Winning at roulette requires a mix of strategy, bankroll management, and understanding the odds. Focus on outside bets for better chances, use strategies like the Martingale or Fibonacci system wisely, and know when to walk away. Avoid chasing losses and set betting limits. While luck plays a role, smart decisions can improve your chances of success.
Here are four effective strategies to win at roulette.
1. Placing Inside and Outside Bets
Before placing actual bets, practice playing at a free table to familiarize yourself with the game. Look for a free table at the casino, invest in a home setup, or play online to gain experience. This will help you understand the different types of bets in roulette.
A roulette table is essentially a three-column chart displaying the 36 numbers on the wheel. The available wagers are divided into two main categories:
Inside Bets: These are bets placed on specific numbers on the table. If you place a $1 bet on a number and the ball lands on it, you receive a 35:1 payout—meaning you win $35 plus your original $1 bet. You can also spread your bet across up to six adjacent numbers.
Outside Bets: These bets cover larger sections of the table, such as even/odd or red/black. While they come with a lower risk, the payouts are smaller, usually 2:1 or 1:1. These bets are placed in designated areas outside the numbered section of the table, hence the name “outside bets.” In contrast, wagers on specific numbers are called “inside bets.”
Make outside bets for better odds of winning.
Place outside bets to improve your chances of winning. As long as you meet the table’s minimum requirement for each bet, you can place multiple outside bets to boost your odds of a payout. For example, if you bet $1 on even and $1 on black, you’ll receive a $2 payout if the ball lands on black 10, and you’ll break even if it lands on red 16.
In addition to even/odd and red/black, which offer 1:1 payouts, other outside bets include:
High/Low: Betting that the ball will land on either 1-18 or 19-36, with a 1:1 payout.
Dozens: Wagering on one of three groups—1-12, 13-24, or 25-36. This bet pays 2:1.
Columns: Betting that the ball will land within one of the table’s three columns, also offering a 2:1 payout.
Bet on the inside in moderation to increase your payout
Wager strategically on inside bets to maximize your payout while managing risk. Although straight bets on a single number offer the highest payout, they come with significant risk. The probability of hitting your chosen number is 1 in 37 (2.7%) on European wheels and 1 in 38 (2.63%) on American wheels. To improve your chances, consider spreading your bets across multiple numbers.
Keep in mind that the more numbers you cover, the lower the payout. A straight bet on a single number pays 35:1, whereas a six-line bet provides a 5:1 payout.
When placing split bets, ensure the selected numbers are adjacent within a 12-cell section of the roulette board. The only exception is the four-corner bet, where you wager on the four numbers positioned at the corners of a table block
Observe the wheel, note people’s wagers, and look for trends.
Observe the croupier, or the casino roulette operator, as they spin the wheel and release the ball. Watch closely as the ball moves around the rim and take note of other players’ bets. Pay attention to any potential wheel biases, such as specific numbers or sections where the ball frequently lands.
If players are allowed to spin the wheel themselves, try giving it a spin to understand its speed and movement.
2. Reducing Your Losses
Set a Profit Goal and Loss Limit
When playing roulette or any other gambling game, bet only what you can afford to lose. Decide on your loss limit beforehand and stick to it, avoiding the temptation to chase losses. The fast pace of roulette can make things spiral out of control quickly.
Additionally, set a modest profit target—around 5% of your total wagers—to keep expectations realistic. To stay disciplined, limit alcohol consumption, write down your maximum loss amount, and ask a friend to help you stay accountable.
Reduce Your Bets Over Time to Secure Profits
If you start betting with $100 and reach $150, withdraw the $50 profit instead of reinvesting it in the next wager. By continuing to play with the initial $100, you limit your potential loss to $50. The more you withdraw your winnings, the higher the chances of at least breaking even.
Understand That the House Always Has an Edge
Roulette is structured to favor the house. The payout for a single-number bet is 35:1, while the odds should be 37:1 (European) or 38:1 (American). The presence of the 0 (and 00 in American wheels) lowers your chances of winning even on supposedly “safe” bets like red/black or high/low.
