The Best and Worst Roulette Strategies
Roulette is a casino game where everyone wants to get an edge, but very few manage it. Aside from the game being highly unpredictable, there isn’t the same scope for employing winning strategies as there is in blackjack. That doesn’t mean you can't try to coax fortune in your favour and give yourself a better chance at a long-term profit.
We’re going to take a scythe to the strategies that don’t work and give you some things to try that will. Naturally, nothing is ever a 100% certainty. However, there are some roulette techniques that are ineffective. Here’s a rundown of the best and worst roulette strategies.
Roulette Strategies You Need to Know
Use A Low-Risk Approach
A lot of players get seduced by the prospect of hitting a single number and receiving a 35/1 payout. While this is great, the odds of you hitting a single number are actually 37/1 if you’re playing European Roulette and 38/1 if you’re playing American.
Aside from the numerical discrepancies, you can see it’s not easy to predict the exact number that will appear. To counter this, you can make outside bets. These cover a lot more of the board and, in turn, give you a better shot at winning. Yes, the returns are smaller, but so is the risk.
As an added extra, you can try betting on two columns/dozens at the same time. If you place equal bets on each, you’ll cover just under 66% of the board with two bets and still make a profit when you win. Essentially, you should take the slow and steady approach. Even though this won’t guarantee you a win, it will ensure you can stay active and have fun for longer.
Take Breaks
One of the biggest mistakes many casino players make is playing for too long. When you start to get tired, lose focus or become emotional, your results suffer. Because you start to play on impulse rather than a predetermined strategy, things often go wrong. To avoid this, play in short bursts.
It’s said that the average human can concentrate for approximately 20 minutes without getting distracted. Use that as a marker. If you can step away from a game two or three times an hour, reset and then return, you’ll get a lot more out of the experience.
WATCH: What is the Martingale System?
Roulette Strategies to Avoid
Looking For Patterns
Perhaps the most common roulette strategy is number tracking. Put simply, when you play live or online, you’ll be able to record each result. The idea is that you can start to identify hot and cold numbers, ones that are appearing most/least often.
When you play online roulette, many sites will tell you the hot and cold numbers automatically. Unfortunately, the process of noting down each result is a waste of time. Unless you’re playing in an unfair game where certain numbers are being favoured more than others, a roulette spin is 100% independent and true. In simple terms, this means all numbers have an equal chance of hitting.
What’s more, each spin is unconnected to the previous one. Unlike a deck of cards where removing some can influence the next hand, the roulette wheel stays the same. Any previous results have zero effect on the next round. While it might be tempting to think you’ve found a pattern you can exploit, the reality is you haven’t. What you’re probably seeing is a cluster of numbers that looks like a pattern in the short term but not so much when you view them over a longer period of time.
Using The Martingale System
In the casino world, theory and reality often clash. Just because something works on paper, it doesn’t mean it will bring you success in the real world. This is something the Martingale betting system is guilty of. Under this strategy’s rules, you have to double your even money bet each time you lose and then go back to your starting amount when you win.
For example, if you started betting one and lost, you’d have to wager two the next round. This continues until you win, at which point you go back to betting one. In theory, this works because you will always be one unit (i.e. the amount of your starting bet) in profit when you win.
The problem is that this gets very expensive, very quickly. Taking the above example, if you lost six rounds in a row, you’d have to stake 64 on your seventh bet. For those who do have big bankrolls, the house limits get in the way. At some point, you’ll reach the maximum bet and can no longer implement the system successfully.
Check Out: New Casinos for Welcome bonus and offers.
