On the grand scale of American casino games, roulette has one of the smallest followings, with nowhere near the popularity of slot machines, video poker, blackjack, or craps. It draws more players than baccarat, mostly because the baccarat pits have traditionally been closed to low-budget players. But roulette is in danger of being passed in popularity by newer games such as Caribbean Stud Poker and Let It Ride. In Europe, on the other hand, roulette draws big crowds. It is one of the mainstays of Monte Carlo and other European resorts.

Roulette, one of the easiest casino games to play and understand. We will go over the best strategy's to win every time, and what to look for in a casino (as in, a casino that has the table setup.

The difference is the 00 featured on the American wheel, which is not placed on the French wheel in use at European casinos. The French wheel has 36 numbers plus a single 0; the American wheel has 36 numbers plus 0 and 00. All bets at both wheels are paid at odds that would be true if only the 36 numbers existed. The house advantage in roulette comes from the 0 on the French wheel and the 0 and 00 on the American wheel.

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The bottom line is that American roulette players buck a house edge of 5.26 percent on all bets but one, which carries a 7.89 percent house edge. European players face only a 2.7 percent edge, and that is lowered to 1.4 percent on even-money bets by a rule called en prison, which is described later in this article. At 1.4 percent, roulette becomes competitive with other casino games; at 5.26 percent, it's a very difficult game to beat.

A few French wheels are in use in the United States mostly in high-limit rooms. They usually carry larger minimum bets than American wheels -- but a player in these areas who plans to make larger bets and wants to play roulette should seek out a French wheel.

Even at the higher house advantage on an American wheel, most casino-goers sit in for a few spins sooner or later. It can be an entertaining, relaxing way to spend some time. The dealer -- the French may call them croupiers, but in the United States they're dealers -- gives players plenty of time to choose among the dozens of available betting combinations; then it takes time to spin the wheel and the ball before a winner is determined.

So while craps moves at 100 or so rolls per hour and blackjack about 60 hands per hour, roulette moves at a more stately pace -- roughly 45 spins per hour. Facing fewer decisions per hour, the roulette player who bets $5 per spin faces an expected loss per hour only slightly higher than that of an average blackjack player who has not learned basic strategy. In this article, you will learn the basics of roulette, as well as how and when to bet, to increase your odds of winning. Let's begin by getting you familiar with the equipment and rules of the game.

Equipment and Table Personnel

Roulette is played at an elongated table. At one end is a wheel, with a notch in the table where the dealer stands. The table is covered with a felt layout with boxes for the numbers 1 through 36 arranged in three columns and 12 rows. At the end of the portion of the layout closest to the dealer, above the numbers 1, 2, and 3, are boxes for 0 and 00. Each of the numbers 1 through 36 is surrounded by either a red or black oval or rectangle. The 0 and 00 have green backgrounds. This rectangular grid, with a box for each number, is used for wagers called 'inside bets.'

Outside the numbered boxes are several other boxes for 'outside bets,' encompassing up to 18 numbers at a time. Most of the areas for outside bets are on the long side of the table across from the dealer. However, at the end of the rectangle away from the dealer are boxes for bets on each 12-number column.

The wheel itself has 38 numbered slots, each with the same colored background as the corresponding number on the table layout. The small, hard ball used to be made of ivory; now it is usually plastic. The dealer spins the wheel in one direction, then spins the ball in the opposite direction around a track on the bowl-shaped recess that holds the wheel. When the speed of the ball decreases, it falls off the track toward the wheel itself, and bounces around until it settles in a numbered slot.

Roulette Chips

Regular casino chips are not usually used at a roulette table. Instead, when the player places money on the layout and asks for chips, the dealer will give out special roulette chips. Each player gets a different color of chips so the dealer can keep track of which chips belong to which player. Because the house does not want to get in a dispute over what chips belong to whom, couples or friends playing together may not share chips. Even husbands and wives playing together are required to play separate colors.

The dealer also will ask the player what denomination to designate the chips. At a $5 minimum table, for example, the player usually may designate each chip to be worth $1, but has the option of making them worth $5, $10, or any other denomination. Once the designation has been made, the dealer will place a chip atop a rail near the wheel, then place a marker atop it to indicate the value of that color chip for that session.

