Roulette is a popular game for many reasons, but its simplicity is probably number one. This is the sort of game that anybody could walk into a casino and get started with incredibly easily. However, one thing that is misunderstood about roulette is the strategy that can go into the game. Whilst it is a game of chance there are certain tips that you can use to help you to keep your bankroll going for longer and stand a better chance of coming out on top. We're going to look at all the most helpful tips for ensuring that your roulette experience is as enjoyable and long-lasting as possible.
Knowledge is Power
Without a doubt, one of the most important roulette strategy tips is to be completely familiar with everything about the game. You should know about the types of bets that are available and not just that, but also understand what the payouts are for each. These don't vary from casino to casino or from real life to online, but there will always be a pay table available to look at wherever you're gaming, so it's worth checking.
If you don't know all about the terms that we mentioned, then here's a brief explanation to get you started. There are lots of different types of bets in roulette, the most famous being putting everything on black or red. This is known as outside bet, along with odds or evens and columns, so called because these numbers are organized in columns on the betting board. Inside bets are a little more confusing to remember, but include straight, split, street and corner. Plus, if you're playing French roulette you can also place what are known as 'racetrack bets' that include voisins du zero, orphelins, and tiers du cylinder. All these bets offer a higher payout if they come in but have lower odds of doing so.
Combining Inside and Outside Bets
Outside bets have odds of 1/1, so if you bet $10 on red and the ball lands on red then you'll receive $10 back, plus your initial stake, taking your total cash to $20. The only outside bets that don't have 1/1 odds are columns and dozen bets which have odds of 2/1, meaning in the same winning scenario your total cash would be $30.
Inside bets have much longer odds, because the chances of landing an inside bet are much smaller. Payouts for these bets vary from 5/1 for a line bet, up to around 35/1 for a straight bet, where you simply choose one number from the wheel. Using a combination of these betting types can help to balance your risk and your reward, meaning that you remain interested and excited by the game, but don't decimate your bankroll if you end up on a losing streak.
Always Choose European or French Roulette
One of the most well-known ways to improve your roulette game is to always choose either a European or French roulette wheel. The American roulette wheel has a double zero pocket, whilst the other two variants have just one zero pocket. This means that on the American roulette wheel, the house has one more chance of no bets coming in. This increases what is known as the house edge, or in simple terms, what percentage the house can expect to make as a profit in every game.
In American roulette the double zero slot takes the house edge to 5.26%, meaning that for every $100 that is wagered, the house will win, on average, $5.26. In French roulette, this edge is reduced to 2.7%, giving the players a better chance at winning.
Take Advantage of Online Offerings
There's something special about playing in a real casino and if the buzzy atmosphere is your favorite thing about roulette, then you shouldn't change that. However, online casinos can offer better value for money as their overheads are far lower. One way to take advantage of these offers is to seek out bonuses and promotions that can help to bolster your bankroll. Many online casinos give generous offers to new customers, such as offering to match your initial deposit, or even giving you an initial sum of money to play with, with no deposit necessary. These offers can help to stretch the money that you have available to play with, meaning that you can play for longer without waging off your hard-earned cash.
As well as this, online casinos frequently offer you the option to play roulette for free. This obviously won't win you any money but it's a great way to get practice in. You can familiarize yourself with the game, try out different progressive betting strategies, familiarize yourself with the user interface, and learn to feel confident in your techniques before wagering real money in an actual game.