Since roulette is a game of chance, there is no way for players to predict with absolute certainty where the little white ball will land on the next spin. Yet the main goal of every roulette player is to win and maximise their returns when they take a seat at the table. One simple way to achieve this is to manage your bankroll efficiently.
There are several aspects to adequate bankroll management. The most important thing is to determine the size of your overall bankroll – the amount of money you intend to set aside for a given betting session. The next step is to set a base betting unit for yourself – the amount you place on each spin.
Less experienced players who have trouble deciding on the size of their base betting unit relative to their overall bankroll can resort to using the so-called roulette betting calculators. These calculators are available online and often can be used free of charge. They can be especially helpful to players who wish to incorporate a specific betting system into their roulette sessions in order to generate more substantial profits.
| Outcome Probability = | Numbers |
| 37 Total Numbers |
| Success Percentage = | x 100 = | ||
| 37 |
You Win =
Expected Return on your Bet =
How Does a Roulette Betting Calculator Work?
Using the roulette betting calculators available online is quite straightforward. The calculators aim to indicate what the most suitable base betting unit for a given player is, based on their bankroll size. The base betting unit is the amount players place on each spin.
It is important to remember that discipline plays a crucial role at the roulette table – the size of the base betting unit is meant to be a fixed constant that players stick to throughout their betting session. Sticking to the fixed unit ensures players spend the optimum amount of time at the table while still being able to turn a decent profit whenever they experience a longer winning streak.
This is how the online roulette betting calculators work. All players need to do is enter the exact amount of their bankroll in the respective field and click on the Calculate button. For example, let’s assume you have set aside £200 for a single roulette session. The calculator will compute three different betting units based on this sum: a safe unit, a recommended unit and a high-risk unit. Which one you adopt depends on the type of roulette player you are – a more risk-averse player or a high roller.
Many roulette experts recommend that players use a base unit amounting to 2% of the total bankroll and caution them to steer clear of units that exceed 5% of the sum they plan to spend on a single betting session. Inexperienced roulette players are often advised to stick to base units amounting to 1% of their bankroll, at least until they have figured out which betting strategy works best for them.
| Betting Units for a £200 Stake | |
|---|---|
| Safe (1%) | £2 |
| Recommended (2%) | £4 |
| High-Risk (4%) | £8 |
Safe Betting Units
If you enter £200 as the size of your overall bankroll, the calculator will compute that your safe betting unit amounts to £2. This unit corresponds to 1% of your overall bankroll. Sticking to a safe betting unit might enable players to prolong the time they spend at the roulette table. It is recommended for players who are more cautious with their money and are satisfied with putting relatively small amounts at stake.
However, players who choose a safe betting unit should bear in mind there are minimum and maximum stake limits at land-based roulette tables. Often, it might be impossible to bet only £1 per spin because, in land-based casinos, the minimum roulette bet usually starts at £5. Nevertheless, this issue can easily be resolved by playing the game online. Many web-based gambling operators offer low-stakes roulette variations where it is possible to place bets of £1 or even £0.50. So, if you decide to stick to a safe betting unit, you should consider joining a low-stake roulette game from the comfort of your home.
Online Roulette Variations
Playtech Roulette
Microgaming Roulette
NetEnt Roulette
Betting Calculator
Recommended Betting Units
The second unit the calculator will compute is the recommended betting unit. You may notice that the recommended unit always corresponds to 2% of your overall bankroll, regardless of the sum you have initially entered. In our case, the recommended betting unit for a bankroll of £200 would amount to £4. This is, in fact, the ideal base unit as it allows players to optimise the time they spend at the roulette table while, at the same time, giving them a rush of adrenaline on every spin of the ball.
Also, sticking to the recommended unit may help you minimise your losses if you experience a longer losing streak, as you will not be risking a substantial percentage of your bankroll on each spin. Roulette novices should remember that it is better to settle for smaller wins than to part with their entire bankroll in a few spins by staking heftier sums.
High-Risk Betting Units
The roulette betting calculators available online also compute high-risk betting units suitable for players who prefer to bet big and secure greater profits. The roulette betting calculator has computed a high-risk betting unit of £8 for the bankroll of £200 used in this example. The sum corresponds to 4% of the overall bankroll and is considered the highest yet safest bet limit in the game of roulette.
Players who opt to use higher-risk bet units are advised to be careful when putting their funds at stake in order to avoid losing more money than they are comfortable with. If you become anxious or infuriated each time you lose on a spin, this might indicate that the high-risk betting unit is not for you. If that is the case, you should consider reducing the size of your next bets to the recommended unit to avoid being tempted to wager too much when you suffer a losing streak.
Determining the Best Base Betting Unit
Online roulette betting calculators predominantly focus on giving players an idea of the best range of units they should stake at the roulette table. At the end of the day, it is up to players to decide how much they wish to bet per spin. However, players are advised to join the roulette table only with money they are comfortable playing with – and potentially losing.
If the thought of losing a given amount of money per spin makes you sweat with anxiety, you should avoid staking that sum. It is of utmost importance to stick to the limits you have set for yourself and feel comfortable with. Remember the best betting unit for you is the one that allows you to maximise the time you spend at the roulette table without requiring you to risk a substantial part of your bankroll.
Another point to consider is the fact that these calculators are meant to be used solely for reference purposes. To find a balance, players are encouraged to experiment a little with their base betting units and adjust them until they find a unit they are most comfortable with.
Most importantly, once you have found the betting unit that works best for you, you need to stick to it when you join the roulette table, regardless of what happens. Sometimes players are tempted to increase their betting units whenever they suffer a lengthy losing streak in an attempt to recoup their losses. However, there is no guarantee the next spin will result in a win, so increasing the bet units dramatically might end up costing you your entire bankroll.
A Few Words in Conclusion
While online roulette betting calculators are useful for helping players determine the size of their base betting units, the effect they have on whether your bets win or lose is nil. In addition, if you search online, you may find a range of roulette calculators that compute the probability of winning with specific bets. Some calculators even claim to “predict” which number will be spun next.
There is one very important thing to remember, namely that there is no relation between spins. Each spin is independent and does not affect the outcomes of the spins that follow. This means all numbers on the roulette wheel have an equal chance of coming up on the next spin, so there is no possible way to predict the outcome with absolute certainty. This practically renders calculators that compute outcomes on the basis of previous winning numbers useless.
However, calculators that compute betting units might prove to be useful when it comes to players’ money management. Ultimately, it is up to players to decide whether they feel comfortable using the betting units suggested by these calculators.