Once you know how to play roulette, it’s a good idea to nail down the best roulette strategy. Unlike some other table games that feature more in-depth strategy like blackjack, roulette is primarily a game of luck. That being said, there is some roulette strategy in the form of where you place your bets and how much risk you’re willing to take on. In addition, understanding the table layout, different variations of online roulette, and rules will all help you become a better and more efficient roulette player in general.
Roulette Strategy – Table Layout and Rules
Roulette and live dealer roulette comes in many forms, as we’ll discuss later. However, understanding the rules and table layouts is the first roulette strategy step you should take before picking a variation to play.
All roulette variation table layouts and rules are slightly different, but we’ll take American Roulette, for example (pictured above). This is one of the most common variations you’ll find both online and at land-based casinos throughout the country. The table is divided into the following sections, and we’ve listed payout and volatility along with them:
| Bet Type | Payout | Volatility (Single Zero) | Volatility (Double Zero) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red/Black | 1-1 | 0.9996 | 0.9986 |
| Even/Odd | 1-1 | 0.9996 | 0.9986 |
| High/Low | 1-1 | 0.9996 | 0.9986 |
| Column | 2-1 | 1.404 | 1.395 |
| Dozen | 2-1 | 1.404 | 1.395 |
| Line | 5-1 | 2.212 | 2.188 |
| Corner | 8-1 | 2.795 | 2.762 |
| Street | 11-1 | 3.276 | 3.236 |
| Split | 17-1 | 4.070 | 4.019 |
| Single Number | 35-1 | 5.838 | 5.763 |
- Single Number: This bet is exactly how it sounds — betting on a single number.
- Split: A split bet is placed on the line between two numbers. If either number lands, you win that bet.
- Street: This is a bet placed on any row of three numbers.
- Corner: A bet placed on the corner of four numbers. If any one of these four numbers comes up, you win.
- Line: This bet is placed on the line between two rows and is a bet on six numbers at once.
- Dozen: This bet covers twelve numbers — 1st 12, 2nd 12, or 3rd 12.
- Column: This bet also covers twelve numbers, but in different groups. For example, in American Roulette placing a bet on Column 1 covers 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34.
- High/Low: An even money bet that covers half of the board — in American Roulette, it covers 1-18 (low) or 19-36 (high).
- Even/Odd: An even money bet that covers half of the board — odd or even numbers.
- Red/Black: An even money bet that covers half of the bard — red or black numbers.
Keep in mind that these bets can slightly differ depending on the variation of roulette you’re playing. For example, French Roulette has a different board layout, which does change these bets.
Now that you know the different types of bets you can place, let’s take a look at how to play online roulette and the basic rules. As far as roulette strategy goes, this is the easy part. While some games may feature additional rules to cut the house edge (see below), the premise of roulette is simple. Place your chosen bet or bets from above, and wait for the wheel to spin. Wherever the ball lands dictates the win.
Picking The Right Variation for Best Roulette Strategy
Picking the roulette variation that offers the most player-friendly odds is one of the first, and perhaps most important, parts of practicing the best roulette strategy.
We go in-depth on the different roulette variations on our real money blackjack page (link to my Blackjack Real Money page when published), but for ideal roulette strategy and the best odds, you should play French Roulette. There are a few things that make French Roulette stand out above other variations. Some of these include:
- French Roulette: only has one zero pocket. This is in contrast to American Roulette, which has two zero pockets.
- La Partage Rule: If the ball lands in that zero pocket, players who wagered on an outside bet with even odds (high/low, red/black, or odd/even) will receive half of their stake back, as opposed to losing it entirely.
- En Prison Rule: If the ball lands in the zero pocket, even odds bets will remain on the board for the next spin instead of being forfeited. If the next spin wins, players will receive their stake back.
Keep in mind that not every French Roulette variant offers these rules, but if you find one that does the house edge is reduced to just 1.35%. That’s in comparison to a 5.26% house edge in American Roulette, the most common variant you’d find at land-based casinos.
Choosing the Best Roulette Strategy
You’ve got the table layout, types of bets, and rules down. You may have even chosen your variation to play. Now, how do you choose the best roulette strategy once you’ve taken your seat at the table? This really comes down to personal preference and how much risk you’re willing to take on.
You could place your wager on inside bets, such as single numbers or lines. With this strategy, you’re less likely to win, but when you do win, the payouts will be larger. So, essentially with this high volatility strategy, you’ll have fewer spins with the chance to win larger payouts.
Alternatively, if you’d like to spend some time at the table, you could take a low volatility approach. This would be wagering on outside bets or even money bets, such as red/black or odd/even. These bets give you the highest chance to win, but the payouts will be smaller.
A third roulette strategy option that many players take advantage of is to combine the two options listed above into a medium volatility option. In other words, placing larger wagers on outside bets in addition to smaller bets on some inside bets (maybe $1 on your lucky number, for example). This approach gives you a good chance of winning an even money bet on the outside, while also including the chance for you to win big off your inside bet(s).
Martingale Strategy Roulette
The final roulette strategy we’ll discuss is a controversial option known as the Martingale strategy, which applies to roulette as well as other table games. The idea is simple:
- If your bet wins, place that same value wager on the next wheel spin. For example, if you place a $1 bet that wins, bet $1 on the next spin as well.
- If your bet loses, double your wager on the next wheel spin. For example, if you place a $1 bet that loses, bet $2 on the next spin in order to potentially bring yourself back to even money.
While this strategy may seem tempting, it also goes against one of the main pillars of Responsible Gambling, which includes not chasing losses.
How you play is entirely up to you, but make sure that no matter what, you’re playing with what you’re comfortably willing to lose.
Where to Implement Your Roulette Strategy
You can find many roulette casino bonuses at Bonus.com. If you’re in a state with real-money online casinos, visit our state-specific page for the best offers in your area:
- Michigan Online Casinos
- New Jersey Online Casinos
- Pennsylvania Online Casinos
- West Virginia Online Casinos
These online casinos like JackpotCity Casino also offer exclusive bonus codes for new players, which are great to help you get started without risking as much (or, in some cases, any) of your own money. Make sure to check our full lists and reviews before you begin playing.
Roulette Strategy FAQ
A strategy that suits your play style. For example, if you’re looking for a higher chance of winning, you should place outside bets, but the wins will be smaller. If you’re looking for big wins, you should place inside bets, but the chance of winning will be smaller.
Play at legal online casinos. Legal online casinos offer the chance to make money online using roulette strategy, and they’re safe and secure to play.
A set of guidelines. Roulette strategy is essentially guidelines that dictate how you play, and following the best roulette strategy for you will ensure that your play is fun, comfortable, and perhaps even rewarding.
Stick to your strategy. No matter whether you’ve chosen a conservative or high-roller strategy, your best bet is to continue that pattern. Switching back and forth between different strategies mid-game can affect your routine and make playing less fun and less rewarding. Focus on sticking to one strategy that you’re most comfortable with.
French roulette. In terms of implementing a strategy, French roulette is the best as it offers the most player-friendly odds and rules out of all variations. These may include the En Prison Rule, the La Partage Rule, and only having a single zero on the wheel.
It depends. There really is no best roulette bet other than one that comfortably allows you the highest chance to win the largest amount. For some players, this may be betting on the outside (odd/even, red/black, etc.), while for other players this may be betting on specific numbers or lines and corners.
About the Author