Because the next player to use the same color chips may designate a different value, roulette chips have no value away from the roulette wheel. The cashier's cage will not accept them. When ready to leave the table, place all remaining roulette chips on the layout and ask the dealer to cash out. The dealer will exchange them for the equivalent amount of regular casino chips.

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This guide has everything you need to know on how to increase your chances to win at Roulette and get better odds every time you play this exciting Casino game.

If you are new to the Roulette wheel, I'll give you all the information you need to get started and get the best chances to win at the game of Roulette.

And if you are a Roulette pro? In that case, I'll share with you some actionable hacks and betting strategy tips that you can use to make sure you do your absolute best to beat the house.

Bottom line:

If you want to discover how to win at Roulette - or at least to get your best shot at it - you'll love this guide.

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Getting Started with the Game of Roulette

In this part of my new all-in-one Roulette guide, I'll show you how to set up the game correctly to maximize your chance to win money at Roulette machines.

Important note: Roulette is a gambling game and, as such, it depends on luck. Also, the house advantage varies depending on the Roulette variant you play but it is never equal to zero.

Regardless of the strategies you follow, you can't win at Roulette every time you play. All you can do is to avoid placing wrong bets and focus always on those that offer you the best odds to win.

Also, if at any time you feel things are getting a little out of control, please make sure you take this quick test on gambling addiction. A little help goes a long way — trust me.

Despite what most people think, the key to winning at Roulette is to set up the game the right way and have everything ready before you play, not while you play.

This Roulette guide is divided into several different parts:

• The before you play
• The while you play
• The betting strategies

Make sure you take all of them seriously because if you understand how to apply the tips I'm giving you here, then you'll know how to get your best shot to win money at Roulette if you gamble for real money — or free chips if you prefer the freeplay version.

All the online Casino sites mentioned on this article offer both free and real money Roulette games. The gameplay and the fun are exactly the same — so you should not feel like you have to play Roulette for real money if you don't want / can't afford to.

Furthermore, remember to play only for the fun of it. Roulette is one of the most exciting Casino games out there — and that's enough.

When you go online to win money on Roulette every time you play, you make a mistake. A devastating one, potentially.

So — focus on the fun, play for free if you want to, and keep in mind these tips to win a little bit more of your Roulette games.

Don't Rush: Check Out the Game First

This is the basic rule that all professional Roulette players follow: once you think you have found the right Roulette table for your games - let the Roulette wheel spin for a couple of times before you place your first bet.

You want to do this to learn more about the table and about the players that are already in the action.

It might sound unimportant but, when you play Roulette games at a brick-and-mortar casino, it's good practice to make sure you get along with the other players already in the game.

Stay away from the tables where people look aggressive, where gamblers bet too much, and where you feel too much alcohol is being consumed.

Those are clear signs that things might get heated anytime the Roulette wheel presents unfavourable results, and you don't want to be playing at the troublemakers' table.

Shenanigans aside, monitoring the action before the real money play begins is also a good practice to make sure everything is (or seems) fully transparent and legit.

Depending on where you play, a game of Roulette could be rigged or not fair - and it's important you learn to recognize these situations in order to avoid them.

How do you do that?

When you play online, just go for online Casino sites with the seal of an independent and international gaming authority like the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) or the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA).

That certifies the fairness of the real money Roulette games, of the platform, and of the company that runs the business.

Practice Roulette Online for Free

Things are a little different when it comes to online Roulette because one or 100 spins will not give you any significant information about the others at the table and the fairness of the game.

However, this doesn't mean you should jump right in and bet all your money on a game you are not familiar with.

The best way to learn how to play and how to win at Roulette online is to start from the freeplay option that most Roulette sites offer.

This way, you can get familiar with the Roulette wheel, the table structure, the payout structure, and the personality of the live dealer - if you decide to go for the live variant.

Here's a short list of the best online Roulette sites that offer free accounts to play and practice:

Make sure you open a gaming account at least one of these Casino sites to practice Roulette online and learn how to win your games.

A freeplay account loaded with demo money is extremely useful if you are a Roulette beginner and you need to practice online to learn the differences between the betting systems I'm going to highlight in the last chapter of this guide.

