Here at Casino Context we have played every casino game under the sun, and so we are here to help out players by pointing out some of the most important tips when playing each game. Actually playing roulette couldn’t be much simpler: just decide how much to play for, select your number (or numbers) and wait to see where the ball winds up after the wheel is spun.
So playing is easy – perfect for casino beginners – and hopefully our tips will help to make your game even more fun, whether you prefer to play online or in person at a brick-and-mortar casino. Follow our advice and you will find that your results will be greatly improved!
Here we go with our Top 5 Tips for Playing Roulette:
1. Pick the Right Game
One roulette game is the same as any other, right? In fact this is one of the most common mistakes made by rookie players, and one which can easily be avoided – especially if you choose to play roulette online. There are three different types of roulette game: French, European and American. This is one time when it pays not to be patriotic, as the American game offers worse odds than the French or European versions. The reason is that there are 38 numbers on the American wheel, as opposed to 37 on the other two. The extra 00 pocket shifts the odds in favor of the house, so you should avoid this type of table wherever you have an option.
2. Understand the Odds
There are a whole host of different options when you approach the roulette table, and understanding which ones give the best chance of success is crucial. We have mentioned the difference between European and American roulette games, and the table below demonstrates just how much of a difference it makes depending on which version you choose. Make sure to balance risk versus reward when you decide to play roulette. Choosing that lucky number 7 will give the best return if it comes up, but it’s a long shot! The safest picks are to select a color, odds/even or high/low.
| Bet Type | Description | Reward | European Roulette Odds | American Roulette Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Up | Single number | 35:1 | 2.70% | 2.63% |
| Split | Two adjacent numbers | 17:1 | 5.41% | 5.26% |
| Street | Three numbers in a row (e.g., 1, 2, 3) | 11:1 | 8.11% | 7.89% |
| Corner | Four numbers in a square | 8:1 | 10.81% | 10.53% |
| Six Line | Six numbers in two adjacent rows | 5:1 | 16.22% | 15.79% |
| Column | Entire column of 12 numbers | 2:1 | 32.43% | 31.58% |
| Dozen | 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36 | 2:1 | 32.43% | 31.58% |
| Red/Black | Bet on red or black | 1:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% |
| Odd/Even | Bet on odd or even numbers | 1:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% |
| High/Low | 1-18 (low) or 19-36 (high) | 1:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% |
| Five Number | 0, 00, 1, 2, 3 (only in American roulette) | 6:1 | – | 13.16% |
3. Ignore the ‘Guaranteed’ Systems
Let’s face it, if there was a system out there which guaranteed to make you a winner then casinos would pretty soon go out of business. Roulette in particular has attracted any number of playing systems, all of which promise to boost your chance of a win. The names of these systems include Martingale, Labouchère, d’Alembert and Fibunacci – reassuringly foreign-sounding, some of them named after famous mathematicians – but sadly none of them are fool-proof winners.
Take the Martingale system for example. This suggests that the key to success is to double your stake after each losing spin, choosing a so-called ‘fifty-fifty’ option like Red/Black. However, as we’ve seen in the table above these aren’t actually 50-50, as that green zero pocket gives the casino an edge. Plus there are limits on how far this ‘doubling’ technique can go, limits like your coin balance and the table limits. If a winning roulette system ever does appear we will be sure to let you know, but until then best to ignore these fancy-sounding techniques because none of them will boost your winning chances.
4. Avoid Gamblers’ Fallacy
Even if you’ve never heard the phrase ‘Gamblers’ Fallacy’ before, chances are good that you have experienced it more than once in your life. The basic idea is that because something random has happened one way a few times in a row, then it ‘must’ be due to happen the other now. The obvious example in roulette is that Red has come up 5 times in a row, meaning that Black is ‘due’. Seems to make sense, but the fact is that the roulette wheel doesn’t work that way, each spin of the wheel is completely independent of the one before.
A famous example occurred in the Monte Carlo Casino back in August 1913. Black came up no fewer than 26 times in succession, costing players a lot in lost bets as they reasoned that red just had to appear next. Unfortunately for them, time after time after time it didn’t! Gamblers’ Fallacy is a perfectly natural way the human mind tries to make sense of random events, but it should never form the basis of your roulette play.
5. Play for Free at Reputable Online Casinos
It is not the smartest idea to try and figure out your preferred roulette strategy when real cash is at play. Far better to play for free at a social casino like McLuck or Pulsz than to risk real money figuring out the game. It costs nothing to register and play at online casinos like these, and you get to experience live dealer versions of roulette which offer a great way to try out the game for free. Now you can understand how the game works in practice and which kind of strategies suit your game.
Online casinos like McLuck are fully legal, with games from recognized providers, meaning that you can play safe and in the knowledge that the games will play out correctly.
We wish we could tell you some fantastical way to make you a sure winner at the roulette table every time, but taking onboard our tips will certainly point you in the right direction!
