Roulette Systems

Roulette systems are funny things because they are totally ineffective when it comes to reducing the casino’s house edge, but yet they are still extremely popular with even the most seasoned roulette players.

One roulette system which is particular popular is the section system that requires you to bet on two sections of 12 numbers. Since each section pays off at 2 to 1, you can put £10 on each of two sections and walk away with £30 (giving you a £10 profit) if you hit one of your numbers. This system is enticing because if you hit on your first attempt – and this can happen because you are betting on 24 numbers – you’re immediately in the money. Unfortunately, even this approach is flawed.

An American roulette wheel has 0 and 00 on the side of the house, so there are 38 numbers on the wheel in total. If you bet £1 pound on any section of 12 numbers, every 38 spins you will win an average of £24 (12 wins at 2 to 1 payoff odds) and lose an average of 26 spins for a net loss of £2. This gives you an average loss of £2/38 = 5.26 pence per £1 bet, paralleling the house edge of 5.26%. Because of this, no “section system” can muster any chance of survival against the hefty casino advantage.

Of course, none of this will stop smooth internet hucksters from advertising “guaranteed winning roulette systems”, but the bottom line regarding roulette is that no system works. With frequent play, you are predestined to lose over an extended period, with your long-term losses averaging 5.26p for every £1 you bet. No system can change that fact, so if you like to play roulette, do it for fun, and not with the mistaken notion that you can take ungodly sums of money from the house.

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