The Best Roulette Bets Explained

Much has been said about roulette being an unbeatable game. It’s true, yes, that in most roulette games played in a casino, the house will have the advantage. But that doesn’t mean it’s a hopeless bet. To be successful in winning a roulette game, you need a betting strategy and a plan to execute that strategy with as little damage to your bankroll as possible!

Let’s take a look at what some have considered the best ways to bet on a roulette game.

Europe vs. USA

One of the first ways to minimize the house advantage is to bet on games played on a European wheel. There are plenty of other Roulette articles and resources out there that explain the rules and differences in greater details, but as far as a successful roulette betting strategy goes, the biggest difference is that American wheels have an extra pocket: the green double zero. This means that while the payouts from the two wheels remain exactly the same (35 to 1), the odds of winning on a European wheel are 1 in 37 compared to 1 in 38 on an American wheel. Basically, payouts happen more often on a European wheel than an American one. This strategy only works if you can play games on a European wheel, which is something that’s not always possible in smaller U.S. casinos. A casino website that offers online poker in the U.S. is more likely to have European wheel games in its selection.

Inside Bets

All bets on a roulette table are split primarily into two categories: inside and outside bets. Inside bets typically provide larger payouts but come with a much smaller chance of winning. Usually only recommended for experienced roulette players, inside bets create increased risk and increased thrill levels!

An inside bet with the highest chance of giving a greater payout is called the “straight-up”. It’s also quite simple to execute. Simply bet all your money on a single number, such as Red 27. If the ball lands there then you win. Next up is the “split bet”. With a split bet, you are increasing the chances of winning but it will be a smaller payout. By placing a split bet, you are dividing your money between two adjoining numbers, such as 35 and 36. All inside bets are a variation of this format; so, remember, the more you bet on a single number, the higher the potential payout but the smaller the chance of winning.

Best Roulette Bets Online

Reputable casino platforms like the 888 Casino have a wide range of roulette games to play including European, low stakes, and even live roulette. Currently, they are one of the few online casino platforms available for gambling in New Jersey and as such, they can be the perfect arena for a novice roulette player in the U.S. to start to develop strategies that work for them.

The aptly named “outside bets”, which are placed on the outer part of the table, are probably the best ones to use when playing online. They are the simplest and even though the payouts won’t be as high as those from inside bets, outside bets offer considerably higher chances of winning.

“Red or black” bets are the most probable outside bets to start with because instead of choosing a specific number, you would choose to wager on red or black. All the numbers on the table are either red or black, except for the American green 00, and it is an even money bet so you would receive twice the staked amount as a payout. “Odd or even” bets are like red/black bets as they both offer the odds of 47.36% (on a U.S. wheel), but here you would bet on whether the next number coming up on the wheel is odd or even instead of choosing a color.

When it comes to roulette, there are as many strategies as there are players! Though the key to finding the best one is a matter of personal preference, for some players, keeping it simple offers them much more enjoyment at the roulette table than crafting a complex, strategic formula. Some players even choose philosophical mathematics to inform their betting strategy – The d’Alembert solution, which is based on an idea that the universe will even all things out, Fibonacci sequencing, and even Chaos theory have all made their way into the arsenals of roulette players! Ultimately, the best roulette bet is the one that enables you to make fewer decisions at the table while getting maximum enjoyment and reward.