11 Roulette Tips: Rules, Risks and Common Mistakes

Roulette is a game of luck and every outcome is determined by luck. Tips discussed on this page do not change the odds of winning.

I’ve met plenty of roulette players who had a moment where they felt they’d cracked the game and had good roulette tips to share. Yet none of the tips I’ve received have ever changed the outcome. Here’s why.

Roulette is a game of luck and there isn’t much you can do to change yours. Every number has the same odds of winning, and you cannot predict what’s coming next. But having played roulette for over 20 years, I have developed a few things that can at least give you some entertainment and additional knowledge, even if they won’t show you how to win at roulette.

What roulette tips can and can’t do

Roulette tips can help you understand the rules, compare house edges, choose suitable bet types and manage your time and budget. They cannot predict results, remove the house edge, guarantee profit or make you more likely to win a specific spin.

My best roulette tips – even if they don’t change the odds 

There’s no point sugar-coating it. Winning at roulette is impossible in the long run. A game of chance with a house edge of 2.70% is simply not beatable over a large sample size.

But due to the element of luck in roulette, any single spin can produce a winning result. If we can’t change the probabilities or the payout odds or the randomness, what can we do?

#1: Look for the best rules and bets

Roulette tables may all look the same, but the house edge will vary depending on the rules of the game.

• European roulette and French roulette games usually have a house edge of 2.70%.

• Due to the extra double zero, American roulette has a house edge of 5.26%.

Checking the RTP and house edge helps you understand the cost of different roulette variants.

There are two aspects to picking which roulette bet to make. First, although roulette bets have different payout odds, almost all of them have the same house edge. If you bet £10 on red, and on the single number 33, you’ll get the same Return To Player in the long run, despite the fact that the outcomes play out in very different ways.

Consider how the probability and payout odds of each bet might be well suited or unsuited to your preferred way to play. Outside bets tend to produce more frequent, smaller wins and losses. Straight-up bets have lower hit frequency and higher payouts when they land.

Hit frequency is not the same as long-term profitability. Most standard roulette bets have the same house edge within the same roulette variant.

However there are some bets which have a higher house edge, and some lower.

In American roulette, the Top Line or Basket bet has a house edge of 7.89%, higher than all other bets. Placing separate straight-up bets on those numbers avoids that specific bet type, but the standard American roulette house edge still applies.

In French roulette, even money bets like red or black have a lower house edge than other bets on the table, due to the La Partage rule. If the ball lands on zero, you are returned half of your stake, giving all 1-to-1 payout bets a 1.35% house edge, half the 2.70% for all other bets. This is a useful rule to know, yet very few players actually do!

If available, French roulette with La Partage is usually the lowest house-edge version for even-money bets. This does not remove the house edge or guarantee a win, but it is an important rule difference to understand.

#2: Have a plan

Some players may come to the roulette table with a random amount of money, and no real plan for what to bet on. In offline casino, you might see them grabbing a stack of chips and spreading them across the board in a haphazard way.

They won’t know how much they’ve bet, or what outcome each number might give them.

Though there is no guaranteed way to win at roulette, putting some thought into your budget and your approach to bets, as well as how long you’d like to play for, can give you a strong foundation from which to enjoy this game of chance.

#3: Bet sizing during your session

The total stake you choose to bring to the table can depend on several factors, but should always be an amount you are happy to spend, and can comfortably afford to lose if results don’t go your way.

But what about your stake per spin? This can depend on things like how many spins you expect to play, and what kind of roulette bets you prefer.

A typical casino roulette table may produce 50 spins in an hour, though this can be more or less, depending on whether the table is dealer-controlled, automated, a speed version, and so on. It can be useful to know how many spins you might get, and if you want to play every time, or miss some out.

Bet types can influence bet sizing decisions too. If you’re betting red or black, on average these bets will produce a return just less than 50% of the time, though it’s not unusual to see surprising sequences of one colour.

But in general, bets like these can be less volatile.

If you prefer single numbers that will be picked once in 37 spins, on average, you have to be prepared to go 100, 200, perhaps even 300 spins or more without a number being chosen. That’s how variance and randomness work.

If you bet £1 per spin, your choice of bet and its probability of happening will have direct impact on how your real money balance changes over time. Being aware of this can help you plan your session budget and your individual spin stake.

#4: Be conscious of timing

If you play traditional RNG online roulette – that’s a game using computer graphics and where results are generated by a random number generator, not a live dealer – then you control when the ball is released.

But if you play live roulette online, you play the game to the dealer’s schedule. That means you will often have around 20 seconds while the betting window is open, to place your bets.

It can be frustrating to hear “no more bets” while you’re halfway through placing yours.

Having a plan is great, but you also need to be organised enough to execute it. Take note of the betting round timer, and place whatever bets you wish before the timer ends. And remember, there is always another spin, and every spin is independent of the previous ones.

