Roulette is one of the most famous gambling games and has firmly established its place in UK online casinos. With the rise of digital platforms, fans can choose from a variety of variants: classic European, French with La Partage and American with an extra zero. Although roulette remains a game based on chance, players use strategies to help manage their bankroll wisely and increase their chances of winning.
To maximise the impact of these strategies, it is important to choose platforms with transparent terms and conditions and a fair gaming process. Many experienced players prefer independent online casinos, as they offer flexible betting limits, fast payouts and fair rules.
How Do Strategies Help to Increase the Chances of Winning?
Although roulette is a game based on chance, the right approach to betting can have a significant impact on the results. Using strategies does not guarantee 100% winnings, but it allows you to control losses, manage your gaming budget and make more informed bets.
There are two main approaches to the game: progressive systems, in which bets vary depending on the outcomes of previous rounds, and fixed methods, based on selecting specific numbers or areas of the wheel.
Progressive systems, such as Martingale, Fibonacci and D’Alamber, are based on the principle of changing the bet amount after a win or loss. They help to compensate for bad rounds, but require careful budget control. Fixed methods, such as betting on hot numbers or the bias wheel, are suitable for long-term play and require careful analysis of the results of past spins.
Popular Strategies for Playing Roulette
1. Martingale
This strategy is based on doubling the bet after every loss. The player starts with the minimum amount, and after an unsuccessful spin, he doubles the bet. When a win occurs, it covers all previous losses and brings a small profit.
The main advantage of the system is the ability to quickly recover lost money. However, it has a serious disadvantage: with a long series of failures, bets can grow to too large amounts. In addition, many casinos have limits that do not allow endless doubling of bets.
2. Reverse Martingale (Paroli)
Unlike classic Martingale, in this system the bet is doubled after each win, not after a loss. This approach allows you to make the most of winning streaks and minimise losses in unlucky moments.
If a player wins several times in a row, his profits increase significantly. However, the risk is that even after several successful bets, one loss is enough to lose all the accumulated money.
3. Fibonacci
This method is based on a well-known mathematical sequence in which each number is equal to the sum of the previous two (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13…). In the context of roulette, after a loss, the bet is increased according to this pattern, and after a win, the bet is decreased two steps back.
The advantage of this strategy is a smoother increase of bets compared to Martingale. However, in case of a long series of losses, the bets still become quite large, and the winnings do not always cover the losses.
4. D’Alambert
The French mathematician proposed a method in which after each loss the bet is increased by one unit, and after winning – decreased. Unlike aggressive doubling in Martingale, this strategy allows you to control the growth of bets and reduces the risk of sharp losses.
This method is suitable for players who prefer a more cautious game. However, in case of a series of failures, it can also lead to significant losses, as it is slow to compensate for losses.
5. Laboucher
A more complex strategy in which the player writes down a series of numbers in advance, such as 1-2-3-4-5. The sum of the first and last number in the row determines the size of the bet. If the bet wins, the numbers are crossed out, if it loses, a new number is added to the end of the sequence.
This method allows for flexible betting, but requires care and mathematical calculation. It is more difficult to apply than other strategies, but is suitable for those who like a more structured approach to the game.
How to Choose an Online Casino to Play Roulette?
When choosing a casino, it is important to consider several factors that affect the fairness of the game and the usability of the strategies. A UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licence ensures that the casino adheres to strict rules, protecting players from fraud. It is also worth paying attention to the betting limits: if they are too low, the use of strategies such as Martingale or Fibonacci becomes impossible.
Live dealer casinos offer realistic gameplay, which makes strategic betting more exciting. Some establishments also provide special roulette bonuses, allowing players to get extra funds to play with. However, it’s worth carefully studying the terms and conditions before activating the bonuses, as some casinos do not take roulette into account when wagering.
Myths About Roulette Strategies
Among gamblers, many myths related to roulette are common. One of the most popular misconceptions is the belief that if a certain number or colour falls out several times in a row, the probability of its reappearance decreases. For example, if red comes up five times in a row, many people believe that the chances of black in the next spin are higher. However, this is a mistake known as Gambler’s Fallacy, as each spin is an independent event and the probability of any colour falling out remains the same.
Another myth is related to the concept of hot and cold numbers. Some players keep track of the statistics of the numbers that have fallen out and believe that if certain numbers appear more often, they will continue to fall out in the future. However, roulette is based on random results, and over the long haul all numbers fall out with roughly the same frequency if the wheel is balanced and honestly set up.
There is also a belief that there are ‘win-win betting systems’ in roulette. Some players believe that if you follow a certain strategy, you can win consistently. However, in practice, any system has limitations, and even the most elaborate strategies cannot overcome the mathematical advantage of the casino.
Which Type of Roulette Game to Choose?
The choice of game variant is crucial for the player, as different versions of roulette differ in the casino’s mathematical advantage and betting rules.
European roulette is the most common variant found in most UK casinos. It contains 37 sectors (numbers from 1 to 36 and one zero), which gives the casino an advantage of 2.7 per cent. If you’re looking for a variant with optimal odds of winning, European roulette is the best choice.
French roulette offers even more favourable conditions thanks to the special rules ‘La Partage’ and ‘En Prison’. If a player bets on even odds (even/odd, red/black) and hits zero, half of the bet is returned (La Partage), or the bet remains on the next spin (En Prison). This reduces the casino’s advantage to 1.35%, making French roulette the most favourable version for players.
