Are Roulette Systems Worth It?

Published on May 26, 2003, 5:27 pm EST


You'll probably heard about some magic roulette formula or system that someone is selling online. Just go to Amazon.com and there are probably 100 books selling their "secrets" to you for a small amount.

Unlike a game such as poker or blackjack which involves more skill and strategy, roulette is more of a game of chance. You can hedge your bets in roulette to prolong your playing time, but there is no real "holy grail" strategy that will net you the big dollars. In a game like Hold 'Em poker, you can use your knowledge of the odds to your advantage, and gain an advantage over the other players. However in roulette, where the house has such a large advantage over the player (vig is +5%), it is better to just accept the fact that roulette is a game of fun, and not a game to become steadily wealthy with. You can throw down a chip or two on a single number at get a 35-1 payout; that happens all the time. But don't expect to find a strategy that will teach you how to receive those payoffs consistently.

If I had a roulette system that was constantly making me money, I would not write a book or start a web site about it. I would be living on an island somewhere, taking the occasional trip to the casino to make my money for the month. I certainly wouldn't tell anyone about it.

As we've said before on this site, roulette is a social and fun game, but if you want to make a living off of it, forget it. Focus on something like poker or blackjack if you want to give yourself a chance.