How Can Influence the Odds of Roulette and Win Big

At no time in history has it been so easy to bet on a game of roulette, and with such a vast array of different versions of the game available. Roulette tables are not only the domain of land-based casinos anymore. You can find games based on random generated numbers, live dealers, lightning rounds, and multiple wheels. The options are endless.

For as long as the roulette game has been around, gamblers have been trying to ‌beat the house. This often includes strategies such as the Martingale, where a player doubles their wager after a losing bet when betting on the outsides. Still, this strategy does come with its own drawbacks.

Can Physics Give You An Upper Hand? If you knew where every bit of matter was in relation to the roulette wheel and ball, and you knew how to calculate every law that would govern the movement of both and took into case the external forces that would impact the wheel and the ball, then theoretically you could have a chance.

In the 1970s, a small group of university students, known as the Eudaemons, developed a small computer that they built into a shoe. This computer did not predict exactly where the ball would land, but rather split the roulette wheel into segments, which they then bet on. This small increase in odds allowed them to beat the house most of the time.

Another attempt to beat the house was made. The players believed that if you knew how fast the croupier was releasing the ball and the speed of the wheel, then you could predict on which half of the wheel the ball will fall. Of the 22 trials they completed, they predicted the correct half of the wheel 13 times, increasing their return to 18%. In another test, they suspended a camera above the wheel, which increased their odds even more; however, this would not be a practical solution. Since it is forbidden to use such methods and additional devices in gaming clubs.

The monitoring equipment that would be needed would not be practical and, at the very least, get you thrown out of a casino if you get caught trying to attempt it.

Roulette Odds

The rules that apply at casino tables are designed in such a way to tilt the advantage in favor of the house. Because of this, it is of extreme importance for roulette players to learn how to calculate the odds of winning with each type of bet.

To calculate the house edge in roulette, we multiply the difference between the true odds against winning and the casino odds by the probability of winning. On a double-zero wheel, the odds against winning with a Straight Up bet are 37 to 1 but the house pays only 35 to 1 which results in a house edge of 5.26%. As you can see, the difference between the odds against winning and the payout in American roulette is equal to two units. Using the formula from above, we can calculate the house edge like so:

(37/1 – 35/1) x 1/38 = 2/1 x 1/38 = 0.0526 x 100 = 5.26%

The house edge in European roulette is significantly smaller because there is only one zero pocket on the wheel, so the calculation will run as follows:

(36/1 – 35/1) x 1/37 = 1/1 x 1/37 = 0.0270 x 100 = 2.70%.

In other words, players will face losses of £27 on average per every £1,000 they bet on European roulette. Please bear in mind that you can expect such losses only over extended periods of time, which involve tens of thousands of spins. Everything is possible in the short term, so players can certainly be ahead if they bet on roulette recreationally for a day or two.

Similarly, the odds against winning with a Corner bet (which covers four adjacent numbers on the layout) are 33 to 4 on a single-zero wheel, but the casino pays players only 32 to 4 which is to say the house collects a one-unit profit from all winning Corner bets. In American roulette where there are two zeros on the wheel, the casino will profit with two units on such bets because the odds against winning are further increased at 34 to 4 but the payout odds remain 32 to 4.

In games of chance like roulette, there is no escaping the house edge – the more you play, the more you will lose over the long run. That is a why, the roulette variation one plays is of great consequence to their overall, long-term profitability. It makes sense that playing on single-zero wheels is more profitable for players, especially if the La Partage or En Prison Rules are in effect, as they decrease the casino advantage to 1.36%.