Roulette is one of the most popular table games you will find at the casinos and, for good reason. It provides numerous betting options, is fun to play, and is usually the most social table game (especially in land-based casinos).
However, as with any other casino game, the house always wins in the end. With that in mind, how can you become a smarter roulette player? Well, these tips should help where that is concerned, but if you’re looking for more, you can use a roulette online gambling blog for more similar tips. As an example, look for a blog that explains bankroll strategies you can use to maximize wins and minimize losses.
- Tip 1: Understand that Roulette is a Game of Luck
While some casino games rely on a certain level of skill, such as blackjack, poker, and video poker, roulette is a game where results are based purely on luck. Taking poker as an example, as players play against each other, there is a skill element to the game. Players can outplay each other or bluff each other off hands. In roulette, while some players swear by certain strategies, there is no skill involved. Each spin is independent of another and, therefore, each gives you the same chance of winning as another. You have no control over the outcome and have no choice but to hope that luck is on your side.
Think of it this way: reading articles on how to improve your golf and taking what you learned out onto the golf course will eventually improve your skills. The same does not apply to roulette, as there is no skill involved.
- Tip 2: Understand that Roulette is Not a 50/50 Game
Because roulette offers outside bets such as red/black or odd/even, it often gets a reputation of being a casino table game that can give you a 50/50 chance of winning. However, this is not true. As with all casino games, the house will always have an edge. In this case, that edge is the Single Green 0 found on European & French Roulette wheels, and the additional Double Green 00 on American Roulette wheels. As this section is green and neither odd nor even, it is the one segment that will guarantee the house makes money, as it nullifies most other bets placed on the table.
- Tip 3: Understand that More 0’s Mean a Higher House Edge
As touched upon in the previous tip, different variations of roulette have a different number of Green 0 segments. The more of these a table/wheel has, the higher the house edge. With just a Single Green 0, the house edge is 2.70% but a table with a Green 0 and a Double Green 00 has a house edge of 5.26%. Some online casinos now even feature roulette tables with a third Green zero segment, and this puts the house edge up to a whopping 7.69%.
Always look for the table with the least green zero segments if you want a better chance of success. However, while a 2.70% house edge is the best house edge you can get when playing roulette, there are other casino games with lower than this. For example, Baccarat’s house edge is just 1.06%.
- Tip 4: Be Aware of the Risks of Using Betting Systems Such as the Martingale
If you’re an experienced roulette player, you’ve probably heard of betting systems/strategies such as the Martingale. While these can lead to winning sessions, the risks associated with them mean it is just a matter of time before a losing streak wreaks with your bankroll.
The martingale works by doubling after every loss until you win when wagering on black/red or odd/even. You continue to double your bet until eventually, you should win all your money back plus your original bet. This sounds great in theory, but there are big risks to consider. A long losing streak means you will have to have a large bankroll to cover your losses. For instance, losing 7 bets in a row on an initial bet of $10 will mean your eighth bet will have to be $1,280 if you want a chance to win your money back and the $10 you originally set out to win.
The other issue is that most tables have a max bet limit, so using the example above, if the max bet is $1,000, you cannot even ensure your next bet covers all your previous losses (if it even wins).
- Tip 5: Understand that Each Spin is Independent of the Past
One of the biggest failings of roulette players is over-relying on the results of previous spins. If the wheel has spun a black on the last 8 spins, you might think that a red number is due. In fact, it is no more due than it would be if the red had spun in 8 times. Each result is independent of another. To use a real-world comparison, if you flipped a coin 8 times and it landed heads on each occasion, what are the chances of tails landing the next time you flip? The same 50/50 chance of it happening on the last 8 flips. The odds of it happening do not increase the longer it does not happen.
The Takeaway
You become a smarter roulette player just by understanding the simple facts listed above. It is imperative that you understand that roulette is a game of chance and it is impossible to beat the game through skill, strategies, or anything else. There is just one certainty, and that is that the house will always win in the long run. For that reason, this is not the game to play if you’re looking for strategies to pay off debt or even make a bit of side money. In fact, no form of gambling is. Always treat roulette or any casino game, for that matter, as a hobby, or a form of entertainment that you enjoy using money you can afford to lose.
