How to Win at Roulette: Expert Tips and Strategies

Many say that everything around roulette depends on luck. But, I must disagree. After several years of spinning the wheel, I can say that this game is a mix of chance and strategy. There really are certain things you can do to increase your winning odds.

This guide has various purposes. I want to help roulette players not only increase their odds of winning with specific strategies, but also enjoy a boosted level of excitement. Ready? Let’s start!

Understanding the Basics of Roulette

If you’ve read some of my other guides, you know I am passionate about marine animals. To reach this level of knowledge, I had to start from the basics: existing species, their natural habitats, diets, habits, etc.

The same counts for roulette — you need to get introduced to the basics.

The Roulette Wheel and Table Explained

One of the doubts you will primarily face is choosing the roulette variant suitable for your gambling preferences. Three main types of this game are — American, European, and French.

American roulette is unique because it has one major difference: It has 36 numbers, 0 and 00. Because it has more betting options, the RTP of this game is slightly lower. On average, the RTP of this variant is nearly 95%.

European roulette and the French version are pretty similar, but they do have certain differences. Both types of roulette come with a single zero, which is why their RTP is around 97%. Their wheel looks the same.

So, what is the difference? The French roulette has two specific rules:

The La Partage option ensures that a player gets half of the entire investment if the ball falls in the pocket with the zero. Logically, the player didn’t put any cash on this number.
En Prison rule allows players to put their bet in jail. If you fail to predict the number, your entire bet “gets locked” and used for the next round. You are not entitled to change the numbers. If you once again lose, you get back to usual betting.

How Roulette Works: Rules and Gameplay

Roulette is actually pretty simple, and you won’t need a lot of time to master the rules. You place your bet trying to predict where the ball will end up once the wheel stops spinning.

How do you play roulette? For starters, you can bet on outside and inside bets. If you decide to bet on numbers on the wheel, and you manage to win, your initial bet will be multiplied by x35.

Each player can set up the bet, so I recommend properly organizing your budget before starting the session.

My advice: If you want to risk less, outside bets are a more appropriate option. However, remember that the profit will be much lower if you decide to play this way.

Types of Roulette Bets

As previously stated, players can choose between inside and outside bets. However, each gambling option comes with specific “subcategories.”

Inside Bets

Straight-up bet: The player has decided to pick a number (or more of them) during the same round.
Split bet: The player puts a chip between two numbers that are next to each other.
- Example: 7 and 8
Corner Bet: The players put one chip on four numbers next to each other.
- Example: That can be 1, 2, 4 and 5
Line Bet: This is a less risky option. Gamblers can place chips in two rows that contain three numbers each. Wager is placed at the end of the rows.

Outside Bets

Column Bet: Roulette has three columns, each one with 12 numbers.
Dozen Bet: There are three boxes with numbers 1-12, 13-24, and 25-36.
Color Bet: This is the most straightforward option—you can bet on either black or red. Your chances of winning are around 50%. You lose only if the ball lands on either 0 or 00.
Odd/Even: Place a wager on either odd or even numbers.
High/Low: Try to predict whether the ball will land on numbers “low” between 1 and 18 or on numbers “high” between 19-36.

Payouts and Odds

Inside Bet Payouts	Outside Bet Payouts
Straight bet: 35:1	Column Bet: 3:1
Split bet: 17:1	Dozen Bet: 2:1
Corner Bet: 8:1	Color Bet: 1:1
Line Bet: 5:1	Odd/Even Bet 1:1
	High/Low Bet 1:1

General Strategies to Enhance Your Game

It’s about time to talk about the best roulette strategies. Don’t worry, you will master them over time. It is important to start working on them as soon as possible.

Bankroll Management

Do it the same way I organize my budget:

For starters, I make a list of all my monthly expenses and compare them with my total income.
After that, I reduce the difference between those two by 20%. Those funds go to my savings, and I keep them to cover eventual unexpected costs.
The remaining amount of money is something I spend on roulette.
Yet, I also determine the number of sessions I will have during one month. If I decide to have 10 of them, I divide the total amount into equal parts.

Believe it or not, I have done this for many, many years, and I have never crossed the line! For more tips on handling your casino bankroll properly, read my linked page.

Choosing the Right Roulette Variation

In my opinion, European roulette deserves your attention more. I would rather not say that the American one isn’t good. In both cases, you have the same goal — to predict in which pocket the ball will fall.

This isn’t only my opinion. Keep in mind that American roulette has a higher house edge. That doesn’t mean you should completely skip it, but your chances of winning are slightly lower. Nevertheless, in the US, this roulette variant is more popular, so don’t get surprised if more people around you are playing it.

Understanding the House Edge

As stated, the European version has only a single zero, while the American one has 0 and 00. The reason for the higher house edge is more betting options.

The question is, what is the roulette house edge? This insight explains what part of the total investments the game plans to keep. European roulette has a house edge of 2.70%, while the US variant has a house edge of 5.26% on average.

Let’s convert this into numbers; for every $1000:

The American version of the game will take around $53.
European roulette will take only $27.

I think you understand now why I give certain recommendations.

Tips for a Successful Roulette Experience

Based on my experience, there are three things you must learn before even making your first deposit to play roulette.

Avoid Common Mistakes

The biggest mistake of all is chasing losses. Simply don’t do that. If you experience a big failure, accept it and get out of the casino. Clear your mind and respect the casino bankroll organization you previously made.

Your plans on how you will spend money won’t mean anything if your self-control isn’t at the highest level. Risks won’t always pay out. Even if you allow yourself to cross the line sometimes, do it rarely and don’t repeat it!

Do you want to hear my dumbest mistake ever? I turned $2000 into $14,420 on a roulette table game. I decided to play until I reached 15k USD. Since I lost $420 quickly, I continued to reduce the down limit round by round. And I ended up with $0… You have no idea how much I wanted to eat myself because of that!

The Role of Luck vs. Strategy

Things mostly depend on luck, yes. The good news is that you can see the statistics of the previous draws when you play roulette. If you see six numbers in a row are black, there is a big chance the red color is behind the corner. That strike can’t last forever; can we agree on that? So, raise your wager in that case.

When to Walk Away

I walk away in two cases:

When I reach my goal: Before you start the session, determine what profit would satisfy you. Don’t be too greedy! If you start with $500, $1200 is a legit goal.
When my focus goes down: The highest level of concentration is mandatory!

Check How to Win at Roulette According to the Situation

I am pretty sure that my strategies are going to help you increase your chances of winning. However, your education should not stop here. By exploring my website, you can find many more tips on how to win at roulette according to the situation. Here are some insightful guides you should check out:

And Now?

When you look closer, all you have to do to win at roulette is make a balance between luck and skills.

Decision-making will be much easier if your focus is on the highest level during the gameplay. Moreover, properly organize your casino bankroll and ensure that you never spend more than intended. Although I play the European version the most, don’t hesitate to try out other roulette variations as well.

I invite you to also read my how to win 101 section to enjoy every session to the fullest.