Recommended Casino Sites
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. The Welcome Bonus is only available to newly registered players who make a minimum initial deposit of £10. The welcome offer can be activated only once, when making your first deposit. In order to receive the maximum of £ 200 bonus, you will need to wager an amount equal to 35 times the value of your first initial deposit within 60 calendar days from the date on which the Welcome Bonus option has been activated under the 'My Bonuses' section of your account.. Full Terms Apply.Extensive Library of Slots & Jackpot Slot GamesWeekly 'Rainbow Friday' CashbackOfficial Partner of Sheffield Wednesday FCnot requiredBonus CodeThe code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)Bonus WageringThe number of times you have to play through your bonus before you are able to withdraw any winnings35xPayout TimeThe usual withdrawal processing timeInstantUser RatingGambling.com users rating of this casino site out of 10098Casino GamesThe total number of all casino games available7500+Live Casino GamesThe total number of Live Dealer casino games available670+Mr Vegas Casino stands out with its vast games inventory, including thousands of slots titles. It also offers a 'Rainbow Treasure' reward program - the more you stake during the week, the more cash-back you get the following Friday (up to £300 per day).
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New Players Only. Min. Deposit £10. Wagering Requirement: 40x. Promotion available for 72 hours. Full T&Cs Apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers only, min deposit £10, wagering 40x, max bet £5 with bonus funds. Max bonus is 100% up to £100. No max cash out on deposit offers. Welcome bonus excluded for players depositing with Skrill or Neteller. Cashback is cash with no restriction. Full T&C’s apply. - Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New Casino players only. Deposit req (certain types excluded). Bet £10+ on qualifying games to get a £50 Bonus (selected games, 40x wag req, accept within 14 days, valid for 30 days). - Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New members only, must opt in. Min £10 deposit & wager (excl. sports betting). 30 day expiry from deposit. 18+. Extra Spins: on Secrets of the Phoenix Megaways. Spins value: 20p each. Game availability & restrictions apply. Current Jackpots are across selected games.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. First deposit only. Min deposit & spend £20. Max 100 spins on Big Bass Splash 10p per spin. Spins credited upon spend of £20. 18+ Full T&Cs apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New depositing players only. Min. deposit: £10. Max. bonus: £100 + 20 Bonus Spins. Offer valid on first deposit. Offer only applies to new players.Bonuses that require deposit, have to be wagered 40x. Terms and Conditions apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. £20 min. deposit. £200 max match. 50x wagering on Bonus + Extra Spinswinnings. Extra Spins must be used to reveal paythrough. Game eligibility & contributions vary. 10p to £5 bet range. £1,000 max redemption. New players only. Exclusive to select customers. Limitied time offer. Valid 7 days. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. T&C's apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. First deposit only. This offer is only available for first time depositors. Min deposit is £10. 80 Extra Spins on Big Bass Bonanza. Spin Value: £0.10. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. This offer is only available for specific players that have been selected by PlayOJO. If you have arrived on this page not via the designated offer via PlayOJO you will not be eligible for the offer. OJO’s Rewards and Game Play policy applies.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. Welcome bonus for new players only | Maximum bonus is 100% up to £100 | Min. deposit is £20 | No max cash out | Wagering is 35x bonus | Maximum bet with an active bonus is £5 | Eligibility is restricted for suspected abuse | Cashback is cash with no restrictions | Skrill & Neteller deposits excluded | Cashback applies to deposits where no bonus is included - Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. First Deposit Only. Min. deposit: £10, max. Bonus £300. Game: Big Bass Bonanza, Spin Value: £0.10, Max Extra Spins: 75. WR of 30x Deposit + Bonus amount and 60x Extra Spin winnings amount (only Slots count) within 30 days. Max bet is 10% (min £0.10) of the extra spin winnings and bonus amount or £5 (lowest amount applies). Extra Spins must be used before deposited funds. This offer is only available for specific players that have been selected by SlotsMagic. If you have arrived on this page not via the designated offer via SlotsMagic you will not be eligible for the offer. Spins must be used and/or Bonus must be claimed before using deposited funds. Deposit/Welcome Bonus can only be claimed once every 72 hours across all Casinos. Bonus Policy applies
