Russian roulette is… an interesting game to say the least. It’s become a part of pop culture, so you probably know what it already means. To those of you who still have their child-like innocence, the Russian roulette game has quite the finite end. It doesn’t end when the house wins or when you’re left with no money; it literally ends with death.
What Exactly is Russian Roulette
Two people face each other and whoever loses, dies. If that sounds grim, but you’re really curious as to how the Russian roulette gambling game works, then read this article. We will tell you about the Russian roulette rules and about the history of the game itself.
If anyone were to offer you to play the game, you should politely decline. This is not your regular roulette game, so if you are into the casino game, rather than this “game of life”, then you can go ahead and check out the best online roulette sites.
Russian Roulette Rules
Russian Roulette Odds
History of Russian Roulette: Origins
Cases of Russian Roulette Gambling
The Rules of Russian Roulette
The Russian roulette rules and quite simple. Two or more people produce a revolver and put a single bullet in one of the chambers of the cylinder. The first contestant then spins the cylinder and locks it in. Afterwards, that person puts the muzzle against their body (usually the temple) and they pull the trigger.
If a click is heard, the contestant hands the gun to the next contestant. The next contestant can choose to re-spin the cylinder or just pull the trigger. In some variations of the game, however, the contestants are not allowed to re-spin the cylinder before they pull the trigger; it can only be done in the beginning.
If the chamber containing the live round aligns with the barrel though, the gun will fire (unless there is a misfire) and the contestant will either die or be severely injured, thus putting an end to the game. The game is mostly played with two players, but there could be up to six, corresponding to each of the chambers of the revolver. It’s also possible to have variations of the game with more than one live round.
Russian Roulette Odds – They are Not in your Favor
Okay, let’s talk about the Russian Roulette odds now. The calculation is quite simple. Since a revolver has six chambers and only one contains a live round, then your chance to survive is 5 to 6, or around 83%, and your chance to lose is 1 to 6, or around 17%.
In the variant of the game where players are not allowed to re-spin the cylinder after the first round, the loss probability naturally increases with every single round whereas there could be a maximum of six trigger pulls before the gun fires.
Even in the case of re-spinning the cylinder, however, the probability to align the barrel with the chamber containing the live round still increases with every pull. You can test that in a safe way by throwing a six-sided die. You might not be able to get a six the first time/s, but with each time, your chances to hit it increase.
You can also try playing the Russian roulette game online. There are Russian roulette simulators online where you press a button and see if you get the live round or not. We only recommend you play this safe version of the game.
The History of Russian Roulette: Origins
You might be wondering what psychopath came up with this insidious game. Well, the answer’s not that simple. People still argue whether Russian roulette was really a thing, meaning if people actually played it before the game was described by the famous Russian author Mikhail Lermontov.
Lermontov wrote the story ‘The Fatalist’ in 1840; it was part of his novel A Hero of Our Time. The story tells the story of Grigory Alexandrovich Pechorin who has a very conflicted personality, a slight contempt for other people, and a belief that there is no predestination. Pechorin is also scared of death.
He spends some time in a Cossack village gambling where he meets the Tsarist lieutenant Vulic. Pechorin proposes a bet of twenty golden pieces to prove that predestination is not real. Vulic accepts it and grabs a gun, fills it with gun powder and asks for the twenty gold pieces if he survives; nobody knows if the pistol is loaded.
Vulic then proceeds to aim it at his forehead and fires. When Vulic cocks the pistol again though and aims at a hat, the gun fires. The very same night Vulic is killed by a Cossack, and he admits to Pechorin that he was right about destiny.
The events portrayed in the story doesn’t remind of the classic game of Russian roulette, but that’s the first mention of a similar “game” starting in Russia. In 1937, the Swiss author Georges Surdez published the short story “Russian Roulette”, which claims that Russian officers would play the game.
It wasn’t a Russian roulette gambling game, but a way for them to commit suicide. It says that by the end of World War I, when the situation seemed dire and they felt dishonored, Russian soldiers would take a revolver, remove one bullet and then pull the trigger. The probability of survival was 5 to 1.
Whether this happened or not, nobody can tell for sure. It’s unclear whether art imitates life or the opposite in the case of Russian roulette. Some claim that Russian soldiers did play the game to either gamble or to find an inventive way to commit suicide.
There is also the famous 1978 film The Deer Hunter, which takes place in Vietnam during the war. One scene portrays how Vietcong soldiers torture American POWs by making them play Russian roulette.
The scene was effective, but it also brought a lot of controversy, first because the Vietcong was fighting off an invading army (the US) and because there are no documented cases of soldiers forcing their prisoners of war to play the deadly Russian roulette game.
As shown, Russian roulette was first described in literature and then film, so it could be a case study for life imitates art, as instances of people actually playing the game did occur in the 20th century.
Cases of People Playing Russian Roulette
We will use this section to tell you about some real cases of people playing Russian roulette over the years. Russian roulette might have started as a literary invention morphing into a powerful urban legend, but unfortunately people have died playing this game. We will include known victims and some who have played and survived.
RUSSIAN ROULETTE GAMES VICTIMS
YEAR
William H. Long
1946
Johnny Ace
1954
Santos Rodriguez
1973
Unnamed 16-year-old
1980
Unnamed 23-year-old
1981
Katlyn Alix
2020
In 1946, two American teenagers (William H. Long and James J. Malone) played Russian roulette, but rather than pointing at their own heads, they pointed at each other when they took the shots. Tragically, one of them, Long, died, which led to the case Commonwealth v. Malone. The teenager who shot his friend was convicted of manslaughter, because despite the fact that he didn’t want to kill his friend, he still played in a game that shows a total disregard for life. This legal case set a precedent in the United States.
In 1954, famous blues musician Johnny Ace killed himself with a pistol. Some claim that it happened accidentally as he was cleaning his gun, but the official reports state that he was playing Russian roulette by himself.
Malcolm X, the famous civil rights advocate, claims in his autobiography that he played Russian roulette with himself to show his peers that he was not afraid of death. However, he confesses that he never actually loaded the gun, opting to palm the bullet instead.
In 1972, pop singer and actor Johnny Halliday played Russian roulette with his mistress, and then possibly with friends. His wife confirms that Halliday has played the game at least a few times during his lifetime.
In 1973, in Dallas, Texas, perhaps the most controversial game of Russian roulette was played. Two Mexican American boys, David and Santos Rodriguez, aged 13 and 12, respectively, were arrested by policeman Darrel Cain who alleged they stole $8 from a Coke machine. Neither one of the boys confessed to the crime, which prompted Cain (a very fitting name) to play a game of Russian roulette in the hopes of making them confess. He pointed his gun to Santos’s head; the gun fired and killed him instantly. Cain argued that he thought he emptied the barrel beforehand.
The film The Deer Hunter that we mentioned earlier apparently led to real life games of Russian roulette. Research claims that the film directly led to 28 shootings and 25 confirmed deaths from Russian roulette in the US. For instance, a 16-year-old boy died in 1980 and a 23-year-old man died in 1981.
The most recent documented case of Russian roulette occurred in 2020. Two on-duty police officers from St Louis, Missouri apparently played the game. Katlyn Alix pointed a gun at Nathaniel Hendren, after Hendren loaded a single round. She pulled the trigger and heard the click. When Hendren proceeded to do the same, this time pointing at Alix, he shot and killed her. Hendren pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 7 years in prison.
What are the Russian roulette odds?
The Russian roulette odds are quite easy to calculate. A revolver with six chambers is used in the Russian roulette gambling game and one bullet is put in the chamber, so the chance to lose is 1 to 6 or 17%.
What are the rules of Russian roulette?
The Russian rules are very simple. Between two to six people can play the game and they only need a revolver and one bullet. The bullet is put into one chamber, the cylinder is spun, and each contestant takes turn pulling the trigger.
Where did Russian roulette come from?
This is a hard question to answer, because there’s no one source of Russian roulette. The history of Russian roulette is a complex one, but it’s thought that the game emerged from literature, first in the story of a Russian writer, and then in that of a Swiss writer.
Have people actually died playing Russian roulette?
Unfortunately, people have died playing Russian roulette. Most cases of people playing Russian roulette gambling game have ended in deaths, but some people still have bragged that they have played and survived. Still, do not ever try to do this yourself even as a joke.
Is there a Russian roulette game online?
Yes, there actually is a Russian roulette game online. The online game is a bit of harmless fun whereas you push a button and you either win or you lose. Most of these games are pretty old, but they were cool when the Internet was new.
The Shot Roulette drinking game is an absolute favorite to myriads of people all around the world. The fun and simple game will not only make your party even more exhilarating, but you may also become a total fan of the classical casino game. On this page, we will explain the rules associated with the game. We are quick to assure you that you will find no difficulty grasping the basics of the Roulette Shot Glass game.
Why Is The Shot Roulette Game So Popular?
One of the main reasons why this roulette drinking game is so well-liked is that it is an amazing ice-breaker. Sometimes, going to a gathering with total strangers may be a bit awkward. But, as we may all agree, alcohol surely helps individuals relax and become more affable. That’s why starting the party with a quick game of Shot Roulette is a great way to let go of any anxiety one may feel. Plus, the greatest perk of this game is the fact that it is entirely up to the players to decide what the rules will be.
Origin of Roulette
The Different Types of Rules of Shot Roulette
Pick A Glass
Spin the Wheel and Take A Shot
Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Shots
Tips for Playing Shot Glass Roulette
PROS OF PLAYING SHOT ROULETTE
CONS OF PLAYING SHOT ROULETTE
Works as an ice-breaker.
Players may spend too much money on alcohol.
It is super fun.
Drinking irresponsibly may lead to serious consequences.
Players can think of different rules every time.
Players may get bored after an hour or so.
It is super affordable.
Many low-quality Shot Roulette wheels are available online.
Origin of Roulette
We believe most of you have wondered about the origin of the popular casino game while playing roulette online. It is believed that the very first form of roulette dates back to the 17th century. The country where it originated is France, and Blaise Pascal is said to be the founder of the spinning wheel game. The reason being is that Pascal presented a primal form of roulette.
