Advanced Tips & Tricks

At roulette each spin is a new spin and the outcome is never determined by prior spins. After eight successive blacks, a black is as likely to come up as a red. You may argue that the reds and blacks will eventually even out over a long run, and you would be right. Indeed, we are both right.

If you are influenced by previous results, then learn to bet with the outcome and not against it. You will eventually realize that it makes no difference. If anything, the 'law of unequal distribution' will be on your side.

It is a known fact that many players wait for, say, four blacks in a row to appear and then start betting on red doubling up the bet up to four times (or more) if they lose. They do this believing that they have gained a sequential probability advantage - the four successive blacks with no bet. Indeed if you use this strategy, you will win most of the time and you will probably conclude that you have an advantage.

You would be wrong!

The Martingale system is in fact based on the probability of losing infinite times in a row.

Although infallible in theory, the Martingale system requires a large bankroll, has a very low return and is a very risky one because of the maximum bet limits imposed by the casinos. If you run out of money or reach the house limit, you can lose a lot with no chance to recover it.

For an efficient betting strategy aim to win more money in fewer winning spins.

Testing

If you think you can gain an advantage by way of sequential or conditional probability, try this two-way Roulette betting test on the 'even money' bets as follows:

First, bet with the outcome (defying probability), that is, if Black comes up bet Black. Keep betting Black until Red comes up then bet Red until Black comes up and so on. Bet every spin. Do the same with ODD/EVEN and HIGH/LOW, simultaneously.

You don't need to risk money. On your next visit to the Casino write a list of outcomes of say 50 or 100 spins of actual play at a Roulette table and try it out at home.

Then, using the same list, do the exact opposite. Bet against the outcome (supporting probability), that is, if Black comes up bet Red, if Red comes up bet Black. Bet every spin. Do the same with ODD/EVEN and HIGH/LOW, simultaneously.

Compare the two results.

Roulette Strategy

The first rule you should look for in the casino is called 'surrender', which should not be confused with the similar term used in the game of blackjack. The rule applies to outside bets which pay even money only. These include red/black, odd/even and the high/low bet. If the ball lands on a 0 or 00 you only lose half of your bet, instead of all of it. As you already know, it's the 0 and 00 that ramp the house edge up so much in American roulette, so surrender does a good job at significantly lowering this house edge. The house edge on these even money bets is now only 2.63%, not too shabby. Although even money bets are now twice as nice as their inside counterparts, you have to sacrifice any potentially big payoffs to gain the benefit of a lower house edge. It's not perfect, but it's a workable roulette strategy. You can find surrender in many Atlantic City casinos, and a few other places in the world. Single zero roulette wheels rarely offer surrender. If you know of one that does, email me, if you ever walk away from it that is.

The next most important difference in tables that you should have an eye out for is European wheels, or single zero wheels. These tables exclude the double zero you find on most North American wheels. True to its name it is much easier to find European roulette wheels across Europe than it is anywhere else. Things can be different playing over there. The table is quite often manned by two croupiers, a rake is used to clear bets, and players use normal casino chips instead of proprietary ones. The only difference truly worth noting though, is the fact that there are only 37 pockets on the wheel. This simple change drops the house edge on all bets (not just the even money outside bets) to a much more attractive 2.70%. Payoff amounts are the same as an American table, so you aren't just having the wool pulled over your eyes. If you're hardcore, you could have your roulette strategy be 'do all my gambling in Europe'.

The last, but not least, thing to include in your roulette strategy is a search for the added rule called 'En Prison'. It would have been mentioned first, but it's next to impossible to find anywhere but in Europe, which is why I suggested earlier that the best strategy is to play there. It works like this: say you're placing an even-money outside bet (yup, that's all this rule applies to) and the stupid ball falls in the 0 pocket. If En Prison is offered, the bet will not be swept away after the rest of the bets, but it won't be returned to you either. The bet is said to be 'in prison' and remains on the board to have its fate decided on the next spin. If on the next spin the bet 'wins', your money is returned to you, but with no extra winnings. If the number next spin is a loss for your imprisoned bet, it gets swept away. If 0 comes up again, the bet remains in prison.

This nice little rule reduces the house edge on even-money bets to a more advantageous 1.35%. Those who do not employ this strategy must contend with a much greater house edge. Okay so I don't exactly want you leaving here thinking 'my strategy should be to move to Europe', that's a little excessive. Your roulette strategy should start by visiting my single zero roulette wheel locations page and finding a spot near you where you can play a European table. Remember, you always have the option of gambling at an online casino that offers single zero roulette.

Tips & Tricks

This is a short list of simple to remember, and easy to follow roulette tips. The fact is, there are no roulette tips that will make you a bundle, but there are some that may keep you from losing one.