People are a superstitious lot: detectives act on their hunches, students taking exams cross their fingers and knock on wood, and roulette players favour some numbers over others. While a great deal of winning in roulette is down to luck, there are some tips that can help you raise your odds of winning against the house.
While many players cling to their lucky number or even a specific color, the truth is that all the numbers on a roulette wheel have the same chance of coming up as any other. This is why pro roulette players tend to stick with one number or color from game to game, so they can develop a structured method for working out when their number will be more likely to appear than other ones.
The most popular number on the roulette table is probably 17 – this pocket has been at the centre of some staggering historical roulette wins, such as Sean Connery’s famous ‘three out of five best bets’ on 17. But it’s not just about the fact that 17 pays out the most – it’s also a highly symbolic number in many cultures and religions, with references to seven heavens, chakras, seals, and more.
Another top roulette number is 23 and 24 – these are two of the most closely related numbers on the wheel, and they sit close together at the table, making them easy for players to pick. They are also very popular with a lot of gamblers who are drawn to these pairs of numbers for their low house edge and high payout potential.
The less popular roulette numbers include 13 – for a long time, the number 13 has been seen as unlucky in Western culture thanks to Judas and Loki. In addition, the fact that it’s at the end of the betting strip on the American roulette table may make players hesitant to bet on it.
The 0 and 00 are also relatively less plaid numbers – probably because the house has an advantage on these bets. Nevertheless, there are some strategies out there that suggest increasing your betting unit after every loss – this seems to defy logic, but it’s an approach some players swear by. It’s worth remembering, though, that every new spin of the wheel has the same odds as the last one, so changing your strategy could be a risky move. Unless you have a deep bankroll, this isn’t really the way to go. Instead, it’s better to work out the best bet size for your money and stick to it. This will allow you to increase your chances of winning without the need for constant re-tweaking your wager size.
