Aria Brown
Stefan Weber
Roulette strategies can enhance your betting odds. Here we will focus on the strategies designed to improve your odds from the perspective of your overall balance, rather than on a single bet. They're basically bankroll management systems. Because any roulette player will know that you don't just play one single spin, so it's important to have a system that helps you keep a global view on your roulette bets.
Most of this is about how to increase or decrease your bet size from round to round, depending on the result from the last round. Betting systems that move up and down like that are known as progression betting systems.
We've put together a list of the most famous roulette betting systems below. The majority of these roulette betting systems are designed for even money bets, like colors, or odds and evens.
Table of Contents
Most Popular Roulette Betting Systems 2024
Martingale Roulette System
The most popular betting system, the Martingale doubles your bet after each loss. It's for even money, outside bets such as red or black, odds or even. If you lose, double your bet on the next one.
Martingale Strategy Roulette Facts:
- For even money, 1:1 bets such as colors.
- Progression betting – Double stake after a loss
- If you win, go back to your starting bet size
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The idea behind the Martingale system is that you will win back your losses through progression. However, the disadvantage is that you should be prepared with quite a bit of capital or you risk emptying your bankroll before you break through with a win.
D'Alembert Roulette Betting System
Like the Martingale, the d'Alembert is also a progressive betting system that increases your stake following a loss. The key difference is you only increase by 1 unit instead of doubling. On a win, you decrease by 1.
D'Alembert Strategy Facts:
- On loss, increase bet by 1 unit
- On win, decrease bet by 1 unit
- When wins exceed losses, restart progression from initial bet size.
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The d'Alembert works with small increments and is therefore easier for the budget. Because the increments are so small, sometimes it is even considered as flat betting.
Reverse d'Alembert
As the name suggests, this is the opposite of the d'Alembert system. You increase with 1 unit after a win, and decrease with a loss.
Reverse d'Alembert Betting System Facts:
- On loss, decrease bet by 1 unit
- On win, increase bet by 1 unit.
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You don't get better odds with the Reverse d'Alembert, but this strategy works more with your wins than with your starting bankroll. It's also sometimes known as the Contra d'Alembert.
Paroli Roulette Betting System
The Paroli doubles the stake with each win but you preset a progression limit so you don't double non-stop. So for example, you double for a maximum of 3 times, then reset to the initial bet size regardless of win or loss.
Paroli Roulette Strategy Facts:
- Double on win
- Preset limit on progression rounds
- Reset on loss
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By pre-setting a limit on your progression, you know exactly what your max bet will be. It is one of the safest betting systems and is sometimes known as the Reverse Martingale.
Parlay Roulette System
The Parlay system is very similar to the Paroli, with the main difference being that the original stake plus the win all go into your next bet.
Parlay Roulette Strategy Facts:
- On a win, the original stake and amount won go into next bet
- On a loss, reset to initial stake
- Recommended to set a max profit
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Because the Parlay keeps putting the stake and wins into the next bet, it's a good idea to set a max win amount when you will cash out. Because otherwise all of it will be gone on the next losing spin.
Labouchère System
The Labouchere system is based on the Martingale system and is a negative progression system that increases bet size with losses. It's definitely more complicated but it's one of the most popular systems for roulette players.
Labouchere Betting System step by step:
- You start by writing down a sequence of ascending numbers of your choice, eg. 1, 3, 4, 7
- At the start of each round, take the 2 outer numbers, so 1 and 7. Your bet size should be equal to the sum of these two numbers, that is $8.
- On a win, cross out the two numbers from your sequence
- On a loss, add the lost stake to the end of the sequence, so that it becomes 1, 3, 4, 7, 8.
- The bet size on the next round is the sum of the 2 outer numbers in the sequence, so 1 and 8, that is $9.
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More losses will mean that the progression takes longer as you will keep adding numbers to the sequence. Consecutive losses can potentially add up to very high bet sizes and wipe out your balance before a win occurs.
Fibonacci Betting System
The Fibonacci sequence in mathematics can be found in nature and in the Golden Ration, which is manifested in our standard for geometric beauty. In this betting system, you take the numbers from the Fibonacci sequence – 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 – and build a progression from them. The sequence continues by adding the last two numbers together.
Fibonacci Method step by step:
- Add the first number to your starting bet size. So if your starting bet is $1, then add 0 to $1.
- On a loss, move up one number and add it to your bet size.
- On a win, move down two numbers. If you haven't moved so far up the sequence, then reset to initial bet size.
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As the numbers get exponentially large, this progression can be very expensive after multiple losses. So even though this sequence is known for mathematical beauty, you probably don't want to let it run for too long.