Over the years, the fascinating game has become more and more favored by individuals. Of course, several other variations were introduced, as well. Today, there are three main variants of roulette, namely European, French, and American. Nonetheless, you are not required to be a roulette expert to play Shot Glass Roulette.
The drinking game is, of course, not as old as roulette itself, but it is just as popular. Although the name of the game sounds a bit dangerous, there is nothing to be afraid of. You won’t be shot, but you may have to take a shot from the wheel. In the next paragraphs, we will thoroughly explain all rules of the Shot Roulette drinking game so that you can have a splendid time next time you play it.
The Different Types of Rules of Shot Roulette
One of the main advantages of Shot Roulette is the fact that players are allowed to come up with their own rules when playing. You won’t have to stick to particular instructions. Quite the opposite, actually; you can make each gaming session even more exhilarating than the previous one.
The package of the roulette drinking game contains roulette balls, a wheel, and several glass shots. Each shot has numbers written on them. These numbers correspond to the figures on the wheel. Depending on the rules you choose to play by, these numbers may be to your advantage or disadvantage.
Pick A Glass
Many players choose to play Shot Roulette in the following way: each player picks one or more glasses, and if the ball stops in the corresponding number on the wheel, the holder of the glass with the figure written on it should drink. This is a fun and quite fair way to play the game. The reason being is that nobody will drink more than the other players.
However, you should keep in mind that some Shot Roulette sets sold online come with 12 rather than six shots. Therefore, if three people play the game, each one of them will be required to drink four shots in total. In such cases, perhaps, it will be better to choose alcohol that is not as strong as whiskey, for instance. Many individuals choose to go with sweet shots made with different syrups, juices, and some sort of alcohol, such as gin or vodka.
Spin the Wheel and Take A Shot
Another thing you can do is pour alcohol into all glass shots. Then, taking turns, you should spin the wheel and take a shot. For instance, if the ball falls into sector 28, you should drink the liquid in the respective shot. The game continues until all glass shots are empty. If you happen to get an empty shot, you do not drink anything for that particular round.
One thing to keep in mind is that you should always drink responsibly, especially if you play by these rules. The reason being is that, depending on your luck, you may end up drinking five or even more shots. If the alcohol is too strong, you may get tipsy quite swiftly. In other words, know your limits, and don’t forget that your main aim should be to have endless fun with your friends.
Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Shots
This alternative is perhaps the most exciting one. It may be called Russian Roulette drinking game because it strongly resembles the deadly game of chance. As some of you may know, in Russian Roulette, one round is placed in a revolver, and after that, the cylinder is spun. The player is then required to point the gun to his head and pull the trigger.
Needless to say, the Shot Roulette variation we’re about to discuss is completely safe. If players choose to play by these rules, the shot glasses should get filled with water. However, depending on your preferences, you should pour vodka into one or more of the glasses. This way, when a player spins the wheel, they will have to drink the liquid from the respective cup. The funny part is that nobody will know whether they’ll taste water or vodka.
The fact that you will be unaware of what you’ll get when you take a shot is the reason why many people compare the game with Russian Roulette. As an alternative, you may also pour different types of alcohol into each shot. This way, everyone will enjoy more than one drink during the game. However, the latter is associated with a greater risk of getting tipsy, so we advise you to always play responsibly.
Tips for Playing Shot Glass Roulette
First and foremost, if you wish to have a fun and unproblematic game of drinking roulette, you should always drink responsibly. Some people get tipsy much easier than others, which is why it is crucial to know your limits. If you feel that you may get sick, it would be better to quit the game. This will be not only to your advantage but to that of your friends, as well.
Secondly, we recommend you to not put too much thought into the Shot Roulette casino drinking game. As you can see from the previous paragraphs, the rules may be super simple. Thus, it is really not advisable to spend hours thinking of more complicated instructions players should abide by. The truth is that this game was made to be simple and fun – nothing more than that.
And thirdly, ensure that you choose a good drinking roulette set. Some come with plastic cups, which is not the best option you can go with. Instead, we recommend you choose glass ones. Not only are they more sustainable, but you won’t have to worry about crumpling them all the time.
Are Shot Roulette Drinking Game’s rules simple?
Absolutely. The rules of this drinking game are not only simple, but super versatile, as well. Depending on your preferences and the number of players, you can change the rules so that they are suitable to your interests. The one main rule is to have fun throughout the entire time.
Can the Roulette Shot Glass game be played by people who do not consume alcohol?
Yes, of course. It is entirely up to you what drink you will pour into the glass shots. For example, you can pour different drinks in each shot, which will bring in the element of surprise. You are not obliged to use alcoholic beverages. Instead, you can make various non-alcoholic cocktails.
What inspired the creation of this game?
It goes without saying that the popular roulette casino game is the main inspiration for this drinking game. The very first form of roulette was introduced back in the 17th century, which shows us just how prominent this game is.
How to choose the best drinking roulette set?
If you look online, you will find numerous Shot Roulette Wheel sets. However, not all of them are worth your money. We advise you to always choose sets with glass shots rather than plastic ones. This way, you will be able to play the game for years without having to buy a new one.
Is the Shot Roulette drinking game popular?
A significant number of individuals love to play the roulette wheel drinking game. There are many reasons for its huge popularity. The major one is the fact that the game is very simple, and most of the available sets are super affordable.
Roulette is one of the most iconic casino games in the world, famous for its simple mechanic of a spinning wheel and a ball. While the origins of roulette are debated, most agree that it first rose to prominence in 18th-century France and quickly spread across Europe and then to America.
The game has evolved over the centuries, with different wheel layouts and betting options now available. This blog will explore the fascinating history of roulette game, exploring how it went from a prohibited game in many countries to the world’s most popular casino table game.
Roulette Origins: What We Know
The exact origins of roulette are shrouded in mystery, with multiple theories about when and where the game first emerged. Some claim roulette wheel history originated in 17th-century France, while others trace it back to 18th-century England. The most widely accepted story links the roulette wheel to 17th-century French physicist Blaise Pascal, who was attempting to develop a perpetual motion machine.
The roulette wheel’s origins led to the casino game’s creation in 18th-century France, where it quickly gained popularity. From French casinos, roulette spread to other parts of Europe and eventually to America. This roulette origins blog will look at the history of the game in more depth – but if you’re looking for the best online roulette sites, make sure to check out our recommended US-friendly online casinos.
The History of Roulette Game
The earliest predecessor to roulette was a game called Roly-Poly, played in 17th century England. Players would bet on which number a ball would land on when spun around a circular or octagonal wheel divided into numbered slots. This primitive game of chance laid the foundation for what would eventually become roulette.
The most widespread story behind roulette’s origins traces the game to Blaise Pascal, the French mathematician and physicist. In 1655, Pascal was trying to create a perpetual motion machine that could keep operating continuously without any outside energy source. His attempt involved a wheel with numbered slots and a ball. The wheel would spin indefinitely, but the ball would eventually lose momentum, land in a slot, and disrupt the perpetual motion – essentially an early primitive form of roulette.
While we’ve looked at a broader overview of roulette’s history, the game’s most important advances happened in Europe. During the early 1800s, roulette spread beyond France to other continental European countries. We’ll cover this in the section below.
European Influence and Spread
In the mid-1800s, roulette became a famous gambling activity in luxury European spa resorts and casinos. Wealthy English tourists would visit the German spa town of Bad Homburg and play in the casino, helping to spread the game’s appeal. Monte Carlo, in the tiny principality of Monaco, became the most legendary roulette destination. When Prince Charles III legalized gambling in the mid-1800s to generate revenue, lavish casinos were opened to attract the elite.
Monte Carlo casino helped cement roulette’s reputation for sophistication and glamor. Crowds flocked to experience the dramatic spins and high stakes of roulette. Famous Europeans like Napoleon Bonaparte and writer Fyodor Dostoevsky were said to be avid players. European novelists and playwrights portrayed the risky excitement of Monte Carlo roulette – and this stereotype is something that remains even today, especially in Hollywood films.
As roulette gained popularity across Europe, however, some countries saw it as dangerous – citing potential negative social repercussions. Some European countries went as far as the US to ban the game – but these bans proved short-lived, and the game continued to become a staple in European casinos.
American Evolution and Changes
Roulette arrived in America in the late 1800s, introduced by European immigrants. The game quickly gained popularity in the U.S. for its fast pace and big payouts. But gradually, it developed some uniquely American traits as well.
When early European settlers came to America, many brought their love for gambling. Roulette wheels could be found in saloons and gambling halls across the country, and they became especially prominent in frontier towns. In the late 1800s, Monte Carlo-style European casinos started appearing in resort towns like Saratoga Springs, drawing wealthy industrialists to the game – and bringing in vital profits for local businesses.
But roulette was also spreading to more working-class gamblers across America. Then came the nationwide gambling prohibition of the early 20th century. This drove many roulette games underground and ended up having the opposite effect to what the government wanted; public interest surged, and the game’s popularity rose faster than pretty much anyone could have imagined!
As the game expanded west, French names for bets were replaced with English translations like “colors” for rouge/noir. Outside bets on red, black, odd, even, and 1-18 or 19-36 became popular with casual players. The language and gameplay gradually took on American nuances.
Most notably, in the 1800s, American roulette wheels developed a key physical difference from European wheels. The American wheel layout has green 0 and 00 slots, which was perhaps the biggest change in roulette number history, while European wheels have just one 0. This significantly raises the house edge in America, making the game more profitable for casinos. It impacts betting strategies as well.
In 1907, American entrepreneur John H. Patterson brought roulette wheels to the carnival circuit for the first time. He hired barkers to lure crowds with the promise of big 36:1 payouts on number bets. This boosted roulette’s mass appeal in America as a carnival attraction – and today, more than a century later, it remains the most popular casino table game in the states.
Indeed, online roulette is also hugely popular – and you’ll be able to play this iconic casino table game at pretty much any online gambling website. If you’re looking for the best roulette sites in NJ, make sure to check out our curated list of sites, all hand-picked by our online gambling experts.
Online Roulette: A Modern Twist
The internet revolutionized gaming, and roulette was one of the first casino games to make the transition online. As early as 1994, the first online casinos started offering virtual roulette tables. Over the next decades, online roulette exploded in popularity thanks to the convenience, accessibility, and variety it offered players.
