Four Classic Roulette Strategies for Beginning Bettors
Roulette is an iconic casino game that’s found in bricks-and-mortar establishments and online casinos around the world. It’s easy to learn while offering the potential of big pay-outs as is the case with other casino games such as online slots.
Roulette is a classic casino game that involves a spinning wheel divided into numbered pockets, ranging from 0 to 36. Players place their bets on where they think a small ball, which is set spinning in the opposite direction of the wheel, will come to rest once the wheel stops. This simple yet exciting mechanic forms the basis of the game. Since roulette outcomes are determined by the random spin of the wheel, the only real strategy lies in how players choose to bet. This can range from betting on single numbers for higher payouts to wagering on color or odd/even numbers for better odds of winning.
What follows are the most well-known methods and strategies people have used in roulette over time. Keep in mind that their effectiveness is highly debatable!
The Martingale System
The Martingale System is perhaps the most well-known roulette strategy. It requires you to double your bet after each loss, with the goal of regaining your losses and making a profit. For example, if you bet $5 on red and the ball lands on black, you would then bet $10 on red. If the ball lands on black again, you would bet $20 on red and so on.
The idea behind the Martingale System is that eventually, you’ll win a bet and recoup all of your losses, plus make a profit. However, the downside is that you can quickly run out of money if you have a string of losses. It’s important to set a limit on how much you’re willing to spend before using this strategy.
The Reverse Martingale System
The Reverse Martingale System is the polar opposite of the first approach. Instead of doubling your bet following a loss, you double it after a win. The aim is to exploit winning streaks and to guard against losses when losing streaks take place.
For example, if you bet $5 on red and the ball lands on red, you would then bet $10 on red. If the ball lands on red again, you would bet $20 on red etc. However, if you lose a bet you’ll go back to your original bet amount of $5.
The downside to the Reverse Martingale System can be difficult to maintain winning streaks, and you can quickly lose all of your winnings if you hit a losing streak.
I personally use this betting system at blackjack. And while it’s said the system can be difficult to ‘maintain winning streaks’ I typically set myself a winners goal. For example, I might say “I’ll play until I double my money” and then make sure I walk away from the table when I’ve reached that goal.
The Fibonacci System
The Fibonacci System is based on the Fibonacci sequence – a mathematical pattern in which each number is the sum of the two preceding numbers. In roulette, this system involves betting on the next number in the sequence after a loss and moving back two numbers after a win.
For example, if you bet $5 on red and the ball lands on black, you would then bet $5 again. If you lose again, you would bet $10 (the next number in the Fibonacci sequence is 2 and 2 x $5 = $10). If you win, you would move back two numbers in the sequence and bet $5 again.
The goal here is to minimize losses during losing streaks and maximize wins during winning streaks. However, like the other strategies, it can quickly lead to large bets and losses if you have a long losing streak.
The James Bond System
The James Bond System is a strategy popularized by 007 in the novel Casino Royale. It involves placing a combination of bets that cover a large portion of the table, with the aim of winning more often than losing.
The strategy involves placing $140 on numbers 19-36, $50 on numbers 13-18, and $10 on the number 0. This covers almost 2/3 of the table, and gives you a good chance of winning on each spin. If the ball lands on a number between 19 and 36, you win $80. If the ball lands on a number between 13 and 18, you win $100. If the ball lands on 0, you win.
While the above four roulette strategies by no means guarantee that you’ll win consistently, they might help to keep you mindful of your bankroll during a session at your favourite online casino site.