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. Opt-in Required. Wager from real balance first. 40X wager the bonus and the winnings from extra spins. Contribution varies per game. Selected games only. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Bonus valid 30 Days from receipt/extra spins valid for 7 days from issue. Max conversion: 3x for the bonus. Max conversion for extra spins: £100. Limited to 5 brands within the network. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Withdrawal requests voids all active pending bonuses.Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. 18+. Available only to new players who sign up via this offer link. Deposit & Wager a minimum of £10 on any slot game to receive 100 Extra Spins on Big Bass Splash. Winnings from Extra Spins credited directly to cash balance. Neteller and Skrill deposits are excluded. Extra Spins expire 2 days after the deposit. Further terms apply: see Full Offer Terms, General Bonus Terms, and General Terms and Conditions.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New Players Only. http://BeGambleAware.org Minimum Deposit £20, 40x Wagering in 7 days, Qualifying Deposit played first, Max Bet £5, Max Win applies., Certain games excluded, Spin value £0.1 each. Full T&Cs apply. Take time to think.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers only. Opt In required. £/€10 min stake on Casino slots within 30 days of registration. Max bonus 200 Extra Spins on selected games credited within 48 hours. Extra Spins expire after 7 days. iOS app restrictions may apply. Email/SMS validation may apply. Not available in NI. Full T&Cs apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New players only, min deposit £10, wagering 45x, max bet £5 with bonus funds, 100% up to £100 bonus on 1st deposit. No max cash out on deposit offers. Welcome bonus excluded for players depositing with Skrill or Neteller. Full T&C’s apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. First-time depositors • Min deposit £10 • Claim within 48 hours • Expires in 90 days • 30X wagering • Valid on selected slots • UK and Ireland only • Full T&Cs apply - Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. Deposit & stake £10 on slots get 200 x 10p Fire Blaze™: Blue Wizard Megaways™ spins (x20 WR).
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New cust only. Opt in & deposit £10 in 7 days & wager 1x in 7 days on any casino game (excluding live casino & table games) for 100 Extra Spins. Wagering contributions vary. Extra Spins worth 10p each on Big Bass Splash. 3 day expiry. 18+. T&Cs apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New players only. Min deposit £20. Max bonus 100% up to £66 on 1st deposit. 66 spins on Big Bass Bonanza on 2nd deposit. 35x wagering applies, within 21 days. Max wins from spins £100. Spins expire after 24 hours. Full T&Cs Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. 18+ New customers only. Opt in, deposit, and wager a min of £10 on selected games within 7 days of registration. Get a 3x £10 Casino Bonus Funds for selected games and 30 Extra Spins on Fishin' Frenzy. Offer valid until 23:59 UK time on 31.12.24 Debit card / Apple Pay payments only. T&Cs apply, see below. gambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New cust only. Opt in & deposit £10+ in 7 days & wager 1x in 7 days on any eligible casino game (excluding live casino and table games) for 50 Extra Spins. Wagering contributions vary. Extra Spins worth 10p each on Big Bass Splash. 3 day expiry. 18+. T&Cs apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. Opt in. Selected UK/IRE players only. Not available with other Casino welcome offers. Min. cash wagering of £/€10 (cumulative). 48 hrs to stake, 168 hrs to play with Bonus (BNS). Max. redeemable £/€500 from BNS. 40x wagering on BNS. Cash balance used until bonus wagering req. complete. Once per player. Game, game weighting, player, account & payment restrictions apply. Expiry date & T&Cs Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New players, £10+ deposit, no e-wallets/prepaid cards, up to 500 Extra Spins, 40x wagering on Extra Spins winnings, £5 max bonus stake. Terms apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New Players Min. deposit £20. UK players. Max. bonus 1st deposit 100% up to £50 and 2nd deposit 50% up to £100. 35x wagering applies, within 21 days. 20 spins on 1st deposit and 30 spins on 2nd deposit. Spins expire after 24 hours. Full T&Cs apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New Customers only. Min dep (Excl PayPal) £10 for 20 slots bonus and 100 extra spins. Game restrictions apply. Extra Spin value @10p/spin. Extra spins and Bonus Wagering 30x and Maximum winnings to cash is 4x.18+. Full terms apply. - Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. 18+. New depositors & UK residents only. Min dep. £10. 10x wag. on winnings. Spins valid only on Starburst slot & valued at £0.10 each. Spins expire in 7 days. Excludes deposits made via Skrill, Entropay, Paysafecard & Neteller. T&Cs apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New Customers only. Min dep (Excl PayPal) £10 for 30 slots bonus and 50 extra spins. Game restrictions apply. Extra Spin value @10p/spin. Extra spins and Bonus Wagering 30x and Maximum winnings to cash is 5x.18+. Full terms apply. - Full Terms Apply
