Roulette Systems

S. Stoynova

Svetlana is a seasoned iGaming writer who has been contributing to CasinoGamesPro.com since 2015. She specialises in in-depth reviews of casino games, including slots, roulette, blackjack, and video poker. Her expertise also extends to evaluating payment methods, mobile casino apps, and leading online gambling platforms.

(editor) | Updated: 2025-08-14 14:51:36

Since roulette, much like craps, is a game based entirely on chance, there is no surefire betting system that enables players to predict with absolute certainty which number the little white ball will land on. Each individual number on the wheel has an equal chance of winning on the next spin. Above all, unlike human beings, roulette balls have no memory—that is to say, each spin is independent of those that preceded it and has no influence on what will happen on subsequent spins. The winning and losing outcomes of spins are evenly distributed and completely random.

Also, roulette is considered a negative expectation game, which means that in the long run the house edge — the built-in casino advantage — will catch up with players. The game is already tilted against gamblers due to the presence of the single-zero pocket (or worse, the additional double-zero in American roulette) on the wheel, which reduces the chance of collecting a payout on even-money bets, such as red/black, odd/even, and high/low.

However, this is not to say it is impossible for roulette players to end their betting sessions in profit by adopting a betting system that suits their needs and bankroll size. While betting systems cannot affect the outcome of the spins, they enable players to manage their bankrolls more effectively by adjusting their bet sizes intelligently. Hence, betting systems have to do with money management more than anything, allowing roulette players to potentially recoup the losses suffered during cold streaks or boost their profits during hot runs. The different types of betting systems applicable to roulette are outlined in further detail below.

Betting Systems Applicable to the Game of Roulette

The most popular roulette betting systems can be grouped into two major categories: positive and negative betting progressions. As mentioned above, these systems call for adjusting the size of your wagers depending on the outcome of previous spins. In other words, players alter the amounts they bet depending on whether they won or lost on the last spin.

Betting systems based on positive progressions require players to increase their stakes after each winning spin and reduce them after a loss. Typically, such positive betting systems are deemed suitable for those who prefer to make less risky outside bets, where the chances of winning are higher.

Column Bet

Dozen Bet

Black/Red Bet

Odd/Even Bet

High/Low Bet

Straight Bet

Split Bet

Street Bet

Corner Bet

Sixline Bet

The basic idea behind these positive systems is that they can potentially help players boost their profits should a longer hot streak occur. At the same time, positive betting systems enable roulette fans to keep their losses to a minimum during prolonged losing streaks and prevent them from draining their bankrolls in unfavorable situations.

Betting systems based on negative progressions mirror their positive counterparts. In other words, they require players to bet more after each losing spin and decrease their stakes after a win. At first glance, such a course of action may appear nonsensical, but, on closer inspection, it starts to make sense.

Negative betting progressions are based on the idea that players can eventually offset the losses incurred during bad streaks with a single winning spin, as they gradually increase their stakes by a predetermined number of units after each loss. That being said, the profits will be far from impressive, but in many cases players will at least be able to break even. On that note, it is worth specifying that negative betting systems are not suitable for all roulette players and are recommended only for those who can afford to bide their time and wait for the losing streak to end.

Players with a limited budget are advised to steer clear of negative systems, as there is a real risk of exhausting their bankrolls before a winning spin finally occurs. Additionally, some systems in this category are quite steep, which may cause players to hit the table maximum before they can offset their losses.

The Martingale System

The Martingale is arguably the most well-known negative betting system in the world and, as such, has both its proponents and detractors. It works in the following way: players choose a base betting unit before joining the roulette table—say $10 for the sake of simplicity. Each time they lose a spin, they double their stake (or bet $20 in this example).

After a win occurs, players return to their base betting unit and continue to wager this amount on subsequent spins. Thus, the Martingale would work like this: $10/loss, $20/loss, $40/loss, $80/win, $10/win, $10/win, $10/win, and so on.

The Fibonacci System

The Fibonacci is another negative betting progression to which roulette fans often resort. As the name implies, the system is based on the well-known Fibonacci sequence, where each subsequent number equals the sum of the two numbers that precede it, like this: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, and so on.

At the start of the game, the player wagers one base unit—say $10. If a loss occurs, the player increases their next stake according to the Fibonacci sequence and wagers two units, or $20. After a winning spin, the player moves two steps back in the sequence; that is, if they have won after betting 8 units, their next stake should amount to $30, or three base units.

