How to increase your chances of winning at roulette

Roulette is one of the most iconic casino games. The roulette wheel is right up there with the deck of cards, dice and poker chips as the most recognizable item associated with casinos.

Most movies set in casinos also include roulette wheels, since it’s a great way to immediately make the scene recognizable.

Casablanca (1942) has one of the most famous roulette scenes in film history. It sets up the grey moral world in which the main character Rick Blaine exists, using a very expensive game of roulette. In fact, it shows the way in which roulette wheels can be rigged by the croupier through a hidden brake pedal under the table.

Playing roulette online means there are no tricky croupiers or secret pedals to worry about – AI controls the game with preprogrammed win percentages. With the additional benefit of being able to access online casino bonuses, it’s no surprise that online roulette has become so popular now that it is more accessible.

Online casinos more generally have been in the news a lot recently. They are growing in popularity and becoming legal in more locations all the time. Whether you’re playing roulette online or still at a traditional land-based casino, having tips and strategies that can improve your chances of winning is a great asset. This article is going to lay out some of the best of those strategies.

History of roulette

Roulette is one of the oldest casino games. Versions of the game have been played since at least the early 18th century. The game originated in France and quickly moved to the rest of Europe and the United States. By the mid-19th century, it was one of the most popular casino games in both Europe and North America. In all of the years since, its popularity hasn’t diminished at all and it is now also one of the most popular table games to play online.

Bet on the outside

The best strategy to win at roulette is to bet the outside. These are the bets that can be placed on the outer edges of the roulette table. They win more consistently than inside bets but don’t pay out as well. This is not a strategy that will net you dramatic high wins – instead, it will allow you to win small amounts of money frequently throughout your time at the table.

The most popular outside bets are red or black, odd or even, and low or high. As you can see, these are the widest categories. This is what makes them hit so regularly.

Play on European wheels when possible

The major house edge in roulette comes from the 0 slot. When the ball lands on 0, the house takes everything. On a European wheel, there is just one 0 slot. On an American wheel, however, there is a 0 slot and a 00 slot. This might seem like a minor change but it actually doubles the house advantage and seriously affects your ability to win.

Avoid the Martingale strategy

The Martingale strategy is one of the most famous betting strategies and while it sounds like it should work out mathematically, it does not. The theory behind the Martingale strategy is that if you raise your bet every time you lose, when you eventually win, you’ll make back all of your losses. Unfortunately, this rarely works out and the Martingale becomes a strategy for losing a lot of money very quickly.

Play the bonuses

When it all comes down to it in the end, roulette – like all casino games – is all about luck. You can follow the tricks and suggestions above to raise your chances of winning by a little bit but there is no real secret to winning. Casino games are all designed to ultimately make the house money. You may win from time to time but the percentages will always be in the house’s favor.

However, by playing smart, you can work around these built-in limits. Most online casinos offer promotions and special offers that generally include free spins or deposit matching. Using these bonuses to increase the amount you have to bet and being smart about when you play can give you more money to play with without you having to spend more.

Winning big is often sold as the best thing about gambling. In reality, though, we know that if every hand of cards or pull of the slot machine paid out, it simply wouldn’t be gambling any more. The thrill comes from the unknown – you always have a chance of winning or losing, and never know which it might be. So, while these strategies might increase your chances of winning at roulette, don’t worry – they won’t increase them enough to ruin the fun!