Roulette is a game of skill as much as it’s a game of chance. To get the best results at the table you need to know how the game works, the payouts the bets return and implement a betting strategy. With some luck on your side, you can have very profitable sessions at the casinos. But before we get into the game let’s explain some crucial differences between European and American Roulette.
European vs. American Roulette
In general, both games are basically the same and work in the same way. You place your bets on the numbers you like, the wheel spins and if the ball lands on your number you get paid. But one crucial and biggest difference between the two is the 00 slot on the American roulette version. To the layman, this doesn’t seem like a big difference, but this one extra number dramatically changes the odds of the game. With a single zero on the European version the house edge is 2.7%. But on the American version, the extra double zero raises the house edge to 5.26%. So in the long run you are likely to lose more on the American version than you would on the European version.
So mathematically speaking and in terms of odds European roulette online is more in favor of the player. If you find a table which also has the En Prison and La Partage rules in place, the house edge is even lower at 1.35%. So, if you can, always choose the table which hosts European roulette. But regardless of which version you decide to play it all comes down to your luck and the betting strategies you use.
Popular Roulette betting strategies
Betting strategies are equal to card counting at the Blackjack table. The more you can use something to your advantage at roulette the more profit you are likely to generate in the end. This is why most players choose a betting strategy they are comfortable with and use it in every session. Below are some of the most popular ones which you can use in your ventures.
- Martingale
- Fibonacci
- D’Alembert
Martingale
This is the most popular and easiest strategy to use at any roulette table. It works the same on American and European roulette. The goal here is to bet on red or black or on odd and even. After a loss, you double your stake. The premise here is that you can’t lose forever and a winning spin will recover your losses and bring you a profit.
Fibonacci
This strategy comes with a higher risk, as you are progressively increasing your bet. If you place a $2 bet on red or black and lose you place the same $2 bet in the next spin. If you lose again the next bet is $4, the next one is $6 and the next one is $10. You place a bet which is the collected sum of the two previous bets.
D’Alembert
This strategy is a bit more complex but is still fun to use. You divide your starting bankroll into units, enough to cover 100 hands. So if you have $500 your unit is $5 per hand. You start the session with a 5x bet and then you add a unit for every loss and subtract one for every win. So on a win, your next bet is $20 and on a loss your next bet is $30.
| Bet | Outcome | Profit |
| $25 | Win | +$25 |
| $20 | Lose | -$20 |
| $30 | Win | +$30 |
Conclusion
Whichever strategy you use at the roulette table you have to understand that each one comes with risks if you face long losing streaks. But with some luck on your side, the right strategy can make you a true master of American or European roulette. Before you decide to play the game we strongly advise you to learn the rules and the payouts, as well as test it in demo mode. Only when you’re comfortable enough should you play roulette for real money.
