The Most Common Roulette Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

For centuries, players have been mesmerized by the roulette wheel, placing their bets and eagerly anticipating the satisfying click of the ball landing on the winning number.

However, even this captivating game has its rules, and making mistakes can easily happen. Just like in any casino game, errors in roulette can cost you dearly. We'll cover the most common roulette mistakes, how to avoid them, and the best way to actually play roulette.

Mistake #1: Choosing the American Roulette Wheel

Online roulette comes with different wheel variations, with the most popular being American and European roulette. While these online casino games share identical rules, betting options, and payouts, there's a crucial difference. The European version has 37 numbered pockets, whereas the American wheel has 38, featuring an extra "00" slot. This single addition makes a significant impact.

With the European roulette wheel, your odds of winning a straight-up bet are 1 in 37. In contrast, the American version offers longer odds at 1 in 38, yet most online casinos offer the same payout of 1:35 for both wheels. The extra pocket on the American wheel significantly increases the house edge. It boasts a house edge of 5.24%, compared to the European wheel's 2.70%. That's a massive difference, especially when the rules, bets, and payouts are largely the same.

Surprisingly, the European version isn't even the best option available. For the ultimate advantage, look for the French wheel. It boasts an impressively low house edge of just 1.35%, while using the same layout and rules as the European game. The secret lies in the French wheel's 'La Partage' and 'En Prison' rules, which significantly benefit players. However, for obvious reasons, most online casino sites don't offer this version of roulette.

Mistake #2: Relying Solely on Even Money Bets

It's common for beginners to pin their hopes on even-money wagers in roulette. Bets like odd/even, high/low, and red/black offer nearly a 50% chance of winning, which seems logical. To be precise, you have a 48.60% chance on the European wheel and a 47.40% chance on the American version. But this can be misleading.

Statistically, players will still lose money in the long run, even if they exclusively make even-money bets. The casino simply wins more than 50% of the time, which isn't great for your bankroll. While these bets are fine for scoring small wins occasionally, don't expect them to significantly boost your funds.

Mistake #3: Not Playing With a Strategy

You'll find many articles suggesting roulette players use betting systems to improve their chances. However, the reality is that these often provide false hope, akin to a sales pitch that ultimately falls flat at the casino. A betting system is more about managing your bankroll than improving your actual odds of winning.

That said, using a betting system as part of your bankroll management strategy could be the missing piece in your gameplay. Consider the Martingale system, which suggests doubling your stake after each loss. If you have a Php 10,000 daily budget, set a low base amount like Php 50 or Php 100 to give the system room to weather a losing streak.

Here's an example:

• Bet Php 50 and lose, down Php 50.
• Bet Php 100 and lose, down Php 150.
• Bet Php 200 and lose, down Php 350.
• Bet Php 400 and lose, down Php 750.
• Bet Php 800 and win, you're up Php 50.
• Now revert to the initial Php 50 bet.

As you can see, this strategy aims to recover lost wagers with a single win. Things can even improve with two consecutive wins. However, using a betting system requires a substantial bankroll to withstand losing streaks. It's generally best applied to even-money bets.

Best Roulette Strategies

How to Play Roulette

Mistake #4: Not Setting Specific Bankroll Limits

Most beginners in the Philippines don't budget for their casino sessions. They might just check their wallets and play when they feel like it. However, budgeting for your roulette game ensures you know exactly how much you've won or lost. Remember, responsible gambling means only betting money you can comfortably afford to lose at the casino.

But effective as bankroll management is, don’t expect to win big with a small budget of, say, Php 2,500. As mentioned, you'll need a considerable bankroll to implement your betting strategy perfectly. Expert players often recommend having a bankroll size around 1,000 times your usual bet. So, if you're a Php 50 bettor, aim for at least Php 50,000, although Php 25,000 for Php 50 bets would still be a reasonable start.

Don't forget to set stop-loss or win limits. A stop-loss limit caps your losses for a session. For example, you could set a 20% stop-loss on your Php 10,000 budget, meaning you walk away after losing Php 2,000. It's also wise to quit while you're ahead. If you've increased your budget by a good amount, consider calling it a day.

Mistake #5: Skipping Online Casino Bonuses

One significant advantage players in the Philippines enjoy with online casinos is the vast array of bonuses and promotions. Top online roulette casinos often welcome new players with match deposit bonuses, no-deposit bonuses, and reload bonuses. Loyal players can also look forward to regular cashback offers and tournament invites.

As a new roulette player, squeeze every coin out of these promotions. The thing is that playing roulette online can be expensive, with an average player making at least 300 spins per hour. And the more spins you play each hour, the more you lose, thanks to the house edge. Fortunately, online casino bonuses can help prolong your bankroll by allowing you to place free online roulette bets.

