Online Roulette or live roulette are one of the most popular games of chance of all time. It’s part of the Holy Trio of casino games together with blackjack and poker and as such, it’s quite popular online. Top-rated online casinos you can find here at our offer a long list of roulette variants you can play for free or cash. Nothing beats the thrill of spinning the roulette wheel, but if you’re not careful with your bankroll, online roulette can burn through a lot of cash quickly.
Although it is predominantly a game of chance, players often use a roulette strategy to raise their chances to win. Read our online roulette guide to learn more about the game itself and how to optimize your profits.
How to Play Roulette Online
The iconic casino game is actually very simple to play. We’ve all seen how a online roulette wheel looks like. A European wheel which is considered the default has 37 pockets. Of those 37, 18 are red and 18 are black. One of the pockets is a green 0 which represents the house edge of the wheel.
To start the game, players place their bets and wait for the croupier to spin the wheel. This is done automatically online in RNG variants. A dealer does it on camera in live dealer games. Once the wheel is spun, a ball rolls through it, eventually landing in a pocket. This is your goal – to correctly decide the pocket the ball will land in.
That’s a so-called straight bet which means correctly predicting a certain pocket where the ball lands. Of course, the odds of this happening are pretty low, but you can wager on many other outcomes. For example, you can place a bet on red or black pockets, even or odd numbers, or a corner of numbers where you believe the ball might land.
While luck plays a major part in the outcome of a round of roulette, using a roulette strategy can optimize your bets and your profits as well.
Roulette Rules
The basic online roulette rules are very simple. As mentioned, as soon as you place a bet and the game announces no more bets, the wheel is spun and the results announced shortly. All online roulette variants follow the same rules, with slight changes and rule tweaks between the most popular variants.
Online roulette is not a game of skill such as blackjack or poker. You can’t influence the outcome of a spin. What you can do, however, is find a good online roulette winning strategy and stick to it. Using an online roulette strategy won’t influence where the ball lands, but it will help you stay in the game for longer and optimize your profits.
Roulette Bets
If you ever played roulette online, you most likely know there are two different types of bets. They are called inside and outside bets due to their location on the roulette table layout. The former offer much higher payouts but are also riskier. When it comes to outside bets, they are safe and give you better chances to win but at much lower odds.
Inside Bets
Inside bets are located on the inner section of a online roulette virtual table. These are the bets that offer higher payouts but are harder to get right. The most notable examples of inside bets are the straight up bet which pays 35:1 and a split bet which pays 17:1.
These bets have a lower chance of winning. It’s easy to see why. Guessing the exact pocket where the ball lands is pretty hard and that’s why the straight up bet pays 35:1. The split is a bet placed on two adjacent numbers, while a street bet is placing a wager on three numbers in a row. This one pays 11:1.
Inside bets image
Other popular inside bets include the corner bet placed on four numbers in a corner for 8:1 odds. The five bet involves betting on five numbers in the corner next to 0 and 1. The numbers you bet on are 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. This bet is only possible on an American online roulette table since you’re betting on the 00 pocket. It has a payout of 6:1.
The last inside bet is the line bet which enables you to wager on two rows that contain 3 numbers each for a payout of 5:1.
Outside Bets
Compared to inside bets, outside bets give you a much better chance to win. Of course, this comes with lower odds too. These bets are great if you want to stay in the game for longer with a good roulette strategy. Outside bets are also great for beginners since they give you great chances to win. A good roulette betting strategy paired with outside bets will keep your bankroll in check and allow you to play longer sessions.
Outside bets image
The most notable outside bets are betting on even/odd numbers or red/black. Both pay even money since you’re placing a wager on nearly all pockets on the table. A column bet means wagering on 12 numbers in a column with a payout of 2:1. A dozen bet allows you to bet on twelve numbers again, but only those on the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd zone. It pays 2:1 just like the columns bet.
If you’re a new online roulette player, placing outside bets is one of the best roulette tips we have for you. Paired with a proper online roulette strategy, outside bets will give you great chances to win at least a few spins.
Expert Roulette Tips and Tricks
Our team of experts at our has years of experience spinning the wheel both offline and online. The team has decided to share all its knowledge with you, giving you expert online roulette tips that will make you a better player. With these tips’n’tricks, you will hopefully make a solid profit in the long run.
Practice Makes Perfect
One of the best things about online roulette variants is that you get to practice for free. While not a complex game at all, you will still need to learn the rules of roulette. Practice makes perfect for every casino game and the Devil’s Wheel is no exception. If you want to get good at it, you need to practice.
