Roulette is a traditional game of chance that is offered in almost all casinos and online casinos. In addition to the luck factor, there are now numerous roulette strategies designed to help players win. But does the perfect roulette strategy really exist? If yes, use it next time you bet in Kenya.
Success with a system?
Roulette is considered a pure game of chance, but with the right strategies, the odds of winning can still be improved. Every player swears by a different strategy to increase their winnings.
As the name “game of chance” aptly suggests, the outcome of such games depends on luck. However, especially in roulette, there are certain betting options and playing strategies that significantly increase your chances of winning. On closer inspection, the strategies differ considerably in terms of risk and return. The following strategies are particularly popular for increasing winnings in American and European roulette:
- The Martingale system
The Martingale system is one of the simplest strategies in gambling. The basic principle is to double your bet after every loss (“double or nothing”). The game begins with a bet on a simple 50/50 chance of winning. In roulette, this is a bet on black or red, with the bet placed on the color that lost last. If the player loses the bet, they bet on the same color again in the next round, doubling the bet. This procedure is continued until a win occurs that offsets the losses. This is followed by a new simple bet.
With this strategy, it definitely makes sense to start with small amounts in order to have enough leeway to double up. Especially when using the strategy for the first time, it is advisable to do so in a casino with very small limits.
This system is not advisable, as a profit is only made if the first bet is won. In addition, most players forget about the zero or double zero. These two fields reduce the chance of winning and give the bank an advantage; the player’s chance of winning is only around 49%. In addition, casinos set a maximum bet amount at the roulette table, which is quickly reached if bets are constantly doubled.
During a long losing streak, this strategy can result in enormous losses; mathematically speaking, total loss is inevitable. Therefore, the Martingale strategy is only suitable for players who bet small amounts. These keep potential losses low, but unfortunately, also the winnings.
- The Paroli system
The Paroli system can be seen as a counter-strategy to the Martingale strategy. With Paroli, the stake is not increased after a loss, but after a win. The player, therefore, continues to bet on the same chance. The Paroli can be increased until the maximum stake set by the casino is reached. A round with the Paroli system begins with the player betting a certain number of chips. If the round is won, the bet plus the winnings remain on the same field, followed by the first Paroli. This procedure is continued throughout the game (second Paroli, third Paroli). If a coup is lost, the player starts betting with a new number of chips.
This strategy is very popular because it is considered safer than the Martingale strategy. The reason is that many players believe they are betting with the bank rather than against it, since the player is betting with the bank’s money from the first Paroli onwards, rather than with their own money. However, this view is also based on a misconception, because ultimately the player loses their own money with every unsuccessful coup. In addition, even with a simple chance of winning, the risk of loss increases exponentially.
While the chance of winning with a simple Paroli is still just under 24%, this chance drops to less than 6% with a third Paroli (Quinze et le va). Since the stakes increase with higher Paroli, many players not only lose money when they lose, but also their nerves, as a large amount that they believed to be secure is lost in one fell swoop.
- The D’Alembert system
The D’Alembert system is related to the Martingale system and is designed to increase the chances of winning with simple 50/50 odds (red/black; even/odd). However, the D’Alembert system is significantly more complex than the Martingale system and is considered safer. As with the Martingale system, the player increases their bet by one unit at a time until they reach the casino’s maximum bet. If they lose this last coup, the entire bet is lost. If, on the other hand, they win a coup, the winnings are reduced by one unit, and the rest of the winnings are bet again.
This system is based on the law of compensation, according to which absolute compensation can be achieved after a certain period of time. However, this law cannot be applied to roulette, as there can be no absolute compensation due to the presence of the zero and double zero, and the advantage always lies with the casino.
- The Labouchere System (Montante Américaine)
The Labouchere system is a very complex yet popular version of the Martingale strategy, which involves betting on simple odds. Before the game, the player notes down the numbers one to four and bets the sum of the two outer numbers on their first coup, in this case five units (1+4=5). After the first coup has been won, the two numbers are crossed out and are no longer used in subsequent coups. In the second coup, the two remaining numbers are added together, and the result is used as a unit, in this case, five units. If the player loses this coup, the numbers are not crossed out. Instead, the next number in the sequence is added for the next coup and bet in the same way as in the first coup. In the second coup, seven units are therefore bet, the sum of the two outer numbers, two and five. This strategy is continued until all numbers have been crossed out or the maximum unit limit has been reached.