Roulette Strategy

Written by: Sadonna Price, OUSC Expert in Online Casinos and Poker
big icon roulette strategy

Roulette strategy focuses on how players bet on each spin, using betting methods or combinations. If you’re going to understand and master the game’s techniques, it’s essential to comprehend how betting progressions work and the difference between positive and negative progressions.

Once you grasp these broad ideas, you can analyze which might work best for your bankroll and game preferences. This complete guide provides the basics to help you pick the best roulette strategies for you.

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Understanding Roulette Strategies

Roulette betting systems fall into two broad categories: non-progressive and progressive strategies. Progressive betting means you use a sequence of increasing or decreasing bets. If wagers increase after a loss, this is called a negative progression bet. If wagers increase after a win, this is called a positive progression bet. If you don’t increase wagers during a roulette session, this is called a non-progressive or flat bet.

Types of Roulette Betting Systems

Let’s take a close look at non-progressive and progressive strategies to understand how they work.

non progressive roulette strategies

Non-Progressive Strategies

These roulette strategies don’t call for increasing your wager after each bet. Instead, they rely on flat betting.

You set a preferred wager amount based on your bankroll, then make that bet your default throughout the session. Some examples are the James Bond and the 3-2 systems

progressive roulette strategies

Progressive Strategies

Progressive betting systems call for increasing your wager after the end of each round, with occasional regressions to the base bet.

It has two main sub-categories: positive progressions (after winning wagers) and negative progressions (after losing ones).

Which Roulette Betting Strategies Are Better?

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Players should choose their favorite progressive roulette strategy based on how aggressive they plan to be. Martingale and Fibonacci are highly aggressive systems, while D’Alembert is less so. As always, the more assertive players are, the more risk they face when they have bad luck.

Negative progression systems like the Martingale, D’Alembert, and Fibonacci are the most popular because they collect winnings and cover previous losses. However, other players prefer positive progression strategies like the Paroli or Reverse-Martingale.

Some also avoid progressive betting altogether and instead focus on placing wagers to cover as much of the roulette layout as possible on any given spin. These gamblers often focus on betting systems like the 3-2 and James Bond.

Best Roulette Strategies

Below is an overview of the top roulette betting strategies you’ll encounter.

Progressive Roulette Strategies

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Fibonacci Strategy

The Fibonacci is a negative progressive betting system, meaning you increase the wager after each losing stake. It follows a mathematical pattern found in nature, where the sequence increases by the sum of the previous two numbers.

In a Fibonacci sequence, if you start with 1, then the second number would be 1 (1+0), the third number would be 2 (1+1), the fourth number would be 3 (2+1), and the fifth number would be 5 (3+2).

Casinos often have a $5 wager limit for roulette, so the Fibonacci betting sequence might need to start with a base bet of $5. The betting sequence thus would be $5, $5, $10, $15, $25, $40, and so on. This is considered safer than Martingale and supposedly gives you a better chance of winning.

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Labouchere Strategy

The Labouchere system is a bit more complicated. You’ll write down any 3-number sequence in the range of the bet limits. For instance, if the wager limit is $5, you might write down 5-7-9.

On the first round, bet the sum of the first and third numbers – Add $5 + $9, or a $14 bet. If you win, cross off the first and third numbers and wager the remaining number ($7).

If the first bet loses, you add the first wager to the end of the number sequence, then bet the sum of the first and last number ($5 + $14 = $19).

Continue this pattern for each successive bet. Cross off the last two numbers for a win while adding the lost bet to the end of the sequence for a loss.  

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D’Alembert Strategy

In the D’Alembert, you set a base bet and increase the wager by one incremental unit (base bet) after each losing bet.

If the base bet is $5, you should increase it by $5 after each loss. The sequence for a string of losing wagers would be $5, $10, $15, $20, and so on. If you win at any time, the next bet would be $5.

This is a negative progressive system, but not as aggressive as others. It’s considered safer than the Martingale system as the fluctuations in bet sizes aren’t as large.

