Roulette has been entertaining players literally for hundreds of years.
If you’ve read our history of roulette guide, you know why: it’s a game of chance and strategy that’s full-on action and lots of fun. Always keep in mind that it’s Lady Luck’s hand on the roulette wheel that ultimately decides the outcome.
But having a clever roulette strategy can make the game even more exciting.
Here’s a guide that’ll take you through the most popular strategies, where they came from, and how you can use them to maximize your enjoyment of one of the most popular social casino games.
What Makes a Great Roulette Strategy?
A solid roulette strategy helps you dive deeper into this fascinating game, manage your predictions, and get the most fun out of every spin.
Roulette is a game of luck, but strategies can give you a structured approach to placing your coins and make the game more rewarding.
The Best Roulette Strategies (and Where They Came From)
These are the best strategies you can follow to improve you game:
- Martingale
- Paroli/Reverse Martingale
- D’Alembert
- Fibonacci
- Labouchère
Let’s see what they’re all about now.
1. The Martingale System
The Martingale strategy got its start in the 1700s in France. It’s come a long way since its fantaisie française days and is now a classic system for even-prediction games like roulette. It was designed to help players make a profit by doubling their coin placement after losses.
How It Works:
- Put a prediction on an even-money option (like red/black or odd/even).
- If you lose, double your coin placement.
- Keep doubling until you win, then go back to your original coin placement amount.
Why We Like It: The simplicity of the Martingale makes it a go-to for roulette players who want to enjoy the fun of playing roulette without getting bogged down in complicated strategies.
2. The Reverse Martingale (Paroli System)
If you popped up in 16th-century Italy, you’d find the Paroli System being used in card games. If you want to impress your friends, it’s called a “positive progression” roulette strategy that’s designed to maximize your winning streaks.
How It Works:
- Start with a small play prediction on an even event.
- Double your coin placement after each win.
- Go back to your original coins after three wins or losses in a row.
Why We Like It: The Reverse Martingale is a good strategy for players who want to build on their winning streaks while also limiting their losses during unlucky spins.

3. The D’Alembert System
We’re back in France for this one. The big daddy of the D’Alembert System is French mathematician Jean-Baptiste le Rond d’Alembert. This roulette strategy is based on his theory of equilibrium and balance. But don’t get put off, it’s super simple to use at the virtual roulette table.
How It Works:
- Increase your prediction by one unit after a loss.
- Decrease the placement of coins by one unit after a win.
- Apply to even-money play for best results.
Why We Love It: The D’Alembert system gives you a slower, more measured approach to placing the coins, which is why it appeals most to cautious players.
4. The Fibonacci Strategy
This strategy is based on the mysterious Fibonacci sequence (which was made famous by a bestselling novel and movie starring a Hollywood A-lister). But if you missed it, the sequence was the brainchild of Italian mathematician Leonardo of Pisa (also known as Fibonacci) in the 13th century.
How It Works:
- Follow the Fibonacci sequence, a series of numbers, each the sum of the number before it (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and so on) to decide your the coins you place.
- Move up the sequence with each loss.
- After a win, move back two steps in the sequence.
Why We Love It: The Fibonacci strategy is a structured way to manage your losses and gradually win them back during a winning streak.
5. The Labouchère System
Bringing us closer to the modern era, this roulette strategy was developed by a big fan of game, Henry Labouchère who, you guessed it, was French. This is a “cancellation” system, which is more complex than our other strategies, but lots of fun for disciplined players.
How It Works:
- Write down a sequence of numbers. So, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
- Place an amount of coins equal the sum of the first and last numbers in your sequence.
- Lucky enough to win, then remove those numbers from your list. If you lose, add the sum of your coins to the end of the sequence.
- Keep going until all numbers are crossed off.
Why We Love It: You can set your own goals with this highly-customizable system (and being able to throw out the name “Labouchère” during play is pretty cool too).
Tips for Choosing the Best Roulette Strategy
- Have a Think About Your Risk Tolerance: If you prefer low-risk play, strategies like the D’Alembert or Fibonacci are your best choice. Fancy yourself a high roller? Then you might enjoy the Martingale or Labouchère.
- Practice First: You can test strategies using free roulette options at a social casino like McLuck. This way, you can see which works best for you. Do this after you read our ultimate roulette guide for the best results.

Playing Smart: More Than Just How to Play Roulette and Win
Strategies are fun to try, but it’s important to remember that roulette is a game of chance. The thrill of the spin is what keeps you pinned to your screen! These are our tips to keep enjoying the experience:
- Keep Perspective: Knowing how to play roulette is important, but knowing when to stop is key too. Stick to your limits and don’t allow yourself to get frustrated at your losses.
- Get to Know the Game: Understanding roulette rules, different roulette wheels and the odds for different coin placements makes gameplay a blast.
- Mix It Up: Try out different strategies with different coin placement options to keep things exciting.
Why McLuck Is Perfect for Strategy Testing
At McLuck, you can choose different roulette variants and play for free at our social casino, which means you get test and explore for fun and without the pressure.
Now that you’re on top of the best roulette wheel winning strategies, it’s time to put your know-how into action. So grab your lucky charm, pick a strategy, and let McLuck bring the excitement of roulette to your fingertips!