Best Roulette Strategies to Win
Roulette is one of the most popular UK online casino games, known for its simplicity and big-win potential. While there’s no guaranteed way to beat the wheel, learning the Best Roulette Strategies can take your gameplay to the next level.
In this guide, we’ll explore key betting strategies, advanced systems, and expert tips to help you find the best approach for your style and budget. Let’s dive in!
What Are Roulette Betting Strategies?
Roulette betting strategies are methods you can use to place your bets systematically rather than just randomly. The main aim is to manage your exposure to risk and maximise your potential returns from every spin.
How Roulette Strategies Work: Progressive vs. Non-Progressive Systems
Roulette strategies can be divided into two main categories:
- Progressive Systems: Using this system you adjust your bets after each round, often increasing or decreasing the amount based on the outcome of the previous bet. Examples of this system are Martingale and Fibonacci.
- Non-Progressive Systems: This is when you keep your bets consistent without linking them to the outcomes of any previous rounds. Examples of a non-progressive system are James Bond and Andrucci.
Types of Roulette Bets and Their Odds
All roulette tables have two main betting sections. An area of red and black numbers, known as the ‘inside’ and everything else ‘outside’ of this area.
- Inside Bets: Have higher payouts but lower odds of occurring as they are so specific (e.g., straight up, split, street).
- Outside Bets: Have lower payouts but better odds of landing as they cover a wider range of outcomes (e.g., red/black, odd/even, high/low).
If you’d like to learn more about how the types of bets you place impact your chances of winning, take a look at our roulette odds explained article for a deep dive.
How House Edge and Probability Impact Your Play
It’s time for a quick maths lesson as it’s important to understand the mathematical basis of roulette strategies before you start using them. All roulette strategies rely on simple probability calculations combined with knowledge of the house edge.
An example is that European Roulette has a lower house edge (2.7%) than American Roulette (5.26%) due to the extra double zero on the American wheel. So knowing this can help you plan which strategy will be the best match for your favourite roulette variant.
The Best Roulette Strategies Explained
There are plenty of different roulette strategies to pick from, each with a fancy-sounding name that can make them appear intimidating at first.
So, let’s break down some of the most popular strategies for you along with their pros and cons to see which ones are the best fit for your roulette tactics.
The Martingale System
How It Works: You double your bet after each loss up to a pre-determined amount. The theory is that you’ll recover your losses and make a profit when you land a win.
Example:
- You start with a £1 bet and double it with each loss.
- Your first 3 bets lose so your running bet total is £7. That’s £1 + £2 + £4 in bets.
- Your 4th bet, of £8 wins, giving you an overall profit of £1.
Suitable For: Players with a substantial bankroll to navigate the losses.
Pros
- Simple yet effective for even-money bets such as black/red.
- It’s easy to learn and put into practice at the table.
Cons
- This strategy requires a large bankroll to use.
- It only works on tables with high betting limits.
The Fibonacci Strategy
How It Works: Your bet amounts follow the famous mathematical Fibonacci sequence where you get the next number by adding the two previous ones, i.e. 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 and so on. Each time you win, you go back two places down the sequence.
Example:
- You start with a £1 bet on your first 2 spins.
- Your third bet would be £2, that’s the total of the previous 2 bets, £1 + £1.
- Your fourth bet is then £3, the total of the previous 2 bets, £1 + £2.
- The sequence at this point looks like this: 1 – 1 – 2 – 3.
If you win at this point, you would go back 2 numbers in the sequence to 1 – 1. Your next bet would therefore be £2.
Suitable For: Newbies and cautious players.
Pros
- Starts off more cautiously than other strategies.
- Ideal if you’re new to using roulette strategies during games.
Cons
- It can be a slow way to recover your losses.
- Bets can quickly escalate if you hit a losing streak.
The D’Alembert Strategy
How It Works: You increase your bet by a set amount, i.e. £1, after a loss, and decrease by the same amount after a win. This is repeated, within your pre-determined casino budget, regardless of losing or winning streaks.
Example:
- Your first roulette is £1.
- The bet loses, so you increase your next bet to a total of £2.
- This bet wins so you decrease your bet to £1 again.
Suitable For: Newbies and players with modest budgets.
Pros
- Significantly lower risk than the Martingale system.
- Ideal if you have a modest roulette budget to play with.
Cons
- Limited profitability on wins if you are making small increases and decreases.
- Your bet amount can quickly escalate on a l streak of losses.
The Paroli Strategy
How It Works: With this system you simply double your bet after each win and stick with the same amount after each loss. Therefore, the amount you bet will always remain the same or increase but never decrease as it would with other roulette strategies.