- 29#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. gambleaware.org. T&C Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. gambleaware.org. T&C Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New players only. Min deposit £10. Bonus funds are 121% up to £100. Bonus funds are separate to cash funds and subject to 35x wagering requirement. Only bonus funds count towards wagering contribution. £5 bonus max bet. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days, spins within 10 days. Affordability checks apply. Terms Apply. BeGambleAware.org - Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New members only. Must sign up via this offer link. Min £10 cash deposit and wager on any Slot Game only within 7 days of sign-up. Must accept extra spins within 7 days of pop-up notification, valid for 7 days from acceptance on Eye of Horus. 10p coin size per extra spin, max lines. Click here for full Rules & Exclusions. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers Min Deposit £20 (exc paypal). Max Bonus £30, playable on selected games only. 30x Wagering for £30 Bonus. £30 Bonus Expires within 30 Days. Max win £2000. T&Cs apply. - Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. Welcome bonus package on first 3 deposits 1st Dep. Min £20. 50x wagering (bonus & deposit). (Exc PayPal) max bonus to cash 5x. 20 Extra spins. 35x wagering. Max bonus to cash £30. Claim once. See full T&Cs for 2nd & 3rd Deposit offers. - Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New players only. Min deposit £10. 100% up to £100 + 30 Bonus Spins on Reactoonz. Bonus funds + spin winnings are separate to cash funds and subject to 35x wagering requirement. Only bonus funds count towards wagering contribution. £5 bonus max bet. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days, spins within 10 days. Affordability checks apply. Terms Apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. The Welcome Bonus is only available to newly registered players who make a minimum initial deposit of £ 10. You must make a deposit of £ 10 to be eligible for 50 Welcome Spins. Your 50 Welcome Spins must be activated in your account within seven (7) days and used within 24 hours of activation.In order to receive the maximum of £ 100 bonus, you will need to wager an amount equal to 35 times the value of your first initial deposit within 60 calendar days from the date on which the Welcome Bonus option has been activated under the 'My Bonuses' section of your account. Full T&Cs Apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. 18+. Available only to new players who sign up via this offer link. Deposit & Wager a minimum of £10 on any slot game to receive 100 Extra Spins on Big Bass Splash. Winnings from Extra Spins credited directly to cash balance. Neteller and Skrill deposits are excluded. Extra Spins expire 2 days after the deposit. Further terms apply: see Full Offer Terms, General Bonus Terms, and General Terms and Conditions.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New players only. min. dep £20. max. bonus bet £5. 150% match up to £300 + 75 bonus spins on Big Bass Bonanza on your 1st deposit. Winnings from all spins credited as bonus funds and capped at £100. Bonus funds are separate to cash funds & subject to wagering requirement (x deposit plus bonus). Only bonus funds contribute towards wagering requirement. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days, spins within 72hrs. Affordability checks & terms apply. - Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. 18+ New customers only. Opt in and wager £10 on selected slots in 3 days. Get 1x£20 Slots bonus & 1x£20 Live Casino bonus + 100 Extra Spins on Big Bass Mission Fishin’, 5 days expiry. Bonuses are on selected games, 40x wag, max redeem £1,000, expire in 30 days. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org. Please gamble responsibly.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. Minimum deposit £10. Get a Casino Bonus matched to your first deposit, up to £100, after you stake £20 on slots, credited within 48 hours. Bonus expires in 7 days and has a 40x wagering requirement. Additional T&Cs apply. Please bet responsibly.