Popular Roulette Systems

Roulette may be predominantly based on chance, yet fans of the game have invested plenty of time and effort in attempts to develop the perfect betting system that will tip the scales in their favour and enable them to generate greater profits.

While implementing any given strategy cannot influence the outcome of the spins, roulette systems may prove helpful, as they instil discipline in players and, occasionally, might turn out to be the key to offsetting their losses.

• Betting Systems vs Strategies
• Are Roulette Casino System Effective
• Applying a Roulette System Online
• Positive vs. Negative Betting Systems
• Non-progressive Betting Systems
• The Most Popular Roulette Systems
• Other Roulette Betting Systems

Yet, the question many roulette lovers seem to be asking themselves is whether implementing a betting system will improve their chances of winning.

Read on to learn more about the most popular roulette casino systems, how they work and, most importantly, whether they are worthwhile at all.

Difference Between Betting Systems and Strategies

Before we dive into explaining the different types of roulette betting systems and elaborate on their effectiveness, we should make sure that players are familiar with the difference between betting systems and strategies.

These two terms are frequently used interchangeably, especially when gambling is concerned. Yet, there are also players who view strategies and systems as words with close but not identical meanings.

As far as gambling strategies are concerned, they represent a combination of actions players take in order to attain a specific goal, which is usually a long-term one.

With this in mind, gambling systems are a combination of procedures or principles players stick to while betting on a specific game. The most obvious difference between these two terms stems from the fact that, while betting strategies allow players to adjust their approach, betting systems have predetermined rules to which players should adhere.

Are Roulette Casino Systems Effective

This is easily the question every roulette player has asked at one point or another. The truth of the matter is that it all depends on which betting system you have adopted and what your expectations are when you take a seat at the roulette table.

Some systems work better than others, but at the end of the day, no roulette system can help you predict precisely which pocket the ball will land in. Neither the ball nor the wheel has a memory, so the outcomes in roulette are always based on a random principle – all numbers have equal chances of being spun.

Implementing a betting system, however, has its advantages. For instance, following a specific betting system can prevent players from making rushed decisions and chasing their losses whenever they enter a longer losing streak. Another advantage of using a betting system is that it may help players offset their losses. Betting systems also allow for better management of one’s bankroll, which is essential in a fast-paced game like roulette.

It is important to remember that roulette betting systems may help players turn a profit in the short term, but in the long run, the house always wins because all games have a small built-in advantage in favour of the casino.

Applying a Roulette System when Playing Online

Due to the immense popularity of roulette, all established online casino operators have added different variations of the game to their portfolios. In fact, this is good news for players who wish to experiment with different roulette systems, as they will be able to find out which one works well for them.

Please remember that players can easily reach the table limit when they apply negative progression systems like the Fibonacci, especially when they enter a longer losing streak.

If you opt for the online variations of roulette, you can play the game at your own pace, take notes and work out which strategy is most suitable for you and your bankroll size. There is also the option to play the games in Fun Mode without risking your own money. There is no human factor to influence the outcome of the game, as winning numbers in online roulette are determined by a Random Number Generator.

Finally, there are online variations with higher table maximums, as well as no-limit roulette games. If you engage in one such variation, there is less chance of you reaching the table limit on a longer losing streak with a negative progression system like the Martingale or the Fibonacci.

Positive vs. Negative Progressive Roulette Systems

We can distinguish two main types of roulette betting systems that are based on progressions, more specifically positive and negative ones. When players implement such progressive systems, they adjust the size of their betting units depending on whether their previous bets have won or lost.

Some systems, like the Parlay and the Paroli, are based on positive betting progressions, which means players are expected to decrease the size of their bets after each loss and increase it each time they win.

Other roulette systems, like the aforementioned Martingale and the Fibonacci, rely on negative betting progressions, in which case players should increase the size of their stake after each loss and decrease it after a win.

However, some systems rely on flat or level betting. Players who adopt them neither increase nor decrease the size of their stakes. If they happen to lose with their first wager, they place the same bet, with the same stake, until they win.

Non-progressive Roulette Betting Systems

As we mentioned already, progressive roulette betting systems are all about increasing or decreasing the staked amount in accordance with the result of the previous spin of the wheel. Still, this is not the case when non-progressive roulette betting systems are concerned, as they allow casino enthusiasts to stick to betting one and the same amount throughout the course of their betting session, without taking into account the outcomes of the previous spins of the wheel. Instead, players can adjust the bet level according to their preferences and bankroll.