Free online roulette games will also give you a chance to find a roulette strategy that works. You will learn all the inside and outside bets by heart so you can be ready when you start playing at a real money virtual table.
Stick to European Roulette
One of the best online roulette tips our experts swear on is to always stick to the European wheel. Your chances to win in roulette are much higher on it. The house edge of roulette on this variant is 2.7% which is nearly half of the American variant (5.24%). Due to this, you’re better off with European roulette games online.
Stick to Your Budget
Managing your bankroll is important for all casino games, not just roulette. If you don’t set limits and stick to them, you can lose everything you have in mere minutes. Betting big on unreasonable roulette bets can leave you penniless before you know it. This is why you must stay in control of your bankroll and find the best roulette strategy that works to the amount you plan to spend.
If you don’t stick to your budget, your opportunities in online roulette might as well be doomed.
Never Chase Your Losses
This expert roulette tip goes paired with the one above it. If you don’t stick to your bankroll and you start chasing losses, you will lose your bankroll in one night for sure. Unlike blackjack or poker, for example, online roulette is a game of chance. No skills are involved in it, but if you’re smart, you can optimize your profits.
One of the best online roulette smart tips is to stop chasing your losses. Don’t take them by heart and keep in mind that you’re bound to lose even if you’re riding a hot streak. Stay on top of your bankroll too and that’s the most successful roulette strategy we can recommend.
Check Out All the Variants
If you decide to play roulette online, you might as well check everything that’s on offer. Online roulette offers a variety of classic and exotic games with the same rules. The payouts are the same too, but the gameplay might be tweaked a bit to offer even more thrills.
This goes especially for live roulette games. One of the biggest hits in live casinos, Lightning Roulette by Evolution Gaming, has revolutionized the game like no other variant before. it pairs classic roulette with RNG gameplay to deliver a thundering roulette variant you will fall in love with.
Of course, you’ll still need to follow a good Lightning Roulette strategy in order to win in it. The same goes for any other variant. Make sure to get a good look at them all before setting on one as your choice.
Pick a Good Roulette Betting Strategy
Before delving into every roulette strategy that works below, our team of experts is here to share a simple tip – always play with a roulette strategy to win. This is non-negotiable. If you want to make profit in the long run, a roulette strategy that works is a must.
Of course, there’s no bulletproof strategy that works 100% of the time. But there are many that will raise your chances to win, and that’s all that matters.
Best Roulette Strategies
We have broken down all the best roulette strategies you should try. If you put these successfully into practice, you could be in for solid payouts. Keep in mind that it’s a game of luck and not skill. While you can apply a roulette strategy that works, you should be aware that there’s no guarantee for 100% wins.
Martingale System
One of the most popular roulette strategies ever, the Martingale betting system can be applied to numerous casino games. Many players consider it the top roulette strategy to win, although numerous factors can influence your profits.
The Martingale roulette strategy is often used by beginners since it’s easy to learn. At its core, it’s a negative progression betting system which requires you to double your bet when you lose. When you win, you should decrease your bet.
Martingale strategy chart
Many players consider the Martingale system the best roulette strategy to win. It works best on even money bets such as red/black or high/low numbers. Just like with any other strategy, you need to follow it blindly if you want to make a profit in the short run.
While it can be effective in the short term, the Martingale roulette system can burn through your bankroll quickly. This goes double if you’re stuck in a string of losses. Be careful with your bankroll and with a bit of luck, it could very well be a winning roulette strategy.
Labouchere System
Just like the Martingale system, this one’s a negative progression strategy too. Often called the best roulette strategy ever, the Labouchere system works great on even money bets. To use it, you must first write down a string of numbers.
Let’s put theory into practice. Make a simple line of numbers to follow – for example, 1-2-3-4. Make a bet by combining the first and last numbers in the sequence – in this case, 1 and 4. Therefore, you should place 5 units as your initial bet. If you win, you cross out 1 and 4 from the sequence and go with the remaining numbers, 2 and 3. That’s your next bet, so place a wager of 5 units. If you lose, you add 5 to the sequence and continue with the formula.
Labouchere strategy chart
To put it simply, the Labouchere system requires you to remove two numbers from the sequence after a win and add the sum of the first and last numbers in the sequence when you lose. It may sound complex, but this roulette strategy is very simple once you try it. When only a single number remains in the sequence, you go with it.
