The house edge in roulette is 5.26%, with every $1 million in bets earning the casino a little over $50,000.
Roulette, like playing the slots, is a game of chance.
Unlike blackjack, where strategy comes in, slots and roulette are more random. Still, roulette is touted as being much more exciting than slots for people who want more control. Rather than pressing a button or pulling a lever, roulette allows you to pick and choose your numbers, interact with others at the table, and watch the results play out before your eyes.
Do you want to learn how to play roulette and win? If participating in one of the best casino games around sounds appealing to you, keep reading for our tips on increasing your odds.
Playing the Outside Bets
A standard American roulette table at a live casino has 36 numbers (1-36), a 0, and oftentimes a 00. That’s a 1 in 37 chance that your individual number will win.
So instead of placing your chip on one lucky number, consider placing an outside bet, which has much better odds.
For example, you can bet on black or red, even or odd.
That’s changing your odds from 1 in 37 or 38 to 1 in 18. You essentially have a 50/50 chance of winning this type of bet, and the payout is greater, too—one-to-one.
Playing Two Outside Bets at Once
Another strategy on how to play roulette is to consider placing two bets on two outside options at once.
Doing so gives you greater coverage of the board—again, increasing the odds that your number will hit.
For example, you might place one bet on red and the other bet on the third section of twelve. So, you’re doubling your bet if it hits the six red numbers (25, 27, 30, 32, 34, and 36) while also claiming six black numbers, in case red doesn’t hit. This strategy gives you control of twenty-six spaces on the board—the twelve in one section, plus all the reds.
Use the 007 Strategy
James Bond is a famous roulette player for a reason. (If you haven’t seen Casino Royale yet, it deserves a watch.)
His strategy is very similar to the above two—it improves your odds by combining several bets, increasing the chances that your number or color hits.
Split your bet three ways: $15 on high numbers (numbers 19-36), $5 on a six-line—two rows of three (numbers 13-18), and $1 on the zero. You can adjust your dollar amount based on how much you want to spend, keeping it staggered in this way.
These three different bets cover a little over 67% of the board for every spin. And here’s the kicker. If Bond loses a hand, he doubles his bet (called the Martingale strategy), the thought being that your numbers will soon hit, and you’ll even out your losses with a big win!
You Know How to Play Roulette and Win: Now, May the Odds Be In Your Favor!
No matter what game you choose to play at the casino, the house has the edge.
Still, you can get a leg up by using some of the strategies listed above.
Now that you know how to play roulette (and win), get out there and place your bets! If you want to test out your approach before you hit the floor, find a free online casino to practice on first.
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