Yet, the reason why this approach falls flat with even-money roulette wagers is that, in practice, players will struggle to pull ahead. That being said, applying this approach to inside roulette bets might turn out to be much more advantageous because if you opt for straight bets and the chosen number hits after just a few spins of the wheel, you will collect a hefty payoff and your net profit will be worthwhile as well. Yet, there is always the possibility that the chosen number will not hit that promptly, which might cost players a significant portion of their bankroll.

One of the main advantages of this way of betting on roulette is that players do not need to make any complex calculations to figure out what amount they need to put on their next stake. Furthermore, with flat betting, gambling enthusiasts will not suffer such massive losses as is often the case with the bulk of the roulette betting systems.

Yet, one of the biggest flaws of flat betting is that gambling enthusiasts will not enjoy such a large scope for profit even on the occasions when luck is on their side. Even if players resort to flat betting, losing to the house advantage is inevitable.

The Most Popular Roulette Systems

There are many different betting systems that can be applied to the game of roulette. Below, we have listed six of the most popular roulette betting systems that are based on progressions. Check them out to see which one is most suitable for you.

Paroli Betting System

The Paroli ranks as one of the most popular roulette betting systems because it is quite simple to use. It is based on a positive progression, which means players reduce the size of their stake after each loss and increase it after a win. It is considered suitable for the cases when players make even-money bets.

First, players need to set a basic betting unit, for example, £5. If your first bet wins, you double your stake to £10. If you succeed with the second bet, you stake £20. If your third bet loses, you reduce your stake to the original basic betting unit of £5. Please note that after three consecutive winning bets, it is recommended to drop down to your basic betting unit.

The biggest advantage of the Paroli betting system is its simplicity, as it is easy to learn and master. Besides, it prevents players from chasing their losses and provides them with the opportunity to generate consistent, though small, profits.

Parlay Betting System

The Parlay system enjoys great popularity among seasoned roulette players. Similarly to the Paroli, the Parlay system uses a positive betting progression as players must increase their stakes after a win. However, players who implement the system are required to choose a basic betting unit, set a winning limit for themselves, and leave the roulette table once they reach the said limit. The system is most suitable for outside, even-money roulette bets.

Let’s assume your base betting unit is £5. If your first bet of £5 on Red wins, you double the stake to £10 on your second bet. You win again, so you double the third bet to £20. This time, luck is not on your side and you lose, in which case you need to reduce the size of your fourth bet to the basic betting unit of £5.

Once players have reached their winning limit, their betting session comes to an end and they collect their winnings from the table. The Parlay system gives roulette players the chance to generate more substantial short-term profits without having to risk large amounts of money.

Martingale Betting System

Unlike Parlay and Paroli, the Martingale system is based on a negative betting progression and is exceptionally popular among less experienced roulette players, probably because it is easy to learn. The system is predominantly used in games like roulette, where even-money bets are available.

The Martingale system requires doubling your bet after each loss and reducing the stake down to your basic betting unit when you win. Those who intend to use this system are recommended to start with a smaller basic betting unit.

Let’s provide an example. Your basic betting unit is £10; you bet on Black and lose. You double your second bet to £20 and your luck fails you again. From this it follows that your third bet should amount to £40. You are lucky this time and win, in which case your fourth bet will again be reduced to the initial £10. It turns out you had to bet £40 to offset your losses of £30. More importantly, your net profit will always amount to one betting unit whenever you win, which helps explain why many experienced roulette players advise against the Martingale betting system.

The main problem with the Martingale betting system is that when players enter a longer losing streak, they have to risk larger and larger sums of money to offset the losses. This renders the Martingale rather risky and unsuitable for players with humble bankrolls. Then again, there is always the possibility that you will reach the table limit when you experience a lengthy losing streak.

Labouchere Betting System

The Labouchere betting system is a bit more complex compared to the previous ones. It, too, is based on a negative progression, as players are required to increase their stakes after a loss and decrease them after a win. However, unlike the Martingale, the Labouchere system aims at cancelling out losses with multiple wins.

If you decide to give the Labouchere system a try, the first thing you need to do is write down a sequence of positive numbers. Let’s assume your sequence is 1 – 2 – 3 – 4, and your basic betting unit is £1. Your first stake should be equal to the sum of the first and the last numbers in the sequence, or £5 in this case.

After a win, you need to cross off the first and the last number from your sequence. If you lose, you add the amount you have lost at the end of the sequence (1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5). You bet the combined amount of the first and the last number each time you make a bet. The only exception is when your sequence is down to only one number, in which case you stake that amount. If you win again, your betting session is over and you start anew with the initial sequence.