The major disadvantage of this strategy is that it may not be suitable for players with a tiny bankroll. If you plan to stay in play for longer, the sequence can grow quite big, and that will require more cash.
d’Alembert System
Another popular online roulette strategy, the d’Alembert is once again a negative progression system. This one, however, is not as aggressive as the other negative progression systems. You will still need to increase your bet after a loss and decrease it after wins. However, this time you will be taking things more slowly.
d’Alembert strategy chart
In most cases, players are not recommended to bet more than 2% of their overall bankroll when they use this system. Often called the best strategy for roulette, it is suitable for beginners. Instead of doubling your bet like with the Martingale system, you can increase the bet by 1 unit when you lose. By taking things slowly, you will eventually generate profit in the long run.
This is a relatively safe online casino roulette strategy that can be easily put into practice. Try it on free roulette games at the online casinos recommended by our experts and you’ll surely find it fitting if you don’t plan to splash a lot of cash.
Fibonacci System
Yet another negative progression betting system, the Fibonacci is based on the famous mathematical string introduced by XIII century Italian mathematician Leonardo Pisano. You should raise your bet after losses and decrease it after wins. This time, however, you’re following the famous number sequence.
Fibonacci sequence chart
While this roulette strategy might look complicated, it’s very easy to follow. Each number represents a betting unit. It goes like this:
1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, etc.
If you, for example, place a bet of £5, the sequence of bets will be £5, £5, £10 and so forth. This Fibonacci roulette rule applies after losses. If you win, you move down two numbers in the sequence.
The Fibonacci roulette strategy has one downside just like all negative progressive betting systems. You will eventually go on long losing streaks and it will eat through your bankroll. Because of that, it might not be suitable for beginners.
If you ask us, the most successful negative roulette strategy is the d’Alembert system.
Paroli System
Unlike the previously described betting systems on the list, the Paroli system falls in the positive progression systems category. It requires you to raise your stakes after a win with a fixed bet stake. The name of the system is derived from the Latin term par which means “one that is equal”.
Paroli strategy chart
To put the roulette strategy into practice, you start with a fixed bet. If you win, you should double your stake and follow the same strategy for three wins in a row. Every time you lose, you go back to the base stake. As you can see, this isn’t a complicated strategy to follow.
If you manage to hit three wins in a row, the Paroli can be a winning roulette strategy. It can reap impressive rewards, but if you play on high stakes tables, it could also deplete your bankroll pretty soon. The Paroli roulette strategy works best on even money bets and low wagers. It’s a great option for beginners and can be quite lucrative for high rollers too.
Reverse Labouchere
Remember the negative progression Labouchere roulette strategy? It’s a good betting system, but it can lead to massive losses over time. But, what if you could turn it to a positive progression roulette strategy? That’s where Reverse Labouchere comes in.
Reverse Labouchere strategy chart
With this roulette strategy, you can put your losses in control. You will lose small amounts often, but an occasional big win can cover them all. Hit a few of those wins in succession, and you can see how it can be a winning roulette strategy.
The Reverse Labouchere system is a bit more conservative than the traditional system. When choosing a sequence to bet on, you should keep in mind that the higher the numbers are, the more you stand to lose. Long playing sessions can also mount your losses, so you should definitely set a losing limit for each session with this roulette strategy.
Setting a win limit is a great roulette tip as well for the Reverse Labouchere. In this way, you’ll be in complete control over your bankroll and keep your losses limited to an extent.
Andrucci System
Familiar with the chaos theory? Well, this roulette strategy revolves around it. This roulette strategy requires you to follow spins for 30 to 37 rounds and record the winningest numbers. You then need to bet on that number for the following 35 spins.
Andrucci strategy chart
The Andrucci online roulette strategy relies on intuition and luck. Just because a number has occurred frequently, it’s not a guarantee that it will come up in the next 30+ rounds. Remember: roulette is a game of chance.
With that being said, if you get lucky with it, the Andrucci system can be very profitable. Imagine if the number that came up most often appears on a third of the following 35 spins? If you place a good wager on it, you can make a lot of profit. Of course, there’s no such thing as a lucky number in online roulette, so you might not win at all.
1-3-2-6 System
Yet another positive progression roulette strategy, the 1-3-2-6 betting system draws inspiration from the Paroli system. It’s very easy to follow and therefore simple for beginners. It works best on even money bets and requires following a betting sequence of 1, 3, 2, and 6 units.
1-3-2-6 strategy chart
You won’t need to place large sums of cash on a single spin. So you won’t be losing a lot too. Follow the 1-3-2-6 roulette strategy when you win and go back to the beginning when you lose. Since you’re placing one unit when you lose, you won’t lose a lot of money and you can win a nice sum if you’re lucky to win several times in a row.
