Things Everyone Should Know About Roulette

Roulette is a game that has been around for ages. The first form of roulette first saw the light of day in 18^thcentury France. It combined the familiar gaming wheel we all love and an Italian game called Biribi. With such a storied history, many versions of roulette existing is hardly a surprise.

Of course, all those different versions of roulette can cause confusion. As such, we will go over all the most important things when it comes to roulette. What tables you should play, what strategies work and which do not. Get ready for a roulette deep dive!

European Roulette is King

Some of the most frequent questions new players have is the difference between American and European roulette. In fact, you may not be sure what the big difference between the two might be. They both function almost identically; one just happens to have an extra zero. Is that really so important?

Yes, in fact. That extra zero makes a massive difference in how much you can expect to win. In both versions, your maximum reward is 35:1. To win that prize, you need to guess what number will be drawn correctly. In European roulette, you have one chance in 37 to win. However, in American Roulette the odds are much worse, with one in 38 on each single number bet.

The difference becomes even more notable once you break it down into house edges. European Roulette has a house edge of 2.7%, while the American version has a house edge of 5.26%. The average RTP for slots is better than American roulette! If you have the choice, always pick a table using European roulette rules.

Pick the Right Bets

In our previous example, we used the single number bet to show the worsening odds of American roulette. However, the chance of correctly guessing that one number is minuscule if you think about it. Fortunately, the betting table for roulette is vast and full of wagers you can place! They range from safe to risky, and you can place whichever ones you like.

Players are often tempted to play inside bets. While they cover fewer numbers, their bigger payouts are more attractive at first glance. Having said that, if you want the best possible odds of winning, you should focus on outside bets instead. Picking High-Low (1-18/19-36), Even-Odd and Red-Black gives you an almost 50% chance to win every round. The only reason it is not exactly fifty is due to zero being on the wheel.

Many players will complain this option is boring, and we tend to agree. Fortunately, there are ways to spice things up while retaining that advantage. Of course, we are talking about…

Roulette Betting Strategies

Let us get something important out of the way immediately. Roulette betting strategies do not change your odds of winning. They serve as a way to structure your bets and give you a short-term boost. That said, all betting strategies come with an inherent risk that you have to accept. We will look into one of the simplest betting systems to show this off – the Martingale.

Odds are, someone has come across the strategy before Martingale. Many players independently come up with the same idea, because it is so simple. Martingale’s betting system tells you to double your bet each time you lose. That way, when you win again, you will make up any money you previously lost. It seems like a good idea at first, but it comes with a serious flaw.

As any experienced player can tell you, losing streaks are inevitable. If you try to apply the Martingale to a losing streak, you will quickly lose money. For example, say you start with a $1 bet and then lose ten times. You will have to bet $1024 in order to make that money back. Odds are, you will quickly exceed your planned budget trying to do this.

Fortunately, there are betting strategies that can mitigate this risk better. D’Alembert’s betting system has a similar concept as Martingale but is less risky. Alternatively, you can try a positive progression betting system like Paroli. With it, you are trying to maximize winning streaks instead of trying to keep your losses from growing.

Manage Your Money

If the previous segment taught you anything, it is the importance of money management! Picking the right bets and utilising a betting strategy helps a lot. However, if you are irresponsible with your funds, these tips will not help you. Before you get started with your roulette adventure, we need to set a few ground rules. Follow these at all times!

Your first decision comes before you start playing roulette. Set yourself a budget for that particular session, and stick to it. On average, a roulette wheel spins 40 times every hour. As such, you should plan your budget around that. If you want to bet $1 per spin and plan on playing for three hours, your budget will need to be at least $120.

If that does not suit your budget, you will need to lower your bet or play fewer rounds. Any funds you do win you should withdraw at the end of the round. You should avoid playing with money that you have already won. Keeping the funds separate will prevent you from using your winnings to make up for a bad losing streak. Fail to follow this advice, and you may find yourself losing your bankroll and winnings in one session.