Oscar Grind Betting System
The Oscar Grind strategy is another progression system, although it is known for being more conservative and risk averse.
Oscar Grind Strategy Facts:
- If you lose, bet size stays the same.
- If you win, increase bet size by one unit.
- When your winnings equal to your starting stake, reset bet size.
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Essentially, it keeps your bet size low on a losing streak and so each progression can last a while. However, it may be difficult to recuperate from a very long losing streak if playing even money bets since changes in bet size are kept rather minimal.
Roulette System Tiers et Tout, aka Garcia System
The Tiers et Tout translates into "a third and all" and was invented by Thomas Garcia. It works by dividing your entire bankroll into thirds, and then conceiving your roulette play as two spins.
Tiers et Tout aka Garcia System How to:
- Divide you bankroll into thirds.
- Give 1/3 to the first bet
- Give 2/3s to the second bet
- If first spin is a win, then add winnings back to bankroll and adjust stake size with the 1/3 and 2/3 principle again.
- If first spin is a loss, place a bet with the money in the second bet.
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The problem with this strategy is that if you have two losses in a roll, your bankroll will be emptied. So you may want to divide your bankroll into sections if you plan to use the Garcia strategy for longer roulette play.
Specific Roulette Strategies
The above were derived from betting systems that you can use in roulette and also in other casino games to manage your money. We've added some strategies that are specific for roulette below.
Kesselgucken Roulette Strategy
This originates from Germany and largely translates into "watching the roulette wheel". It's all about developing a good feeling for how the wheel spins, and how the croupier drops the ball. There are just a few short seconds to decide on your bet with Kesselgucken, so very fast reactions are needed.
Kesselgucken Strategy Facts:
- Place bet after the Croupier drops the ball and before bets are closed.
- Emphasis on physical aspects of roulette
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You will have to be very fast. And while this technique can be learned, the expertise you develop might be limited to a specific croupier.
Red and Black Roulette Strategy
In roulette, black or red are even money bets, which means you have (roughly) a 50:50 chance of winning and a 1:1 payout. You can however one up this situation by adding a second bet on the third column that ends with the number 36.
Roulette Red or Black Strategy How to:
- Each round is comprised of 2 bets: a color, and the third column
- Divide your bet into thirds.
- 2/3 go to color bet, 1/3 to the column bet
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In total you will cover 26 numbers. On average, players will see a return in 3 out of 4 games.
Shotwell Roulette System
Initially designed for American Roulette, the Shotwell system actually works well with other roulette variants. It consists of 5 bets: 1 Six line bet and 4 Straight bets.
Shotwell System Facts:
- 1 Six Line / Double Street bet, covering 6 numbers
- 4 Straight bets
- Stake is divided equally among the 5 bets
- A Straight pays 35:1, and Double Street pays 5:1
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In total, 10 numbers are covered, which is roughly a third of the wheel. In the best case scenario, you win with a straight bet and get paid 36x. Otherwise, the 5:1 payout still gives you a small profit to take home.
James Bond Roulette Strategy
Named after 007, this strategy has little to do with the spy of the same name. It is comprised of 3 bets per round, at a ratio of 14:5:1, which makes it $20 per round if we're talking about a unit of $1.
Bond Strategy How to:
- 14 on High (numbers 19 to 36)
- 5 on a Six Line Bet (aka Double Street, eg. 13 to 18)
- 1 on 0
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This covers just over 2/3 of the roulette wheel, and the bet sizes are distributed against the probability of a win. However, these three bets add up and it means that your bet size per round is not going to be minimal.
Kavouras Bet Roulette Strategy
The Kavouras strategy is pretty simple. The more numbers you cover, the better your chances of winning. And that is what this strategy does while balancing the bets with the payouts.
Kavouras Roulette System How to:
Each round is comprised of 8 betting units:
- 2 units on a Six Line bet, covering numbers 31 to 36
- 1 unit on a Corner Bet, covering numbers 0 to 3.
- 5 x 1 unit on the following 5 Splits: 8-11, 13-14, 15-18, 17-20, 27-30.
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It sounds a bit complicated at first, but you place the exact bets every round. It's pretty easy once you remember it.
Roulette Betting Systems Pros and Cons
Roulette betting systems are easy to learn and will give you a systematic way to manage your bankroll. They work with even money bets like red or black, odds or evens, and it's all really straightforward.
Having gone over several different betting systems, covering both positive and negative progression, you should now have a good overall grasp of the various options that cater to different budgets and gambling styles.
