Roulette Strategy Guide - Odds, Winning Tips & Betting Systems

Roulette strategies can greatly impact your experience when playing the game in online casinos, allowing you to make the best choice at each turn and win real money. Players get a wide range of betting options on customized roulette wheels for different markets. In this guide, we discuss the best strategies to use on the roulette table to maximize your winnings and point out the variables that apply to the most popular strategies.

Written by Amanda Evans 22 minute read
strategies roulette explained

What is Roulette Strategy and Why Do You Need it?

Roulette is a game of chance, in which winning is based on whether you can correctly predict where the ball will land after the wheel comes to a stop. For a long time, experienced players have tried to come up with ways of beating casinos in their own game by formulating working strategies to tip the odds in their favour. But a perfect roulette winning strategy is nearly impossible since online roulette games have so many moving parts that leave the house an edge regardless of how well you play. Nonetheless, following one of the well-known roulette strategies helps you to track your spending, enabling you to plan wagers ahead of time to maximize winnings and mitigate losses.

As the team from Top 10 Casinos learned when compiling this page, roulette betting strategies work best for players who spend long periods playing the game. So, you better come prepared with a well-funded bankroll to implement recommended strategies at an online roulette casino.

Strategies For Roulette

Implementing roulette strategies mostly involves following a betting system, where your next move is based on the outcome of the last bet. With the enticing payout of 35:1 on straight bets, one can be tempted to ignore the low chances of winning which can go as low as 2.7%. But opportunities exist to bet on wagers that pay lower but offer better odds of winning. That is why you need to know how to bet on roulette like a pro with the following strategies:

How to Win at Roulette - Progressive or Non-Progressive Betting

Roulette games allow players to customize their bets as they wish with a wide range of bet types ranging from single pocket options to a range of pockets based on colors or number types. By extension, there are lots of choices of roulette strategies that work for different bet types, broadly categorized as progressive and non-progressive strategies. Players should know that roulette is designed to offer every player a fair chance at winning and no approach to placing bets is fool-proof. Therefore, all strategies do is build upon allowed bets to give you the best odds in roulette over time. Of course, it is important to know and learn the rules of roulette before you even attempt to use a strategy.

In the next sections, we give brief explanations of what each betting style in roulette involves to help you make a wise choice when playing roulette to win.

Best Roulette Betting Strategies to Use at Online Casinos in 2024

The best roulette strategies for you can vary depending on your skill level and how much you have set aside to spend on wagers. Therefore, you need to have a clear picture of what each betting strategy entails to pick the appropriate roulette strategy to use. Some of the well-known betting tricks work on American roulette while others are better suited for use on European roulette. Therefore, you should have a look at the next sections, where we discuss the pros and cons attached to each widely used betting system to know how to win roulette.

James Bond Strategy (Beginner-Friendly)

James Bond Strategy (Beginner-Friendly)

Named after a popular movie character, this is one of the most popular European roulette strategies for high rollers that works by splitting your real money bet across 20 of the 37 pockets. That way, you cover most of the possible outcomes and stand to make profits in the long term. To better illustrate how to win online roulette with the James Bond system, we consider a $200 bet, where you would bet $140 on high numbers 19 to 36. Next, place $50 on double street bets covering numbers 13 to 18 and a $10 bet on the zero pocket.

Any spin that lands on numbers 1 to 12 ends in a $200 loss. Spins that land on numbers 19 to 36 have an $80 profit while landing numbers 13 to 18 comes with a $50 profit. In the lucky chance that lands on the zero pocket, you get a whopping $150 in profit. Based on the variables at play, implementing the James Bond approach has the following pros and cons:

Check out the following table for a breakdown of how the James Bond system works when implemented on the roulette table.

Bet Value Location $140 High (19-36) $50 Double Street (13 -18) $10 0
D'Alembert System (Beginner-Friendly)

D'Alembert System (Beginner-Friendly)

In the D'Alembert system, you progressively increase or decrease your bets to optimize the payout on even money bets while mitigating losses. To successfully apply the system, set a point and place an initial bet. Then, adjust your next wagers based on the outcome of the previous wager. For winning bets, you should place one unit less on the next wager and increase your next bet by one unit in case you lose the previous wager.

Long-term implementation of the D'Alembert strategy helps players manage their bankroll and has the potential to help you recover from a long losing streak. Just like any other online roulette strategies, this approach comes with pros and cons as explained below:

In the next table, we break down an example of how to implement the D'Alembert system with the point set at $1.