If that describes you and you are not in the US or in the UK, I suggest you open an account at Jackpot City since you receive up to $1,600 in free money to practice Roulette online and spin the Roulette wheel risk-free.

The bonus is calculated on your deposits so you can just add the money to your account and keep it safe there until the bonus helps you to learn how to win more often.

Keep in mind that you find a full description of the Jackpot City website and of the bonus' terms and conditions in fullon this review of Jackpot City.

European vs. American Roulette

I understand this might sound obvious to most people but, in case you don't know yet:

Never play American Roulette games. Always choose the European variant.

To understand why you should only play the European Roulette games, let's look at the Roulette wheel. The only difference between the European and the American roulette is the order of the numbers on the roulette wheel.

The American Roulette has one additional pocket as the American Roulette wheel features a second green slot with a double zero.

Oddly enough, the two variants of the game feature the same payouts, meaning you will get paid 35-to-1 every time you nail the single right number. On the American Roulette wheel as much as on the European Roulette wheel.

What differs, however, are your chances to win money at the game.

Best Way To Play Roulette Table

The fact the European Roulette wheel features 37 slot means you have one chance in 37 to win every time you place a bet on a single number.

The odds get considerably worse if you decided to play on an American Roulette wheel since the second green slot brings them to one in 38 on each single number bet.

Given that both Roulette variants offer the same payout (35:1), your choice is pretty obvious. You should only play European Roulette games.

Now, to make things more comfortable for you, here's a list the most popular online games of European Roulette.

How to Pick a Winning Roulette Wheel

The last step we need to consider in the before you play section of this guide to winning at Roulette is the game's choice.

Now that you know you should always discard the American variant of Roulette, you need to learn how to choose the right European Roulette game to maximize your winning odds.

Don't let the word 'odds' fool you here:

All European roulette games offer the same winning chances - so there are no special Roulette games that give you more opportunities to win money than others.

What you need to pay attention to, as you get ready to play Roulette games with real money, are the table limits.

The limits represent the maximum and minimum bets allowed in the game and it's important you learn how to match them with your bankroll.

Most of the online games I included in the list above accept bets starting from €/£/$1 to €/£/$5, with these two being the standard in the industry.

If you are just starting with online Casino games and you are looking for ways to win at online Roulette, I suggest you start from the smallest limits and go for the 1-credit games.

Otherwise, if you feel more confident and you have a proven record of positive results (and ROI) at Roulette, Casino.com features some really interesting high roller games that might offer the excitement you are after.

How to Win Your Roulette Games (Fingers Crossed!)

Now that you know how to choose the right games to play and you know that you should always avoid the American Roulette wheel let's see how you are supposed to behave once your money is on the table.

You got you chip stack; you found the table, you want to play…
…but how do you exactly win at Roulette!?

How Much Should You Bet on Roulette?

Assumed that you already know what are the table's minimum and maximum bets, let's tackle one of the most complicated questions about roulette: how much should you bet?

The size of your bets is connected to the size of your bankroll (the total amount of money you decided to invest in a session) and the minimum amount of time you plan to spend betting on the Roulette wheel.

An average Roulette wheel spins 40 times every hour so, if you decided to play for two hours, you need to make sure that you can survive at least 80 spins.

Important Note: Since the game of Roulette is a game of chance, all the calculations are always done as if you will not win a single game.

This way you can be sure your betting strategy will always be 100 percent effective.

Use basic Math:

80 spins at €1 per spin mean you will need €80 to stay at the table for two whole hours before your money is gone.

However, that's not how I play.

With a bankroll of €80 and a lower limit of €1, I place bets of between €5 and €8 on every spins as I combine the length of the games with my winning odds.

Here's how you can take your chances to win at Roulette doing the same.

You can combine this general Roulette betting rule with three more elements:

• Experience
• Betting Choices
• Betting Strategies

While I can't teach you experience (but the links to practice online Roulette for free are there for that), I can surely help you in choosing the right bets and adopting a good strategy that won't kill your bankroll.

How to Choose the Right Bets in Roulette

As I mentioned earlier, the single number bet pays 35:1 (35 times your bet PLUS your bet) and you have one chance in 37 to win.