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Martingale Strategy

Martingale is a negative progressive system that calls for a person to double their wager after losing a bet. If the base bet is $5, then the player wagers $5, then $10, $20, $40, $80, $160, and so on.

After a winning bet, you return to the base wager. This strategy assures you’ll cover losses and win back the base bet after each sequence if you win. On the other hand, the risk of ruin is possible if you have a long losing streak. This system can only be used on even money bets.

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Paroli System

Paroli is a positive progressive system, meaning you increase the wager after a winning bet. In this case, you double the wager after every win and regress to the base bet after a loss.

If the base bet is $5, you would bet $10 after winning, then $20, and then $40. The difference is you revert to the base bet after three progressives, so you would wager $5 after the $40 bet, even if you win four times in a row.

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Reverse Martingale

Reverse Martingale is, in most ways, very similar to Paroli. It’s a positive progressive system, so you increase the bet after winning wagers.

Like the Paroli, you’d double the wager after each win. For a $5 base bet, the wager would be $5, $10, $20, $40, $80, and so on.

The one difference from the Paroli system is you won’t return to $5 after losing.

Non-Progressive Roulette Strategies

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James Bond Strategy

The James Bond roulette strategy is a specific roulette bet. It requires 20 units of bets and covers every number on a European roulette wheel except 1-12.

Place 14 units on the outside bet 19-36 (Hi) for a 1:1 payout. Place 5 units on the six-line 13-14-15-16-17-18 for a 5:1 payout. Then place an inside bet on the single zero for a 35:1 payout.

You win varying levels of payouts 2/3 of the time, but you also lose certain bets on each spin.

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Three-Two System

This system calls for two simultaneous wagers: an even-money bet and a column one.

Place a $3 wager on the red or black proposition, plus $2 on one of the three columns (1-12, 13-24, 25-36) that includes 2/3 of the numbers the other bet covers. This covers 26 pockets on the roulette wheel.

The betting ratio is 3 to 2, so you could make wagers of $15/$10 or even $300/$200 in the same ratio.

Best Uses for Each Roulette Betting System

Readers might wonder which situations are best for each of the roulette strategies above. Here’s a quick rundown of the types of roulette games where each strategy is best employed.

Best Progressive Roulette Betting Strategy

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The Martingale betting strategy assures a lot of small winning sequences. Doubling the wager means you cover your lost wagers plus win back the base bet. If the exponential bet exceeds either your bankroll or the bet limit, this breaks down. It does expose players to the risk of ruin – losing their entire bankroll.

Best Roulette Strategy for Live Dealer Games with Table High Limits

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Fibonacci is great for gaming tables with high limits. When you add the previous two bets together, the wager amount gets high quickly after a series of losing bets. You’ll need a big bankroll to use the Fibonacci system correctly.

Preferred Roulette Strategy for Winning Streaks

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Reverse Martingale is great for winning streaks because the bets increase with each winning wager. It’s an underrated betting system for losing streaks, though, because it amounts to flat betting, and you won’t lose your bankroll.

Best Strategies to Play RNG Roulette at Online Casinos

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Labouchere system is suitable for online roulette games with an RNG because of the math you’ll have to do. One drawback to automated roulette is its rapid-fire bets, which can eat up your bankroll quickly. While Labouchere betting isn’t complicated, it requires enough math to slow down online roulette.

Best Strategy For Roulette Games with Non-Progressive Betting Tactics

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The James Bond betting system calls for players to spread 20 units among the various betting options, so it’s best for players who make flat bets with relatively small stakes. It’s best to pick a single wager size and make that your default for each spin.

Most Popular Low-Risk Strategy for Roulette Tables

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One drawback to the Martingale and Fibonacci betting system is how fast the bets increase with a few lost wagers. D’Alembert calls for incremental bet increases instead of exponential increases, so the player doesn’t face the same risk as with other negative progression betting schemes.

Best Roulette Strategy To Lock in Winnings

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The first four bets in the Paroli system are identical to the Reverse-Martingale. After that, you revert to your base bet, so you lock in winnings and avoid that one bet that wipes out all your gains. In that way, Paroli betting works alongside roulette money management tactics.

