Popular Roulette Strategies: Which Reigns Supreme?

The thrill of spinning the roulette wheel and predicting the outcome is one of the most sought-after casino experiences. Unlike some other casino table games, it promises quick-fire gameplay and the chance of winning big in a short time.

Over the years, players have sought strategies to beat this iconic casino game and boost their chances of winning. This article dives into the intricacies of these playing styles to see whether or not they’re as dependable as many believe.

The Most Popular Roulette Strategies

Every known roulette strategy today presents players with a unique approach to try and outsmart the game’s unpredictable nature and built-in house edge. The most popular have stuck with players because of their perceived effectiveness. But do such strategies actually work? And which one is the best roulette strategy overall?

Martingale Strategy

The premise of the Martingale strategy is simple. Double your stake after every failed bet and a winning spin will eventually recover your losses, delivering a small profit. It’s the simplest and arguably the most popular strategy, especially among new and inexperienced players.

Martingale proposes that you have to win eventually. It’s simply impossible to lose forever. Therefore, you should raise the stakes each time to cover losses until the inevitable winning spin comes around. For example, if your first bet is $1 on black and you lose, your next bet should be $2, also on black. 

Each loss requires that you double the next bet, meaning $1 becomes $2 becomes $4, $8, $16 and so on. A win at $4 would earn you $8, which covers your initial $1 and $2 losses, plus the $4 stake, for a total spend of $7 and a profit of $1. Keep in mind that the bet must always be one of the 50-50 options, like red/black, odd/even or high/low.

This strategy is easy to understand and implement. Theoretically, at least, it’s profitable. The risks are high, though, because casino roulette tables always impose upper limits. If you reach the cap and can no longer double your bet, you can’t recoup losses and the whole strategy breaks down. So make sure you set a limit at which you are happy to walk away before that happens.

D’Alembert Strategy

Another popular strategy recommended to increase your chances of winning at roulette is D’Alembert. It’s a little more advanced than Martingale, allowing you to increase or decrease bets based on a predetermined unit stake. 

Select the value of a unit based on your own bankroll. For instance, with a $200 budget, you wouldn’t want to start with more than $2 per unit. Begin with a five-unit initial bet, then subtract a unit if you win and add one if you lose. With a theoretical $200 bankroll, your first bet will be worth $10. If you win after that round, your next bet should be $8. If you lose, the next wager will be $12.

D’Alembert is a better strategy than Martingale for managing your bankroll and controlling your bets. It’s relatively easy to understand and caters to low-risk gamblers. However, just like Martingale, the risk of long losing streaks means you should be wary. 

Potential losses will not be as bad when the upper betting limit is reached. But, on the other hand, wins are relatively unimpressive and it takes longer to accumulate something substantial. Like Martingale, this strategy only applies to even-money bets.

Fibonacci Strategy

The Fibonacci strategy is better suited to risk-takers. It makes use of a number progression sequence created by the Italian mathematician after which it is named. When using the Fibonacci Strategy for a roulette game, your next stake should always be the sum of the two wagers before it. 

Here’s an example, starting with an initial $2 stake. Place your $2 on any of the 50-50 wagers. If you lose, repeat the same stake in the next round. The following bet should be the sum of $2 and $2, which is $4. After this, you should bet $6 ($2 + $4) and then $10 ($4 + $6.) The sequence continues by adding the last two bets together until you find a winning spin. At that point, go back to the beginning of the sequence and start again. 

Similar to other popular roulette cheat sheet strategies shared here, Fibonacci also has its limitations. As your bets increase, wins and losses have an increasingly large impact. Persistent losses can hurt your bankroll, so make sure you play responsibly. 

Labouchere Strategy

The Labouchere strategy is more complicated than the other systems discussed thus far. To begin, set a realistic profit goal that you’d like to hit. Split this number into as many smaller bets as you wish that add up to the target.

Your first bet is the sum of the two numbers at the extremes of the list. If you win, cross out these figures and move to the next in line. Should you lose, add the value of the wager to the end of the sequence and repeat the procedure. This continues until you exhaust your bankroll or have crossed out all numbers in your sequence, meaning you’ve hit your target.

Here’s an example to help you understand. Suppose your goal is to win $20. You could break this into stakes of 2, 3, 5, 5, 3 and 2. The initial bet would be the sum of the first and last two numbers: $4. 

A loss in this round demands that you add the $4 to the end of the sequence, so you now have 3, 5, 5, 3 and 4 in your list. But if you had won, the sequence would have become 3, 5, 5 and 3 instead.

A perk of the Labouchere Strategy is that it also helps you manage your budget. By sticking to your sequence, you can avoid impulsive decisions and stay focused on your desired win. However, be aware that maximum betting limits imposed by casinos can negatively affect the progression of the strategy.

Which Strategy Works Best?

Choosing the best strategy for roulette is tricky since it’s highly subjective and depends on personal factors like risk tolerance and bankroll size. Each strategy will have its pros and cons for different players. 

As convincing as these strategies may seem, it’s important to remember that roulette, just like all other online casino games, is ultimately about luck. There is no foolproof method to guarantee consistent winnings in the long term.

Many players use roulette tips and strategies to learn more about the game. But every smart gambler knows that they don’t guarantee success. For others, exploring strategies is all part of the fun. And after all, entertainment is the most important thing. 

Find Your Roulette Rhythm

If roulette strategies worked consistently, there would be no risk involved and the game wouldn’t be so entertaining. Unpredictability is what it’s all about. By all means, explore different strategies and you may learn some lessons along the way. Perhaps you’ll understand how to manage your bankroll and assess risks properly, for instance. 

But above all, these playing strategies should enhance your enjoyment when playing roulette. Register at BetMGM to enjoy dozens of roulette options, plus many other exciting casino games, including online poker, baccarat and blackjack.