Many famous roulette strategies are progressive systems, where the player increases the size of the bet following the outcome of each round. Perhaps the most famous example is the Martingale system, in which you double the wager amount after every loss.
However, this strategy is risky because it can quickly wipe out your bankroll if you are on a losing streak. Another example of a progressive roulette betting strategy is the Paroli system. It reverses the Martingale by instructing players to double their wager amount on every win. The Martingale and the Paroli systems are known as steep progression methods, which means they will escalate quickly, so you should only use them on Outside, Even-Money roulette bets. Remember that you can incur heavy losses using these systems. So you need to choose the best bets with the highest chance of return.
Flat Betting Progression
The best online roulette strategies for players preferring a safe approach are flat progression methods. Flat betting is better for Inside bets. It involves betting the same wager amount every time you win or lose. However, keep in mind that the “0” pocket on the roulette wheel (and also the “00” pocket in American Roulette games) tilts the odds in the casino’s favour. It means that if you play long enough, you are statistically bound to lose. The upside is that if you land a win early on a lucrative Inside bet (such as a Straight Up single number wager), you will make a big profit.
Negative Betting Progressions
A negative progression method involves increasing your bet after every round you lose. The concept behind this system is to return yourself to an even/slight profit eventually. Negative betting progression is risky because it will eat into your budget quickly if you lose several times.
Despite this risk, some consider negative progression systems the best roulette betting strategy options, or at least the most popular. They include the Martingale, Paroli, Fibonacci, D’Alembert, and the Labouchere.
Positive Betting Progressions
This type of betting reverses the negative progression, with players increasing their bet after a winning round and decreasing it after a loss. Positive progressions are not always the best roulette strategy ever because they can be complex.
Also, you rely on winning, which is never guaranteed in roulette. There is no way of predicting when the next winning streak will arrive, which means that positive progressions can be risky. The upside is that you can bail out quickly if things start going wrong.
Non-Progressive Betting
If you prefer a simple roulette strategy, a non-progressive betting system will suit your needs. This method allows you to either bet the same amount every round (like flat betting) or change your wager amount whenever and however you want.
While this doesn’t sound like a betting strategy at all, essentially allowing you to do whatever you please, there are some genuine non-progressive betting systems.
Neighbour bets are non-progressive roulette betting systems in which you split a bet across five consecutive numbers on the roulette wheel. This concept rests on the idea that you have more chance of the ball landing in the neighbouring pockets if it misses your number. Neighbouring bets are often referred to as Called or Announced bets in European and French roulette.
