Roulette is the exciting game of chance that has been the setting of countless tense movie scenes as suave men and sexy women make or lose a fortune at the spin of a wheel. While there is no way to gain an advantage or even alter the odds a the roulette table if you place your bets with a strategy that takes statistics into consideration you will get the most out of your time at the table.

The trick to betting in roulette is to understand how much each bet is worth if you win, but at the same time being able to continue betting if you lose. There is no point in putting everything on one number because unless you are very lucky you will be out of pocket on one spin of the wheel.

The simplest bets to place are the outside bets. These are the bets on either red or black, odds or even, high(1-18) or low (19-36). These bets pay even money and have the advantage that you can stretch your bankroll for quite a while by placing minimum bets. One method or betting on the outside blocks is to use the Martingale method. This method works by placing a bet on one of the outside bets. If you lose, you double up and place the same bet again and continue doubling until you win. When you eventually win you will get all of your previous bets back plus one bet. However, there is a catch. Most tables have a maximum bet and if you lose too many times in a row your doubled up bet will pass the maximum. Although this method doesn’t ‘beat the system’ it is a good way of staying in the game for a while and if you do have luck you will make some winnings. You can also play two sets of Martingale bets in parallel, for instance one on red or black and one on odds or even.

Group bets cover the numbers from 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36. Similarly, column bets cover all the numbers in one of the three columns that go the length of the table. Both these kind of bets pay 2:1. You can use the Martingale method on these bets as well. Although your chances of winning are less you are making a corresponding increase in your winnings.

Another fun betting method is to just place one bet on the same number for each spin of the wheel. If your number comes up before you have placed 36 bets then you will make a profit.

Famous physicist Albert Einstein said that the only way to win money at roulette is by stealing it when the croupier isn’t looking. Nonetheless, understanding the betting system will help you put your cash in the right place at the right time, and have a lot of fun along the way.