Roulette is one of the easiest casino games to learn. And with some good roulette strategy, you can help your bankroll go even further.
But is a roulette betting strategy right for you, and do you have the bankroll to handle the swings? There are risks to any staking plans, but roulette has more than perhaps any other table game.
Let's take a closer look at some of the best roulette strategies to use. And don't forget to try out our top-rated plans for free at the best PA online casinos.
Is There a Strategy to Roulette?
Roulette is a super-simple casino game to play. Choose your numbers, place your bets and watch the roulette wheel spin. In a live casino, you'll wait for the ball to land. At an online casino, a random number generator determines the winning spot. If you hit the right numbers, you can win anything from even money to 35/1.
But good roulette strategy is more than just putting down bets. You need to assess the house edge and compare the odds of hitting a single number or a group of numbers.
Luckily, staking plans help you cover all sorts of numbers. Some increase bets after each losing bet, while others increase bets after each winning bet. Other strategies let you cover lots of numbers at once to lower the risk.
Roulette strategies have been around for centuries, but no two are alike. Let's take a closer look at some great roulette tips and strategies for players in 2020.
9 Popular Roulette Strategies to Consider
There are dozens of roulette betting systems to try out. But which are the best? We've compiled a list of our top 9 roulette betting strategies. Some are geared toward low-stakes players who like to linger around the minimum bet and others cater for the high rollers who prefer a bigger bet size.
It's important to remember that even the best roulette strategy carries an amount of risk. It's easy to go on a downswing and lose money. But as long as you play within your means, a roulette betting system can really work in your favor.
Negative Progression Systems
Negative progressive strategies are common in roulette. With a negative progression system, you increase your stakes following a losing bet. If you win, your stakes reset to their original value.
Martingale (Most Famous Roulette System)
Let's start with the Martingale System, perhaps the best-known roulette strategy of them all.
The Martingale strategy is a classic negative progression system. That means, when you lose your stakes increase, and when you win your stakes decrease.
With the Martingale, you always play an even money bet. Choose a unit stake (bet size) and double it after every loss. You keep doubling your bets until you win. Then, the bet reverts back to the unit stake and you begin again.
The idea of the Martingale System is that you can wipe out losses with one big win. But it doesn't take into account the player going on a long losing streak and running out of a bankroll.
d'Alembert (Best System for Low-Risk Betting)
The d'Alembert roulette strategy was devised in the 18th century by Jean-Baptiste le Rond d'Alembert, a noted French mathematician. The d'Alembert is similar to the Martingale strategy in that only even-money bets are placed (e.g. Red, Black, Odd or Even). But, after a losing spin, you only increase your stake by one unit. After a winning spin, the stake is decreased by one betting unit.
The beauty of the d'Alembert betting system is that it doesn't put too much pressure on you if you hit a long losing streak. You also avoid high-risk bets like single numbers.
Attila (Best System for High Rollers)
Attila is a great negative progression plan for action junkies. It's a simple staking plan to implement, and the rewards can be big. However, you should always be mindful of potential downswings.
In the Attila plan, you start by choosing nine single numbers. Bet a unit for each number in your selection. If the bets lose, increase the stake for your first number by one (remember to set a dollar amount per unit before you begin).
Now, if those nine numbers lose, increase the stake on your second number by one unit. You continue to increase your stake until you are in profit. Then, drop your stakes back down to a single unit per number. The idea of the Attila is that you will eventually make a profit by hitting just one of your numbers. The payout for a single number is 35/1, which can turn your downswing into a very healthy upswing.
Positive Progression Systems
Positive progression plans reward winning streaks. You increase your bet after a winning bet and drop if following a loss.
Reverse Martingale (Best Strategy for Low-Stakes Winning Players)
You can also try the Reverse Martingale. The Reverse Martingale is a positive progression system. That is, a roulette betting strategy where you increase stakes following a winning spin.
In this roulette strategy, you double your bet when you win and revert back to your original stake when you lose. The Reverse Martingale helps to maximize your winning streaks and keep losses to a minimum.
Paroli (Best Strategy for Hot Winning Streaks)
The Paroli system has been kicking around since the 16th century. With this roulette strategy, you double your bet after any winning even-money spin (e.g. Red, Black, Odd, Even). However, if you lose, your stake remains the same.
The Paroli maximizes your returns as you don't have to drop down stakes after a losing spin. You simply keep your stakes at their current level. It's a high-risk strategy, but the Paroli system can help players on hot streaks increase their returns.
