Roulette has been one of the most iconic casino games for centuries. It’s equally loved by novice and experienced players who want to try their luck on the wheel. However, to maximise your winnings in online roulette, you can’t rely solely on luck – you need to understand the rules, choose the right game, and implement proven strategies to gain an advantage.
Understanding the Basics of Online Roulette
The game consists of a roulette wheel, a ball and a betting table. Your task is to place your bets on a number, set of numbers or the colour on which you think the roulette ball will land. The croupier will spin the roulette ball in the opposite direction of the turning wheel to start each round.
The Rules
Knowing the rules of roulette puts you in a better position when playing the game in the live version. There are inside and outside bets you can place when the croupier announces ‘Place Your Bets’.
Inside bets have higher payouts. These range from a Line Bet, which pays 5x your bet if the ball lands on one of the six numbers in your line selection, up to the Straight-up Bet, which pays 35x for placing your chips on the correct number. Other inside bets include the Split Bet (two neighbouring numbers), Street Bet (three numbers in a line), Trio Bet (three numbers with a single 0 included) and Corner Bet (four connected numbers).
Outside bets give you a better chance of a win, but the payouts are considerably lower, at only 1x or 2x your bet. Betting on red or black, odd or even, high or low, or on a whole column of 12 numbers will pay out 1x your bet for a win. Bets on 12 consecutive numbers have a payout of 2x if the ball lands on one of them.
You can choose one of these options, or a combination of them, by placing your chips in the corresponding places on the betting table.
Different types of Roulette
There are three basic roulette variations. These are European Roulette, American Roulette, and French Roulette.
European Roulette has 36 numbers coloured in red and black and a single zero coloured in green. The theoretical RTP is 97.30%. Meanwhile, the American version has 36 numbers, a single zero and a double zero. The addition of the double zero lowers the RTP to 94.74%.
The French version is a little different and works under the ‘La Partage’ rule – if the ball lands on zero, the player loses only half their even-odds stake, and the other half is returned to them. Its RTP is 98.5%, the highest of all roulette versions.
What are the Advantages of European Roulette?
There are several reasons why it is beneficial to play European Roulette rather than American Roulette, and we’ll explain them all below.
Lower House Edge
The number of zeros on the roulette table matters. European roulette has a single zero, bringing 2.7% for the house over time. With two zero pockets on the American roulette wheel (zero and double zero), the casino wins 5.26% over time. This means that players have better odds playing European roulette over time.
Simpler Betting Options
Due to the lower number of pockets in European roulette (37 in European vs. 38 in American), the range of possible outcomes is reduced, and players can learn the rules and betting options more easily. With one fewer number, European roulette is a more favourable choice for many players.
Better Odds for Certain Bets
The odds for certain bets are better on European roulette. For example, suppose you bet on even-money bets like red/black or odd/even that pay 1:1. In that case, you have 18/37 chances (48.65%) at European roulette and 18/38 chances (47.37%) at American roulette due to the addition of double zero pocket.
Choosing the Best Betting Strategy
These strategies are intended not only for roulette but can also be implemented to manage your bankroll effectively during your sessions, no matter what you are playing.
Martingale Strategy
The Martingale method is well-known and commonly used by gamblers, including roulette players. The basic idea is to increase your bet 2x anytime you lose so that when you win the next time, you can make up for the losses you had before.
The great thing about this strategy is that if you have a winning streak, you can swiftly retrieve your previous losses. However, since you’re doubling your bet every time, you may have substantial losses much faster than with other strategies.
Fibonacci Strategy
The Fibonacci method uses the Fibonacci number sequence to adjust your bets. If your initial wager is £1 and you lose, the sequence would look like this: £1, £1, £2, £3, £5, and so on. If you win, you must go back two numbers in the series, so if you win with your £5, you would return to a £2 wager.
This system is as easy to follow as the Martingale, but is less risky. The downside is that the Fibonacci strategy is mostly intended for even odds bets, like black vs. red. The odds must be consistent on each bet for the strategy to recover losses effectively.
D’Alembert Strategy
The D’Alembert strategy is similar to the Martingale strategy, but there is one important difference. Following a loss or win, you increase or decrease your stake by a single ‘unit’. If you start with £2, your next bets will be £4, £6, £8 and so on.
You can easily manage your bets with the D’Alembert method, and the strategy is less aggressive than the Martingale. However, it can still lead to losses over time if losing streaks outnumber the winning streaks.
Flat Betting
A flat strategy means that you bet the same amount every time. For example, if you decide to bet £10, you won’t change the strategy whether you win or lose.
This is less risky than all other strategies but means you will need to be more patient to improve your bankroll.
Leveraging Technology for Better Outcomes
Nowadays, many tools can help you in choosing the right strategy when playing roulette. From betting trackers that monitor your performance, to odds calculators that can help you understand the probabilities, you can improve your chances notably when playing online roulette.
Betting trackers record all your actions and bets, including wins, losses, wagered amounts, and the time you spend playing roulette. Once you finish your sessions, you can check your records and see your mistakes and successful bets.
The roulette odds calculator at Unibet Casino can help you assess the probability of winning a specific bet, enabling you to make more informed decisions.
Start with the odds calculator before placing any bet on the roulette table to check the probabilities of winning. You can implement one of the abovementioned strategies for better bankroll management. After finishing your session, analyse the outcomes to check which strategy works best and which bets are more successful than others.
Managing Your Bankroll
Setting a budget before you start playing is paramount. That way, you will avoid impulsive decisions and spending all your budget in one playing session.
You’ll always be in a safe zone if your wager on a single bet is 1-3% of your budget. Bets over 5% are a more risky strategy that can eat away at your bankroll more quickly.
If you happen to lose over 30% of your bankroll in one session, it’s better to stop and try your luck the next day. Chasing your losses may lead to further decreasing your bankroll. Following this bankroll management strategy, you can avoid making huge financial mistakes.
Tips for Staying Disciplined and Avoiding Common Mistakes
Staying disciplined is crucial when playing roulette since impulsive play can quickly burn your bankroll. The common mistakes that every gambler must avoid are: chasing losses; ignoring your budget; believing that specific numbers or bets are ‘hot’; and not analysing your data after each session.
By setting your budget and clear goals, you’ll avoid playing under the influence of emotions. The best thing you can do is walk away when you’re on a losing streak or feeling frustrated.
We hope this guide helped you understand the essentials of the roulette game and its rules, as well as some tips and strategies to improve your game. Enjoy your roulette sessions at Unibet Casino, and always bet responsibly.
