Top 6 Common Roulette Mistakes – What Not to Do and Win More Reliably

Thousands of new players are drawn to roulette every year, and the seemingly simple game remains as popular as ever. However, many beginners seem to make the same old mistakes we've been seeing for decades. A great way to win more with roulette is to start by correcting these mistakes – and we're here to help you with that.

Before we dive into the most common mistakes players make while playing roulette, we'll make a few disclaimers. This article assumes you already know how to play roulette and some basic concepts of the game. If not, you should start by reading our beginner's guide, which you can find here.

Also, remember that finding the right casino can make all the difference in the world. Check out this page to find the best casinos to play roulette as well as recommendations for top-notch games, bonuses, and other tips.

Although roulette is ultimately completely based on chance, there are still ways you can improve your returns in the long run. Conversely, you can also mess things up. If you're risking your hard-earned money, the least you could do is know what you're doing.

Table of Contents

Roulette Mistakes Beginners Should Avoid

If you’re just starting out with roulette (or any other gambling game, for that matter), you’ve probably found that your losses far outweigh your winnings. Don’t worry – that’s normal. It takes time and practice. Thankfully, there are ways to improve your roulette strategy. The first step is to get rid of the mistakes that are prevalent among new players – many of which probably apply to you as well.

Let’s not beat around the bush anymore, though. It’s time to dive into the top rookie mistakes in roulette.

4.8/5

April 2024

Hands-down one of the best live casino sites currently active. Incredible selection of games, a dedicated app, and good payment terms all help 20Bet stand out as an excellent operator.

1. Thinking Some Results are ‘Due’

Let’s start with the big one – arguably the most important thing to remember while playing roulette.

First of all, we should keep in mind that the results of every round are completely random. You have no way of directly influencing the outcome, so that much is a given.

More importantly, however, you need to keep in mind that the probability of winning is the same in every spin. Every number has a roughly 2.7% chance to win in every round. The results of previous (or future) rounds are completely irrelevant. Just because you’ve won a few games or lost a few spins does not in any way change future outcomes.

It may seem obvious, but we’ve found that players forget this fact all the time. They get hung onto “hot” or “cold” numbers or think that they’re due for a win because they’ve lost multiple bets in a row. There is simply no truth to any of that.

To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with going after “hot” or “cold” numbers. Technically speaking picking any number is fine – none of them ever have an advantage of any kind. That’s just it, though – you need to keep in mind that picking these hot/cold numbers does not benefit you in any way.

2. Not Understanding Betting Value, RTP, or Statistics in Roulette

There’s a lot more to gambling than just picking what to bet on. In fact, it takes a lot of math if you want to really get good at it. However, this guide is mostly intended for beginners, so we’ll keep things simple.

One of the most important concepts of all betting is expected value. Essentially, it boils down to the ratio of risk vs. reward. For a bet to be considered “worth it”, it’s not just about its probability of winning or the payout you would receive. It’s about the relationship between these two. This term is crucial because it describes RTP, house edge, and a lot of other things you need to know about betting. If you want to know more, we highly recommend that you check out our guide to expected value in online gambling.

Thankfully, RTP in roulette is quite straightforward – every bet is identical in that regard. Depending on the type of wheel you’re playing at, it’s usually set at 97.3% for European roulette or 94.74% for American.

Every bet in roulette has identical RTP, just like every number has the same chance of winning. That’s just how the game was designed. If you want to know more about RTP in roulette, make sure to read our strategy guide.

However, it was also designed so that the house always has an advantage. In practice, this means you’ll almost always lose money in the long run. That’s just the nature of gambling – the statistics are against you, and it’s not a reliable way of earning cash.

4.7/5

April 2024

With a diverse offer that aims to please everybody, Pribet certainly boasts a robust gaming offer. However, the live casino side of the business seems a bit neglected – mostly in terms of bonuses.

3. Playing at the Wrong Tables

Even though most bets in roulette are equal in terms of RTP, we can’t say the same for all tables. In short, you want to pick the right ones.

By now we hope everyone knows that American roulette should be avoided like the plague. It is strictly worse than the European variant – always, in all cases, and with no redeeming qualities. We’ve written about why European roulette is better in the past, and we feel like the topic is done to death.