Worst Roulette Strategies
The recommended we systems we wrote so far are among the best roulette strategies you can use. There are, however, many more systems you can use, but not all are very reliable. For example, the Martingale strategy can be one of the worst that could destroy your bankroll. It could end up begin very lucrative if you’re lucky, but since you’re doubling your bet on a loss, it can be the worst online roulette strategy too.
It’s a very expensive roulette strategy that can be bad for high rollers too. At some point, you will reach your limit, preventing you from using the roulette strategy further. It’s not a viable betting system, especially if you get into a rut.
One of the best roulette tips we can give you is to avoid looking for patterns. Players often forget that roulette is a game of chance. There are no patterns on the table. Number tracking is the absolute worst strategy, even if you hear some players tell you it works. Many roulette variants show the hot and cold numbers, but tracking each is a waste of time. It simply doesn’t work since there are no lucky numbers on the wheel.
Each spin on the table is not connected to the last one. This is what makes the Andrucci system not that viable. If you’re very lucky, you will make a profit. However, assuming that a number would turn up more than one time in 35 spins is not a very reliable strategy.
Factors That Affect Your Roulette Strategy
When you’re using a roulette strategy, you need to be aware that there are factors that affect its outcome. One of the biggest ones is the roulette variant. While they’re all similar, each roulette variant has a slightly different house edge. This can affect the strategy you’re using and throw it in the trash, leaving you with an empty bankroll
The minimum and maximum limits can also affect your roulette strategy. This varies from one online casino to another. You will find online roulette variants that allow limits as low as £10 and as high as £20,000 or more. If you use the Martingale roulette strategy on a table with high limits, you could be in trouble after just a few spins.
Placing poor bets can also affect the roulette strategy you’re using. Standardized payouts for a bet such as the five number offer standard 6:1 payouts which makes them pretty poor. The good news is that most of the strategies we’ve recommended work best on even money bets, so you will have more luck with that kind of bet.
Roulette House Edge and Odds
The house edge of European (standard) roulette is 2.70% which is not that favourable when compared to blackjack. That’s why using roulette strategies is a wise idea. With a bit of luck, you can keep yourself from losing a lot of cash.
When using a roulette strategy, you’ll have more luck with outside bets since they pay even money. The house edge remains the same on most bets except for one – the sucker bet. This is placed on the American wheel on 00, 0, 1, 2, and 3. The probability of success on the sucker bet is 5/38 which accounts for a house edge of 7.89%. As such, it is probably the worst bet you can ever place on the Devil’s Wheel.
House edge of roulette image
This is why our experts always recommend playing the European wheel. The American’s house edge of 5.26% immediately puts you at a disadvantage. Even if you use the best roulette strategy, you’re not that likely to make a profit on American online variants because of the extra green pocket (00).
The bottom line is that roulette is a game of chance and the odds are not in your favour. With a bit of luck and the right roulette strategy to win, you can make some profit. Playing without one is a foolish move that will put you in trouble before you know it. Refrain from using bad strategies, avoid the American wheel, and cross your fingers for some luck. If Lady Luck is beside you, roulette can be a profitable game indeed.
Can you win at roulette all the time?
No, and you shouldn’t fool yourself that you will. If luck is on your side, winning each spin is definitely possible. However, you shouldn’t start a game of roulette with that assumption in mind. Keep in mind that you’re not likely to win each spin and use a roulette strategy to optimize your profits. Of course, you shouldn’t rely on one so much – after all, roulette is purely a game of chance, not skill.
Is there a roulette strategy that works?
All of the strategies we mentioned in this roulette guide work if you’re lucky and you keep your bets reasonable. Some of them, like the Martingale, can be profitable or bad. You can cover your losses nicely by doubling your bet after a loss, but this can also lead you to a string of losses that can destroy your bankroll. This is why you don’t need to rely that much on a casino roulette strategy. Be aware that luck plays a big part in roulette and that winning 100% of the time is nearly impossible.
Can I win big on roulette?
If you’re lucky, you can win a lot on roulette. A straight up bet pays 35:1 and if you manage to get the number right several times in a row, you can win truly big sums of cash. However, you should always be aware that it’s a game of chance, so that’s not likely to happen often.
Which roulette systems are better – positive or negative progression?
Both roulette betting systems have their own pros and cons. While negative progression systems can be profitable, they can also destroy your bankroll quicker than any other roulette strategy. Positive progression systems are not that aggressive so they might be more suitable if you’re playing the game for the first time.