Bet Amount Outcome Result Profit $1 Lose -$1 -$1 $2 Lose -$2 -$3 $3 Lose -$3 -$6 $4 Win +$4 -$2 $3 Win +$3 $1
Paroli System (Beginner-Friendly)

Paroli System (Beginner-Friendly)

The Paroli System is a positive progression strategy in roulette that requires you to double your bet after a win and maintain the same bet amount if you lose. When luck is on your side and you experience a winning streak, the plan dictates that you revert to the original bet size after three consecutive wins.

For the best results, you should use the Paroli system on even money roulette bets such as red/black, odd/even, 1 to 18, and 19 to 36. If perfectly executed, the Paroli system gives you a 48.6% chance of raking in the win in Europen Roulette with a single 0 pocket and a 47.4% chance of winning in the American Roulette variant with double zero pockets. As expected, this easy-to-use strategy has upsides and downsides as explained in this list:

We made a simulation of how the outcomes from playing with the Paroli system would look like for a player starting off with a $1 bet in roulette in the table below:

Bet Amount Result Profit Red $1 Lose -$1 Red $1 Lose -$2 Red $1 Win -$1 Red $2 Win +$2 Red $4 Win +$10
Martingale System (Good for High Rollers)

Martingale System (Good for High Rollers)

Martingale system focuses on recovering from losses after each bet. Players begin with a first bet and make adjustments to follow up bets based on the outcome of the current bet. In case of a loss, you need to double your next bet and retain the same bet amount on the next wager in case of a win.

By using the Martingale system, you can recover all previous losses in one win. To keep things under control, use this system on bets that pay 1:1 such as, even/odd, black/red, 1 to 18, and 19 to 36. Although the approach is recommended for use on low-risk roulette bets, it comes with a couple of pros and cons as outlined in the following list:

Our review team played roulette and implemented the Martingale system over a couple of bets. The table below shows how things went after starting with a $1 wager.

Bet Amount Result Profit Red $1 Lose -$1 Red $2 Lose -$3 Red $4 Lose -$7 Red $8 Win +$1 Red $1 Lose $0
Labouchere System (Good for High Rollers)

Labouchere System (Good for High Rollers)

Though a little complicated, the Labouchere system helps players who are good with numbers to set how much they would like to win and put together a plan that will get them to the desired amount of winnings. Start by writing down a reasonable target of how much you wish to win and then break the number down into smaller amounts. Then, combine the first and last numbers to know how much you need to bet on even money bets like odd/even and red/black. If the bet wins, cross off the first and last numbers, then combine the next two numbers and place your bet.

In case you lose, add the bet you placed to the sequence and don't cross off any numbers, then combine the last and first numbers to know how much you need to bet next. With this strategy, you have to take the following pros and cons into account:

Here is a real-life example of how the Top 10 Casinos crew used the Labouchere system on roulette with a target of winning $10. In the beginning, the team settled on bets following the series 1, 2, 4, 1, 2 and recorded the progress as shown in the following table.

Bet Sequence Outcome Result Profit $3 1, 2, 4, 1, 2 Lose -$3 -$3 $4 1, 2, 4, 1, 2, 3 Lose -$4 -$7 $5 1, 2, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4 Win +$5 -$2 $5 1, 2, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4 Lose -$5 -$7 $7 2, 4, 1, 2, 3, 5 Win $7 $0
Fibonacci System (High Risk)

Fibonacci System (High Risk)

Fibonacci sequence contains numbers that increase progressively, inspiring the Fibonacci roulette strategy, which is a negative progression system that guides players to increase the next wager after a loss and reduce the next wager following a win. In the Fibonacci sequence, the sum of two adjacent numbers is the next number, making the first numbers, 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, and so on.

When using this strategy, the next bet is equal to the sum of the last two bets. You can only progress to the next number in case of a loss. But if you win, you need to adjust your wager back last two numbers in the sequence, ending the session or restarting when you go back to 1. Preferably, you should use the Fibonacci strategy on low-risk bets like odd/even and black/white to avoid staking up high losses. All the same, the strategy comes with a couple of pros and cons as indicated in this list:

Testing the Fibonacci system showed positive results after a successful run on the roulette wheel by the Top 10 Casinos crew yielded the results shown in the chart below:

Sequence Amount Result Profit 1 1 Lose -$1 1, 2 2 Lose -$3 1, 2, 3 3 Lose -$6 1, 2, 3, 5 5 Lose -$11 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 8 Win $5 1, 2, 3 3 Lose $2

Comparison of the Different Systems

After a detailed review of all popular betting systems in roulette, the Top 10 Casinos team noted that each one had benefits and a couple of flaws. Therefore, you need to look at the big picture and consider the pros and cons for each system, required bankroll, and risk level, which you can do by going through the table below:

System Risk Level Bankroll Required Pros Cons James Bond Medium Large Aims to recoup losses Bet size rises quickly on losing streak Martingale High Large Chases losses and the margins on wins are small Suitable for high limit table and players with a big budget D'Alembert Medium Average Chases losses and aims for small wins Does not take advantage of a winning streak Fibonacci High Large Targets loss recovery and small wins Consecutive losses raise the required bet size to large amounts Paroli Low Modest Makes the most out of winning streak with less risk Does not help in chasing losses Labouchere Medium Modest Player sets the target profit Hard to follow the adjustments to sequences in case of many losses

How to Choose Winning Strategies

Picking the right roulette betting strategy greatly impacts your experience in the game. But due to the wide range of betting systems and variations of roulette, players are often left wondering which system is best for them. Having tested the top strategies for online roulette, we request that you consider the following factors when choosing a betting system:

most popular strategies for roulette

Best Online Casino Roulette Winning Strategies by Usage

After using the best roulette betting strategies in top recommended casinos, the Top 10 Casinos team was lucky to come out ahead on some games but incurred a few losses on a couple of wagers. As such, we wish to highlight that none of the roulette wheel strategies included in the next sections guarantee wins in the game. However, they do come in handy in managing a player's bankroll. And to help you claim a boost on your bankroll, you can claim roulette bonuses at many of the top online casinos in 2024.

Martingale - Best Progressive Roulette Betting Strategy

According to the Martingale system, you need to double your bet size after a losing bet, which is the perfect way to guarantee that you make back all your losses and turn a profit in a winning bet. Therefore, you need to choose a table with high bet limits that allow you to continually increase your wager after a series of losses without going above the maximum bet limit. You can find such roulette tables in the lobby at Cosmo Casino, where there are over 550 unique games to choose from. Enjoy a wide range of roulette wheels, slots, blackjack, and video poker titles, plus a hefty bonus when you join. With a new user profile, making the first deposit worth $10 gets you 150 chances to win millions on Mega Money Wheel and a 100% match bonus up to $250 on the second deposit.

Fibonacci - Best High Limit Live Dealer Roulette Strategy

Placing bets according to the Fibonacci sequence can put you ahead of other players, raking big wins from successful spins and recouping all your losses in one bet. So, this approach is best used on a game that allows you to make frequent adjustments to your bet size and no other roulette variant offers such freedom better than high-limit live dealer roulette. We recommend 888 for a live dealer roulette casino with multiple options of tables controlled by actual dealers who will gladly allow you ample time to place your bet before each round kicks off. New members get a massive welcome package after joining 888 Casino, including a batch of 88 free spins with no deposit. Moreover, the operator rewards new players after the initial deposit with a 100% match bonus starting at $20 and valid up to $1000.

Reverse Martingale - Best Roulette Strategy for Winning Streaks

Capitalizing on winning streaks is every gambler's dream and that is what the reverse Martingale system is all about. With this betting style, you double your bet after a win and revert to your first bet size after a loss, making this the go-to system for when you feel lucky. Using the reverse Martingale system in a casino that equally rewards lucky players is a wise move to double up on rewards. We recommend you try it at Classic Casino, where the well-stocked lobby has over 550 games and a remarkable welcome package awaits new players. First off, you get one free chance to win millions on a progressive jackpot game and claim 40 more chances with a $1 deposit. After that, fund your account with a minimum of $20 up to $200 to claim a 100% matching bonus on the second payment.

Labouchere - Best for RNG Online Casino Roulette

Labouchere system helps you manage your bankroll with a target in mind and a series of bets required to achieve your goal, making it the best system to avoid getting carried away on RNG roulette games. Remember to turn off the auto bet feature on the RNG table when starting your gaming session to have control of the amount placed on each spin. Zodiac Casino has loads of RNG table games among the over 550 unique games available. In addition, the site puts together an amazing sign up package for new members. Begin with a low deposit bonus in which a $1 deposit activates 80 free spins on the Mega Money Wheel game with the potential of paying out a million dollars. Next, deposit four times to claim up to $480 in cash bonuses, with a 100% match on the second deposit and a 50% match on the third, fourth, and fifth deposits.

James Bond - Best Non-Progressive Roulette Strategy

Use the same plan as James Bond to take over the roulette table and collect winnings with a non-progressive strategy in 2024. This system works best when implemented on European roulette, so look for a site with many roulette variants if you wish to play like the famous movie star. Leo Vegas has a decent lobby containing over 2500 games and many roulette wheels, including multiple single zero European roulette variants. Once you join the Leo Vegas site and verify your real money account, you qualify to claim the massive new regular player welcome bonus of a 100% match up to $1,000. This comes with 200 extra spins on the Book of Dead slot. Alternatively, you can claim the unique live dealer welcome bonus to kickstart your time on roulette wheels, with a $30 free chip coupon and a 100% matching bonus on the first deposit up to $1,000.