Rushing your bets can lead to mistakes, or to unsafe play. If you are unsure or feel rushed, skip the spin. There is no need to place a bet every round.

#5: Have an exit plan and stick to it

If your numbers come in and you’re in profit, know when to walk away. Like most footballers, gamblers rarely go out on a high, so you can’t expect to leave at the peak of your winning powers.

But booking a win is important, whatever the size, and walking away with the casino’s money is a great feeling, even if you’re destined to come out behind in the long run.

Having a plan is only half of the battle. When you hit your target, don’t be tempted to stick around in the hope of even bigger success. Many gamblers are adventurous, but the successful ones are disciplined too.

Remember: every spin is independent

Previous results do not affect the next spin. A run of reds does not make black “due”, and a number that has not appeared for a while is not more likely to land next.

#6: Don’t sweat the results

A good approach to playing games online for real money is as much as about psychology as knowledge or experience. First and foremost, roulette should be entertaining and not stressful. Neither you nor I will ever figure out how to win at online roulette. You can’t win in the long run, so the only real goal is to have some fun.

My perfect mindset for any gaming session is a combination of positive attitude, some knowledge that it’s possible to win on any single spin, and a realistic acceptance that however you play, the results are out of your hands.

Starting your roulette game with the right mentality is easy. Maintaining it when results don’t go your way is another matter. Inside bets with a lower probability can require a bit more patience, for example.

For me, the most interesting and challenging aspects of roulette are when I start to second guess my betting choices, or see my favourite numbers come up at a nearby table.

I remind myself that every spin is random, patterns or sequences are meaningless, and I accept that win or lose, the bets I make all have the same ‘equity’. This means that whatever I bet on in European roulette, for example, the RTP is the same and never changes.

This type of mentality helps me disregard short term results and take the swings more in my stride.

#7: Stay in control

Unlike a horse race, a game of roulette has no end. With casinos now open 24/7, it’s possible to get immersed in the game, lose track of time and stay longer than you’d planned.

No roulette players may have secret roulette tips to win every time, but more experienced ones may know when and where to play, how much to stake and when to leave.

Budgeting for your roulette session and only betting what you can afford to lose are frequently written words, for a reason. They’re still the most important roulette tips for beginners that can help keep your playtime safe.

Starting with low stakes or playing a table with a free version when you’re learning how to play roulette can be a sensible decision too.

#8: Know your roulette etiquette

Most of my advice works online, but this one’s for land-based casinos, where lots of players could be wedged around a full roulette table. In that scenario, I find that it helps if you all play nice! If you’re engaged in a battle of elbows with another player, you’re more likely to make mistakes when you bet, or miss the betting window.

If you know the most common do’s and don’ts of roulette etiquette, you can stay calm as the excitement rises. Other basic rules including placing your money on the table when you buy in, rather than trying to hand it to the dealer. And don’t take roulette chips away from the table. They aren’t worth anything away from that roulette table, so you have to exchange it with the roulette croupier for cash-value casino chips first. Then take those to the cashier to exchange for real money.

#9: Practice for free

Unless you’ve got a roulette table in your basement, you won’t often get the chance to play roulette without betting real money. That’s another reason to play roulette online, as many casinos offer demo versions with unlimited play money chips.

Although playing without any skin in the game might not be the same, the freedom to make demo bets and see how they work can really speed up your roulette learning curve. Set yourself challenges to explore how different bets work, as you may find some new ones to enjoy.

Most RNG roulette games at PlayOJO have a Try For Free version, you just need to have a verified account and be logged in to access them.

#10: Scout for the best deal

Although some land-based casinos will have a reward programme, it’s rare to get much out of it. With a captive audience and no nearby competitors, high street casinos don’t need to earn the loyalty of their punters.

Online is a different story, and it’s worth looking for an online roulette game with promotions or rewards attached, if you can. At PlayOJO, everyone gets a little money back on every roulette bet, with OJOplus.

Just note that rewards and promotions do not change the roulette odds. If you use them, read the terms carefully and do not let them affect your betting decisions or pre-set limits.

#11: Use safer gambling tools

I’ve mentioned budgeting for your roulette session many times in our roulette guides, and it’s a lot easier online thanks to commonly available safer gambling features like deposit limits and game time reminders.

Tools like these can be useful to all players, not just those who need help managing their play. Set some sensible rules and let the casino tools do the work, so you can enjoy your spins without watching the clock.

Useful tools at PlayOJO include deposit limits, reality checks, time-outs and self-exclusion. If you find yourself chasing losses, increasing stakes beyond your plan or struggling to stop, take a break and use the support tools available.

Final thought

There is no winning roulette formula. Roulette outcomes are random, and no tip, bet type or strategy can remove the house edge or guarantee a profit.

What you can do is understand the rules, compare the house edge of different roulette variants, choose stakes within your budget and use safer gambling tools to manage time and spending. If you want to learn how different bets work, demo play can help you practise without staking real money.