One Half Up (Best Low-Risk Positive Progression System)
One Half Up is a similar roulette strategy to the Reverse Martingale. It's another positive progression system where you increase your stakes after a winning even-money spin.
Here's the difference: Your stakes stay the same until you hit two winning spins in a row. When this happens, you increase your bet by 50% of your unit stake. After a losing spin, you revert to your original stake.
The One Half Up bet is a safer roulette betting strategy than the Reverse Martingale or Paroli. It plays it safe with winning streaks and plays it very safe if you hit a losing spin. That's why we recommend the One Half Up bet if you are a casual roulette player.
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Cover-the-Field Systems
A cover-the-field roulette strategy is great if you want to hedge your bets across multiple numbers. Let's explore some of the most popular cover-the-field plans.
Cover-the-Table (Safest Staking Plan)
A cover-the-table plan is the best roulette strategy for almost guaranteeing a return. In a cover-the-table system, you bet 35 out of 36 numbers at the same unit stake. As long as one of your numbers comes in, you will win one unit of profit.
But covering virtually every number isn't very interesting, and not very lucrative. A better roulette strategy is to cover a lot of numbers but leave some alone. Here are three of the best roulette plans for covering part of the table.
Bet 11 Streets: This plan requires you to bet 11 streets of three numbers, or 33 numbers total.
Bet 17 Splits: This staking plan covers 34 numbers made up of 17 splits. A split bet is a wager on two numbers and pays 17/1.
Bet Low and 3rd Dozen: This plan covers some of the outside bets. The low is numbers 1-18, and the 3rd Dozen covers the 12 numbers in the far section of the roulette table. In total, you are covering 30 numbers at once, but all sections pay 1/1.
3/2 (Best Low-Risk Cover Plan)
The 3/2 plan is a great cover-all roulette strategy for players who don't want to risk every dime.
The idea of the 3/2 is to bet $3 on red or black (paying 1/1), and $2 on Column 1 (paying 2/1). You are covering 30 numbers on each spin (18 red/black, plus 12 in the column). Better still, you can almost guarantee a profit by hitting just half of your numbers.
Five Quads (Best System for Straight Up Bets)
The Five Quads is the best roulette strategy if you love to cover single numbers. Essentially, it's a simpler version of the Cover-the-Table plan where you select stakes for groups of numbers.
In the Five Quads plan, you must place wagers on five corner bets, covering four numbers each. You will also choose a straight up number to bet on. In total, then, you are betting on 21 numbers (five quads plus a single number).
If a corner bet comes up, it pays 8/1. The single number pays 35/1. In practice, you only need to hit a single number and five out of 10 corners to earn a profit. The payouts ensure a quicker return than a slower roulette betting strategy like the Martingale.
Where to Practice a Roulette Betting Strategy
Ready to put a roulette strategy into practice? You can try out a staking plan like the Martingale or d'Alembert completely free at one of our top-rated online casinos.
Check out our guide to the best online roulette sites in PA. We have a top selection of legal online casinos in Pennsylvania where you can play roulette.
Choose from American Roulette or European Roulette with a low house edge of just 2.7%. You can even find French Roulette with its La Partage insurance bet and a house edge of just 1.35%.
You can even sign up and claim a welcome bonus that rewards roulette players. Make a first deposit and put your favorite roulette strategy to the test.
How to Choose the Best Roulette Strategy
Online roulette is one of the easiest casino games to learn and play. And with the best roulette strategy you can increase your chances of making a profit.
Of course, every roulette strategy carries risks. Without good bankroll management, you can easily go through your stake. So, choose a roulette betting strategy that's right for you and your budget.
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Roulette Strategy FAQ
What is the best strategy to win at roulette?
There are many good roulette strategies depending on the size of your bankroll. A top low-risk strategy is the 3/2, but a negative progression plan such as the Martingale betting strategy rewards hot streaks.
Is roulette easy to win at?
You can win at roulette if you choose the right bets. Even-money wagers like Odd/Even or Red/Black are best for long-term profits and carry the lowest house edge.
Why use a roulette strategy?
A roulette strategy can help with bankroll management and carries strict rules on what move to make depending on whether you lose or win.
Is it true that most roulette strategies don't work?
In roulette, you are always betting against the house, and the casino has a house edge of 1.35-5.26%, depending on the variant you are playing. You must always factor in the house advantage to any staking plan you choose.
What is progressive betting in roulette?
With a progressive betting plan, your stakes increase after every winning or losing spin. The amount is determined by the roulette betting strategy you are using.
