by both the law of deviation and the law of balance, it is quite possible to utilize the strategy of differential betting.

Differential betting is not a bet selection or a progression, because it can be used only if two chances are attacked at the same time and it can never be accomplished with flat bets, since all bets would be zero.

Differential betting is only possible if two chances (even bets) are followed with a progression. Here for each chance the respective progression bet size is determined separately, however only the difference is wagered.
Choose any positive or negative progression you feel most comfortable with and start betting it on both sides of an even bet (even and odds or reds and blacks).

With the first bets you’ll most probably lose and win at the same time, bank roll remaining unchanged, but after that spin you can start differential betting by starting the sequence on the side you previously lost and bet again the first amount on the winning side.

Although you win almost each time, sometimes you encounter a zero and lose on both sides and a long winning streak is also and costly losing streak that’s more prone to happen.

Project 202 for Roulette

System based on analysing a longish wave of flat bets, determining how profitable or not it was and adjusting your bets in the following wave of bets.

The inventor of this system recommends starting with a wave of 40 spins using a very small amount of flat bets. According to the profit or loss sustained then use the following table for the subsequent wave of bets.

Capital Decrease Bet Increase Capital Increase Bet Decrease

5% or less 10% 5% or less 10%
6% to 10% 10% 6% to 10% 10%
11% to 20% 20% 11% to 20% 20%
Over 20% 33% Over 20% 33%

Basically after the first wave you decrease or increase your bets in the next wave according to the tables above. You rinse and repeat for 3 waves and if still suffering losses you can now double the percentages of increase but up to a limit of 250%.

WHAT IS ROULETTE STRATEGY?

If you want to get the most out of your roulette play, you’ll need to choose a solid roulette strategy that fits your personal goals and play style.

Unlike in some other casino games like blackjack, roulette strategy isn’t about making tough decisions that impact the result of each bet. Instead, the most successful strategies in roulette are about managing your bankroll and choosing a series of bets to help you meet a predetermined goal.

This is typically done by choosing a roulette betting system to follow. There are many different ones out there, each of which affects your chances of winning in a unique way. A roulette system asks you to follow a series of betting rules, both in terms of what kinds of bets to make, and how much to bet on each spin. Usually, the result of one spin will determine how you bet on the next one.

The level of difficulty and complexity of each roulette betting strategy varies, as do the bankroll requirements. So, rather than push you towards a particular system, we cover a large number of systems to help you decide on the best roulette strategy for you.

CHOOSING A STRATEGY FOR YOUR ROULETTE PLAY

No matter how you enjoy playing, there’s a roulette strategy that’s right for you. Depending on your style of play, you might prefer a style that offers a high chance of winning a small amount, or a more volatile system that chases after huge profits.

Roulette betting systems also vary in how many chips are required to play them properly. Some roulette strategies allow you to implement them without bringing much money to the table, while others require a big commitment to use properly.

One thing to keep in mind is that none of these roulette strategies can change the mathematical house edge on a roulette game. The roulette odds for every spin remain the same, and no combination of bets can actually alter that. On the other hand, the type of roulette wheel you play on can make a difference, as European roulette has a much lower house edge than the American game.

Below, we list the features of the main roulette systems for inside and outside bets:

European Roulette Betting Strategy

INSIDE BET ROULETTE SYSTEMS

Six Pence

• Requires betting only five chips on most spins.
• Guarantees close calls, adding excitement to every spin.
• Calls for knowledge of the wheel layout, making it a better option for advanced players.

Green Black Attack

• Combines many bets to cover most of the wheel.
• Many different outcomes are possible on every spin.
• Great for expert players who don’t mind having a lot of bets to keep track of.

Pivot

• A tracking system that looks to find hot numbers that will repeat.
• Designed to be played over long casino sessions.
• Good for casual players with some roulette experience.

Law of the Third

• A simple tracking system that only asks players to watch nine spins.
• Designed to be playable with a very small bankroll.
• Suits beginners who want to try spin tracking strategies.

OUTSIDE BET ROULETTE SYSTEMS

Martingale

• Doubles bets after losses, then resets after wins.
• Trades many small wins for the occasional large loss.
• Easy to play for beginners, but comes with significant risks.

Grand and Anti-Martingale

• Increases bets after wins, then resets after losses.
• Can lead to big wins during hot streaks.
• Easy to play and can be enjoyed by players of all levels.

D’Alembert

• Slowly increases bets after losses, then decreases them after wins.
• Gives players the chance to recoup losses without the high risks of the Martingale.
• A fun and fairly safe roulette strategy for beginners.

Fibonacci

• Increases bets by using the famous Fibonacci mathematical sequence.
• Allows players to chase losses without going overboard.
• Ideal for intermediate and advanced players due to the required bet tracking.

Oscar’s Grind

• A slow, progressive system that keeps bets small.
• Very likely to result in wins of a single unit.
• An advanced strategy, as players may have to track their bets over dozens of spins.

Labouchère

• Designed for players who want to win a specific amount of money.
• Can lead to big rewards, but also carries big risks.
• Requires a lot of math, making this an advanced roulette strategy.

Reverse Labouchère

• Perfect for players who want to stick to a bankroll.
• Protects players against large losses.
• Like the original Labouchère, it comes with a heavy math requirement.

Column King

• A slow progression system that takes advantage of the 2-1 payouts on column bets.
• Variants can support conservative or aggressive play styles.
• Easy to play, and ideal for beginners looking to venture beyond even money bets.