In the early days, graphics and gameplay were pretty basic, but it was quickly apparent that online roulette offered one huge benefit over playing the game in land-based casinos; players could enjoy the game from their homes without needing to make a trip to their local casino.
Another major benefit of online roulette was that it allowed players to access a much larger selection of games than was previously available. For example, in conventional land-based casinos, American players were limited almost exclusively to American roulette – an exciting game, but one that carried a much higher house edge than the versions found in Europe. The internet changed all of this, and players were now able to access more profitable versions of the game, like French and European roulette.
Aside from graphical improvements, online roulette remained largely unchanged until the 2010s when game developers like NetEnt and Playtech started creating live casino games. These games once again revolutionized the online gambling industry and allowed players to enjoy playing the game from their home – but with a live video stream showing the action playing out in real-time.
You should find that live dealer roulette is widely available. For example, head to pretty much any of the PA roulette sites we recommend here on our website, and you’ll see live versions of the game on offer.
How to Play Roulette: A Beginner’s Guide
Regardless of whether you play at the best online casinos in Pennsylvania or at land-based venues, roulette is played on a wheel with numbered slots that spin, along with a ball that rolls around the wheel before settling into a slot. You bet on which number the ball will land on, as well as other betting options.
To begin, players exchange cash or chips at the roulette table, then place bets by putting chips on areas of the table. On a standard roulette table layout, the numbers 1-36 are arranged in a grid, with additional outside bet areas for red/black, even/odd, 1-18/19-36, dozens, and columns.
Once bets are placed, the dealer spins the wheel and rolls the ball in the opposite direction. As the wheel slows, the ball bounces around until it stops in a numbered pocket. The dealer marks the winning number, clears losing bets, and pays out winners.
Below, we’ll look at some of the most popular bets you’ll find at the roulette table:
BET
DESCRIPTION
Straight Up
Bet on a single number. Pays 35:1
Split
Bet on two adjacent numbers. Pays 17:1
Street
Bet on three numbers in a row. Pays 11:1
Corner
Bet on a block of four numbers. Pays 8:1
Six Line
Bet on two adjacent rows of three numbers. Pays 5:1
Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low
Bet on red/black, odd/even, or low/high numbers. Pays 1:1
What are the origins of roulette?
Most historians agree that roulette was created by a man called Blaise Pascal, who accidentally made a primitive form of roulette in his quest to build a perpetual motion machine. The game evolved over time, with influences from the Italian game Biribi and, of course, a strong US influence after the prohibition era.
How did roulette spread across Europe?
Roulette spread across Europe in the 19th century, becoming one of the most popular casino games. The single zero roulette wheel became the premier game in Monte Carlo, where the Blanc family established a gambling mecca for Europe’s elite.
What’s different in American roulette?
The American-style roulette game – the version with a single and double zero – was created in illegal gambling dens. The additional pocket on the wheel was designed to give a higher house edge to those running the gambling dens – and it stuck, with most land-based casinos in the US using the American roulette format even today.
When did online roulette emerge?
Online roulette was first created in 1994, when key game developers like Microgaming and IGT started to get involved in the online gambling world. However, it wasn’t until 1996 that the first commercial version of online roulette was available. Back then, this game was only playable through a downloadable software client.
What are some common bets in roulette?
There is a wide variety of betting options in roulette, and that’s one of the reasons why the game is enjoyed by players of all levels. For example, the pretty straightforward straight-up number bet lets you bet on which single number you think will be rolled, while more complex bets like “neighbor” bets allow for a more customized betting experience.
FRENCH ROULETTE: A MINES GAMES EASY WAY ROULETTE GAME VARIETY OFFERING HIGHEST RTP
Roulette highlights multiple variations that differ slightly based on their wheel and or/special rules. Each of these variants also offers a different return to the player (RTP).
If you’re looking for the best-paying game, then French roulette is the answer. With 98.65% RTP, it usually delivers the highest payback. But can any different roulette variation top this RTP percentage?
This blog covers more on the complexities of French roulette and other variations. It also examines if there’s a game that can top 98.65% RTP.
Specialties in French Roulette
French roulette is slightly rare compared to other roulette alternatives. It is available in European casinos and through the online software providers Real Time Gaming and Microgaming.
You can see below the main characteristics that make up the French variety.
Played on a European Wheel
Roulette features 3 different types of wheels, including the European, American, and mini versions. The European wheel includes 37 pockets. These pockets consist of 1-36 along with a single zero. The zero values the house on even-money bets, including red/black, 1-18/19-36, and odd/even. By dividing the 36 neutral pockets into 37 total pockets, you’ll find that this wheel’s RTP is 97.30%.
Different Varieties of the Roulette Game
Land-based casinos offer French, European, and American roulette. Assuming they provide multiple varieties, then they usually offer the higher-paying game at more significant stakes. Online casinos feature mini roulette along with some unique variations. Their software allows for more exotic versions of roulette.
American Roulette
The game is played on an American wheel, which highlights 38 pockets. The pockets include 1-36, double zero, and zero. In European roulette, the zero pockets support the house on even-money wagers. By Dividing 36 neutral pockets by the 38 full pockets, you’ll find that the game offers 94.76% RTP. It’s the lowest-paying approved version of roulette.
European Roulette
This variation is played on a European wheel. As covered earlier, this wheel has 37 pockets, including a single zero. European roulette features 97.30% RTP. Its payback stays at 97.30% because it doesn’t benefit from the en prison or la partage rules.
Mini Roulette
Although not as common as the other games covered so far, mini roulette is available in some casinos. Its wheel features 13 pockets, including one zero pocket. Dividing the 12 neutral numbers by the 13 total numbers, you’d typically arrive at just 92.3% RTP. However, many mini roulette tables put the la partage rule in play. La partage improves the payback to 96.15%.
Exotic Variations
Real money online casinos feature some pretty exciting roulette games. These variations include everything from multiple wheels that spin simultaneously to a pinball-style setup. While these games are certainly different from the average variant, they don’t typically affect the RTP. Exotic online variations are usually based on European roulette and it’s a 97.30% payback.
One Game that can pay better than French Roulette
French roulette is usually the highest-paying variation. But progressive roulette can offer better RTP on occasion. You can read about how this game works below and why it sometimes delivers higher payback than the French variation.
How Does Progressive Roulette Work?
Progressive roulette features a progressive jackpot. It calls on players to make an optional side bet to qualify for the jackpot. The progressive prize continues growing with each side wager until it’s finally hit.
How do the jackpot hits vary from one progressive game to the next?
However, it generally revolves around one number/pocket winning so many consecutive rounds. For example, the same number may have to win five games for the jackpot delivered in a row.
Progressive roulette isn’t an overly tight game. After all, most people play slot machines if they want to pursue jackpots. But this variation is available in some land-based and online casinos.
When Does Progressive Roulette Pay More Than French Roulette?
This game doesn’t offer very high RTP when the jackpot is first seeded. It may only feature 80% payback, or less, on the side wager in the beginning. At this point, the progressive version is not only the best-paying roulette game but also one of the highest-paying casino games ever. Of course, progressive roulette doesn’t necessarily have to exceed the break-even point. It can still offer higher RTP than the French variation just by getting close to breaking even.
How likely are you to benefit from this higher RTP?
The biggest problem with progressive roulette payback is that it’s all theoretical. While this game truly can offer over 100% RTP, it doesn’t provide a very realistic shot at winning profits. After all, you need to hit the jackpot if you’re going to realize the 100% payback. Alternatively, you can get lucky and win lots of regular payouts.
Why the French variation still reigns Supreme?
Jackpot roulette can pay more than the French game. In all practicality, though, French roulette is the best version of payback. It doesn’t require you to win a jackpot or pull off any other dramatic feats. Instead, it offers 98.65% RTP at any point. The only thing that you must do to take advantage of this high payback is place even-money bets. If you’re mainly concerned about short-term winnings, though, then progressive roulette isn’t grand for this purpose. It’s more about the potential for a jackpot and side payouts.
French roulette, meanwhile, is the top choice for winning now, rather than dreaming of winning in the future. You have to find it to take advantage.
Conclusion
Roulette RTP can be confusing when considering the different available versions. However, you need only look to one variation when seeking the best payback: French roulette. Progressive roulette has the potential to be the top-paying variant. But too much of the RTP is wrapped up in the jackpot. Furthermore, the payback essentially assumes that you’ll win a share of the progressive prize. To summarize, French roulette is the best version to play when you want to win more. It offers 98.65% RTP on even-money wagers, making it one of the highest-paying casino games.
One of the, “Big Three,” (Along with Craps and Blackjack) and coming from the French word for, “Little wheel,” Roulette is one of the longest extant casino games out there. Starting out in the 18th century in a form really close to its current form, Roulette is a game that is as easy to play as Baccarat (the player does nothing except make bets) and the easiest to understand.
Simply, the player makes a bet on a single number, or alternatively, makes one of many available bets that cover multiple numbers. Additionally, the player can also bet on multiple individual numbers (or multiple bets consisting of more than one number) if the player likes. While some players stick to Even Money or 3-For-1 bets, (more on specific bets later) most live casino players seem to enjoy picking individual numbers by hunch or that hold some sort of affinity for them.
Roulette was once more popular than it currently is, although it has experienced a recent resurgence in certain casinos in Las Vegas due to Millennials enjoying the game. This is probably due to the simplicity of the game and casual pace. While Roulette has a higher House Edge than a game such as Blackjack, in some cases, a player might actually lose less per hour on Roulette due to the slower speed of the live game.
Roulette felts are often green, especially in live casinos, but online casinos (and certain live casinos) prefer to switch up the color scheme in support of the aesthetics of the casino. Some casinos may use sandy colored felts, whereas I have also personally seen bluish felts.
Other than some side bets which have not spread, Roulette is a simple game in which the croupier (proper term for a Roulette dealer) spins a ball until the ball comes to rest in one of the slots. If the ball lands on a winning individual number for the player, or if it lands such that the number corresponds to a multi-number bet, (Black-29 would win if the player bets Black, for example) then the bet wins. If the number hit does not correspond to the player’s bet, then the bet loses.
