Optimal Play For Winning Big Payouts

Before we can discuss strategy and systems, we need to first know how to play online roulette at its most basic level. In a nutshell, the goal of roulette is to predict the number, color, or combination of both, where the ball will land on the wheel. Originating in France, today roulette is popular all over the world, but primarily in America and throughout Europe.

There are two different wheels, the American wheel with 38 numbers (0-37) and the added double zero (00), and the original European wheel that has 37 slots. The table serves as the betting area, with every number clearly laid out on the felt, as well as several special betting options such as red, black, even, odd, lows and highs.

Simply place your bets by clicking on your digital chips and then click "Spin" to initiate the wheel and ball. Once it stops, your wagers are either collected or paid.

The most simple thing you can do to reduce the house edge in roulette is to play the European wheel if available. The elimination of the 00 reduces the house edge in American roulette from 5.26 percent to just 2.70 percent. Single zero roulette is available in many Las Vegas casinos today, and online most of the leading sites, including the majority of the iGaming casinos we recommend, offer European wheels.

While no lone roulette strategy will overcome the house edge, one playing system that is easy to follow is to begin by placing a chip on one of the dozens (1 through 12, 13 through 24, 25 through 36). Should the ball land on any of your 12 numbers, the dealer pays you two chips. Take one of your winning chips and place it aside. With your initial bet still on a dozen, choose another dozen with your other winning chip. You now have 24 numbers, or 63 percent of the total board covered. If you win again, simply remove one winning chip, and re-up on the losing dozen. This is a simple system that is fun and stress-fee, and frequently pays off.

Red or Black?

Another simple bet is to play red or black. Though many believe a color has better odds one way or another, that simply isn't true. Red and black both come with a house edge of 5.26 percent in double zero roulette, and 2.70 percent in single zero.

Another key tip is to avoid the five-number bet on the American roulette wheel. This wager hopes the ball will land on 0, 00, 1, 2, or 3, and pays six to one. This is the only bet that comes with a higher house edge (7.89 percent) than all other bets that feature the standard 5.26 percent.

Many online sites claim they've discovered the winning online roulette system, but be cautious in reading these schemes. Perhaps the most popular is the Martingale System. Dating back to the 1700s, the Martingale is a simple betting approach that calls for the gambler to double his bet after a loss. The structure is usually employed for even money bets such as red/black, even/odd. The idea is that if you double losses, once you win you'll have enough to cover all losses, plus one extra unit.

The problem is, it's easy to lose your entire bankroll quickly on a string of losses, essentially draining all your funds in potentially just a matter of minutes. As computer systems have proven, the Martingale adheres to the house edge in the same manner every other bet does.

Other Online Roulette Systems Proven Invalid

• Grand Martingale
• Laboucher or Canceling Betting
• Shotwell System
• Paroll
• Oscar's Grind
• d'Alembert Method

There are many systems, but no proven way to crack the online roulette wheel. An unbiased wheel will always produce the same house edge, regardless of online or at a land-based casino. After all, the numbers on the roulette wheel add up to 666.