If you’ve found yourself looking down at the wheel of your favourite roulette game, wondering about the best roulette numbers to play, you’re not alone. For hundreds of years, people have sat watching the white ball bounce around the red and black wheel, predicting where the ball lands and hoping for a payout. Like every other game of chance, everything is too up in the air to calculate which lucky number will be the winning number. But there’s a little more to roulette numbers than that.
Roulette is played on a table with a layout and a numbered wheel, each number sitting in either a red or a black pocket (except the zero pocket, which is green). When players place their bets, a dealer throws the little ball as the wheel spins to make the ball land on a number. It’s easy to see how it took over the world one casino at a time; it’s a very straightforward concept, and the real complexity in roulette lies within its betting options.
DO THE BEST ROULETTE NUMBERS EXIST?
Over the years, many players have theorised about whether or not there are “lucky numbers” on a wheel of roulette numbers.
The answer is, unfortunately, no. The truth is, in a balanced roulette wheel, every pocket is the same size, and therefore, every number hits with equal chances. In American roulette, the double zero boosts the house edge, but it is still the same size as the other pockets.
That said, there are certain roulette numbers that continue to be popular with players. There are particular bet numbers that players tend towards at the wheel as they are considered to be winning numbers. Though there are some basic strategies for betting in roulette, the best numbers to bet on in roulette depend entirely on luck.
ONLINE ROULETTE VS LAND-BASED CASINO ROULETTE
The advances in technology and the rise of the internet mean roulette can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home, and there’s no shortage of variations on the roulette wheel either. Variations such as the European, French and American roulette variants can now be played all over the world, provided you have access to the internet.
The primary foundation of the game is unchanged; the layout is often precisely the same online as in a land casino, and the wheel, as well as the little ball, remain the same too. If the roulette game is computer-generated, you can rest assured that the graphics are clear and well-put-together. Further details like sound effects help inject as much of the real thing as possible into the simulation, and you’ll often feel as if you’re watching the action unfold in front of your very eyes!
That said, there are differences between online and land-based versions of roulette.
THE TABLE
At a land-based venue with an established reputation, you may be able to find some variety of tables to play in roulette. However, the physical space means there is a tangible limit on how many different forms of the game can be set up at the casino. At an online casino, there can be endless options and variants from you to choose from, with a range of bet limits and wagering options, as well as some tables with different rules and a different house edge percentage. For new players, online roulette is likely a better idea until they get to grips with the game.
THE DEALER
Live Casino games feature a live dealer who performs the same role as dealers in land-based casinos. But, online roulette tables do not feature a dealer at all! Instead, a computer is used to spin the wheel, which is a good learning tool for inexperienced players.
THE ROULETTE WHEEL
You may be wondering if a wheel holds the same odds in games without a live dealer. Is it still luck if a computer spins the wheel?
Online casinos make use of what is called a Random Number Generator, or RNG, to maintain the same unpredictability as in a brick-and-mortar casino. The RNG works via unique algorithms that create a long sequence of random outcomes, serving as instructions to generate random numbers each time.
When clicking ‘Spin’, values from zero to four billion are generated in a single millisecond. These values are translated into corresponding numbers on a roulette wheel. Therefore, the odds are determined by this random number. Taking European roulette, the game software translates the algorithms from multiple-digit numbers into a single number from zero to 36.
This is simple enough to apply to a game like roulette, as opposed to a slot machines which have multiple combinations of numbers triggering different features. To regulate the house edge, independent audit companies work hand-in-hand with online casinos to ensure the RNGs generate unexpected results every time as intended.
BETTING ON HOT NUMBERS
So, there is no way to discern a pattern when playing roulette. That said, when playing roulette online often enough, it’s possible for some numbers hit more frequently than others. But how?
Imagine a European roulette table in front of you. There are 37 pockets on the wheel. The wheel must be spun 37 times for each pocket to come out. However, logic tells us not all numbers will be called. In 37 spins, some numbers might never hit, while other numbers may hit more than once. What does this all mean for the player?
Numbers that come up more than once on a roulette wheel are known as hot numbers. According to many players, these numbers come up more often than others, and betting on a hot number might mean winning more bets and getting better results.
A hot number is a number which has been drawn more frequently than others, while the numbers that are never drawn are called cold numbers. In some roulette games at online casinos, the hot and cold numbers are highlighted within the game for players’ convenience. This is so that players can keep track of their luck during gameplay and provide hints on which numbers are more likely to win.
Naturally, it is implausible that the same number is repeated in a row. Whether a number is hot or cold depends on how many times it is called for a specific amount of spins. For instance, if a number gets called 20 or more times for 300 spins, it is thus deemed to be exceptionally hot. Conversely, were it to come out less than 15 times, it would be considered hot on average.