American Roulette is a less attractive option, as it features an extra ‘00’ sector. This increases the number of sectors to 38, causing the casino’s advantage to increase to 5.26%. It is for this reason that experienced players usually avoid American roulette if they have a choice.
Practical Tips for a Successful Game
To increase the chances of success, it is important to follow a few key rules. Firstly, you should always determine the size of your bankroll in advance and strictly adhere to it. Secondly, it is better to choose roulette with the most favourable conditions. For example, the French version with the rule ‘La Partage’ reduces the advantage of the casino, returning half of the bet when the zero falls out.
It is also important to be able to stop in time. Even the most successful strategies are not able to predict the results of the next spin, so the key to a successful game is to control emotions and the ability to leave the game with a profit.
How to Use Casino Bonuses for Roulette?
Casino bonus offers can be a great tool for increasing your game balance, but it’s important to understand which ones are suitable for roulette.
Most often, casinos offer deposit bonuses that increase the amount of your first deposit. However, not all bonus funds can be used in roulette. For example, if a casino offers a 100% bonus up to £100, the terms and conditions may state that roulette bets only count for 10-20% when wagering.
Another type of promotion is cashback. Some casinos offer a refund on some of the money you lose, such as 10% of your roulette bets. This is especially useful for those who play long distance.
There are also bonuses for live casinos that allow you to use promotional funds in roulette with live dealers. However, before activating any bonus, you should carefully study the terms and conditions, as the wagering requirements may be too high.
How to Calculate the Probability of Winning at Roulette?
Maths plays a key role in roulette, and understanding probabilities helps players make more informed bets.
In European roulette, the probability of winning on one particular number is 1 in 37 (2.7%) because the wheel contains 37 sectors. If you bet on red or black, you have a 48.6% chance of success, as there is one ‘zero’ that brings the casino winnings.
An important concept in roulette is Expected Value (EV). For example, if you bet £1 on one number, the possible winnings are £35. However, the probability of winning is only 2.7%, so in the long term, each spin brings the player an average loss of -2.7% of the bet.
Such calculations prove that roulette always has an inbuilt casino advantage that cannot be circumvented by strategies.
Why Does the Casino Always Stay on the Plus Side?
The main factor that ensures casino profits is the mathematical advantage (house edge). This means that, on average, the casino always receives a certain percentage of all bets, regardless of the outcome of individual rounds.
For example, if thousands of players bet on roulette, their wins and losses will fluctuate, but in the long run the casino will maintain its advantage. It is for this reason that even successful players who win in short gaming sessions lose money when they play for long periods of time.
This principle also explains why casinos introduce betting limits – they protect the establishment from rare cases when a player can win a large sum in a short period.
How to Distinguish Between Honest Online Roulette and Fraudulent Online Roulette?
Although most casinos operate honestly, there are sites that use dishonest algorithms.
To make sure that roulette is operating correctly, you should check for a licence. In the UK, all trustworthy casinos are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), which means they adhere to strict standards of honesty.
Another way to check is to play roulette with live dealers, as in live games it is impossible for the casino to interfere with the results.
There are also independent companies such as eCOGRA and iTech Labs that test casinos for honesty. If the establishment has passed their certification, its random number generator works correctly.
Psychology of Roulette
One of the most common mistakes of players is to give in to emotions, especially after a series of losses. The desire to ‘get even’ makes you make rash bets, which in most cases leads to even greater losses.
To avoid such situations, it is important to set limits on the amount of bets in advance and adhere to them. Experienced players use the rule of ‘stop-loss’, where they determine in advance the amount, after the loss of which they stop playing.
It is also useful to take breaks and do not try to play under the influence of emotions, as it increases the likelihood of making irrational decisions.
Are There Any Professional Roulette Players?
Unlike poker, where professional players earn money by analysing cards and the psychology of their opponents, roulette does not allow you to build a stable career through skill. However, there are cases in history when people won huge sums thanks to analysis and unconventional approach.
For example, Gonzalo Garcia-Pelayo, a Spanish mathematician, developed a system of analysing real roulette. He recorded the results of thousands of spins and calculated which numbers fell out more often. Using this knowledge, he beat several casinos in Las Vegas and Spain.
Other famous cases involve players who used electronic devices to analyse the spins of the wheel in slow motion, but such methods are prohibited and can lead to a ban in the casino.
What Are the Most Common Mistakes Made by Beginners?
Beginner roulette players often make the same mistakes that lead to a quick loss of money.
One of the main mistakes is betting on ‘feel’. Many beginners believe that luck is on their side and make erratic bets without considering the odds of winning. As a result, their balance is quickly depleted.
The second common mistake is ignoring bankroll limits. Players often bet too much money at the beginning of a session, and after a few losses they try to win back by betting even more. This leads to a complete loss of the deposit.
The third mistake is choosing the wrong type of roulette. As already discussed, the American version of the game is less favourable, but many beginners do not know this and bet at a disadvantage.
Conclusion
While roulette remains a game of luck, using strategies can help control your bankroll and make the gameplay more predictable. Each system has its pros and cons, so it’s important to find one that suits your playing style.
Don’t forget that the key to success is choosing a reliable casino. The main thing is to play responsibly and enjoy the process.