Typically, you'd want to believe that you would say roulette is a game of chance and that there's not much you can do wrong when you sit down at the table. This is only valid if you're playing for fun, with imaginary money, not with real stakes. The second the desire to win kicks in, you can bet you're already at a disadvantage to the casino. Yet since knowledge is the key to success, we've put together a list of the top five most prevalent mistakes to avoid when playing roulette.
One of the first things to know is that there are several online roulette versions available, and each has its own rules and odds. Playing the correct one can have a significant impact on your chances of winning.
1. Not Knowing What Type of Roulette to Play
There are three main versions of roulette that you can play online: European Roulette, American Roulette, and French Roulette. The problem comes in when you're a beginner and don't really know what you're looking for. Most likely, you'll jump into the first roulette table you find. But if you want to have the best possible chances of winning, American Roulette should be your last resort. Why?
Let's look at the three variations one at a time and talk about why American Roulette is rarely the best option, and why the other two are usually better.
American Roulette
This version has 38 numbers, with a "00" in addition to the 0 included in the other versions, which increases the house edge significantly to 5.26%. Even though it offers 161 possible bets—slightly more than the competition—unless you're a highly skilled player, the extra bets won't make much of a difference.
In fact, the difference is negligible: 161 vs. 157 possible bets in European and French roulette.
European Roulette
This is the most common variation played at online casinos. It has 37 numbers, ranging from 0 to 36, and the main difference from the French version lies in the positioning of the numbers. You will not notice much difference if you are betting on one number. Nevertheless, European Roulette lacks special bet sectors like Tiers, Orphelins, Voisins, and Zero found in French Roulette.
French Roulette – Additional Features
European and French Roulette both carry a house edge of 2.70%, but French Roulette does include a couple of additional features. The "En Prison" and "La Partage" rules are favorable to the player. With En Prison, when the ball lands on zero, you can either get back half of your even-money bet or let it ride for the next spin.
Of course, if the next spin is also a zero or a loss, you forfeit the whole amount. The rule applies to even-money bets (red/black, odd/even, 1–18/19–36). La Partage is a simpler rule, in which half of your even-money bet is automatically returned if the ball lands on zero.
There is also a Mini Roulette that we have not covered above since it is rarely played. It has only 13 numbers (0 to 12) but a massive house edge of 7.69%, thus the lack of popularity.
2. Ignoring Bankroll Management
Roulette is a fast-paced and exciting game that gives the false impression of control. But it's just this dynamic action that has a tendency to make gamers make the incorrect choices in the middle of a gaming session. It's thus extremely important that you have a planned budget and strategy in place before you start playing.
You must set limits for each gaming session and to keep a bankroll specifically for roulette.
Your goal might be to make money, but you should understand that profits don't just magically happen or occur overnight. Sure, there are stories of players who got lucky after a single session.
One famous example is British gambler Ashley Revell, who in 2004 sold everything he owned, raised $135,300, and went to the Plaza Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. He bet it all on red, and Lady Luck favored him: the ball landed on red 7, and he doubled his money.
Revell's strategy was perilous but fruitful, yet going all-in is a dangerous strategy and one of the most common roulette errors. We've all dreamed of overnight wealth, yet removing all wagering limits is a losing strategy in the long term because you're relying solely on luck.
3. Betting More Than You Can Afford
One other frequent mistake is betting more than you can afford. You have to accept the fact that losing comes with the game. It might happen a lot or little—depending on luck and the method you use.
Nevertheless, as soon as you start taking money that should go to essentials (like food, rent, utilities, or tuition), it is no longer fun. It is serious trouble.
Yes, roulette winnings are approximately equal to your stake. But don't look at another player's bankroll, look at your own prize. What is a big amount to you might be pocket money to someone else.
4. Increasing Your Bets After a Major Win
The excitement of a big win is unmatched. You're on top of the world, and it seems roulette will keep delivering your winning numbers. So, naturally, the question is: "Should I increase my bets?"
But one big win does not guarantee another. In fact, you might go on a losing streak and give back all your winnings.
And then it's just one bad decision away from losing your entire bankroll. This mistake is closely tied to the previous two: failing to set betting limits and betting more than you can afford.
5. Betting Randomly With No Plan
As mentioned previously, roulette—any type—has a wide variety of betting options. This can be overwhelming and make you want to try them all.
For entertainment, that's a good suggestion. And with internet roulette, you can try it out with virtual funds—so you don't need to use your actual budget just to test out new systems.
If you are placing a couple of spins on your lucky number, then switching to color bets, and then placing it all on "orphans," this kind of reckless betting is to be shunned when you bet with real money. You will lose in the long run, even though you will sometimes win. Do not fall into the trap of "false" victories by inertia and chance alone.