Fibonacci Betting System

This negative progression system is based on the famous Fibonacci sequence of numbers, where each number is the sum of the previous two numbers. Note that Fibonacci opted for starting his sequence with number 1 instead of 0. However, mathematicians have adapted the sequence so it runs in the following way: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233 and so on.

The Fibonacci system requires players to increase their stake after each loss and reduce it after a win, following the sequence above. Of course, when applied as a betting system in the game of roulette, the zero in the sequence is ignored. If your basic betting unit is £1 and you win with your first bet, your second stake remains the same. If you lose your first bet, you increase the second bet to £2, which is the next number in the Fibonacci sequence. Should you lose again, you increase the next bet to £3. After another loss, you bet five betting units or £5, and so on.

When you break out of the losing streak and win, you go back two numbers in the Fibonacci sequence. Players need to reduce their stakes to the first number in the series once they have succeeded in turning a profit. The Fibonacci system’s main disadvantage is that players will have to risk substantial sums of money when they enter a longer losing streak. Besides, the system is more complicated, as it requires you to keep track of the amounts you have won or lost so that you know when you should go back to the beginning of the sequence.

The D’Alembert System

This negative progression system is named after the famous French mathematician Jean-Baptiste le Rond d’Alembert. Those who adopt the system are expected to increase their stakes by one betting unit after each loss. For example, if you start with a base betting unit of £3 and you lose, the next wager should amount to £6. If you lose again, you increase the stake to £9 and so on. If you win, you decrease your next stake by one betting unit to £6 and so on.

The D’Alembert is easier to follow, especially when one compares it to the Fibonacci system, which renders it suitable for less experienced roulette players. Nevertheless, it is still possible to accumulate substantial losses with this system in case of a lengthy losing streak.

Other Roulette Betting Systems

In spite of the fact that the above-mentioned progressive betting systems are incredibly popular with roulette aficionados, the options they can choose from do not boil down exclusively to them. There are a handful of other betting systems roulette lovers might find appealing and be eager to explore.

1-3-2-6 Betting System

This is a betting system that is applicable not only to roulette, but to other casino games such as blackjack, craps and baccarat. To start employing it, players will be required to lay an even-money bet, and let’s assume that they have decided to wager £5. In the event that you have made an accurate prediction, you will have £10, and you will be required to add another betting unit to determine what amount you should stake next, which in our case means that the next wager should be worth £15.

As you can see, the staked amount is three times bigger than the initial wager players have made, which is exactly where the 3 in the name of the system stands for.

If your next wager wins as well, this will mean that the amount you have now is £30. Now, players will be prompted to put a total of two units on a stake, or £10, which means that they need to collect the remaining £20.

If you win once again, the payoff you will receive will be worth £20, but you should be mindful of the fact that once you reach the last stage of the betting system, you will need to put a total of six betting units on the line. In this case, you will need to add £10 more to your bet so that you can put £30 on your next stake (6 betting units × £5).

What players should take into account is that the minimum number of units they need in order to put the betting system through its paces is two. Furthermore, they need to pick the base betting units carefully to make sure that their bankroll will be sufficient to reach the final stage.

Please take into account the fact that this betting system might bring you some profit in the short term, but it is not the key to consistent wins.

Kavouras Betting System

This is one of the least popular roulette betting systems, but what makes it stand out is that it has more advantages than other betting systems. Interestingly enough, this is a betting system that is designed specifically with the game of roulette in mind, and it revolves around a selection of 20 numbers from the roulette wheel. Since the chosen numbers do not follow any order, this makes it impossible for the dealer to avoid a specific sector of the roulette wheel.

Needless to say, by covering such a large part of the wheel, losing streaks will not last as long, the volatility of the game will be significantly decreased, and the numbers you have staked on will show up with much greater frequency.

What players should bear in mind about this betting system is that the numbers they need to select should not follow any order and instead should be scattered chaotically across the roulette wheel. Another peculiarity of this betting system is that the staked amount should not be the same for all numbers.

When European-style roulette games are concerned, players will need to place a Corner bet of one unit on 0, 1, 2 and 3, and make a Double-street bet on 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36. Additionally, players should make split bets on 8/11, 13/14, 15/18, 17/20 and 27/30 that are worth one unit.

In this way, the least profit gambling enthusiasts will be able to collect will be 1 unit, while the maximum number of units they can potentially bag is 10.