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New Casino players only. Deposit required. Min bet £10 on qualifying games. 40x wager reqs (bonus only) on selected games. £30 Bonus + 30 Extra Spins for a selected game. Accept within 14 days. Valid for 30 days. Spins value £0.20 each. Certain deposit types excluded. Player restrictions & T&Cs Apply. - Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New depositing players only.Min. deposit £10.Max. bonus varies per deposit (see below). Welcome package includes 3 deposit bonuses as follows:First Deposit: 100% up to £50 + 20 Spins on Starburst *Min. Deposit £10Second Deposit: 50% up to £75 *Min. Deposit £20Third Deposit: 50% up to £75 *Min. Deposit £20 After first deposit made, customers will get + 20 Spin for the next 4 days: 1st day after First Deposit: 20 Spins of Finn and the Swirly Spin 2nd day after First Deposit: 20 Spins of Book of Dead 3rd day after First Deposit: 20 Spins of VIP Black 4th day after First Deposit: 20 Spins of Aloha! Cluster Pays Winnings won with spins that require deposit, have to be wagered 35x. Bonuses that require deposit, have to be wagered 35x. This offer is available to players residing in United Kingdom only.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New players only. min. dep £20. max. bonus bet £5. 150% match up to £300 + 100 bonus spins on Starburst on your 1st deposit. Winnings from all spins credited as bonus funds and capped at £100. Bonus funds are separate to cash funds & subject to wagering requirement (x deposit plus bonus). Only bonus funds contribute towards wagering requirement. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days, spins within 72hrs. Affordability checks & terms apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. 100% deposit match up to £200 on your first day deposit amount. The first deposit must be a minimum of £20 to qualify. UK 18+ Full T&C apply. Always Gamble Responsibly.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. Wager £/€20 on slots and Get 40 Cash Extra Spins for five consecutive days.* New customers only. £/€20 stake on slots each day within 5 days of 1st deposit to qualify. £0.1 Spins on Book of Dead. £/€250 total max withdrawal. Full T&Cs apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. Min Deposit £10. Welcome package splits over 3 deposits, 35x wagering requirement applies to match up bonus. Offer valid for 1 week. 100 spins split to 20 spins per day for 5 days. 50x wagering applies to spins.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New players only. min. dep £20. max. bonus bet £5. 100% match up to £200 + 200 bonus spins on Book of Dead on your 1st deposit. Winnings from all spins credited as bonus funds and capped at £100. Bonus funds are separate to cash funds & subject to wagering requirement (40x deposit plus bonus). Only bonus funds contribute towards wagering requirement. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days, spins within 72hrs. Affordability checks & terms apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. To qualify for this promotion players must enter FREESPINS at registration. To activate the extra spins, you must deposit and stake £10 or more on your first day’s play at QuinnCasino. 50 extra spins (£0.10 per spin) will be credited by 4 pm the day after qualifying and must be used in full within 7-days. T&Cs apply | 18+ New UK and IE Customers Only | GambleAware.org | Gamble Responsibly
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New Customers Only. Opt in, wager £10 on selected games, in 15 days. Get £15 in Bonuses (30x wagering) for Big Bass Splash + 20 Extra Spins for selected games, after each £10 deposited and wagered within 15 days, up to max £45 in Bonuses + 60 Extra Spins. 30 days expiry. Max redeemable £1,125. Card payments only.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New depositing players only. Min. deposit £10. Max. bonus varies per deposit (see below). Welcome package includes 3 deposit bonuses as follows: First Deposit: 100% up to £50 + 20 Spins on Starburst *Min. Deposit £10 Second Deposit: 50% up to £75 *Min. Deposit £20 Third Deposit: 50% up to £75 *Min. Deposit £20 After the first deposit made, customers will get + 20 Spin for the next 4 days: 1st day after First Deposit: 20 Spins of Finn and the Swirly Spin 2nd day after First Deposit: 20 Spins of Book of Dead 3rd day after First Deposit: 20 Spins of VIP Black 4th day after First Deposit: 20 Spins of Aloha! Cluster Pays Winnings won with spins that require a deposit, have to be wagered 35x. Bonuses that require a deposit, have to be wagered 35x. This offer is available to players residing in United Kingdom only. 18+
Stay In The Loop With New Casino Sites & Offers!
Free Spins. Exclusive Bonuses. Sent Weekly.