The Roulette Wheel
Roulette Misconceptions
Before we get into the specifics of Roulette, there are a number of misconceptions that should be dispelled. I want to get this out of the way now because it is fairly important not to fall into any, “Traps.”
Number Tracking
Many players believe that if they, “Track,” a Roulette wheel, then they can make bets that, “Should,” win by betting either with or against streaks. How about that notion? If betting with streaks was viable, then all of those players would be winning and those betting against would be in error. If betting against streaks was viable, then the, “With streaks,” players would be in the wrong.
The truth of the matter is that the majority of bets on the Roulette wheel have the same house edge. If we are talking about a, “European,” (single zero) wheel, then the probability of any number hitting is 1/37. Some players like to wait for a number to come up two or three times in a row and then load up on that number thinking it will happen again. That’s not true. While you are extremely unlikely to see it happen, the wheel doesn’t care if the same number has appeared twelve times in a row, provided that there is not some flaw with the wheel.
Many players believe in a concept called, “Visual Ballistics.” That essentially refers to watching the ball circle the Roulette wheel and having a general notion, right before bets close, of where the ball is going to land. While successfully adopting this practice is theoretically possible, one would have to spend tons of time training/practicing at it, and even then, its viability is disputed by many gambling specialists. I personally think it is possible in a live casino, though insanely difficult. There are much easier advantages to be had.
Some people believe that they can identify a flawed wheel and bet on that to their advantage. What I will say about that is many casinos recalibrate their wheels frequently in an effort to ensure that they are, “Balanced.” In other words, all of the results of that wheel are fed to the casino and the casino itself is able to become aware of any wheel bias that may exist well before most players would be able to identify it, assuming the individual player could at all. Again, before computer tracking on the end of the casino, this may have once been a viable way to beat the Roulette wheel, but it would be insanely difficult now if it is even possible.
In the meantime, many players like to adopt betting systems in an effort to beat the game. Among these systems is the Martingale, which we have discussed at length elsewhere, and other popular systems are the Labouchere’ and Fibonacci. Feel free to look those up on your own time if you are interested.
The only thing I will say about Roulette systems, for the purposes of this writing, is that they are all entirely useless and your long-term results over enough spins will come very close to the expected loss pursuant to the house edge. In fact, betting systems perform worse against Roulette than against games such as Craps or Baccarat because Roulette has a greater house edge working against the player. More on House Edge later.
While Roulette may be a viable casino game if someone has an angle such as a Loss Rebate, most of the time, Roulette is not even the best game to play for those purposes. Again, this is because Roulette has a greater House Edge than many other Table Games.
In terms of playing straight up, Roulette should be generally avoided unless you really enjoy the game, are playing for fun and with money, you can afford to lose. Games such as Craps, Baccarat, Blackjack and Video Poker almost always have a lower House Edge than Roulette. Pai-Gow Poker has a lower house edge than American (double-zero) Roulette and the player can essentially directly control the speed of PGP. In terms of decisions per hour v. amount bet v. house edge, a player might have a lower expected loss per hour with Roulette than Video Poker or Blackjack, (depending on other factors) but the player will lose more money per dollar bet over the long run.
The Roulette Wheel
There are a few different Roulette wheels out there and it is the wheel itself that determines the House Edge! Here are a few different examples of Roulette wheels:
European: 1-36 and one 0.
American: 1-36, 0 and 00
Sands: 1-36, 0, 00 and Sands (Effectively a third zero!)
Simply put, a player will do better to play on a Roulette wheel with as few zeroes as possible because zeroes result in a loss for the player unless the player is betting on zero. You may occasionally hear someone say, “More numbers is more ways to win,” and you can rest assured you should NEVER listen to anything that person has to say about gambling henceforward.
It is true that you can bet on one (or more, if applicable) of the zeroes, but that means any of the other numbers (or other zero) will then cause you to use. Since all of the payouts are the same regardless of the table, more numbers are always a bad thing.
Roulette Bets
While the game of Roulette is extremely simple, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t come with a wide variety of bets that you can make! In fact, many players like to play multiple bets that, “Stack,” up on certain numbers while avoiding others. It would be impossible to go through every possible combination of bets that could be made, but here are all the individual ones:
Red/Black
Perhaps the most common Roulette bet, Red/Black is found at the center bottom of the layout and is the easiest for a player sitting in the center of the table to reach. This bet is simple, if you bet Red and it lands on a Red number, you win. If it lands on Green or Black, you lose. If you bet Black, same thing, just the opposite!
Odd/Even
Another common bet is the Odd/Even bet, and I’m sure you can all guess how that works! If you bet on an Even, and the number is a non-zero Even, then you win! If it is a zero or an odd, then you lose. Betting on Odd has the same but opposite effect, unless it lands on a zero, then you still lose. That’s why zero is called, “The House Number.”
1-18/19-36 (Or High/Low)
I have never seen a Roulette layout actually say, “High/Low,” but I have known a few players to call it the High or Low bet. I’m not sure if that is a colloquialism pertinent only to my area of the United States or a common thing.
Either way, if you bet on 1-18 and the number falls in that range, then you are paid Even Money. If you bet on 19-36 and the number falls in that range, same thing.
1-12, 13-24, 25-36 or Column Bets
These are bets in which the player places a wager on any of twelve numbers. In the case of the bets denoting actual numerical values, the player wins 2:1 (3-FOR-1) if the number falls within the value in question. In the case of the columns, the player wins if any number in the selected column hits. If any other number than that upon which the player has bet hits, then that bet shall lose.
Six-Line
This is a bet made on six of the numbers going by two columns. The way this bet is placed consists of the player placing the desired bet amount on the bottom and between the two columns in question. For example, the player could bet on 1-6 because of the way the numbers appear on the layout. The player could make this bet the following ways:
1-6
4-9
7-12
10-15
13-18
16-21
19-24
22-27
25-31
28-33
31-36
The player cannot bet on 34-36 AND 1-3 with one chip because they are on opposite sides of the table. However, if the player could cut the desired bet amount in half, then the player would be able to make a three-number bet on 1-3 AND 34-36. Besides that, if the player can divide the desired total bet amount by six, then the player could just bet each of those numbers individually, it makes no difference.
First Five
The first five bet is a bet that can only be made on American Roulette, and the bet does what it says on the box. The player is making a single bet on the numbers 0-00-1-2-3. This is the WORST bet on the table and is actually the only bet that has a worse House Edge than all of the other American Roulette bets, which each come in at 5.26%.
Corner
A Corner bet is a bet that consists of four numbers. It is called a, “Corner,” bet because the player places the bet in one of the corners such that the chip is essentially touching four numbers. This bet wins if any of those four numbers hits and loses otherwise.
Once again, there is no mathematical difference between making this bet and just dividing the desired bet amount by four and picking four individual numbers. The only real use for this bet (and many other multiple number bets) is that it gives the player the ability to quickly bet multiple numbers with one chip.
25-26-28-29 is an example of a Corner bet, but if you do not like 28, then you could divide the bet by four and just make equal bets on 25, 26, 29 and 3 (or whatever number you like). Again, Corner Bets and others really just exist for convenience.
Street Bet
This is a bet on a Row of numbers, such as 1-2-3, and pays 11:1. Again, if you wish to bet three numbers that do not appear in numerical order, then you can divide the desired bet amount by three and spread it out across three individual numbers anywhere on the layout. There is no impact on the House Edge.
Split Bet
A Split Bet means that you are splitting one bet between any two numbers that appear either side by side, or one above and one below the other. To make this bet, simply put the bet on the line between the two numbers.
Individual Number Bets
Self-explanatory.
Roulette Bets Chart
Please see the following Table for the House Edge for all of the different bets as well as probability of winning:
BET
PAYS
PROBABILITY WINAMERICAN
HOUSE EDGE
PROBABILITY WINEUROPEAN
HOUSE EDGE
Red
1
47.37%
5.26%
48.65%
2.7%
Black
1
47.37%
5.26%
48.65%
2.7%
Odd
1
47.37%
5.26%
48.65%
2.7%
Even
1
47.37%
5.26%
48.65%
2.7%
1 to 18
1
47.37%
5.26%
48.65%
2.7%
19 to 36
1
47.37%
5.26%
48.65%
2.7%
1 to 12
2
31.58%
5.26%
32.43%
2.7%
13 to 24
2
31.58%
5.26%
32.43%
2.7%
25 to 36
2
31.58%
5.26%
32.43%
2.7%
Six line(6 numbers)
5
18.79%
5.26%
16.22%
2.7%
First five(5 numbers)
6
13.16%
7.89%
N/A
N/A
Corner (4 numbers)
8
10.53%
5.26%
10.81%
2.7%
Street(3 numbers)
11
7.89%
5.26%
8.11%
2.7%
Split(2 numbers)
17
5.26%
5.26%
5.41%
2.7%
Any one number
35
2.63%
5.226%
2.7%
2.7%
I’m not getting into this information with Roulette games that have three or more zeroes. They suck and are ridiculous, so don’t play them. In my opinion, American Roulette is MORE than bad enough with its two zeroes.
Unique Bets And Variations
There are a few different unique variations of bets that are available on either single-zero or double-zero wheels, but are not terribly common, so we will list them separately:
Atlantic City Evens
If you make an Even Money bet in Atlantic City (Red/Black/Even/Odd/1-18/19-36) and the bet loses, then half of your money will be returned. This is true only for Double-Zero Roulette wheels, but this rule does reduce the House Edge to 2.63%, which is a lower house edge than a single-zero Roulette game that does not have this rule.
Obviously, there is no reason a player should make any bets other than Even Money bets on these tables, but I assure you, many players do anyway.
French Roulette
French Roulette is played on a single-zero Roulette wheel and features a rule known as, “En Pri
son,” known to English speakers frequently as, “Imprisonment.”
Imprisonment may also work under a mechanism that enables the player to leave the same bet up as opposed to losing anything, however, if the next spin is a winner for the bet, then the player only receives the original bet back. The way it works out, some casinos will allow imprisonment only once while others will allow it multiple times, in case a zero repeats. If allowed multiple times, for instance, if the zero came up twice in a row, then the imprisoned bet would need to win twice to be fully returned to the player.