In short, the house edge in American roulette is double that of its European counterpart. A difference of 2.7% may not seem like much, but trust us – it adds up over time. To illustrate, you’ll lose twice as much money playing American roulette in the long run. Don’t do it. Ever.

However, did you know that there’s an even better version of roulette out there? It’s called French roulette, and it can bring down the house edge to just 1.35% in specific cases. You can read more about French roulette and why it’s so good here. Better yet, if you want to try out a French wheel right now, you can check out Evolution’s French Roulette Gold.

4. Not Knowing How All the Bets Work

You probably read this one and thought – “But all bets work the same. You bet on a number, and win if the ball lands on it. Right?”

Yes and no. First of all, yes, it’s crucial to understand the basic wagers, what they cover, and how they work in general. If you still need some help with that we highly recommend this complete breakdown of every available bet in roulette.

However, these basic wagers are not all that’s available. Are you familiar with, say, Neighbors bets? Do you know how Voisins du Zero works, or how to make a Tiers du Cylindre bet? No? Well, you may want to find out because they can seriously expand your options while playing the game.

You can find several additional betting options by accessing the so-called “racetrack view.” It’s an alternative betting table that expands the game in new ways. Almost every self-respecting live casino roulette game allows you to do so.

Interested? Check out our guide to sector bets and learn how to take your roulette game up a notch.

Betting Systems & Roulette

While some consider roulette betting systems to be a great tool for

5. Not Managing Your Money

By now, you probably understand a few crucial parts of roulette that many people seem to forget. As we pointed out several times, roulette is a game of chance – you don’t have a lot of ways to influence the game as a player. As soon as your bets are placed and the wheel is spinning, the results are completely out of your hands.

That’s why you have to take stock of the situation. If we can’t affect the outcome, what can we do?

Crucially, you can control your stake and how you use it.

For starters, it’s absolutely crucial that you set a budget and stick to it. Every bet you place has to be a deliberate move with expected returns.

For example, think about the probability of winning versus losing and how that will impact your bankroll. If you’re placing even money bets, you can expect to win every other wager. If you’re playing Straight Up wagers, however, you’ll have to keep in mind that your budget will be exposed to high levels of volatility. If you don’t account for that fact, you could end up quickly burning through cash.

If you need some additional tips for managing your bankroll at a casino, check out our money management guide.

4.6/5

April 2024

Are you looking for a classy feel of a casino far away from your home? Simply load Bet365 Live Casino and join Playtech’s VIP tables where blackjack rounds are played and the roulette wheel is spun 24/7. The interface stretches across desktop, mobile and app, with fast loading times and engaging dealers and hosts. Beware of being enchanted by their charms.

6. Not Knowing When to Stop

Sometimes, the most important move in a game of roulette is walking away. This is one of the most crucial pieces of advice you’ll read when it comes to gambling, no matter how obvious it may seem. Simply put, there are a few golden rules you should always stick to.

Never chase losses. Never bet more than you can afford to lose. And, most importantly, know when it’s time to walk away. Remember – statistically speaking, the casino will always win in the long run. As such, you may wish to consider stopping even if you’re on a winning streak. The only real way to beat roulette is by getting lucky in the short term. If you keep compulsively playing you’re going to negate your winnings sooner or later.

Conclusion & Further Reading

The reason live roulette is so popular around the world is that it’s simple but effective. You can approach the game in many ways, and none of them are really “wrong.” Almost every move is statistically as good as others, which gives players a lot of freedom in choosing how they want to play.

However, don’t relax too much. Your decisions matter – both for your profits and the enjoyment you can get while playing. If you avoid the common missteps we outlined above, however, you should have no trouble fitting in and making the most of your time.

Before we wrap up, here’s some more content about roulette if you want to learn more.

If you need more actionable tips for winning roulette, we have a handy collection here.
Many players consider wagering systems to be solid tools for winning roulette. Many disagree. Still, it doesn’t hurt to understand roulette betting systems and how they work.
If you’re a beginner, it’s probably wise to stick to low stakes and low risk. Check out this page to find the best low-stakes roulette games online.
If you want to play on the go, check out our recommendations for good roulette apps.