In our basic roulette strategy section, we discuss ways to shave the roulette house edge, and in our roulette tips section we advise against betting systems. To take those concepts a little further, on this page we will explore the fundamentals of good roulette betting from the most favorable bets to the smartest roulette betting strategies. Nothing and no one can guarantee you a win at roulette, but by making the right choices you won't have to leave the table feeling like you've failed a round of Russian roulette.
Best Roulette Bets
In terms of making your money last, the best bets are those that win at roulette the most often. Since the wheel is totally random, we can't guarantee that any bet will hit, but probability says that some bets are far more likely to hit than others. Which bets are those? As a general rule, the more possible outcomes you can cover, the more likely you are to win at roulette. So the multi-number outside bets (high/low, even/odd, red/black, dozens and columns) offer you the best odds. That means that they also offer lower payouts, but if you're just playing the game to have fun, then you'll get more time at the table by playing outside bets.
Roulette Betting Strategies vs Roulette Systems
Any smart casino advice page will warn you about roulette systems. What's the big deal, you may wonder—isn't a roulette system just another roulette betting strategy? The answer is no. There's one very important difference between roulette betting strategies and roulette systems: logic. Roulette betting strategies incorporate the rules and odds of a game and attempt to manipulate them in the player's favor.
Systems on the other hand are played the same from one game to the next; they don't incorporate the roulette rules or odds. Systems are generally based on little more than superstition. If the odds fall in your favor, then a system could pay off, but remember that the roulette odds are largely biased in the casino's favor making it unlikely that your system will yield positive results even in the long run.
That said, some people enjoy the added interest of using a roulette betting system. If you are dead set on trying one, then the Labouchere system recommended on our strategy page is one of the most conservative. You can further protect your money by using a system in conjunction with our other basic strategy advice and roulette tips.
