The Best Live Roulette Strategies for South African Players
Live Roulette is a hot topic among SA casino players. There are many different variations of roulette that have made the original game even more popular, and live roulette combines the convenience of playing online with the possibility of playing with a real, human dealer.
But if you're looking to do more than just rely on luck, you should consider using a roulette strategy. Although roulette is a game of luck, there are many betting strategies that have been designed to improve your chances of winning in the long run. Some of them work better than others, however, which is why we have prepared this guide, in which we will present you with the top 5 betting systems for roulette that you can use with live dealer games too.
1. Labouchere System
The Labouchere system is known by many different names, such as the ‘Cancellation’ or ‘Split Martingale’. And all of these names describe how it really works: it’s all about canceling out numbers to earn the desired amount.
This is a perfect strategy if you're into planning and enjoy a bit of number crunching. Here's how it works: you start by writing down a desired profit amount and a sequence of numbers on a piece of paper, which represent units of your bet. If everything goes according to plan and you cross out every number, you will win the goal target.
You can use the strategy on any European live roulette in South Africa, but we suggest sticking to the standard variant. Note that you are only betting on even-mone bets.
For example, if you write down 1, 2, 3, 4, your first bet will be the sum of the first and last numbers in the sequence (1+4 = 5 units). After every win you need to cross off the leftmost and rightmost numbers. If you lose, you add the amount you just bet (and lost) to the end of your sequence. The goal is to cross off all your numbers. That’s how a cycle ends, so you can start a new one.
- Pros: This system allows for flexibility, and you can adjust your sequence based on your bankroll.
- Cons: It can get risky if you hit a long losing streak, as your bets will increase.
Here’s an example of how the Labouchere system would work in practice.
Sequence
Bet Amount
Result
New Sequence
1-2-3-4
5 units
Win
2-3
2-3
5 units
Lose
2-3-5
2-3-5
7 units
Lose
2-3-5-7
2-3-5-7
9 units
Win
3-5
2. Andrucci System
The Andrucci system is based on the "theory of chaos”, which has been a hot topic in many areas of life. It suggests that in the short term, certain numbers are more likely to appear than others. Why? Because there are patterns in the randomness (or at least that’s what the strategy claims).
To use this strategy, you need to watch the wheel closely and take notes of which numbers come up frequently over about 30 to 37 spins. Once you've identified the "hot" numbers, you place your bets on them, anticipating that these numbers will continue to appear. This might not be the most useful strategy in terms of progression, but it adds excitement to the game and makes it even more interesting.
- Pros: This system can be exciting as it adds an element of observation and anticipation.
- Cons: It relies heavily on short-term patterns, which can be unreliable in the long run.
- Reverse Martingale (Paroli) System
This strategy is the exact opposite of the standard Martingale system. Known as the Paroli, or even Anti Martingale strategy, it requires you to double each wager after you win. If you lose, you get back to the first bet size. If you’re not a big risk taker, though, you can stop the progression after winning three times in a row, and start with the original bet unit again.
This is how the system works: You start with a base bet that you have set, and double it after each win, resetting to the base bet after a loss. The idea here is to capitalize on winning streaks while minimizing losses. You are only betting on even-money numbers.
- Pros: This system has a slow progression, and you’re not at a risk of draining your bankroll quickly.
- Cons: Like all systems, it doesn’t change the house edge. Several consecutive losses can seriously hurt your bankroll.
4. Grand Martingale System
The Grand Martingale, as the name suggests, is a variation of the Martingale strategy, but introduces some new rules. Instead of simply doubling your bet after a loss, you also add an additional unit to your bet size. For example, if your initial unit size is 50 ZAR and you lose, your next bet would be 150 ZAR (50 ZAR doubled plus an additional 50). The Grand Martingale strategy is all about recovering losses quickly.
- Pros: Great for players who want to win big quickly and have a sufficient bankroll to support it.
- Cons: It's a very high-risk strategy that can deplete your bankroll fast during a losing streak.
5. Shotwell System
The Shotwell system is a unique strategy that has been designed to cover a specific set of numbers with each bet. It’s a flat betting strategy, which means that you don’t have to adjust the bet size after each round.
You place your bets in a way that covers almost a third of the wheel, with each bet placed strategically. For example, you could place a bet on the number 1 and also place four bets on six-number lines (such as 4/7, 12/15, 18/21, 19/22). The idea is to increase the chances by covering a large portion of the betting grid.
- Pros: It covers a wide range of numbers, giving you a better chance of hitting a win.
- Cons: It requires multiple bets per round, which can add up quickly and doesn’t guarantee a high payout ratio. It doesn’t do anything about the house edge.
Choosing the Right Strategy for You
When it comes to selecting a roulette betting strategy, it’s all about what fits your playing style and bankroll. If you like taking calculated risks and managing your bets, slower strategies like the Labouchere or Andrucci are better suited. If you’re a risk-taker, you should consider systems like the Grand Martingale or the Shotwell, which are designed for bigger profit margins, but are also riskier.