Wells Pendulum

• An even money betting system that sees bets rise and fall as streaks occur.
• Can be modified for those who want to play with a smaller bankroll.
• Complex and risky, making it best suited to expert players.

Guetting

• A progression system that only makes you bet more when you’re winning.
• Protects against big losses, but has the potential for massive wins.
• A great option for intermediate roulette players.

THE BEST ROULETTE STRATEGIES FOR YOUR BETS

All of the above roulette strategies have some merit to them, but there are a few that we think are the most effective. In our years of roulette-playing experience, we’ve found that these particular strategies give you the best chance to come out on top. Here are the go-to systems we recommend over all others:

Labouchère

• Can help you hit your winning target even if you lose most of your spins.
• A roulette strategy that always lets you know how close you are to your goal.
• Most effective when you choose a reasonable goal: don’t expect to win millions unless you’re willing to bet big.

Green Black Attack

• An exciting inside betting system that doesn’t require a ton of money to play.
• Perhaps the best risk-to-reward ratio of any system we’ve ever played.
• Be sure to remember to increase your bets after big wins to maximize your winning potential.

Column King

• All the safety of an outside betting system combined with the larger payouts of column bets.
• Because of the larger payouts, players can make up for losses without raising their bets significantly.
• Use this system with a fairly large bankroll: this roulette strategy works best if you can absorb some moderate losing streaks.

Law of the Third

• Gives players an excellent chance to score big wins on straight bets.
• Never requires bet progression, keeping your risk as minimal as possible.
• Remember to wait for nine different numbers to appear before you start betting.

MORE ROULETTE STRATEGY TIPS FROM OUR EXPERTS

While choosing a good betting system is a key part of roulette strategy, there are other steps you can take to improve your odds of winning. Here are a few of the best pieces of roulette advice that our team of experts wants to pass on to you.

Game Choice:

The biggest factor in determining how you will do at roulette over the long run is what kind of game you choose to play.

European roulette offers a lower house edge than American roulette, meaning that any roulette strategy will work better on a European, single-zero table.

For roulette strategies that rely on even money bets, you can do even better at European tables that use the la partage or en prison rules, which cut the house edge on those wagers in half.

Bet Choice:

Remember to always make bets that suit your play style and your chosen roulette strategy.

Even money bets are reliable ways to find regular wins, while straight bets are unreliable but can result in huge wins. A progression system like the Martingale is only meant to be used with even money wagers.

On the other hand, systems like the Green Black Attack rely on the big payouts from inside bets to make up for the fact that they are spreading several chips across the table on every spin.

Minimum and Maximum Bets:

One of the problems for players who use casino roulette strategies is that they fail to understand the range of bet amounts allowed, especially with progression systems.

If the minimum outside bet is $10 and the maximum just $500, you can only double the minimum bet six times before hitting the maximum – not much room to survive a losing streak.

The minimum bet can also impact how you play your inside bets. To make a series of $1 bets which don’t reach the minimum, consider whether you’re fine with playing for $2 per bet.

Strategies to Avoid:

We haven’t talked about every single roulette strategy on this page, because there are some that we’re just not comfortable recommending to you. In general, we advise you not to utilize any strategy that could cause you to lose more money than you can afford, or which might ask you to make a larger bet than you are willing to call. You should also avoid roulette betting systems that guarantee wins or try to convince you to play double-zero American roulette – these are almost always scams.

This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to our advice on how to win at roulette. For more great dos and don’ts, check out our expert roulette tips.

HOW TO PRACTICE YOUR ROULETTE STRATEGY

Here at RouletteOnline, we believe that practice makes perfect. That’s why we recommend that you first try out a roulette strategy with free play before you think about placing any real money bets. We’ve put together a collection of more than 80 free online roulette titles that you can use to sharpen your playing skills and get confident with new strategies and betting systems.

READY TO PLAY ROULETTE FOR REAL MONEY?

Now that you’re fully familiar with the best roulette strategies and have had the chance to test them out, you should feel ready to give real money roulette a try. Below, we’ve included a list of the top-rated roulette sites for you to choose from. Each of these great online casino options has a long track record of trustworthy operation, giving you a safe, secure, and reputable place for your online roulette play.

FAQ

Is there a winning roulette system?

Any roulette strategy can lead to short-term wins, but in the long run, the house edge always gives the casino the advantage. The best roulette betting systems can help you have a better chance of reaching your goals, whether that means booking a big win or grinding out some small profits.

What is the best bet in roulette?

If you’re looking for the best odds in roulette, you’ll want to seek out European roulette tables that use the la partage or en prison rules on even money bets. At these tables, betting on red/black or odd/even comes with a house edge of just 1.35% – by far the best of any roulette bet.

What are the worst roulette strategies?

The worst roulette strategies are ones that ask you to take unnecessary risks for no good reason. Any strategy that makes you uncomfortable with the amount of money you are asked to bet should be avoided. We also recommend staying away from scam systems which guarantee that you will always win.

European Roulette Betting Strategy Games

Are online roulette tables fixed?

The online casinos we recommend offer fair, trusted roulette games that are independently audited to guarantee that they are truly random and safe to play on. While there have been rogue operators who have offered fixed roulette tables, you can avoid them by sticking with the sites featured in our top list.

European Roulette Betting Strategy Blackjack

How do I win a bet every time?

While you can craft your roulette strategy to win in a way that suits your play style, there’s really no way to guarantee you’ll win a bet on every single spin. Of course, you could try covering every possible outcome. That would definitely let you win every time, but you’d often come out behind anyway due to all the other bets you’re losing on those spins.