Roulette Strategies That Work

Q I’ve purchased quite a few gambling systems that promised to make me a winner at roulette, but they don’t work. At least they don’t work for me. What am I doing wrong? Is there anything that DOES work?

A Yes. There are some strategies that DO work. They are mathematically GUARANTEED to reduce the house edge on the first spin and EVERY spin. But remember, roulette has a much higher house edge than blackjack, baccarat, or the craps pass line. That’s a lot for ANY strategy to overcome. Roulette is easy to play, but tough to win.

First a quick review of the systems that are sure losers.

1. Negative progressions (systems that raise bets after losses) are useless in the long run.

2. Positive progressions (systems that raise bets after wins) are also NOT effective.

3. Any system that makes you wait for a certain combination of wins or losses before betting (or betting more) is worthless.

Roulette progressions simply don't work. No way. No how.

Here's what DOES work:

1. Avoid the five-number bet

A five-number bet (zero, double-zero, one, two, and three) is only available on American wheels. The house edge is a hefty 7.89%. That's nearly 3% higher than any other bet on the table. If you truly have a vision that one of those numbers will win, then bet it straight up or make a street or split bet. That will cut the house edge and will return between two to six times more than a five-number bet.

2. Play a European wheel

An excellent way of stretching your bankroll is to play a European wheel. This is roulette without a double-zero. One less slot cuts the house edge in half. That's 2.7%. Happily you don't have to visit Monte Carlo to play a European wheel. Many American casinos have them, but it's often with a catch. The European wheel will have a higher table minimum than a double-zero version sitting just a few feet away. No problem if you were planning to risk the extra money, but don't play for higher stakes just to get a lower house edge.

3. Surrender

It's not a suggestion; it's a strategy. Some American casinos offer surrender, a modified version of the European custom en prison. Under this rule even money wagers that lose to zero or double-zero are only half-lost. You can leave the bet on the layout and hope for a push or take half back. Casinos in Atlantic City have this option and it cuts the house edge on even money bets in half to 2.7%. Surrender on a European wheel drops the house edge on even money bets to 1.35%. By the way... the extra spin is mandatory in Europe, which is why they say "en prison."

THAT'S how you reduce the house edge when playing roulette.

But how do you tip the scales to give yourself an edge?

It’s tough, but there ARE a couple of systems that produce positive expectation when playing roulette. They're not easy to use, and that's why I don't usually mention them. But for the sake of accuracy I am listing them here.

1. Biased Wheel

An unbalanced wheel will favor certain numbers. Biased wheels are rare, but there ARE ways to identify them and then profit from the bias. The method is called wheel clocking.

2. Dealer Signature

Some dealers tend to unconsciously spin the ball in a specific and predictable way. When that happens, the results are also somewhat predictable.

I discuss biased wheels, wheel clocking, and dealer signature at length in my book the Unofficial Guide to Casino Gambling. Check it out in the SmarterBet.com online bookstore.

Basil Nestor
The Unofficial Guide to Casino Gambling
at SmarterBet.com

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