Roulette has been around for centuries, and it remains popular to this day, surprising players with its depth of gameplay. There are hundreds of books, websites and guides to try and find a roulette strategy that is the most successful.

While there isn’t a single strategy that is successful every single time, a hands-on approach and testing show that it is possible to develop a general guide that can act as a good fallback solution.

Even though the house edge always exists, sticking with a strategy with proven efficacy can have a major impact on how much you can win.  

Getting started with roulette

Before getting deeper into roulette betting strategies, it is important to get the basics right. Start by learning how to play roulette.

In roulette, players put their chips down on their favorite colors, numbers or a combination of both as the ball whirls around the wheel.

Players can bet on any number between 1 and 36, alternating between black and red colors. The numbers 0 and 00 are green.

Below are the steps to follow when playing roulette:

• Place chips on the numbered table in the squares to make a bet. Players can choose outside bets, inside bets or both.
• If making an outside bet, place the bets on the outer edges. Players can make a bet on any black or red number, even or odd numbers, or on big groups of numbers.
• Players can also make an inside bet on small groups of numbers or individual numbers on the inside of the numbered table.
• Watch the ball to see if it stops on a number or color you have selected to see if you win.

Best roulette strategies to use 

Roulette is an exciting and glamorous game, often showcased in movies like the James Bond films. Movie scenes depict roulette tables in casinos that are always busy with people placing bets, and the same is true in real life.

While the gameplay is thrilling, the odds of the game are not in favor of the players. Successful roulette strategies involve following certain time-tested rules without letting your emotions take over. The key to winning is control over your emotions and maintaining composure.  

Here are some of the best strategies to follow if you want to increase your odds of winning.

Martingale system

This is one of the most commonly used and popular strategies for roulette. The concept is quite simple. Increase your bet amount after every single loss. This means that when you do win, you will be able to recover your lost money. After that, you can then revert to betting your original amount and repeat the process.  

An effective technique to follow when using the Martingale system is to bet only on even-money outside bets such as 1-18 and 19-36. You can also bet on black, red, odd and even. There’s a 50% chance of winning the outside bets, but the payouts are low at 1:1.

This system is fairly simple, easy to remember and logical.

D’Alembert system 

In the D’Alembert roulette betting strategy, you will place bets on even-money areas, like black or red.  

Decide on a fixed amount to act as a unit before you start playing, for example, $1. Unlike the Martingale system, this system does not involve doubling the stake after losing. In this system, you can increase the bet by one unit if you lose. Decrease the bet by one unit when you win.

The odds of winning a bet will vary depending on the roulette variant you play, but they are close to 48%. Theoretically, this strategy can allow you to even out the bets over time. It is important to remember that roulette is a game of luck. The strategies you use are essential for bankroll management.

As an example, let’s assume that you decide on a base unit of $1 for a bet. If you lose the bet, you will place a bet of $2 the next time. If you lose again, you will place a bet of $3. If you then win the bet, your next bet will be $2.

One of the major benefits of this strategy is that it keeps a tab on your streaks. Things can even out in the long term if you manage to win as many bets as you lose.

Fibonacci system 

If you are looking for a roulette strategy that is effective as well as safe, the Fibonacci system will be right for you. It is safer when compared to the Martingale system but still has the potential to increase your chances of winning.

Fibonacci is a negative progression system because the stake increases every time you lose. While you will be betting more every time you lose, you will be winning higher amounts eventually because of the higher stake.

This system allows players to recover their losses quickly or break even. It is important to remember that luck may not always be in your favor when you play a game of luck.

In the Fibonacci system, players use a sequence of numbers to determine the next bet, such as:

0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144 and so on.  

Every bet is the sum of the two bets before. With each win, you will go back two places in the sequence. With every win, you will move forward to the next number in this sequence.

Another thing to remember with this strategy is to place each bet on even bets paying out 1:1, for example, even/odd or red/black. This ensures an even chance of losing or winning. Inside bets are risky and are not as effective with this system.

Play free roulette games 

The best roulette strategy for you will be the one that you are most comfortable with based on your risk tolerance.

If you would like to try your hand at roulette and use some of these strategies, Resorts Casino has a variety of free roulette games that offer plenty of excitement.