Best Roulette Betting Strategy For Impatient Players

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The 3-2 roulette system is excellent for roulette players who want to win chips on most spins. It’s much like a slot machine with many small payouts, but it also offers the occasional 35:1 payout to boost your excitement.

How To Choose The Most Successful Roulette Strategy

You can choose your roulette strategy by considering each of the following criteria to make the best out of your gameplay.

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Roulette Game

Consider the roulette game that you are playing when employing betting strategies. Unless a casino has special house rules, European Roulette and French Roulette have a house edge that’s one-half of American Roulette.

The best game for new roulette players is European Roulette. Pick this variant, make flat bets based on your calculated bankroll, and you’ll have the best chance to collect winnings while learning the game.

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Check Betting Limits

Some progressive betting systems like the Martingale, Reverse-Martingale, and Fibonacci strategies require high wager limits. If you plan to use those systems, find a roulette table with both flexible and high bet limits.

If you use strategies like the James Bond or the 3-2 and don’t have a big bankroll, search for tables with low bet limits. Some live dealer casinos offer some $1 roulette tables.

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Betting System

Progressive betting systems stake a lot of money on one single betting proposition. In contrast, non-progressive betting schemes spread your wagers around the betting layout, hoping to secure a lot of small winning spins.

High-rollers and low-stakes players can use non-progressive strategies. Those who use progressive bets must find tables with high limits because their strategies require much larger bets in rare situations.  

Make the Most of these Roulette Strategies to Win

It’s essential to understand roulette strategies to maximize your chances of winning. With this complete guide, you have all the information you need to start playing like a pro.

Starting with flat betting is the safest choice if you are a beginner. Once you become more familiar with the game, you can practice each betting system to see which fits you best.

Try these betting strategies online at our recommended roulette casinos. Sign up today and start winning big!

FAQ

These are the most frequently asked questions that players have about roulette strategies.

How do I play roulette using a strategy?

You can use progressive or non-progressive systems to play roulette using a strategy. Progressive roulette systems vary your bet after either a winning or a losing wager, while non-progressive ones call for elaborate bets that cover as much as two-thirds of the layout with chips.

What is the best strategy for roulette?

The best strategy for roulette is Flat betting. If you want a safe and fun approach to roulette, determine your bankroll and make flat bets based on roughly 2% of that bankroll.

Should I use the martingale system when playing roulette?

When a player makes an even money bet, which may be on red or black or half the numbers on the board, and then doubles that bet if they lose and keeps doing so until they win, they’re using the Martingale betting system. It sounds good in theory and should allow players to win their initial wager no matter what, as eventually, they’ll win.

The problem is that every spin is independent of previous spins in roulette. The fact red has come up four times in a row, for example, doesn’t give black a higher chance of coming up next time. This means that hot streaks can occur, and if a player uses this system, they could lose their bankroll very quickly. That’s why we wouldn’t recommend using this system. But if you do, then be prepared with a huge bankroll, lots of patience, and nerves of steel.

Are there any truly successful roulette strategies?

You’ll find hundreds of roulette strategies online and in books, and most will get you absolutely nowhere. So you’re better off saving your time and money. As roulette is purely random with a fixed house edge, there’s no strategy that a player can implement to overcome the house and be profitable in the long run.

What is a progressive roulette betting system?

Basically, a progressive system instructs players to make certain changes to their bet sizes based on the outcome of the previous bet. On top of the aforementioned Martingale system, there are also the d’Alembert, Labouchere, and Fibonacci systems.

Should I use other less popular roulette betting systems out there?

You’ll be able to find a wide range of other roulette betting systems online and in roulette books. Each has its own unique method of betting. Some systems or strategies will look more compelling than others, but the truth is that roulette spins are independent and random, and the house edge is fixed no matter what. The best you can do is choose your roulette game wisely and know how to manage your bankroll.

Sadonna Price

Sadonna Price OUSC Expert in Online Casinos and Poker

Sadonna is a former professional poker player. Passionate about writing and loves using her creativity to provide insight into the interesting gambling world.

Learn More About Sadonna