So, is this really the best bet you can pick in a roulette game?

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Before we go any further, let me make something extremely clear:

This is a guide for beginners who want to know how to win at roulette or, even better, how to get the best odds and minimize the risk of placing losing bets all the time.

My focus is to show you how to maximize your chances to make money when you play. Not to give a fake system to win money on Roulette all the time or to teach you winning Roulette secrets that do not exist.

What I am about to describe might sound very boring to all those who play Roulette for the thrill of it and love crazy and expensive bets but - hey! I am here to help you play Roulette, not to find you an expensive alternative to Netflix!

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The best way to win money on Roulette (or to minimize the risk to lose money, if you wish) is to focus on the outside bets.

Although these Roulette bets do not lead to mind-blowing wins, keeping your bets on the odds/even, red/black, and high/low will give you the highest chances to score some cash.

These are by far the best bets in a game of Roulette and the only ones a beginner should focus on. The outside bets pay 1:1 but give you almost 50 percent chances to win every bet you place.

What Is The Best Way To Play Roulette

Forget your lucky numbers. Forget what 'you feel' will happen on the Roulette wheel.

Concentrate your bets on the options I just gave you. That is key to learning how to get your best winning odds when you play Roulette.

You Won Some Money: Now What?

If you are serious about winning money on Roulette, you need to treat your winnings as if they didn't exist and resist the temptation to add them to your bankroll.

In other words, you shouldn't bet the money you win.

Professional Roulette players handle wins in a very simple way: they cash them out.

You need to learn how to define a bankroll you can invest in your games before you place your first bet on the roulette wheel and stick to that amount.

If you start off with the €80 bankroll we described above, and you find yourself with €120, cash out the €40 and continue to play with the original €80.

It's easier than you think.

The more you do this, the more money you'll be able to set aside every time you win on Roulette.

This is going to be very hard as soon as your bankroll starts to look too-thin-to-survive - but that's exactly when it's imperative you keep your winnings separate from your gambling money.

Consider it like a saving account: it's good to have a backup when things don't go your way.

Roulette Betting Strategies

And now, let's go through the most advanced part of this guide: the Roulette betting strategies.

Being this an article for beginners who want to know how to win on Roulette, I am not going to go too deep on the subject.

Later this month, PokerNews will publish an intermediate strategy article where I explain all the details and nuances of the different Roulette betting strategies.

If you are and advanced player (e.g., you won $1,000 or more on Roulette — and not all in one night) and you are looking for an in-depth guide to give you Casino account a new boost, I suggest you wait for that.

But if all you want is an overview of the different betting strategies that can help you win on Roulette - here we go.

The Martingale Betting System

The Martingale Strategy is one of the most popular betting patterns in the world of gambling.

My guess? People love to follow the Martingale strategy when they play Roulette because they understand it immediately. Not because it works.

(Spoiler alert: it doesn't)

The basics are simple: each time you place a bet, and you lose, you should repeat the same bet but with 2x the money.

The Martingale is a guarantee if you want to break even since you only need to win once to cover even the ugliest of all losing streaks.

If you plan on betting on Roulette following the Martingale system, make sure you begin from the table's minimum bet - or you might be forced to deal with monster bets already after a handful of spins.

Best Way To Win Roulette

And those bets might get just too big for you to handle them.

The Grand Martingale Betting System

Another system many players use to beat the roulette is the Grand Martingale, a (pricey) variant of the regular Martingale Roulette system.

The Grand Martingale works exactly as the Martingale, but with on steroids: every time you double your bet, you also add an extra amount equal to your initial bet.

If you follow my advice on starting from the minimum bet, that means you are always going to 2x your losing bet + adding one more minimum bet on top of that.

Unfortunately, I am not rich enough to use it.

The James Bond Roulette Strategy

Also known as the beginners' favorite, the James Bond strategy is a combination of bets that give you the best odds of winning on Roulette.

To follow the James Bond strategy, you need to place the following bets on the same spin:

• €10 on the zero
• €140 on the 19-36 box
• €50 on the 13-18 box

What makes this the best strategy to win at Roulette every time? You only lose if a roulette wheel stops with the ball being on a number between 1 and 12.

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