A Deep Dive Into the “Touch and Go” System in Roulette

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A close up of a roulette wheel. The roulette ball sits in the red 18 pocket.
BetMGM Aug 03, 2023, 5:36 AM

Roulette, one of the classic online casino games that keeps one on the edge of one’s seat, has seen its fair share of betting strategies. One particular roulette system is called the “Touch and Go” betting strategy. 

Explore the ins and outs of this strategy, when to use it, when to steer clear and how it can be best used in the game.

What Is the Touch and Go Betting System?

The Touch and Go system was pioneered by Frank Scoblete – a renowned gambling writer with over 35 publications. If you’re new to roulette, you might want to brush up on roulette basics by playing at home and get to grips with a glossary of roulette terms, in addition to learning about systems such as this. 

With that covered, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the roulette wheel, as this is the foundation of the “touch” roulette system.

An American roulette wheel consists of 38 numbered pockets, which are arranged in a specific sequence. The numbers on the wheel are as follows:

0, 28, 9, 26, 30, 11, 7, 20, 32, 17, 5, 22, 34, 15, 3, 24, 36, 13, 1, 00, 27, 10, 25, 29, 12, 8, 19, 31, 18, 6, 21, 33, 16, 4, 23, 35, 14, 2

Scoblete’s roulette Touch and Go approach is based around “wheel neighbors,” i.e., numbers that are next to each other on the roulette wheel. And you will be betting based on the appearance of these neighbor numbers. Note that the wheel for European roulette is different and you will have to tailor your strategy accordingly.

Using the Touch and Go System

To implement the roulette touch and go strategy, you will need to use a feature common to almost all physical and online roulette tables. Namely, the sequence of the last 20 numbers that have been released. Then you have to identify if there are any consecutive “wheel neighbors” from within that list. Once you become more familiar with the roulette wheel, this becomes a much easier task. Here’s an example sequence so you can better understand this: 

9, 11, 34, 12, 8, 18, 4, 20, 22, 3, 23, 2, 00, 25, 31, 18, 17, 24, 10, 16

Can you find the “wheel neighbors”? The “12” and “8” are the only ones in this example and are considered a “pair.” You will then bet on these numbers until they either come up or they fall out of the 20 released numbers sequence. If there are more pairs, you would bet on those as well. If there are none, you would simply wait for such a “pair” to come up before betting. The likelihood of multiple pairs coming up is actually a lot higher than you might think.

Does It Work?

Although it probably seems counterintuitive, this method is based on sound math. If you want to delve deeper into that side, feel free to explore probability theory and statistics, but this method is best illustrated by the “Birthday paradox.”

This principle shows how the real probability of something happening is often very different from what you may naturally think it is. It basically shows that in a group of 23 people, there is a higher than 50% chance of two people sharing the same birthday, with this chance increasing rapidly as the group gets bigger. Thus, the chances of those “neighbors” cropping up again are much higher than many might expect.

Again, it’s important to remember that this strategy (like all roulette strategies) does not guarantee success.

Pros

  • Based on sound theory: The math supports this strategy, so if you like that aspect of roulette, this one might appeal to you.
  • Moderate risk tolerance: If you’re someone who doesn’t mind a bit of risk but prefers to keep it moderate, the Touch and Go system aligns perfectly with your style.
  • Long-term play style: This approach requires patience and good bankroll management, as you may need to bet a number of rounds until one of the pairs comes up. Use it if you enjoy playing a waiting game, but avoid it if you prefer a quick “in and out” session. 

Cons

  • Patience required: As described, this is not a strategy that generally works with short game sessions, so avoid it if your preference is for short and sharp games.
  • Bankroll management: As you will most likely need to bet multiple rounds consecutively, you will need to manage your bet stake carefully and ensure you have enough to stay the course through each session.

Although slightly more complex than some, Touch and Go is considered by some players to be one of the best roulette systems around and can be really rewarding when applied properly and patiently.

Other Roulette Strategies

If you’re new to the game, you might want to familiarize yourself with a few of the other top roulette strategies employed by players around the world. But remember — all these strategies have their own risks and none can guarantee consistent wins.

Martingale Strategy

This is a simple and popular strategy where you double your bet after each loss. The idea is that when you eventually win, you’ll recover all previous losses and gain a profit equal to your original stake.

Fibonacci Strategy

This strategy follows the Fibonacci sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13…) If you lose a bet, you move one number forward in the sequence and bet that amount. If you win, you move two numbers back.

D’Alembert Strategy

This is a safer strategy, where you increase your bet by one after a loss and decrease it by one after a win.

James Bond Strategy

Here, you spread your bets across the table. For example, if you have $200, you could place $140 on high numbers (19–36,) $50 on six numbers (13–18) and $10 on zero as insurance.

Labouchère Strategy

Also known as the cancellation system, you start by writing down a sequence of numbers. The sum of the first and last numbers in the sequence is the amount of your first bet. If you lose, add the amount of your bet to the end of your number sequence. If you win, remove the first and last numbers from your sequence.

Try Out the Touch and Go system with BetMGM

Want to put your newly acquired knowledge to the test? Why not register with BetMGM to test this strategy in your next online roulette game or try any of the other exciting live dealer casino games? There’s also a full range of casino table games and a vast selection of online slots. Happy spinning and may the odds be ever in your favor (whatever system you choose.)

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Our BetMGM editors and authors are casino experts with a wealth of knowledge of the online casino industry at all levels. Their coverage includes company news, game reviews, how-to instructional articles, strategy guides, and editorials showcasing BetMGM’s superior product and game library.

Our BetMGM editors and authors are casino experts with a wealth of knowledge of the online casino industry at all levels. Their coverage includes company news, game reviews, how-to instructional articles, strategy guides, and editorials showcasing BetMGM’s superior product and game library.