12 Roulette Secrets the Casino Doesn’t Want You to Know

Author ImageAuthor: | Last Updated: December 2022
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Online roulette has become a wildly popular game for both novice and veteran gamblers since there are no complicated strategies or rules to learn to play the game.

While there are no complex rules, there are some secrets to playing roulette that can heighten your enjoyment and help you protect your bankroll.

Looking for a reputable online casino to play roulette? Check out this list of reputable online roulette sites.

Below, we’ll cover 12 roulette secrets that the casinos don’t want you to learn.

12 Roulette Secrets Every Player Should Know

It’s important to remember that even the best online roulette secrets can’t guarantee you a win.  With that being said, you should always protect your bankroll and budget.

The following secrets to playing roulette aim to help you become more familiar with the game while also giving you a shot at maximizing your wins.

1. Online Roulette Games Are Different Than Physical Ones

Online Roulette UKWhether you’re a new player or experienced gambler, it’s crucial to remember that online roulette games don’t operate the same way that physical ones do. While you may be a master at physical, land-based roulette, online roulette relies on random numbers generators to simulate game play.

This means that while you may have a good feel for a physical table (since each is different with the wear and tear of the wheel), you may not be able to feel out an online roulette table due to its random nature.

One of the most important secrets to playing roulette is to remember that you’re playing with a perfect wheel every time you play online, so even if you think you’ve detected a bias on an online roulette wheel, chances are you’re playing into a fallacy that could end up costing you big time.

Outside bets, while the payoff may be smaller, is typically the best way to bet, especially with online roulettes.

2. Understand the Difference Between an Announced Bet and a Called Bet

Depending on where you’re playing roulette, the croupier (or person in charge of the roulette table) may allow you to play an announced bet or a called bet.

The difference between the pair can get confusing, but in layman’s terms it’s essentially when you bet either “Tiers du Cylindre” which covers the 12 numbers that lie on the far side of the wheel (between 27 and 33, or, 27-13-36-11-30-8-23-10-5-24-16-33) or “Voisins du Zero” which covers the 17 numbers closest to zero on the wheel.

For an announced bet, you have to hand over the chips and the croupier will place them for you. For call bet, you still have to tell the croupier, but you keep your chips until you lose.

Ensure you look into the rules and regulations of the area you’re playing to ensure that these bets are legal before attempting to place one.

3. The Announced Bet Is Overly Complicated

While we covered a basic overview of what an announced bet is above, reviewing the odds and payout options of these bets can get increasingly complicated.

If you ask a seasoned player for a roulette secret, chances are they’d tell you not to play the announced bet since it’s overly complicated, confusing, and increases your risk by playing them. Stick with standard outside bets that have better payout odds and build your bankroll with consistency.

4. Consistency Is Key

Roulette WheelWhile this roulette secret may not be a secret at all, one of the best strategies to learn how to win at roulette is consistency.

When sitting at a roulette table or playing online, it’s important to stick with one bet size. When selecting that bet size, you should always make sure that you’re able to withstand some losses while still maintaining a positive experience when you win.

Your bet size should be determined on your budget and how long you wish to play for. Larger bet sizes can drain your bankroll and shorten your play time while smaller bet sizes can increase it.

Remember: NEVER bet outside of your budget and always maintain your short- and long-term bankroll.

5. Most Strategies Don’t Pay Off

While there are a number of strategies that you can employ when playing roulette, one of the biggest roulette secrets is that most of these, if not all, rarely pay off the way they’re advertised.

Take the martingale strategy for example, the theory behind this strategy involves doubling your bet after each loss.  However, with 8 consecutive losses, you can’t double your bet any longer since you’d hit the table maximum.

This increases your risk exponentially and can even cause you chase losses and end up betting outside of your means or budget.

Always remember that roulette is a game of risk and balancing that risk. The more risk you assume with higher bets, the less risk the casino has. Similarly, the lower your bets (and associated risk), the higher the risk to the casino.

6. Betting the Minimum Is Okay

Another important roulette secret is realizing that smaller bets are okay, and even recommended to most.

Unlike slot machines where max betting opens the possibility of max jackpots and bonuses, roulette doesn’t work like that. While everyone loves the fanfare of a huge bet, the average player will do better in the long haul if they bet small and consistently.

7. Others Bets Don’t Impact Your Odds

RouletteAlways remember that the money you’re betting is independent to you. While this may seem confusing at first, it’s easy to get caught up in a full roulette table that has multiple bettors.

Since there are a larger number of players, you may think the house edge is lower, which can be true, but that doesn’t always work in your favor.

In simple terms, the more players at a roulette wheel, the better for the casino. The house edge has a much bigger impact to your own accounting than it does their own. This is why it’s important to spread your own bets across only low-risk options.

8. There Are Aggressive Minimum Bets

Let’s start by saying that roulette is a random game, especially online roulette tables that are fueled by random number generators. However, for those players that enjoy betting systems and can incur more risk, following the Aggressive Minimum Bet may a good choice,

The aggressive minimum bet follows the following structure:

Make three 2:1 bets that can cover everything the but the green slots. You have to vary your bet amounts since three equal bets that pay 2:1 will always lose you money, but you can follow the following structure:

  1. One times the table minimum
  2. Two times the table minimum
  3. Three times the table minimum.

Essentially, you’re hoping that the ball will land on either your second or third option in order to make a profit on the spin.

Be sure to do your research on these bets and never bet outside of your budget.

9. The “Best” Bet Possible

Roulette WheelOne of the most popular online roulette strategies is to go for the outside bets. Despite having lower payout odds than inside bets, they do have a higher probability of you winning these bets.

Remember that to protect your bankroll and budget, you should always play a strategy that maximizes your return.

10. Setting Boundaries Is Important

Any seasoned roulette player will tell you that it’s important to set boundaries and stick to them. If you’ve been playing for several hours, or if you’re running close to your daily budget, walk away and don’t let yourself get caught up chasing losses.

Play with a clear head and as Kenny Rogers would say, “know when to fold them”.

11. Staying Sober Is Crucial

As with any online casino game, one of the biggest roulette secrets is to play sober.

Playing when you’re intoxicated is a surefire way to over betting, chasing losses, or even just getting caught up in the overall roulette experience.

Don’t let foolish behavior result in overspending or irresponsible betting. Play sober and with a clear head in order to ensure you’re making smart and responsible bets.

12. Know When to Stop

Stop sign gamblingWhile we covered setting boundaries above, it’s crucial that you know when to stop and walk away. Chasing losses is a mistake that all seasoned to novice gamblers make at least once, but by minimizing your exposure to loses by walking away when the table turns cold is crucial to protecting your long and short-term bankroll.

Never play with high emotions or you could end up loosing more than you budgeted for.

12 Roulette Secrets to Keep In Mind

Always be mindful of your bankroll, strategy, and payout odds. No matter if you’re playing in-person, RNG online, or at a live dealer roulette casino, make sure you’re setting a budget and sticking to it. While roulette might seem like the way to double your money instantly, it is still a game of chance.

Overall, be sure to have fun and play in a responsible manner in order to protect your bankroll and investment.

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About the Author

Shaun Stack is a senior writer at GamblingSites.org. His gambling articles have appeared in the Daily Herald, Space Coast Daily, and NJ 101.5. He’s a football betting expert, a Survivor fan, and a skilled blackjack gambler. Shaun is a native of Kansas City but now lives in Pennsylvania and follows the Pittsburgh Steelers religiously.