Online Roulette Tips

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Among casino games, online roulette may offer the best chances for big wins at any time. With the right strategy, a beginner can turn a profit like an experienced gambler.

You'll find these main two versions: European Roulette and American Roulette.

The Basics of Online Roulette

European Roulette and American Roulette

The European Roulette wheel has 37 numbered pockets (1-36), either red or black. There's also a zero (0) marked in green.

In American Roulette, there is an extra number on the spinning wheel — a double zero (00) — also marked in green.

Depending on the online casino, European Roulette offers a house edge of around 2.5%. The extra number in American Roulette increases the house edge to about 5.26%.

For that reason, you may come across different betting limits for these two versions. The same might be true for the types of bets that you choose.

Outside and Inside Bets

While European Roulette gives better chances to win, how you bet also comes into play.

Both versions of roulette have outside bets and inside bets.

Outside bets offer 2 to 1 and even money odds. They include the following bets:

  • Black/Red (1 to 1)
  • Column (2 to 1)
  • Dozen (2 to 1)
  • Even/Odd (1 to 1)
  • High/Low (1 to 1)

For these wagers, you'll be gambling on 12 or 18 numbers at a time. So, while the payouts are the lowest in the game, they offer the best chances to win.

Inside bets cover any wagers that take place inside the box (table layout):

  • Basket (American Roulette) (11 to 1)
  • Corner (Square) (8 to 1)
  • Six Line/Line (5 to 1)
  • Split (17 to 1)
  • Straight (35 to 1)
  • Street (11 to 1)
  • Top Line (American Roulette) (6 to 1)
  • Trio (11 to 1)

A Straight Bet is a wager on one number that pays 35 to 1. From there, inside bets get placed on two to six numbers at once.

Serpent Bet pays 2 to 1. For this wager, you'll place single bets on 12 inside numbers: 1, 5, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 23, 27, 30, 32, and 34.

11 Roulette Tips

1. Keep Your Bankroll Intact

In online roulette, you'll begin with your bankroll. A $1-minimum may be the most common starting point for a table.

From there, you'll have chip denominations of $5, $10, $25, $100, and $500.

A $100 bankroll means you should stick to individual bets between $1 and $5. It might be a good idea to keep in mind how much money you want to make for your session, too.

To get the most enjoyment, you'll want to maintain your bankroll. Whether you win or lose, you should know when it's time to take a break.

Don't gamble any money that you aren't willing to lose.

If you're looking to play long-term, focus on setting daily, weekly, and monthly goals. If you're playing for entertainment, then you can use a loose betting strategy.

Choose your chip amount. Place your bet(s). Click 'Spin'.

There should also be Re-bet, Undo, and 2x options (double your previous wager).

2. Betting Strategies

The French and European Roulette versions offer the best chances to win. (If 0 hits on the French wheel, any even money bets that you placed get returned at 50% of your wager.)

As a beginner, you'll want to go with European Roulette. The better house edge means even money outside bets offer the best chances to win in online roulette.

3. Positive/Negative Progression

A positive progression betting strategy means increasing your wager amount after you win. So, a $5 bet gets increased to $10 after a win.

Some players may also increase their bet amount after a loss. This gets referred to as a negative progression strategy.

A $10 bet that loses gets increased to $20 on the next spin.

4. Martingale and Reverse Martingale

The Martingale strategy starts with a 1 to 1 even money outside bet (Black/Red, Even/Odd, High/Low). If you win, then you'll place the same wager amount on the opposite of your previous bet.

So, if a $10 wager on Black wins, you'll bet $10 on Red for the next spin.

If your initial $10 wager on Black loses, you'll double your bet to $20 for the next spin.

Reverse Martingale strategy means that you switch your bets after a loss. So, if you bet $10 on Even and you lose, then you'll bet $20 on Odd for the next spin.

5. D'Alembert Betting System

The D'Alembert betting system also begins with even money outside bets. If you start with a $5 or $10 bet, you'll remove one unit if you win or add one if you lose.

Thus, a $10 bet on Red that wins — you'll bet $9 on the next spin.

A $10 bet on Red that loses — you'll bet $11 on the next spin.

6. Paroli Betting System

In the Paroli betting system, you'll double your wager after each win. That strategy continues until you get three consecutive wins. If you start with $1, you'll keep that bet amount until you win.

After a win, you'll bet $2. If you lose, you'll return to your initial $1 wager.

A $2 win then becomes a $4 bet. A loss again returns to the $1 bet while a win completes the cycle.

Like the Martingale system, you may switch your bets after a win from Black to Red, Even to Odd, or Low to High. Or vice versa.

This strategy requires a hot streak. It also offers the potential of an increased payout structure from higher wagers.

7. Fibonacci Betting System

In a Fibonacci sequence, the next number in a series equals the sum of the previous two.

For example: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34.

The Fibonacci betting system is a negative progression strategy. You'll start with even money outside bets.

For each loss, you'll move ahead one spot in the Fibonacci sequence. When you win, you'll go back two spots (unless you're still at the beginning).

If you use this system, be careful not to let your losses get too out of control.

8. Parlay

Parlay betting system works by using your total winnings for your next wager. If you win a $10 bet on Black, then you'll use your $10 profit on the following spin.

This is one of the most common betting strategies in the game.

9. Two Column (or Dozen) System

With a 2 Column (or Dozen) betting system, you'll place wagers on 24 numbers at once. You can use any of the Column or Dozen bets that pay 2 to 1.

For the Column or Dozen where you think the ball will land, you'll place two units ($20). You'll place one unit on a second Column or Dozen ($10).

This is the same as betting 12 numbers at once — but the strategy offers an added hedge for breaking even.

You can use this strategy for Line or Corner inside bets as well.

10. 3/2 Strategy (Combination Bets)

The 3/2 Strategy in roulette combines Black/Red or Even/Odd bets with Column bets. You'll place three units ($3, $6, $9, $12) on an even money wager and two units ($2, $4, $6, $8) on a Column.

Here's how Black/Red breakdown among the columns:

  • 1st Column: 6 black/6 Red
  • 2nd Column: 8 Black/4 Red
  • 3rd Column: 4 Black/8 Red

Thus, you'll get your best Black/Red odds combined with respective 2nd and 3rd columns.

11. Tracking Board Strategies

There are also strategies based on playing off the tracking board. You may use progressive betting by choosing the third number on the board. Then, you can place a Dozen bet there.

Online Roulette Resources

We've got your back with additional resources to help you master your online roulette game: 

We recommend taking a look at our online casino legalization tracker to make sure casino gaming is legal in your state.

Online Roulette FAQ
Where is online roulette legal?

Online roulette is only legal in a handful of states, including New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Can I play roulette online?

Yes, if you're in a state with legal online casinos.