Given the choice, the player would do well just to take half of the bet back regardless of the imprisonment rule, but the difference in House Edge is very small, especially since the initial decision only comes up on 1/37 spins.
There you have it, those are all the bets and they all suck compared to other games, except an Even Money bet with Imprisonment (or half back) on a Single-Zero wheel isn’t too terrible. You would still be getting a much better bet on Craps, Baccarat, most Blackjack games and many Video Poker paytables, so only play Roulette if you really enjoy it or there is some angle that enables you to use Roulette for the best advantage.
Bet Amounts
One thing that you will notice is that different Roulette tables will have different minimum bets, but those minimum bets can be made in different ways. In general, bets are known as either being, “Inside,” or, “Outside.” The easiest way to know the difference is that, if your bet is directly touching a numerical value, then it is an inside bet. If your bet is fully within a box (and not on an individual number) then it is an outside bet.
When it comes to Table Minimums, whatever the stated minimum is must be met in order for a player to be permitted to make an Outside Bet. In other words, a player may not combine multiple Outside Bets to reach the Table Minimum. When it comes to Inside Bets, a player may generally make a combination of bets with a smaller denomination chip than the Table Minimum, provided the sum (total) of the bets meets or exceeds the Table Minimum.
Additionally, some casinos will allow a greater maximum bet on Outside Bets as opposed to Inside Bets. The reason for that is because Outside Bets either pay Even Money or 2:1. (2-FOR-1 or 3-FOR-1) For that reason, casinos will allow a larger maximum bet on those because a single win is not going to, “Hurt,” them and is within their levels of risk that they want to take. Inside Bets may not always have a lower maximum, but they usually do. These lower maximums are referred as, “To the number,” which means that you may not put more than that maximum, in total bets, in such a way that the total bets on an individual number exceed the maximum.
For example, if the maximum were $50 to the number, then you could not bet $50 on Black-29 and then make a Corner bet also containing Black-29 as one of the four numbers. Some casinos, in fact, will not allow your total bets to exceed the Table Maximum for Inside Bets, (even if they are not all to the number) but that is rare in my experience.
Other Various Specifics
One thing that players in many Land Casinos will notice is that there are a bunch of different colored chips available for Roulette players that do not denote a specific denomination. The reason for that is because each individual player is assigned a color and gets to select what denomination (within the table maximum, and a, “Regular,” amount) that the chip will represent.
If a player is the only one (or first) at a table playing a particular denomination, such as $25, then the casino might provide that player with actual casino chips to play with. However, it will generally not do that for more than one player.
The reason for this is because all of the players share the betting spots at the Roulette Table, that makes Roulette very unique compared to other games with a technical exception to Craps. The difference in Craps, though, is that bets on the Don’t Pass, Pass or Field will always be placed in front of the player, so the crew knows what bet belongs to who and it is difficult (if not impossible) to cheat.
The way that players used to cheat is by doing things such as, “Past-Posting,” which means that they would place bets after the result was known. In general terms, someone usually runs distraction on the croupier, or a really fast person can do it while the croupier is busy glancing at the result on the wheel, and they can put the bet out knowing it will win. It’s not really a bet at all. It is cheating and is 100% illegal.
Different colored chips make past-posting much more difficult because the croupier will have a general idea what bets you had out before the result is known. More importantly, surveillance will be able to more easily identify and catch a past-post as opposed to an honest mistake.
Another gimmick that many old-time cheaters would do is to swap in stacks of chips for other stacks that get swapped out while the croupier was checking the result or someone was running distraction. The way it worked is that the person would have a stack of a few chips that might be four red ($5) chips on top of a chip of a much greater denomination…often $100 or more.
Anyway, the player would make bets (sometimes Even Money) with a stack of all Reds and then swap in a stack with the big denomination chip on the bottom if the bet was a winner. The croupier, if the move worked, would not know the difference. Alternatively, the player might bet a stack with the big chip at the bottom, but then swap in a stack of all red if the bet did not win. Sometimes, if a win, the player would make a big scene about how they made the big bet, “Accidentally,” and can’t believe they got so lucky.
That sort of move overcomes the House Edge BY A LOT. Even if it is not possible to pull off at every opportunity, the cheater does not need every opportunity to be successful in order to profit. Let’s take a look at how much a losing attempt with four red chips v. three reds and a black ($20 v. $115) would cost:
(20 * 18/38) – (20 * 20/38) = -1.05263157895
As you can see, the expected loss of the move, playing fairly, corresponds to the House Edge. However, here is the new expected value if the cheat works and is able to be employed:
(115) – (20 * 20/38) = 104.473684211
The amount of $115 is only bet if the result is known, therefore, when that amount is bet it wins 100% of the time. The player, if he has the opportunity, will either win $115 or lose $20.
In other words, this move can fail much more often than it succeeds and the cheater is still expect to profit a ton. Sometimes the player would get caught, but when that happened, they would just claim to have made a mistake or not been paying attention. It took a great innocent act, but some people were able to pull it off. After a big win, most players would get the Hell out of there, or make another bet or two just for show then leave.
If that sounds good to you, please reexamine your moral code! Besides that, the main reason that the casinos switched to having individually colored chips for each individual player is to prevent that. Since all of the chips have the same value, the move doesn’t work. Granted, a savvy cheater might be able to replace one stack of chips with another containing one or two extra chips, but that’s not going to be worth the risk and is more likely to be noticed. Why more likely? You’d have to do it with bigger stacks to have any real chance of pulling it off.
Besides, since all the chips have the same value, it’s really not enough of a profit margin for most cheaters when you factor in the possibility of doing time because of it. Some people want to play Roulette with the Imprisonment Rule, but nobody wants to GO TO PRISON for playing Roulette!
But, why do you need different colored chips? In a word: Cheaters.
Online Roulette Differences
There are a few fundamental differences in the Online Roulette games as opposed to Live Casino games, but surprisingly, not very many.
The first major difference is that there is no need for different colored chips, even in the Live Casino Online Roulette Game, because individual chips do not get put on a physical layout. All of the chips are an electronic representation, and as a result, players can choose chips of varying denominations that have the denomination reflected on them since it makes no difference. You can’t past-post a computer screen.
Beyond that, Online Roulette minimums are often going to be lower than those of Land-Based casinos, for both Live Dealer and electronic games. Again, that’s compared to Live Table games in land casinos. Many land casinos actually have electronic Roulette games for lower denominations, (often $0.25 or $0.05 depending on visual quality and features, I have even seen one for pennies!) so online might not even have the lowest minimums.
As a side note, be careful what bets you make on those electronic Roulette machines in land casinos. On some of them, the casinos do not change the number of zeroes, but what they do change are the payouts on some of the longer shot bets. Changing the payouts effectively is the same thing as adding one or more zeroes to the physical representation of the game, but you cannot just glance and see that the payouts are reduced without going to the HELP screen sometimes.
Another difference with the online game is that it gives you the opportunity to play at whatever pace you like, with exception to Live Dealer Roulette. You can take your sweet time making your bets, switching them up, “Tracking,” numbers, or doing whatever else it is you want to do. There are no other players at the table.
That’s one nice thing about Land Casinos, too, if you are there at a time when you can be the only player at the table: You can play as slowly as you want! If there’s going to be a croupier there no matter what, then there’s really not much they can say about how long you are taking to place bets. It is important to remember, though, if you are going to play slowly that the croupier might spin the wheel and drop the ball as soon as the first bet hits the felt! If you’re really nice and a good conversationalist, though, they’ll sometimes let you play as slow as you like if you’re the only one. However slowly you may be playing, you’re better than an empty table!
In fact, I would suggest playing alone (or close to it) your first time in a land casino that way you can get an idea of how to place the bets you like. Inexperienced players will often get in the way of experienced ones and draw agitated glances and annoyed sighs or grunts. If you’re already comfortable with placing your bets, then you will be a much better companion.
Of course, you don’t have to worry about any of these niceties online when you are the only one at your table. No free drinks, though.
Online Roulette Bonuses
The first thing to note about online Roulette bonuses is that many casinos categorically forbid Roulette play while on a bonus, so it is important to look into the Terms and Conditions to make sure that you are even allowed to play the game to begin with.
Ironically, some online casinos might not even be aware of why they started doing that to begin with, but one of the major reasons was due to two factors that made the game extremely profitable for some players, Opposite Betting and low Wagering Requirements:
Starting with low wagering requirements, some casinos were offering juicy enough bonuses with low enough Wagering Requirements that it was once occasionally possible to play Roulette straight up while on a bonus and have an expectation of profit. The reason why is that the House Edge multiplied by the playthrough requirements resulted in a dollar amount that was less than the amount of the bonus to begin with. Let me give you an example of a magic number:
The first thing that we will assume is a 100% Bonus on a $1000 deposit, which would yield a total bankroll of $2,000. We will also assume that the game is single-zero Roulette, which is a game that would have been offered by most online casinos at that time. We know that the House Edge of an Even Money bet on single-zero is 2.7%, which is denoted as 0.027, so let’s determine how much a player could make in total bets to yield an expected loss of $1,000.
(x * .027) = 1,000
X = $37,037.04
In other words, the player would have to bet $37,037.04 in order to have an expected loss of $1,000, which is the amount of the bonus. That would mean that the player would break even on the deposit. The one thing that you will notice is that WR would only be 37,037.04/2000 = 18.51852x the deposit + bonus. While it seems unbelievable, once upon a time, playthrough requirements were occasionally lower than that.
Playing with a total WR of less than that would yield an expected profit and an advantage for the player. Playing with Wagering Requirements greater than that would yield an expected loss of varying amounts of a player’s deposit. The way WR’s work now, players are generally expected to lose the ENTIRE deposit + bonus if playing the game straight up.
One other thing that would happen is that players could occasionally employ low variance means of, “Grinding out,” playthrough requirements by way of, “Opposite Betting.” In Roulette, opposite betting would consist of betting opposing Even Money options, sometimes occasionally hedging on the zero, which would result in either an expected or guaranteed loss on every spin. In some cases, before casinos discovered that players could do such a thing, the player might even bet the same amount on every single number, which guarantees a loss!
