Improving Your Roulette Game

Learn to Clock Wheels in Landbased Casinos

Savvy players have occasionally beaten roulette by clocking wheels for bias. A biased wheel displays an uneven distribution of results, with certain numbers hitting far more often than statistics would predict.

Clocking involves recording every spin’s outcome and then analyzing the data to detect probability anomalies. If a bias appears, the player repeatedly bets on the favored numbers, gaining a meaningful edge over the house.

Consider learning this technique only if you are truly serious about the game. It is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and discovering a biased wheel is challenging under modern casino conditions.

Casinos actively monitor for biases, and – unlike players – they use sophisticated tools to detect anomalies quickly. They employ a variety of countermeasures against clockers, from rotating wheels between tables to removing suspect wheels altogether. Modern wheels are also built with sturdier materials and surgical precision, making them far less prone to bias.

Moreover, you must gather a large sample of results before drawing any reliable conclusions. A small data set is useless – you need to log thousands of spins.

Start by recording roughly 3,700 spins on a single-zero wheel. Because each number is equally likely on any given spin, results should eventually level out so that every number appears about 100 times.

Suppose your analysis reveals that numbers 9, 29, and 28 have hit 142, 164, and 156 times, respectively, in those 3,700 spins. Sensing a pattern, you log another 3,700 spins. The anomaly persists: 9, 29, and 28 now stand at 285, 293, and 295 hits over 7,400 spins.

If you inspect the single-zero wheel, you’ll notice these three numbers sit close to one another – a sign of a possible section bias. You can exploit this by betting on the affected numbers to offset the house edge.

Finally, forget about clocking if you plan to play online. Online roulette relies on RNGs to generate outcomes, which are random and evenly distributed over the long run – unless the software has been compromised.

Don't Waste Money on “Winning” Systems

The internet is full of sites run by people who claim they’ve won millions at roulette using the betting systems they now sell. These systems are flawed for several reasons, starting with the fact that they usually require you to size your next bet based on the previous outcome.

In random games like roulette, however, past results have no impact on future spins. The odds and the house edge stay exactly the same, so you inevitably lose in the long run.

Another problem is that these betting systems are deceptive. They can produce short-term gains, lulling players into believing they work, until the house edge eventually reclaims the entire bankroll.

We strongly advise against purchasing any of these so-called “winning” systems. It’s simply throwing money away. If you insist on losing cash, you may as well go to the casino – you’ll at least get some fun and free drinks. Think about it: would anyone sell a system if it had genuinely earned them millions?

Take a look at our article on progressive roulette systems for more insight into why they fail over the long haul.

Never Chase Your Losses, You Won't Catch Them

Every now and then, a losing streak strikes, causing some gamblers to panic and wager increasingly larger sums in a desperate attempt to recoup their losses. This path is extremely dangerous and usually ends in financial ruin.

Eventually your judgment becomes impaired, and you bust your entire bankroll. Streaks are an unavoidable part of chance-based games like roulette. If you can’t control your emotions and absorb losses, it’s best to stay away from the casino. Because streaks are random, no one knows when they’ll end.

Likewise, don’t get greedy when you notch a solid win. Many roulette players make the mistake of continuing to bet because they believe they’re on a “hot” streak, only to lose all their profits and more. Quit while you’re ahead.

The moral is simple: exercise discipline with your roulette bankroll, and you’ll have a better chance of preserving – or even growing – it.

Another scenario: after repeatedly betting straight-up on a particular number, you give up, switch to another, and the original number hits on the very next spin.

Don’t rage at Lady Luck for “cheating” you. Randomness is integral to roulette and occasionally produces results that seem almost unbelievable.

Take the example from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, July 2000, when a roulette wheel produced six consecutive spins of 7. The probability was a staggering 1 in 3.01 billion, yet it happened.

The streak was witnessed by Barney Vinson, a well-known gambling author and former gaming instructor at Caesars. Had a player placed a minimum $5 bet on 7 and let it ride, they would have won more than $3.82 million.

No one did. After the first 7, everyone assumed it was unlikely to repeat, so Caesars’ table #211 ended up losing only about $300.

Join the Loyalty Club

Whether you play roulette online or in a land-based casino, joining the venue’s loyalty club is a smart move, especially if you play regularly. Ask the floor staff for a player card so they can track and rate your action.

Roulette awards solid comps that can be exchanged for free accommodations, meals, show tickets, and other perks. In American casinos, the game offers some of the highest comp values because it yields substantial house edges (5.26%, or 7.89% on the five-number bet).

Comps are calculated as a percentage of your theoretical win rate. As mentioned earlier, this rate is negative in roulette and is determined by multiplying your average bet, the number of rounds per hour, total hours played, and the house advantage. Casinos determine a player’s comps by tracking bets individually, though the overall buy-in also matters.

Online casinos operate similarly, granting comp points for real-money play. However, earning rates vary by operator and policy. Some sites exclude low-risk bets like red/black, even/odd, and high/low from point accumulation.

Many online operators let you convert comp points to cash, while others award bonuses, merchandise, or additional perks. In any case, comps are a great way to offset your negative expectation by returning a portion of the money you risk.