Example:
- If you bet £1 and win, your next bet would be £2.
- If that bet loses, you’ll stick with betting £2 until you win again.
- When you win you will double up on your next bet.
Suitable For: Players with more generous budgets.
Pros
- Ideal for shorter roulette sessions.
- The strategy is simple to follow, making it an ideal choice for newbies.
Cons
- Heavy reliance on consecutive wins.
- You can quickly burn through your bankroll with continued losses.
The Labouchère System
How It Works: This one is more complex than other strategies, so hold tight! You create a sequence of numbers and bet the sum of the first and last numbers. If the bet loses, you add another number on the end and bet the new sum of the first and last numbers. If the bet wins you remove the two end numbers and bet using the adjusted total.
Example: You start with a 3-digit sequence of 1-2-3.
- Your first bet is the sum of the first and last numbers. 1 + 3 = £4.
- If that bet loses, you add 4 to the sequence to make it 1-2-3-4 and bet the new sum of 1 + 4 = £5.
- If you win, remove the two end numbers, leaving you with a total of 2, and bet that.
Suitable For: Pro roulette players who enjoy playing with complex systems.
Pros
- Flexible and customisable as you choose the numbers in the sequence.
- You can also determine the length of the starting sequence.
Cons
- Complex and can easily confuse beginners.
- Requires discipline and focus to follow through on.
The James Bond Strategy
How It Works: Named after Ian Fleming’s famous MI5 agent, with this roulette strategy you split a single betting pot across three seperate areas of the table. It’s all about attempting to maximise your chances of winning from a single spin rather than a sequence like alternative betting systems.
Example: You have a total of £200 for a single bet. You divide it into 3 separate bets spread across the table to increase your chance of landing a win like so:
- £140 on high numbers (19-36)
- £50 on low numbers (13-18)
- £10 on zero
Suitable For: Players with larger budgets who want to add an element of strategy to their gameplay.
Pros
- Bets cover over half the table to increase your chances of a win.
- Increases the thrill of roulette by covering more of the wheel on each spin.
Cons
- Requires a sizable bankroll to execute so not for modest budget players.
- Significant losses if none of your numbers win repeatedly.
The Andrucci Strategy
How It Works: This strategy is based on the idea that certain numbers appear more frequently than others over many spins. All you need to do is study the form of a table and only bet on numbers that appear the most frequently.
Example:
- Watch a roulette table for more than 40 spins.
- Note down which numbers win frequently.
- Place your bets on those numbers. It’s as simple as that!
Suitable For: Anyone with time to spare who’s looking for high-potential payouts.
Pros
- Uses real-time data to calculate popular numbers.
- Large win potential as you are betting on specific numbers.
Cons
- Requires a fair bit of time and patience to track spins effectively.
- Absolutely no guarantee of success, as roulette is ultimately a game of chance.
How to Find the Best Roulette Strategy for You
So now you know how the most popular roulette betting strategies work, how do you know which one to use? Here are a few pointers to help you find a preferable strategy based on your skill level, bankroll, and tolerance to risk.
The Best Roulette Strategy for Beginners
We’d suggest that as a newbie to the roulette table, you start with simple systems like the Martingale or D’Alembert. These systems will allow you to learn the basics and get you comfortable with using a strategic approach at the roulette table. You can work towards more complex strategies and systems over time.
Strategies for High-Rollers vs. Casual Players
If you’re what’s known in the trade as a high-roller, you might prefer to use the Labouchère or James Bond approach at the roulette table. These are both great strategies for higher-stakes players.
On the flip side, if you just dip in and out of your roulette sessions as a casual player, we’d point you towards using the Fibonacci or Paroli systems. These are both ideal for lower-risk play and can help your bankroll to stretch further.
Developing a Personalised Strategy
The great thing about seeking out the best roulette strategy is that you don’t need to stick with just one. You have the freedom to flip between systems as your goals, risk tolerance, and approach change.
Whether you are looking for short-term excitement or long-term consistency, it’s totally your call. Whatever your preference, you can build a personalised roulette strategy to match.
Things Affecting Your Roulette Strategy Success
Hopefully, you’ve realised by now that no roulette strategy is bulletproof and external factors can seriously impact your success. In this section, we’ll take a look at what you should consider to help you make the best choices anytime you play.
By considering these factors, you can approach any roulette table with a clear plan and a better understanding of how to adapt strategies to fit changing circumstances.
Roulette Variants: European vs. American Roulette
The variant of roulette you choose to play has a significant impact on your chances of success. Let’s see how the two main ones stack up:
- European Roulette is the top choice for many UK players as it features a single zero, giving it a house edge of just 2.7%. This can help you maximise your odds over time and statistically hit fewer losing results than you typically would playing American Roulette for example.