The thing is, with low enough Wagering Requirements (see above) the player could have a guaranteed loss on every single spin and still come out ahead. In fact, had some players not been exceptionally greedy with bonuses and did this sort of opposite betting, online casinos may not have caught onto the problem with low WR’s as quickly, so the ability to play bonuses at an advantage might have lasted that much longer. They certainly would have figured it out eventually, after all the math is EXTREMELY simple, but maybe not quite as fast.
In addition to the greater WR’s, most online casinos have Terms that either directly or indirectly forbid opposite betting on games such as Roulette. Granted, a player may still have the ability to cover 36/37 individual numbers on individual number bets, but again, there may be Terms that effectively forbid playing in that way.
Even with that, there are still Roulette Bonuses out there that can be played at an advantage, even though they are few and far between. The biggest problem is that many of the casinos that have such bonuses are also those notorious for slow-paying or no-paying players, so even if you have a profitable expectation, it really doesn’t matter.
Looking At Some Bonuses
We’re going to look at a few Roulette Bonuses currently available at Wizard of Odds here:
In order to determine the expectation of the bonuses. Most, if not all of them, will have a negative expectation. Either way, this is a good exercise to help everyone understand the math behind them.
Win A Day Casino
Okay, in addition to the fact that it is a Phantom Bonus, the Rules for Win A Day are such that Roulette only contributes 1% to the 10x Wagering Requirements making the Wagering Requirements for Roulette 1000x the deposit + bonus. I really shouldn’t need to explain why this should generally be considered unbeatable, so I won’t.
Honestly, even if there was a super high variance way to beat it, (it would require more than one individual number bet to eventually hit in a short timeframe) you would probably be flagged for Bonus Abuse due to pattern betting. More than anything else, though, I’m not going to entertain this because of the absurdly high Wagering Requirements.
Drake Casino
The bonus that Drake Casino is offering seems insane, so chances are it is not advantageous. It seems that a player may make three deposits of as much as $2,000 each and get a Bonus of 300% ($6,000) on each one for a total bankroll of $8,000 every time.
The first thing that I want to say is, “Bonus at your own risk,” for the following reason:
Management will not be obligated to provide a reason for refusing any withdrawal request or be liable for its decision.
Wonderful, so if you play the bonus they can refuse to pay you for, literally, no reason whatsoever. I’m not saying that they would actually do that, but technically, their own Terms say that they can if they wish.
That being the case, I would not play the Bonus at Drake Casino, but for those of you brave enough, let’s forge ahead.
The deposit bonus has WR of 40x D+B on slots, so the $8,000 bankroll would have a Wagering Requirement of $320,000. Of course, American Roulette only counts as 10%, so the WR on that would be $3,200,000. Granted, a player obviously does not have to take such a large bonus (and would be better off not to) so these are just silly numbers, really…unless you’re crazy.
In any event, the player would expect to lose $168,320 on 3.2M in playthrough requirements, so obviously American Roulette is not the way to go if you want to take
There are many Roulette casino players out there that make a note of all the numbers the balls has landed on in previous spins and use this as a probability guideline in order to predict the outcome of future spins. This is possibly the worst strategy to follow. This is because Roulette is completely a game of chance with regards to where the ball will land next and the ball has as much chance of landing on a number 25 times in a row as it does not landing on that number ever.
Online Roulette strategy should be looked at as profit and loss ratios. This is how the better roulette players tackle their gambling. Unfortunately, this can either mean winning big when the odds are in your favour, or losing big when they are with somebody else.
If you break down the roulette spins into a simple way to understand, you can look at this example. If you place $1 on each spin, after 37 spins you will be $1 down. This is how the house edge works. So, if you are betting $37, you’ll end up with $36. This is why it is important to quit when you’re ahead because a winning streak can easily turn to a losing streak. The key is to keep a simple head. It is often observed that players who are winning seem to think that they are infallible. This is a dangerous space to be in. Many experts play with a 5% winning margin as a goal. This is when they pull out and accept this as a good roulette session.
A good way to tackle Roulette strategy is to split the table into 3 rows. This means 1-34, 2-35 and 3-36. The last row of 3-36 has 4 black numbers and 8 red. The strategy is therefore to place one chip on red, two chips on the first row of 1-34 and two more chips on the second row of 2-35.
When playing online Roulette, especially for the first few times, it is important to employ a safer strategy. This allows you to become more comfortable with the game before starting to take a few more risks. If you play too big in your first few tries, the chances are that you will lose your whole bankroll very quickly and will possibly be quite disheartened the next time you play. You have to be in a good frame of mind when you gamble. This stops you from making rash decisions which could cost you dearly in the long run.
Before starting to play, it is wise to read up on all the roulette rules. They are not as complicated as they seem at first and once you grasp the concept, playing roulette becomes a lot more fun. Playing online for free is a good way to grasp the nuances of the game. For example, US Roulette has a zero and a double zero where European Roulette has just one zero. It is also important to remember that roulette chips do not have any denomination printed on them. Just keep a clear head and enjoy yourself. Everything else will fall into place.
For the most part, calculating roulette payouts is just a matter of multiplication. Each bet pays out at certain odds, and that determines what you multiply the bet by to get the payout. Also, as with most table games, the payouts are done on an X to Y basis, as opposed to an X for Y basis.
This post wants to cover roulette payouts in some degree of detail, though, including how much each bet pays off.
More importantly, I want to explain how the croupier is able to calculate payouts for roulette so quickly. Guess what? They have a system for that.
Payout Odds in Gambling
When you’re gambling on something, you get paid off using odds. Some games offer even odds, which means that if you bet $100, you win $100 when you win.
Most games, though, have various payouts for various kinds of bets.
For Example
The top jackpot on a video poker machine pays off at 800 for 1.
And that’s an important distinction. There’s a big difference between a payoff of 800 for 1 and a payoff of 800 to 1.
With table games like roulette, the payoffs are in the form of 2 to 1, 3 to 1, 35 to 1, etc.
This means that if you win the bet, you get to keep the amount you bet, and you get the winnings along with it.
If you bet $100 on a single number at the roulette table and win, you get a payoff of $3,500. But you also get to keep your $100.
With gambling machines, payouts are made on a “for” basis instead of a “to” basis. This means your winnings are traded for what you risked.
If you bet $5 on a slot machine and win a $10 payout, you don’t get your $5 back on top of that.
This is an important distinction you should make. Most gamblers don’t stick just with roulette, so if you’re going to play other games — and you probably will — you should understand how that works.
Specific Payouts in the Game of Roulette
In roulette, you have a huge variety of bets you can place. You bet on a single number. Or you can bet on two numbers — if either of those numbers come up, you win. Or you can bet on three numbers, and if any of those three numbers come up, you win.
The more likely it is for you to win, the lower the payout is.
For Example
A bet on black wins almost half the time. The payoff for that bet is only 1 to 1, or even money.
A bet on a single number pays off at 35 to 1, which is a big payoff, but it also only wins 1 out of every 38 spins on average.
The Difference Between the Odds of Winning and the Payout Odds
The casino makes its money from the difference between the odds of winning and the payout odds.
You know how you can express the payout on a bet as odds?
For Example
35 to 1 is an example of how you’d express a payoff on the single number bet.
The odds of winning can also be expressed in the same way.
On a standard American roulette wheel, you have 37 ways to lose a single number bet and only one way to win.
This means the odds of winning are 37 to 1.
Since the odds of winning are lower than the payoff for the bet, the casino makes a profit in the long run.
Once out of every 38 spins, they’ll pay off a single number bet, but they’ll only pay off 35 to 1 on that bet. The rest of the money goes into the casino’s pocket.
The casino deals in long-term averages, especially when it comes to roulette.
Roulette Bets and Their Payoffs
Here’s a list of bets you can make at the roulette table and how much each of them pays off.
The Outside Bets
These are the bets on the outside of the betting surface, and they’re the bets that pay off the most often. As a result, you win less with these bets.
Here are the outside bets you can make:
Red(or Black) – You can bet on the color of the number, and the payout is even money — 1 to 1
Even (or Odd) – You can bet that the number will be even or odd, and the payout is again even money — 1 to 1
Low (or High) – You can bet that the number will be 1-18 (low) or 19-36 (high). The payout is even money on this one, too
Columns – The numbers on the betting surface are organized into three columns. You can bet that the ball will land on one of the numbers in that column. The payoff, if you guess right, is 2 to 1
Dozens – The numbers can be divided into 1st third (1-12), 2nd third (13-24), and 3rd third (25-36). If you guess right, you get a 2 to 1 payout
On all these outside bets, 0 and 00 count as losses. Those numbers are green, and they’re not considered even or odd, high or low.
The Inside Bets
These are the bets on the inside of the betting surface. They pay out better but have a bigger chance of losing.
Here are the inside bets you can make:
Straight Up – This is a bet on a single number and pays off at 35 to 1
Split – This is a bet on two numbers that are next to each other. It pays off at 17 to 1
Street – This is a bet on three numbers, and it pays off at 11 to 1
Corners – This is a bet on four numbers, and it pays off at 8 to 1
The 5-Number Bet – You can only bet on 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3 if you want to bet on five numbers, and it pays off at 6 to 1. This is the only bet on the roulette table with a different house edge from the other bets — 7.89% (the other bets have a house edge of 5.26%)
Line – This is a bet on six numbers and pays off at 5 to 1
All these bets would be a break-even proposition in the long run IF the wheel didn’t have a green 0 and a green 00.
How the Croupier Makes the Payouts So Quickly
The first thing the croupier does after the decision is to clear all the losing bets off the roulette table. Since he’s intimately familiar with the layout of the betting surface, this doesn’t take long at all.
Also, all the players at the roulette table have chips that are specifically colored so that they have the same color. You can’t use the roulette chips at the other table. This enables the croupier to tell your bet from someone else’s. It’s the color of the chips.
To calculate the payouts, you just multiply the bet by the payout odds.
For Example
If someone bet two chips on a single number and it won, you’d multiply 2 by 35 and get 70. That’s how many chips you’d give the player in winnings.