There is an exception to this rule, however: when players have succeeded in turning a profit during their betting session, they return to the very beginning of the Fibonacci sequence and proceed from there. This system demands considerable concentration and becomes somewhat complex to follow during extended losing runs, not to mention that the betting progression is extremely steep.

The Labouchere System

The Labouchere is another system that revolves around a negative progression and is also referred to as the Cancellation System or Split Martingale. Its downside is that it is far from simple, which renders it unsuitable for some roulette players. The theory behind it is that those who use it will succeed in recouping their losses from bad streaks with a smaller number of winning spins. Unlike the Martingale, the Labouchere does not aim to recoup all losses with a single spin but can potentially help players offset them over several winning spins.

Because it is more complex, this system requires players to use a pen and a notepad, as they need to write down a number sequence. Players can choose any sequence they like, but it is recommended to start with simpler ones, such as 1-2-3-4-5-6. The amount you bet is equal to the sum of the first and last numbers in the sequence.

On winning spins, players cross off the first and last numbers, and the sequence then looks like this: 2, 3, 4, 5. On losing spins, players append the sum of the first and last numbers—that is, the amount they have just bet—to the end of the sequence, like so: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (6+1). In short, players add a number to the list when they lose and cross off two numbers when they win, with each subsequent wager equal to the sum of the first and last numbers. When only one number remains, players simply stake the amount it represents.

The Paroli System

The Paroli is among the most popular positive betting progression systems for roulette, which means players increase their bets after a win and reduce them after a loss. By using this system, players can potentially generate small but consistent profits.

The Paroli system is said to reduce the risk of players incurring massive losses during bad streaks. Because of this, the system is considered a more viable option for roulette players on a budget. Another advantage stems from the Paroli’s simplicity, as it is quite easy to learn and follow. On that note, players should keep in mind that the system is most suitable for less risky outside bets that pay even money.

The system employs fixed betting amounts. Let’s assume you start with a betting unit of $10 and win on 31 black, in which case you double your stake for the next spin and bet $20. If you happen to lose, you drop back to your base betting unit of $10 and continue to wager this amount on subsequent spins (if any further losses occur).

The main difference between the Martingale and the Paroli is that the latter requires players to return to their base unit precisely after three consecutive wins. This is because three consecutive wins on even-money bets are fairly common in roulette, whereas the chances of winning four times in a row are considerably lower.

The 1-3-2-6 System

The 1-3-2-6 system resembles the Paroli to a great extent in that it, too, calls for increasing the stakes after winning spins. However, the two differ in the betting sequences players are expected to follow. The 1-3-2-6 system is also used for even-money bets like odd/even, black/red, and high/low.

The first thing players need to do is determine the size of their base betting unit—$5, for example. After a winning spin, players must adjust the amount they stake according to the 1-3-2-6 sequence, which means, in our example, betting $15 on the next spin. Another win will result in betting $10 (two betting units) on the third spin, and so on. If the fourth spin is also a winner (and you have bet $30 with six units of $5 each), the cycle is complete and you go back to the beginning of the 1-3-2-6 sequence, betting one unit once more.

Players who lose on any spin during their session are required to drop back to their base betting unit. It really is as simple as that. The greatest advantage of the 1-3-2-6 system stems from the fact that players are not expected to raise their stakes after a loss but must always stick to their base units instead. This could prevent them from incurring greater losses quickly, not to mention that the system is so straightforward anyone can master and implement it.

Flat Betting and How it Applies to Roulette

Flat betting is the approach many recreational roulette players prefer, as it is the simplest betting pattern and does not require you to keep track of any number sequences or mathematical progressions. This is because the amount players wager does not fluctuate but instead remains the same throughout their betting sessions.

This approach prevents players from incurring massive losses but is more suitable for those who are content with generating small yet consistent profits. However, in order to use flat betting, roulette players must first decide on the size of their betting unit. The unit should be aligned with the size of their overall bankroll for the session. If you have $200 to play with, it would be unwise to choose a betting unit of $30, for example.

The general rule of thumb in this case dictates that the betting unit should amount to about 1% to 2% of the bankroll’s total size. This means you should flat bet no more than $4 per spin with a bank of $200.