BETTING ON COLD NUMBERS
As we mentioned, a hot number is any number that comes up continually when you play roulette, and some players believe betting on such numbers will score a win. On the other hand, some players believe that the numbers which have yet to be hit, hold the winning spin. These numbers are believed to be “due”, and they’re referred to as cold numbers.
As online roulette is governed by the use of an RNG, it follows that numbers deemed hot will eventually turn cold; that is, they will cease to be called. With this logic, many players bet on the numbers which haven’t had their moment yet, as these numbers will effectively turn hot at some point.
Betting on hot and cold numbers is a common technique used when betting in roulette, and it’s not hard to see the logic applied to both of these methods. As previously stated, many games even highlight the numbers that are currently hot or cold to help boost player odds when they give the wheel a few spins.
However, it should be noted there is never a surefire way to find the best roulette bet, as hot numbers eventually turn cold and vice versa. This is a cycle which cannot be interrupted, especially when playing the online version of roulette. The RNG in the game is designed to make sure every number has a fair chance of getting called eventually, which means predicting the next number or pattern of numbers is impossible. Betting on hot and cold numbers serves to land a few small wins and spins for roulette players that ride the wave of luck, but they are not fool-proof.
BETTING ON ADJACENT NUMBERS
While some players choose to base their bets on hot numbers and others on cold numbers, there are other tactics players use that function as a kind of third way in between betting on hot or cold: betting on adjacent numbers.
Some players believe a specific area of the roulette wheel is possibly hot or cold during a game, so instead of betting on one single number, they bet on the numbers which sit adjacent. The possibility for this kind of bet is greatly dependent on the variant of roulette you’re playing, as, in some online editions, you are allowed to make different types of bets. These bets place the wager over several numbers to increase the odds of a win.
NEIGHBOUR BET
One example of such a bet is the Neighbour bet. Neighbour bets cover the main number you choose to bet on as well as four adjacent numbers. For example, say you choose to bet on the number five, and you also choose to place a neighbour bet. Therefore, your bet is now placed on the number five, along with two more numbers on the left (22 and 34) and two more numbers on the right (17 and 23).
You must place five casino chips on each of the five numbers. This five-number bet grants you higher odds of winning as you cover more area on the wheel.
VOISINS DU ZERO BET
Don’t be put off by the fancy name; this bet is pretty easy to understand! Based on French roulette traditions, Voisins du Zero roughly translates to “neighbours of zero”, covering 17 adjacent numbers on the wheel. The zero pocket is noticeably placed almost in the middle of numbers between 25 and 22. Therefore, a Voisins du Zero bet includes the numbers 22, 18, 29, seven, 28, 12, 35, three, 26, zero, 32, 15, 19, four, 21, two and 25.
To place this bet, players wager nine split bets. On the zero, two and three, two chips are placed on the four/seven split. A third chip is placed on the 12 and 15, a fourth one on the 18/21 and the fifth chip placed on the 19/22 split. Two more chips are then wagered on 25, 26, 28 and 29 corners, and the final nine chips are placed on the remaining numbers, 32 and 35.
ORPHELINS BET
An Orphelins bet is another handy way to increase your odds. The name is also derived from the French variant and means “orphans”, referring to the fact the numbers are somewhat separated. It consists of eight numbers; six, 34, and 17 are three numbers which are placed on one section of the wheel, while one, 20, 14, 31 and nine are the other five numbers placed on another section of the wheel.
To place Orphelins bets, players may use one of their casino chips on a straight bet on the number one. After that, four split wagers are placed; five/nine, 14/17, 17, 20, and 31/34.
TIERS DU CYLINDRE BET
A Tiers du Cylindre (otherwise known as a Tier bet) is one more type of bet, translated from the French as “thirds of the wheel”. As you can imagine, this bet covers one-third of the whole wheel, and it is increasingly popular among more seasoned roulette players. This bet covers 12 numbers, including 33, 16, 24, five, 10, 23, eight, 30, 11, 36, 13 and 27.
A Tier bet is placed via six split wagers on five/eight, 10/11, 13/16, 24/23, 33/36 and 27/30. Each one of your six split bets has a 32% chance to win, and the payout for this type of bet is a healthy 17 to one.
It should be emphasised that these bet types are more advanced than what green players might be used to. It can take quite a few games to build up the confidence as well as the competence to use these bets in the right circumstances. In fact, online casinos may have a limited number of variants which allow for these bets to be placed. However, many established casinos feature French roulette variants from which these bets arise, and so it is possible to play roulette games which allow for Voisins du Zero, Orphelins, Neighbour or Tier bets.