He doesn’t really have a magical system, either. He knows the payouts for the various bets, and he’s able to do the multiplication in his head. It’s easy multiplication, but even if it weren’t, he’d eventually just be able to memorize the correct payout relative to the number of chips bet.
Also, he doesn’t really think of the chips as money. They’re just betting units.
Can Any of This Information Help Me Win at Roulette?
Naw.
Roulette’s a negative expectation game.
You might get lucky in the short run, but if you play long enough, the math behind the payouts will eventually reduce your bankroll to 0.
Conclusion
And that’s how to calculate roulette payouts. You just memorize which bets are possible and how much they pay off. Once you know that, calculating the payouts is just a matter of multiplication.
Croupiers are able to do it quickly because they do it all day every day.
I’m able to make change in my head because I worked for years on cash registers that didn’t calculate change. I know how to subtract from 100 without any effort at all.
Developing and testing roulette systems is fun, but in some ways it’s a waste of time. I know that there isn’t a roulette system that’s going to win in the long run, but I also know that some systems are designed in a way that they lock in a small profit most of the times you play.
One of the best systems I’ve used to play roulette is what I call the stand behind system. It’s the best system I’ve found that locks in a small profit almost every time you play.
How the Stand Behind Roulette System Works
The stand behind roulette system is a simple system that anyone can learn how to use in just a few minutes. It uses the Martingale system and adds another layer to improve your short term chance of success.
The Martingale system is the most well-known gambling system in history. You start with a small wager and double your bet every time you lose. When you win a bet, you take your winnings and then make another small bet.
You can use the Martingale system with a wide variety of wagers, but the best ones are what are called even money bets. An even money bet pays the same amount as you bet when you win. If you bet $20 on black at the roulette wheel and the ball lands on a black spot, you get your $20 bet back and $20 in profit.
When you use the Martingale system and make even money wagers, when you win you make a profit that covers all of your earlier losses and secures a net profit equal to your first wager.
The problem with the Martingale system is when you hit a string of bad luck and lose several bets in a row you’re forced to bet a high amount in hopes of covering all of your losses. Eventually you hit a string of losses long enough to take your entire bankroll or get stopped by the table maximum bet limit.
If you start with a bet of $10 and lose several bets in a row, you can quickly find yourself betting thousands.
Here’s an example of the betting progression:
$10
$20
$40
$80
$160
$320
$640
$1,280
If you start with a low bet of $10 and lose seven bets in a row you’re betting $1,280 to cover your losses and lock in a $10 profit. The fact is that you don’t lose seven even money bets in a row often, but it does happen.
The stand behind roulette system is a simple way to improve your chances of winning a bet before you run out of money or hit the betting limit of the table. It’s called the stand behind system because you stand behind the other players at the roulette table and watch the action until it’s time to start betting.
You start watching the results at the roulette table and don’t make your first bet until one of the even money bets has come up the same three times in a row. This can be three red in a row, three black in a row, three even in a row, or three odd in a row. It can also be three numbers 1 to 18 in a row or three numbers 19 to 36 in a row.
Once an even money bet has landed three times in a row you make your small initial bet on the opposite even money wager. If red has landed three times in a row, you start your bet string on black.
You’re still using the Martingale System while playing real money roulette, but now the same result has to come up 10 times in a row to make you lose the same as the same result coming up seven times in a row.
Why the System Works
Before I explain a little more about why the stand behind system works, I want to make one thing clear. This system is still dangerous, and eventually you’re going to lose a long string of wagers and lose a large amount of money. The truth is that even though it’s rare, the same results do come up 10 times in a row sometimes.
If you’re playing on a single zero roulette wheel, here are the odds of losing consecutive spins:
Spins in a row
Percentage chance of losing
1
51.35%
2
26.37%
3
13.54%
4
6.95%
5
3.57%
6
1.83%
7
.94%
8
.48%
9
.25%
10
.13%
11
.065%
12
.034%
Here’s how to put some of these numbers into perspective. If you use the stand behind method and wait for three results in a row, you have a 6.95% for the fourth result to match the first three. These seem like pretty good odds, but there’s a problem with these numbers.
The numbers are correct as far as the odds of consecutive spins being the same, but each spin is an independent situation. In other words, the roulette wheel doesn’t have a memory. The odds of losing any even number bet on a single spin are 51.35%.
This chart is still useful because it shows how rare the same even money bet side coming up over a long series of spins is. But it also shows that there’s a small chance that it will happen, which means that it does happen, and will happen if you play long enough.
Even if you use the stand behind system to watch three rolls and then start betting, you’re still going to lose another seven spins in a row, for a total of 10 spins, roughly 1.3 out of every 1,000 series. This gives you a good chance to make a small profit most of the time you use the system.
You even have a good chance to win enough series in a row to double your bankroll, but it’s not going to last forever.
Other Ways to Use the System
You can use the stand behind betting system with any games and wagers that pay even money, or close to it. The best games are the ones where the odds are as close to 50/50 as possible. Here’s a list of other games where you might use the stand behind betting system.
Baccarat
Blackjack
Craps
When you play baccarat, the player bet pays 1 to 1 and the banker bet pays 1 to 1 minus a 5% commission. The banker bet has slightly better odds, but it gets complicated to determine the size of your bets after losing to make sure you cover your previous losses because of the commission.
Blackjack is a good option because sometimes you get a natural blackjack and get paid 3 to 2 when you win. But you also have to deal with splitting pairs and doubling down, which require a bigger bankroll.
You can use the system playing craps on come out rolls. The good thing about using it for craps is sometimes it takes several rolls for the come out roll to resolve, so you can play longer.
Should You Use the Stand Behind Roulette System?
If you have extra money you can afford to lose, the stand behind roulette system is a fun way to try to make a short term profit. When I use it I try to double my starting bankroll before I hit a long losing streak.
In the short run, most of the time you’re going to win. You can go several playing sessions before disaster strikes. But if you use this system long enough you’re going to lose. You simply can’t overcome the long term house edge playing roulette no matter what you do.
You should always play on a wheel that only has one zero space to improve your odds, but this is still not going to make you a long term winner. A wheel that uses French rules is even better, but these wheels aren’t widely available in most parts of the world.
Conclusion
I’ve used the stand behind roulette system many times. It’s a fun way to gamble, but I always do it with extra money that I can afford to lose. I’ve never lost seven spins in a row after watching for three spins to line up, but I know if I play long enough I will.
The simple fact is that you can’t use any system to beat roulette. Even a system that works almost all of the time like this one has a fatal flaw. They’re great while they work, but when they don’t work they cost you so much money that you end up losing in the long run anyway.
Mini roulette is an exotic and fun roulette variation that takes place on a small wheel. Rather than featuring 37 or 38 pockets like a European or American wheel, it only has 13 pockets. This tiny wheel presents a unique concept to gamblers who are used to American or European roulette.
The downside, though, is that mini roulette doesn’t offer a great chance to win. Depending upon the rules in play, it can feature a whopping 7.89% house edge.
Given how mini roulette can carry such terrible odds, is it still worth playing? The following guide answers this question while covering more on the intricacies of the mini wheel.
Basics of Mini Roulette
A mini wheel features 13 numbers, including 1 to 12 and a zero. The zero pocket favors the house on most wagers. This setup leads to a 7.89% house edge (1/13) when no special rules are present (covered later).
This is a much worse edge than you face when you play normal real money roulette. You’re going to learn more about this later. But you can skip the rest of this article if you’re looking for the best roulette games. Mini roulette doesn’t even come close to the top roulette option.
Due to the smaller wheel, this variation doesn’t offer as many potential bets as European or American roulette. Nevertheless, it still provides a fair amount of wagers.
The different categories of mini roulette bets include:
Even-money wagers, including red/black, odd/even, and high/low (pay 1:1).
Columns, which cover a column of numbers (pay 2:1).
Corners, which cover an intersection of four numbers (pay 2:1).
Rows, which cover rows of three numbers (pay 3:1).
Splits, which cover two numbers (pay 5:1).
Single numbers (pay 11:1).
La Partage Rule May Apply
Again, mini roulette can carry up to a 7.89% house edge. However, its house advantage dramatically lowers when the la partage is in play.
La partage applies to even-money bets when the ball lands on zero. Assuming you place an even-money wager in this case, then you’ll receive half of your bet back:
Here’s an example on how it works:
You bet $10 on high/low.
The ball lands on zero.
You receive $5 back.
The fact that you get half of losing bets back in this situation halves of the house advantage. You’ll only deal with a 3.85% house edge—rather than 7.89%—when the la partage rule is present.
This makes mini roulette better than normal roulette wheels with 38 spaces, but it’s still worse than 37 space tables and wheels.
Advantages of Mini Roulette
Mini roulette offers notable advantages when compared to other roulette variations. You can check out these benefits below.
Better Odds Than American Roulette
Again, the la partage rule reduces the mini roulette house edge from 7.89% to 3.85%. While the latter isn’t the best house advantage in the casino, it does give you a better chance to win than American roulette.
An American wheel has 38 pockets, including 1-36, zero, and double zero. The zero pockets favor the casino on most wagers. Therefore, American roulette carries a 5.26% house edge.
Here’s a look at how much more money you stand to win with mini roulette versus the American game:
Mini Roulette Odds
You bet $5,000 total on a mini roulette wheel.
This game features 96.15% RTP (3.85% house edge) thanks to the la partage rule.
5,000 x 0.9615% = $4,808 in theoretical winnings
American Roulette Odds
You bet $5,000 total on an American roulette wheel.
This game features 94.74% RTP (5.26% house edge) thanks to the la partage rule.
5,000 x 0.9474% = $4,737 in theoretical winnings
Fun for a Change
American and European roulette look similar. The only difference between these games is that the American wheel has one more pocket.
That said, you may not feel like you’re playing different games when switching between these wheels. You might even start feeling bored with roulette as a result.
The mini version offers something totally different. It’s one-third the size of the European and American wheels, thus giving it a unique appearance.
Simplifies the Game for Beginners
Roulette seems like a simple game on the surface. You merely need to bet on a number or collection of numbers and watch the wheel spin.