But whichever bonus you claim, always remember to read the terms and conditions. Some casinos can give players unrealistic wagering requirements, like a 70x playthrough requirement for a $500 deposit bonus. Also, the casino can specify the qualifying games, bonus validity period, and maximum bet limits.

Mistake #6: Not Playing Live Casino Games

Beginners are often in a hurry to play roulette games, and RNG titles serve them well. Although there’s no harm in playing RNG games, live roulette titles offer something unique. Social players will undoubtedly enjoy chatting with the dealer and other players for a more life-like experience. Live variants also have in-game stats for hot and cold bets/numbers, results history, and more.

With that in mind, the best live roulette titles are from Evolution Gaming, Pragmatic Play, Playtech, Microgaming, Ezugi, and NetEnt. These games boast sharp HD or 4K graphics and multiplier values to boost payouts. Evolution’s XXXtreme Lightning Roulette is an excellent example, boosting payouts by up to 2,000x. Playtech’s Quantum Roulette is another option with a maximum multiplier of 500x.

But don’t be greedy, because these multipliers mainly apply to the hard-to-hit straight-up bets, which come with longer odds. In addition to that, live casino games often don’t qualify for bonus use. So, play these games for fun like someone inside a land-based casino. Note that the minimum bet limits can be as low as $0.10.

Mistake #7: Chasing Losses

This guidepost discussed playing online roulette with betting systems like Martingale, Paroli, Fibonacci, and more. But don’t let these betting systems dictate your gameplay. Some players keep hoping that the next wager might result in a win and help them reduce their losses with a win or two.

That’s a dangerous roulette mistake because nothing is certain. No one, including the dealer, is sure if the next bet will result in a win. Roulette is a luck-based game, so each number has a 50:50 chance of appearing in a spin. For this reason, know when to stop playing and try your luck the next day. Having a stop-loss limit will undoubtedly help you with this.

Mistake #8: Playing at the Wrong Online Casino

Last but definitely not the least mistake that beginners make is playing at the wrong casino. The iGaming industry is full of scam gambling sites that lure unsuspecting players with big bonuses and extensive game libraries. Players will only realize when it’s too late after the casino has rigged them out or the website has refused to pay their winnings.

Thankfully, you can sniff a scam casino from afar. Confirm if the website is legal in countries like the UK, US, Canada, Sweden, Malta, Gibraltar, and Curacao to avoid falling victim to casino scams. These countries have strict regulatory bodies that ensure all licensed casinos offer their players free, fair, and transparent services.

Once you confirm that an online casino is legal in your country, check out its background. Visit platforms like AskGamblers.com and Trustpilot to see how players comment on the casino’s services, like payouts, support, bonuses, and more. And yes, you can pick one from the well-researched options here at OnlineCasino Rank.

Avoiding Common Roulette Mistakes

Here are some very important roulette tips to avoid these types of mistakes:

1. Learning the Rules: Players must spend some time familiarizing themselves with the game's rules and odds before they put any money on the line. Informed decision-making is the key to saving money, which will help players throughout the process.
2. Developing a Betting Strategy: Players need roulette strategies to keep their spending under control. Although the Martingale, Fibonacci, and D'Alembert methods enjoy widespread use, it's essential to remember that relying on betting systems won't always ensure success.
3. Setting Limits: It's important to decide how much money a player wants to spend without going over it. That way, players won't be tempted to chase their losses and can relax and enjoy roulette online without worrying about going broke.
4. Focusing on Probability, Not Superstition: It's important to remember that the new spins have no effect on any previous ones. Players should make choices based on statistics and likelihood, not on logical errors.
5. Choosing the Right Roulette Variant: European and French roulette are more appropriate than American roulette due to the lower house edge. In the long term, this will improve the player's odds of winning.

How to Choose the Best Online Roulette Sites

Before wrapping up these tips and tricks, here's the right way to choose the best online roulette site to enjoy a bunch of roulette games:

1. Licensing and Regulation: Players must always ensure sure a trustworthy gambling authority, like the UK Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority, has issued the online roulette casino with the appropriate licenses and regulations before playing for real money.
2. Game Variety: European, French, and American roulette games are all available at reputable online casinos. However, there should also be other original and creative variations of roulette.
3. Mobile Compatibility: A decent online roulette site should allow players to play on the go by providing a mobile version or app.
4. Bonuses and Promotions: Although the motto here is "safety first", casinos should also provide bonuses and promotions to make the experience more exciting. Among the bonuses we expect are cashback, deposit bonuses, and no-deposit bonuses.
5. Customer Support: It would be best to go to a site with excellent client service in case of any queries or problems. Plus, customer support nowadays can be available in multiple languages.

Conclusion

In sum, roulette is an exciting gambling game that can keep players entertained for hours. Players can improve their gambling experience and their odds of winning by learning about the most common roulette errors and taking measures to prevent them.

To play roulette online properly, players must choose the right online casino, learn the rules, and also practice enough to enjoy the game to the fullest.