- American Roulette by contrast has an additional double zero (00) on the wheel, increasing the house edge to a much higher 5.26%. Some players find the double-zero layout exciting but it’s definitely a disadvantage if you’re using a strategy that relies on consistent odds.
Table Betting Limits
Every roulette table has minimum and maximum betting limits and they will directly influence the success of any strategy.
- Low Limits: These are ideal for beginners or if you are experimenting with various strategies.
- High Limits: These are perfect if you’re an experienced player or using progressive strategies like the Martingale.
Review the limits carefully before you start playing at any table. Most UK casinos offer a range of tables to suit all budgets, from low-stakes games to high-roller VIP experiences.
Risk Tolerance and Budget
Your personal approach to risk and money management plays a critical role in how effective your strategy will be.
- Risk Tolerance: You may thrive on the excitement of high-risk strategies, such as the Fibonacci or Martingale systems, which can involve significant losses before potential gains. Or you might prefer the steadier approach of flat betting, where each wager is the same amount, minimising large swings in your bankroll.
- Budget Management: Your ability to set a clear budget before you start playing, and stick to it will impact your perceived success. Strategies like the D’Alembert system work well if you have a limited budget. If you have more to spend, you might opt for more aggressive strategies with higher win and loss potential.
Roulette Tips for Maximising Your Experience
To help you get the most out of every spin you wager on at a roulette table, we’ve compiled the following list of quick tips. These can help you to keep your gambling in check and ensure you have the best experience any time you pull up a virtual stool at a UK online casino.
Combine Roulette Strategies and Smart Gameplay
Firstly, you can ensure that you always play smart by knowing the rules and odds of roulette inside out. Once you have these mastered, try combining strategies such as the Martingale for even-money bets and the James Bond for higher stakes wagers.
This tactic can help you to create a truly dynamic approach to your roulette gaming. You’ll always have your next move in mind, regardless of the way that little white ball behaves.
Practice Using Free Roulette Games
Save your bankroll and spend some time playing free roulette games at UK online casinos. This is an excellent way to test strategies without eating into your precious casino funds.
You can use demo mode on video roulette games to master different betting systems and understand how they work in practice. This will give you the time and space to work out which approach is best suited to your individual playing style before playing with real money.
Manage Your Bankroll Effectively
Learning the art of bankroll management is key to your long-term success at the roulette table, or at any UK casino for that matter. It’s best to set a fixed budget for your roulette sessions and divide that up into smaller amounts for each bet.
The most important thing is to stick to your budget. Avoid chasing losses at any time, and always walk away from the table once your budget has been used up. It’s important to do this whether you’re ahead or not and remain disciplined in your casino gaming.
Control Your Emotions
Stay calm and don’t allow your emotions to take over anytime you play roulette, especially if you’ve hit a losing streak. Playing while your emotions are high can lead to some reckless bets and even larger losses.
It’s vital that you stick with your chosen strategy and trust the process. Knowing when to walk away is the single biggest advantage in maintaining control over your casino gameplay at all times.
Always remember to play responsibly and stick to your limits. This will help you enjoy playing roulette without causing you stress. Take a look at our responsible gambling resources to keep your roulette sessions in check.
Avoid Common Roulette Myths
Don’t fall for myths at the roulette table, like the existence of ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ numbers. There’s no such thing as a certain outcome being due to happen. It’s essential to understand that roulette is an entirely random game and that past results have no influence on future spins.
All you can do is focus on your chosen strategies and odds rather than trying to predict the behaviour of the roulette ball.
If you’re now ready to put your chosen strategies to the test, check out our list of the best online roulette sites in the UK. We have lots of options so you can easily find something to match the way you like to play roulette.
The Best Roulette Strategy FAQs
Can you win at roulette every time?
No. It’s important to realise that roulette strategies can never guarantee that you win as it is a game of pure chance and nothing more. That said, employing a roulette strategy can help to give your approach some structure rather than placing random bets on each spin.
Which is the best roulette strategy for long-term success?
This really depends on your long-term goals and your tolerance to risk. Many players opt to use the Fibonacci or Paroli strategies due to their balance of risk and reward. We’d suggest reading the strategy section of this guide to find the best fit for your roulette tactics and budget.
Do UK online casinos mind players using roulette strategies?
As long as your activities stay within their rules, online casinos won’t mind you using a roulette strategy. Even if you are playing video roulette, thanks to their use of an RNG (Random Number Generator), there’s no way to predict the results of any spin.