When you step up to the board as a beginner, though, things change. Suddenly, the board with dozens of different bets becomes much more confusing.
Mini roulette also features a fair number of wagers. However, it simplifies the amount of available bets to some degree and is an easier game to learn as a result.
Drawbacks of Mini Roulette
If mini roulette were perfect, then it would make all other variations extinct. It’s not perfect, though, and has downsides like many other casino games. You can read about these drawbacks below.
European Roulette Provides Better Odds
As covered earlier, the mini wheel offers better odds than American roulette if the la partage rule is available. But even with la partage, it doesn’t give you as strong of a chance to win as with European roulette.
The European wheel features 37 pockets and, just like mini roulette, only has a single zero on the wheel. This lone zero among 37 numbers leads to a 2.70% house edge (1/37).
Contrast this to the mini version, which has a single zero among just 13 numbers. That said, you can see why European roulette offers more-favorable odds.
Features Terrible Odds without La Partage
Many European roulette games feature the la partage rule. Otherwise, they would be unplayable to any knowledgeable gambler.
But what if this rule isn’t available? Then mini roulette becomes one of the worst games when gambling in the casino. Its 7.89% house edge is on par with some of the lowest-paying slot machines.
Again, mini roulette can be worth playing when la partage is present. If it’s not, though, then you definitely want to avoid this game.
Mini Wheel Is Mostly a Gimmick
The mini wheel doesn’t differ much from any other roulette variation. It largely features the same bet groupings and, like European roulette, can offer the la partage rule.
The only way that the mini game really stands out is through its wheel. It showcases roulette in a new light thanks to its small wheel.
You may think that this game is cool for a while due to the cute and tiny wheel. Eventually, though, you’ll come to see it as nothing more than a gimmick.
Should You Play on the Mini Wheel?
I wouldn’t recommend rushing to the nearest land-based casino or desperately reaching for your phone just to play mini roulette. However, this game is worthwhile for a short session—especially if you already love roulette.
As discussed before, the main reason to play this game is its unique wheel. This variation presents roulette in a different perspective thanks to its small wheel and board.
Your chances of winning won’t be terrible either if la partage is available. You’ll be facing a 3.85% house edge, which is in line with the average casino game.
You’ll also find that this variation is easy to get into. Its board features fewer wagers than other roulette games and, thus, is simpler to play.
Mini roulette won’t be a life-changing experience for you. However, it does have enough benefits to make it worth trying for 20 minutes or so.
Conclusion
Mini roulette doesn’t feature the lowest house edge in gaming. Nevertheless, it can be worth playing under the right circumstances.
The la partage rule is the main thing that you need to consider. This rule pays back half of all even-money bets when the ball lands ends up on zero. Subsequently, it lowers the house advantage from 7.89% to 3.85%.
Of course, European roulette (2.70% house edge) still provides a better chance to win. But mini roulette offers other charms.
Its small wheel offers a refreshing take from normal roulette games. Therefore, you might consider trying it just for something unique.
Is There a Roulette Mines Games Bonus Betting System With a 99.4% Success Rate?
I thoroughly enjoy playing roulette in online and land-based casinos. Due to the lack of strategy, though, this game can get stale.
Therefore, I sometimes use betting systems to spice up the action. I’ll even search for new betting strategies when I’m tired of using the same ones.
On one occasion when searching for a betting system, I came across claims that a strategy allegedly features a “99.4% success rate.”
This 99.4% success rate doesn’t just allude to 99.4% return to player (RTP). No, it claims that you’ll win so much that you earn nearly $2,500 per hour with $5 bets.
Knowing quite a bit about roulette, I was immediately skeptical about these claims. However, I decided to look further into the matter anyways.
I’ll cover what I learned about this mysterious betting strategy and if it truly works. But first, I’ll go over the regular roulette odds that you face whether using a system or playing normally.
What Are Your Normal Chances of Winning With Roulette?
Your chances of winning with this game depend upon two main factors:
What wheel you’re playing on.
Which bets you’re making.
The first point determines the house edge that your face when playing real money roulette . This game features four different variations—each with a different house advantage.
Here are the four variants along with their respective house edges:
American roulette – Features 38 pockets and has a 5.26% house advantage.
European roulette – Features 37 pockets and has a 2.70% house edge.
French roulette – Features 37 pockets, has the la partage rule, and carries a 1.35% house edge.
Mini roulette – Features 13 pockets, has the la partage rule, and carries a 3.85% house advantage.
With American and European roulette, the house edge will be the same no matter what wager you make. With French and mini roulette, though, the house advantage changes based on if you’re placing even-money wagers or other bets.
The la partage rule only applies to even-money wagers in these games. It delivers half your bet back when the ball lands on zero.
La partage effectively halves the house edge. Again, though, it only does so when you stick with even-money bets.
What Are Systems Supposed to Do?
You can see that there’s not much to roulette strategy. As long as you’re playing French or European roulette, then you have a solid chance to win money.
Systems add more complexity to the matter. They involve placing wagers in a pattern based on wins and losses.
Some of these strategies see you increase bets during a losing streak (a.k.a. negative progression). Others require increasing wagers during a winning streak (a.k.a. positive progression).
A negative progression system gives you an opportunity to win back any losses during a session. It’ll also leave you with a profit when everything goes right.
Positive progression systems help you capitalize on hot streaks. You can leave the casino with serious winnings when these strategies work out.
Of course, every roulette betting system is designed with the intent of beating the house edge. Later, I’ll discuss whether any staking strategy is capable of this feat.
What Are the Basics of the 99.4% Success System?
I first learned of the betting system with a 99.4% win rate through both an Ezine article and sales letter page.
These resources make incredible claims that you can win thousands of dollars per hour with this strategy. So how does it work?
This system revolves around monitoring trends with even-money bets. If you see red win five times in a row, for example, then you’ll bet on black because it’s “due” for a win.
At this point, you wager three units (1 unit for each win) on the side that’s in a losing streak. In the event of a loss, you double this wager until finally winning.
Here’s an example on how this plays out:
You set a unit size of $5.
You begin monitoring the results.
Red wins three consecutive times.
You wager $15 on black.
Red wins again.
You wager $30 on black.
Red wins again.
You wager $60 on black and finally win.
60 – 45 = $15 net profit
Assuming you’re playing online roulette, you can actually use this system much more cheaply. With $1 minimum online bets, you could set a $1 unit size.
But if you’re in a land-based casino, you’ll need to risk as least $5. The hope is that the trend quickly reverses and you don’t have to risk much before winning. Otherwise, you’ll need to place larger and larger wagers.
Will You Actually Win Big Profits With This System?
In answer to the question originally posed, no, this betting system doesn’t have a 99.4% win rate. If it did, then everybody would find out about its existence and milk it until casinos stopped offering roulette altogether.
This staking strategy merely combines two common systems: trend betting and the Martingale (covered next).
Neither trend gambling nor the Martingale can overcome the house edge in the long run. Combining them doesn’t produce any different effect.
If you’re using the 99.4% strategy on French roulette, for example, then you’ll still face a 1.35% house advantage. The only difference is that you’ll experience more volatility one way or the other.
Wheel bias is the only way to beat roulette in the long term. However, even this advantage play method rarely works for reasons explained here.
Other Roulette Betting Systems That You Can Use
The system described above suffers from the same problem as any other staking strategy. It can’t overcome the house edge and deliver guarantee profits.
Even still, betting systems are fun to use when you’re looking for something different. Here are some other strategies that you might try for entertainment purposes.
Martingale
The Martingale is the easiest betting system of all to use. It involves doubling your wagers following every loss.
You continue in this manner until booking a win. At this point, you return to making the table’s minimum wager.
The Martingale system is closely related to the 99.4% system. The only difference is that it doesn’t call on you to wait for trends to develop.
Here’s an example on how it works:
You start out by placing the table’s $5 minimum wager.
You bet on 1-18 (1-18/19-36) every time.
You lose the first bet (bankroll at -5).
You double to $10 and lose (-15).
You double to $20 and lose (-35).
You double to $40 and win (+5).
You return to the original $5 wager.
Labouchere
You begin using the Labouchere by writing out a string of numbers. These numbers represent betting units. Your unit size should be measured by the table’s minimum bet.
You combine the first and last number in a string to determine your next wager. Here’s an example on using the Labouchere:
You use a $1 unit size (online).
You set the following number string: 3, 4, 5, 4, 3
Your first wager is $6 (3+3).
You win this bet and your new string becomes: 4, 5, 4
Your next wager is $8 (4+4).
You lose this bet and your new string becomes: 4, 5, 4, 8
Your next wager is $12 (4+8).
You win this bet and your new string becomes: 5, 4
Your next bet is $9 (5+4).
You’ve won a $19 profit (3+4+5+4+3) and can either start anew or quit playing.
Oscar’s Grind
Oscar’s Grind revolves around increasing your wagers when you’re in the midst of a losing streak. The idea here is to win back any losses and collect a small profit.
Here’s how this system works:
You set a unit size.
You start by wagering 1 unit.
You keep betting 1 unit until a losing streak happens.
Following the first win after this losing streak, you increase your bet to 2 units.
You continue adding 1 unit until reaching a +1 unit profit.
You return to the minimum bet at this point.
Here’s an example on how everything comes together with Oscar’s Grind:
You bet 1 unit and lose (bankroll at -1 unit).
You bet 1 unit and lose (-2 units).
You bet 1 unit and lose (-3 units).
You bet 1 unit and win (-2 units).
You bet 2 units and win (0 units).
You bet 2 units and lose (-2 units).
You bet 2 units and lose (-4 units).
You bet 2 units and win (-2 units).
You bet 3 units and win (+1 unit).
Return to wagering 1 unit.
Conclusion
No betting system will help you win guaranteed profits—especially not $2,500 per hour. The 99.4% strategy is no exception to the norm.
However, you might consider using this betting strategy or another for entertainment purposes alone. Systems inject more fun into your roulette experience. They can also deliver bigger wins or at least reduce the chances of you leaving the casino a loser.
You must be prepared for the higher volatility, though. You could win or lose big with a betting system on any given night.