D'Alembert - Best Low Risk Strategy

Play safe with the D'Alembert strategy which requires a single unit increase with each loss in a casino that offers similar low-risk bonuses like PlayOJO Casino. The site lists more than 3,000 games, including awesome roulette games where you can use the D'Alembert system to get ahead. New members are given a special package that includes a batch of 50 free spins on The Trials Of Asgard. The best part about the offer is the no wager requirements, allowing you to cash out winnings at any time. Moreover, the promo does not have a cap on the maximum amount of winnings or a minimum withdrawal limit. To claim, you must fund your account with $10 or more.

Paroli - Best Roulette Strategy to Keep Winnings

With the Paroli system, doubling your bet following a win up to three times ensures that your bet size does not go up to a big number, allowing you to quickly make up for any losses made along the way. We recommend you use this system at Quatro Casino, where you can access over 550 games in the lobby and claim a welcome promo lasting 7 days and awarding new players up to 700 free spins. With a $10 deposit, you can get 10 free spins each day of the first week and a $10 cash bonus. Depositing $20 earns you 20 free spins over 7 days and $20 bonus cash, while $50 as the initial deposit gets you 50 spins over 7 days and $50 in bonus cash. The best part of the sign up package comes after a $100 deposit which activates 100 free spins per day for 7 days plus a $100 free cash bonus.

Top 3 Factors That Can Affect Winning Strategy

Betting strategies go hand in hand with the type of game you play, which can cause you to be limited by the maximum allowed bet per spin. Furthermore, some strategies are better used on specific bets. As such, you need to consider the following top three factors that can affect how betting systems play out in roulette.

  1. Betting Limits : Take into account the minimum and maximum allowed bets to know the biggest amount you can put down on one wager when using systems that require you to increase bets after a win or loss.
  2. Game Type : Consider the type of roulette wheel used in the game. Using certain betting systems on a single zero game could be more effective than when playing on a double zero wheel.
  3. Bet Choice : Note the recommended bet types for the strategy you wish to use in roulette. Many bankroll management systems are suitable for bets that pay 1:1 such as red/black and even/odd.

Top 10 Tips to Win Online Roulette in 2024

Even though the outcomes in roulette are purely based on luck, you can use the following roulette tips to better your winning chances.

  1. Use demo mode to practise: Open demo mode to play for fun with no deposit and switch between popular betting systems to learn how each one works.
  2. Understand the rules: Read the terms and conditions applicable to the casino you play in and check for a list of rules used on the table you want to play.
  3. Play European or French variants: Spend most of your time on variations of roulette that retain many of the original aspects such as the single zero pocket such as European and French roulette.
  4. Place smaller bets: Betting small allows you to spend more time enjoying the thrills in roulette and prevents accumulating huge losses within a short time when you have many consecutive losses.
  5. Don't play black and red: Be keen on your bet selection to avoid placing bets on red and black at the same time. Rather, pick one color, either red or black, and hope to win the best bet in roulette when the wheel stops.
  6. Claim cash bonuses: Bonuses awarding players with free cash after making deposits go a long way in giving you a boost on your bankroll so you can wager on more games. Just make sure to check the bonus rules for possible bet limits, game restrictions, and wagering requirements.
  7. Include a few combination bets for big wins: Mix things up once in a while by placing combination bets with high payouts to boost your wins. Popular options include split bets with a 17:1 payout, corner bets with an 8:1 payout ratio, and line bets that pay 5:1 to the winner.
  8. Play outside bets: Spend a big chunk of your bankroll on outside bets that are more likely to win. These have a lower payout ratio, but the idea is to rake up small wins with safe bets and place risky bets to beat the system occasionally.
  9. Set a budget: Define how much you wish to spend each time you open a roulette game and avoid spending more than you plan. Even with perfectly executed betting systems, winning in the game is never guaranteed.
  10. Avoid chasing loses: Know when to stop playing after a long losing streak and avoid placing bets beyond what you can afford to lose in the hope that you can win back what is already lost.

FAQs About Roulette Strategy

 Amanda Evans
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Amanda Evans - Chief Editor

Amanda has been involved with all aspects of the content creation at Top10Casinos.com including research, planning, writing and editing. The dynamic environment has kept her engaged and continually learning which along with +15 years iGaming experience helped propel her into the Chief Editor role.

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