Winning at online roulette
One of the most iconic images in a casino is the sight of players huddled around the roulette table urging their number to come up.
It is a game which has the power to be extremely frustrating but is one which can deliver massive returns if you make the right bet.
Roulette’s simplicity is what makes it so appealing – the rules are easy to understand and even novice casino players can soon pick it up.
While it is widely accepted that roulette is a game of chance, it is possible to tip the odds in your favor by employing some simple strategies.
Roulette bets & odds
The most common bet in roulette is wagering on a single number which pays out at odds of 35/1 on a standard European wheel.
A split bet – covering two adjacent numbers (17/1) – and a square bet – covering four numbers in the shape of a square (8/1) – are other popular roulette bets.
However, for many players roulette is all about three different types of bets that effectively offer the opportunity to double your money.
Betting on red or black, even or odd, or low or high pays out at Evens, meaning if you make the right choice you receive double your original wager.
How does the house win at roulette?
All online casino games have a built-in ‘edge’ that favours the house, thus ensuring that they will make a profit over a sustained period of time.
The addition of a numbered 0 pocket to the numbers 1-36 mean that the true odds of hitting a single number on a straight-up bet are 37/1, but the house only pays 35/1 if you win.
The house edge increases to more than five percent on an American roulette wheel with the inclusion of 00, tipping the odds further in the casino’s favour.
Despite this, there are some innovative strategies that can be employed that are mathematically proven to deliver a winning return if followed to the letter.
A winning roulette strategy
One of the most famous roulette strategies is the Martingale System, which offers players the opportunity to make a profit if they have the patience to stick to it.
It is generally used to bet on the Even money bets and requires the player to double their stake after every losing bet until they make a successful wager.
For instance, a player makes a $20 bet on black. If their selection is correct, they receive $40 and have made a $20 profit. If the ball lands on red, their next bet would be $40.
The player must continue to double their stake until black comes up, at which point they will have made a profit on their total outlay.
In this scenario, if the ball landed in red on three successive occasions, the player would have wagered $140 ($20 + $40 + $80).
Assuming that the fourth bet in the sequence of $160 came up black, the payout would be $320 – a profit of $20 or a 0.0625 percent profit.
Given how low bank interest rates are at the moment, this is a sure-fire way to secure a healthy profit from just the spin of a wheel.
It is worth noting that a long losing run of bets could put a big dent in your bankroll, while restrictive table limits are another issue.
However, if you can afford to implement the system and the limits are high enough, the Martingale is a great way to win at roulette.