MOST COMMON PLAYER PRACTICES
Although there are no winning and losing numbers, players tend to follow some practices when they play in roulette. Despite hot or cold numbers being no more than attributes of the unpredictable luck of the roulette wheel, many players will possess some kind of hunch or superstition about which number is the “lucky number” and thus act upon their feeling on the best numbers to play.
While the wheel spins at random, our choice in which number lands is hardly the same! Through various analyses and studies done on state and national lotteries, we know some numbers are more popular around the world than others, and this mainly comes down to three things: special dates, memorable sports scores and events of significance.
This may explain, for example, why the popular number one is picked more often in roulette than the number 35, even though they theoretically have the same chance. There are no months that feature 35 days, so it won’t be used as someone’s birthday. In addition, cultural perceptions of lucky numbers (or lack of) can affect player choices. For instance, Asian culture traditions believe the number four to be unlucky, hence some players in that part of the world having reservations about betting on it.
Not only this, but the layout of numbers on a roulette table, be it online or live, can also have an impact on players’ favourite numbers in roulette games. For instance, in a brick-and-mortar-casino, the number three is harder to reach from most positions than, say, 17 or 36. This can impact how often the number is chosen and can have a bearing on which numbers are the most common roulette numbers chosen throughout the world.
MOST COMMON COLOUR TO BET
There are three main colours in roulette: red, black and green. However, the green colour is reserved for the zero pockets. Unless you’re betting on zero specifically, there is no way to bet on whether the colour will be green, as opposed to red or black.
The odds of the ball landing on a green pocket are hugely against the player anyway since the chances of hitting red or black are 18 times higher than the chances of hitting green. In fact, Red or Black is one of the most popular even-money bets (outside bets) placed.
That said, there is no definitive way to predict which colour is going to come out on top, no matter what betting strategy you use or the type of roulette you play.
MOST COMMON NUMBERS TO BET
Some of the most popular numbers commonly chosen on a roulette wheel are 17, 23, 24 and seven.
The number 17 is said to be one of the best roulette numbers to bet on. It is positioned strategically right at the middle of the wheel, which could be a reason why it is considered one of the ‘best’ of the lucky numbers and why it remains popular as a choice. It is also said to be the most common number hit in roulette. The numbers 23 and 24 sit closely next to each other at the table, and players easily draw this couple. The seven, of course, is touted as a lucky number all around the world, so it’s no surprise to see it in the list of the most common numbers in roulette.
SPLIT NUMBERS
Players who want to win constantly and consistently at roulette tables generally avoid making split bets. This is because, considering all types of bets to make on a roulette table, these bets give the player a disadvantage. The odds of winning are quite low when player bets are split, and this is true of any roulette variant you’re playing. Experienced players may take the chance if they are confident, but outside bets (even-money bets) are your best bet, especially for newbies, so stick to outside bets first.
CRUNCHING NUMBERS
It is exceedingly difficult to determine the best numbers to play in roulette or which roulette number will come up most with accuracy. While there are many different types of bets that players can make on the roulette wheel, this does not affect which numbers are the best numbers to play when you bet in roulette, and how certain numbers come up in a game.
NUMBERS TO AVOID IN ROULETTE
Now that you know the most common numbers chosen to play in roulette let’s look at the numbers on the wheel that you should avoid.
When scouting for the best bet, certain roulette numbers might come up. However, there are four specific numbers you won’t see players clamouring for, including zero, six, 13 and 34.
The zero sits solitary on the wheel (although in American roulette, it sits next to the double zero). For a large number of players, this location can make it an unpopular roulette number to bet on. The six is considered to be a bearer of bad luck at roulette tables, which is why it is avoided. And the number 13 is widely believed to be the unluckiest number of all, inside or outside a casino, so it’s not unusual to see players avoid it. The 34 pocket is located right at the very edge of the table, yet people tend to avoid it as it does not particularly favour players.
MYTHS ABOUT ROULETTE
Of course, every casino game which is built on a foundation of chance is susceptible to myth-making by players over the course of its history. This can greatly influence a player’s approach to their bets on roulette tables. Among the most common myths are:
- All casino roulette games are the same.
- A roulette bet in a roulette strategy has the best odds of winning.
- All versions of roulette feature the same house edge.
- The right strategy can help you beat roulette.
- Roulette wheels are rigged.
There are so many different variations of roulette that it is quite common for players to be unaware of all of them, leading to unexpected results. There is never a way to guarantee the best odds of winning, no matter what variant of roulette you’re playing. But, factors like the house edge, the types of bets placed, as well as the roulette board are all hugely important factors to keep in mind when taking risks on any kind of roulette table.
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