For example, betting $1 on the same number for 37 spins on a European wheel would, on average, result in a $36 loss and only one $35 win, giving a net loss of -$1 and a house edge of -2.7%. On black/red bets, you have a 51.35% chance of losing over time. This statistical disadvantage applies regardless of your betting strategy.
Choose European Wheels Over American Wheels
Whenever possible, play on European roulette wheels instead of American ones. The extra 00 on the American wheel nearly doubles the house advantage—from 2.7% to 5.26%.
For example, betting $1 on the same number for 37 spins on a European wheel results in a net loss of -$1, while on an American wheel, betting for 38 spins leads to a net loss of -$2. This means playing on an American wheel could cause you to lose money twice as fast.
Probability Trends Don’t Guarantee Short-Term Wins
Roulette is purely a game of chance. Each spin is an independent event with the same odds as the last, meaning previous outcomes don’t influence future results.
For example, even though red and black have nearly equal chances of appearing, the ball could still land on black five times in a row. Similarly, flipping a coin three times might result in three heads, but over 100 flips, you’d expect close to a 50/50 split. The longer you play, the more likely you are to experience the house edge in action—so cash out while you’re ahead.
3. Using Common Betting Strategies
Predicting the Ball’s Bounce
Try to anticipate how the ball will behave as it spins around the wheel. Observe when it passes a fixed point, such as the 0 pocket, and gauge when it will lose speed, drop from the rim, and start bouncing off the wheel’s deflectors. While difficult, with practice, you might improve your ability to predict which section the ball will land in.
If you can make your prediction before the dealer calls “last bets,” you can place your wager accordingly.
A slight tilt in the wheel can make predictions easier—if there is one, the ball is more likely to land on the side opposite where it was released.
Fun Fact: Some computer programs use cameras and physics to predict the ball’s final position, but using such software in casinos can get you into trouble.
Take Advantage of European Wheel Rules
If you’re playing on a European roulette wheel, look for tables with the La Partage or En Prison rules, which reduce your losses on even-money bets when the ball lands on zero.
La Partage: If you bet $10 on black and the ball lands on 0, you get back half of your wager ($5).
En Prison: Your full wager is held for the next spin. If the ball lands on your chosen outcome in the following round, you recover your bet.
These rules make European roulette more favorable than American roulette, where the house edge is higher.
The Fibonacci Strategy – A Safer Betting System
The Fibonacci system is a structured betting approach based on the Fibonacci sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, etc.). Here’s how it works:
Place bets only on even-money wagers like red/black or odd/even.
If you lose, move to the next number in the Fibonacci sequence for your next bet.
If you win, step back two numbers in the sequence.
For example: If you start with $1 and lose four times ($1, $1, $2, $3), you would have lost $7. Winning on your $5 bet gets you back to even. This method is low-risk but also offers smaller rewards.
The James Bond Strategy – High Coverage Betting
This strategy involves splitting your bet across different sections of the roulette wheel:
- 70% of your bet on high numbers (19-36)
- 25% on a 6-line bet (13-18)
- 5% on zero
- For instance, with a $200 bet:
- $140 on 19-36
- $50 on 13-18
- $10 on 0
- Potential payouts:
- 19-36 → $80 profit
- 13-18 → $100 profit
- 0 → $160 profit
- While this strategy increases your chances of winning, it’s not foolproof, and extended losses can be costly.
Avoid the Risky Martingale Strategy
The Martingale strategy involves doubling your bet after each loss on even-money bets. While it may seem like a way to recover losses, it’s risky because a losing streak can quickly wipe out your bankroll.
Example:
- Start with a $10 bet. If you lose, bet $20.
- Lose again? Bet $40.
- A four-loss streak ($10 → $20 → $40 → $80) means you’ve already lost $150.
- With no guarantee of winning before your funds run out, this system can lead to heavy losses.
Final Thoughts
No strategy eliminates the house edge, but understanding these techniques can help you make smarter bets and manage your bankroll effectively. Choose a system that suits your risk tolerance and enjoy the game responsibly!