- Easy to learn
- Easy to apply at roulette tables
- Can be adapted to each budget
- Systematic gambling over impulsive decisions
- Can reach table limits quickly with progression betting
- Overall profit can be low after several consecutive losses with high stakes
What are the risks behind playing with a betting system?
Although many players love how betting systems give them control in a session, the main thing to keep in mind is that there is no guarantee as to when you might break a losing streak. This is especially risky if you are using a negative progression system, where you are increasing bets with each loss. Even if it doesn't annihilate your balance, the losses can be heavy and eat into your winnings.
It is therefore always a good idea to set some of your own limits when gambling. And that's exactly why seasoned gamblers like to use a system, as it helps them to consider these limits in advance and then helps them stick with it while in play.
Why play roulette with a betting system?
Although roulette betting systems don't offer any guarantees, what they are very good at is helping players develop a systematic way to balance their losses and wins, so that they do walk out with a profit in the end.
In a way, even though high stakes may be involved, playing with a roulette betting system is a conservative strategy. Rather than putting all your eggs in one basket, betting systems are a response to the fact that gambling involves losses. From this fact, it develops various positions to make up for the losses by adjusting your bet size. It's all about how to balance things out and has the effect of providing stability in volatility.
Tips and Tricks for Roulette Betting Systems
- Set bet limits
Since most of these betting systems involve increasing bet sizes, you should know what your max bet is. Look at your budget and decide how many times you want to make that max bet. - Pay attention to table limits
Since you are potentially increasing your bet size on consecutive rounds, your stake can get quite high very quickly. Make sure the table can accommodate your pre-determined max bet size. ![Roulette Systems]()
Adjust your budget
Don't be afraid to adjust the betting system or choose a more conservative one if you suddenly realize you can't really afford to be hit with big losses. Or conversely, maybe several big wins might give you the budget to adopt a more daring system.- Try Positive Progression on Profits
Positive progression systems, where you increase bet size with a win, are known to be easier on budgets because they leverage your winnings rather than starting capital. - Know when to cash out
Know what will be enough. Have an amount in mind where you know you will be happy to call it a day and withdraw your winnings.
Roulette Betting Systems FAQs
- Are roulette betting systems suitable for beginner players?
- What is the best roulette betting system for beginners?
- Where can I try roulette betting systems for free?
- What is a low risk roulette betting system?
- What bets are used in roulette betting systems?
1. Are roulette betting systems suitable for beginner players?
Absolutely. In fact, it's a great way to learn because it focuses on a systematic approach to playing roulette. Instead of getting caught in the heat of the moment, roulette betting systems help you keep the big picture in view. Most of these betting systems have straightforward rules, and with a software based roulette game, you can run everything at your own pace to facilitate your own learning.
2. What is the best roulette betting system for beginners?
Best always depends on individual preferences, but the d'Alembert system is usually a good choice for beginners because it works with small increments. This makes it easier to manage even if you have several losses in a row. Plus it's consistent and easy to remember.
3. Where can I try roulette betting systems for free?
There are several online casinos listed on this page where you can try betting systems on demo roulette games for free. Most don't require registration, but even if it does, signing up is always free. You don't need to make a deposit or enter any banking info unless you want to gamble for real money wins.
4. What is a low risk roulette betting system?
For the risk averse, it's best to choose a betting system that does not increase by large increments. The d'Alembert, the Reverse d'Alembert, and the Oscar Grind are good choices.
5. What bets are used in roulette betting systems?
Roulette betting systems work with even money, outside bets. That is bets with 1:1 payouts, so red or black, odd or even, high or low. Not only do these bets cover almost half the wheel and have the best probability of winning, but maintaining this consistent payout ratio makes it possible to develop a simple and systematic method for bankroll management.
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I am trained as a tax consultant, mostly because my father insisted that I get a normal job. Luckily, I listened to my heart and followed my passion in writing. Today I work as an online editor while traveling the world, which is why I'm rarely in my hometown, Toronto. By pure chance, I discovered the online casino review industry about ten years ago, and I have been testing and reviewing gambling sites since then. Personally, I prefer Blackjack and Roulette games. I think the skills and strategies involved make them much more interesting than slots.
I'm lucky enough to have found both my job and my calling on the internet. As the online marketing manager for a major sportsbook, I began in the online gambling business over a decade ago. The business has been good to me and I love the dynamics of the industry. A blackjack and roulette enthusiast myself, I try to provide articles that combine practicalities with the strategic elegance of the game in a way that both rookies and experienced players can appreciate. And when I can, I like to spend my free time on live streaming platforms such as Twitch and Kick.