The biggest benefit of this betting system is that, while employing it, players will be able to adjust their stakes in different ways and, most importantly, more frequently, which is not the case with other betting systems. This is possible because of the large coverage of numbers, which results in a larger number of hits.

By making the above-mentioned wagers, some of the numbers players have bet on will play the role of defensive selections that might not offer a massive payoff, but once they hit, the amount players will be awarded will help minimise the losses they have already seen.

One of the distinctive traits of this roulette betting system is that it revolves around inside bets, instead of focusing on even-money wagers, which is not that surprising when you take into account the pay-offs such bets award.

Oscar’s Grind System

This is an exceptionally straightforward betting system that can be applied to wagers made on red, black, odd, even, high and low numbers. This betting system is appropriate for other casino games too, and it is all about putting smaller amounts on a bet so that you can recoup if you are facing a losing streak.

While applying this betting system, roulette lovers will be required to augment the staked amount whenever they score a win, but instead of decreasing it after a loss, they will need to opt for the same bet amount again. Please remember that the staked amount should be increased only if you have placed a losing bet and then you have won. Players should keep on wagering the same amount until they get a profit.

What should be noted, however, is that gambling enthusiasts will need to allocate their bankroll carefully to ensure that they will be able to wager on all spins of the wheel without any interruptions. In addition to this, applying this betting system while playing single-zero roulette variants is a much better idea for the simple reason that special rules such as La Partage or En Prison will lower the advantage of the house.

Yet, the reason why this roulette betting system falls flat is that the profit casino enthusiasts will have the chance to receive will be rather small, and in practice, it will provide good results only when players have enjoyed three or more consecutive wins.

Pivot Betting System

When making use of this roulette betting system, roulette fans will be required to bet on one and the same number during the span of 35 successive rounds. As it seems, this betting system is hugely popular with gambling enthusiasts who approve of the idea of hot and cold numbers, as it focuses on repeating numbers.

Pivot Betting is applicable to European and American roulette variants, and as soon as players notice that a number has hit several times, they will be required to start placing bets of equal size. They should keep on placing one and the same wager until that number shows up once more or until they go through a total of 35 spins of the wheel.

Needless to say, if the chosen number appears early, players will collect better rewards. Yet, if that number does not show up again, this will mean that gambling aficionados will ultimately be at a disadvantage.

In spite of the fact that this betting system aims at keeping players’ stakes rather low, roulette lovers who are not that risk-averse might prefer to apply it in a rather aggressive way. This can be done, provided that players have a bankroll of 105 units and they put on the line just one betting unit for a total of 35 successive games or until the chosen number hits.

Law of the Third

Every player who has at least basic knowledge of the game of roulette is aware that all 37 or 38 numbers from the roulette wheel cannot be produced within 37 or 38 spins respectively.

According to the Law of the Third, ⅓ of all numbers, or 12 numbers, do not hit during the course of 37 or 38 spins of the wheel. Therefore, the numbers that will show up during that number of spins of the wheel will be roughly 24, or ⅔ of all numbers.

Hence, within 20 spins of the wheel, players should expect to see 16 different numbers, and four numbers will hit twice. When 37 spins of the wheel take place, gambling enthusiasts should expect to see 23 or 24 different numbers. It is important to note that 10 numbers will hit twice, and there will be three or four numbers that will become winning ones three times.

With this in mind, it should be fairly easy for roulette players to adjust their wagers. In spite of the fact that this information might make sense, gambling enthusiasts should be aware that the outcomes will balance when a greater number of rounds are taken into account.

This is so because each number that lies in the roulette wheel is just as likely to become a winning one as the rest of the numbers.

Risks of the Usage of Roulette Betting Systems

Although we do not wish to shatter players’ illusions, we should note that applying a roulette betting system can be a high-risk activity, as on most occasions gambling enthusiasts will either run out of money or hit the upper limit for stakes without getting the profit they were after or making up for the incurred losses.

As you might have already noticed, some roulette betting systems are set up on the idea of cold and hot numbers, which is a fallacious belief, simply because the chances of all numbers becoming winning ones do not increase or decrease in accordance with the outcomes of the previous rounds and instead are invariably the same.

Another proof that roulette betting systems are unworkable is that they dictate players’ next move after taking the previous rounds into account. Betting systems fall flat because they do not look at the individual spins of the wheel as independent events.

Since roulette is a game that is based exclusively on chance, applying a betting strategy will be futile and will not help you turn a profit. Instead, players are most likely to have no other choice but to stop betting once they have run out of funds.