Betting Smart: The Essentials of Roulette Bankroll Management

Roulette is one of the most popular casino games, whether at a brick-and-mortar or online casino. Being a game of chance means you can never predict the outcome of each round. What you can do, however, is use your understanding of the game, as well as effective planning and strategising to mitigate any potential for major disappointment. Learning these tips and tricks will allow you the greatest opportunity to have fun and can also help to extend the time you are having fun while playing roulette.

What is Bankroll management?

The first step behind any strategy when playing casino games, including roulette, is bankroll management. Ensuring you understand your overall budget and how you decide to wager it is the first step to having an enjoyable experience at the casino tables. If you have an overall budget of 100 units and decide to play games of roulette at 20 units per round, then your bankroll will all be lost in no time. This is what we mean by bankroll management.

The sustainability of your bankroll, no matter how small it may be, comes down to effective management. Someone with a plan on how to use their bankroll will usually be able to play for longer than someone who dives in without any foresight. Combining effective bankroll planning and a betting strategy will help you on the path to the best and most enjoyable roulette experience.

How to create a casino budget

Different types of bankroll management can be applied to create your casino budget. This budget should come from your disposable income only. It should also not consist of your entire disposable income: payments for things like food, rent, and bills should always come first.

Whatever portion of your disposable income you decide to use for your bankroll is up to you. Once you’ve determined how much of your disposable income you’d be comfortable potentially losing, you will need to establish if you intend for your bankroll to cover a single session or multiple sessions. 

A bankroll that covers multiple sessions over a month, for example, will need to be split up to cover each session. This does not need to be split evenly, but you should keep in mind days or sessions where you intend to play longer than others, as this will need a larger portion of the overall budget. You will not need to worry about this if you only intend on playing a single session with your bankroll. Multiple-session bankrolls allow you to be more prepared throughout the entire period, meaning that you won’t need to plan out your bankroll for each session.

Another factor to consider is whether you intend to withdraw your winnings or keep them on your player balance for future sessions. Keeping your winnings in your gaming account means that you play for longer without having to deposit again. It is important to consider that many casino promotions require a deposit to claim. You can, therefore, withdraw your winnings and then deposit to claim an offer rather than keeping your balance and depositing again. Promotions such as deposit bonuses can help extend your bankroll, for example.

Follow these three steps to manage your bankroll effectively:

Calculate your bankroll

Determine your disposable income by taking your total income and subtracting any bills and monthly outgoings. From there, you can decide what portion of your disposable income you would be comfortable potentially losing on casino games. This will be your bankroll. 

Set a baseline bet amount

Your baseline bet amount should be between 1% and 5% of your bankroll for that specific session or game. Even 5% is still considered high, and we recommend you stick to around 1% to 3%. This will ensure that your bets are portioned out to provide an extended duration of gameplay.

Use a betting system

Betting systems can help the longevity of your bankroll. Having a betting strategy for how you are going to wager your funds will allow you to manage expectations and stick to a system that helps prevent a quick drain of your balance.

Roulette odds and payouts

An important factor to consider with your budget is the risk involved with placing different bet types, as well as the potential reward or payout that each bet type comes with. This will allow you to effectively determine whether or not it is worth using a part of your bankroll for a specific bet or group of bets. Below, we have provided a table that outlines the different odds and payouts available for a game of European Roulette. We picked European Roulette as this has a lower house edge than American Roulette, therefore providing more potential for winning rounds.

Bet type	Payout	Odds of winning
Straight up	35 to 1	2.70%
Split	17 to 1	5.4%
Basket	11 to 1	8.1%
Street	11 to 1	8.1%
Corner	8 to 1	10.8%
Six Line	5 to 1	16.21%
Column	2 to 1	32.43%
Dozen	2 to 1	32.43%
Odd/Even	1 to 1	48.65%
Red/Black	1 to 1	48.65%
High/Low	1 to 1	48.65%

As you can see in the table above, Odds/Evens, Red/Black, and High/Low bet types have the highest chances of landing. At just under 50%, you should expect these to land in just under half the rounds you play. A payout of 1 to 1 means that you double your money on a winning round. Keep in mind that you can combine different bet types to provide more coverage of the wheel, providing more potential for winning at the cost of splitting up your wager.

Bankroll betting strategies

Applying a betting strategy and sticking to it isn’t just a suggestion. Whether you are a new or experienced casino player, playing without a plan is never a good idea. You can come up with your own strategy, but there are also well-known and widely used strategies available for players to adopt. Most strategies can be broken up into two types of gradual progression systems. A positive progression system asks the player to increase their stakes after a win, while a negative progression system requires the player to increase stakes after a loss. Below we have listed an example of each progression system.

• The Martingale system - Possibly the most well-known betting strategy in gambling that follows a negative progression system. The Martingale system asks the player to only place bets with a 1 to 1 payout and to double their stake after every losing round. Stakes are reset to your baseline after winning rounds. This is done to mitigate any damage to your bankroll from losing rounds. Losses can be recouped after doubling each time when a winning round eventually lands. It can, however, require a very large bankroll, as loss streaks can be devastating. A losing streak of five rounds means doubling your initial stake five times. It is, therefore, not recommended for newer players or those with a more limited bankroll.
• The D’Alambert system - A far less risky alternative to the Martingale system is the D’Alambert system. This strategy asks you to establish a baseline bet amount, which can be known as one betting unit. Stakes are increased by one betting unit after a winning round in this positive progression system. Your stake will be reset to one betting unit after a losing round. This helps to capitalise on winning streaks while not being too punishing on your bankroll by requiring a doubling of stakes.

No betting strategy is perfect, and they certainly can’t guarantee that you will always come out ahead. They do, however, provide the player with an advantage over those without a strategy. With that in mind, try to pick a strategy that suits your playstyle and willingness to take risks. A good betting strategy is simply one you feel comfortable with.

With any betting strategy, it is always good to determine a point at which you cash out, whether it be from winning or losing. Setting a goal for a certain winning amount before playing can help you maintain your strategy and finish the session while you are ahead. Setting yourself a loss limit for each game will also help to avoid frustrations or gambling with emotions. You can then take some time to cool off or try a different game with your remaining bankroll. 

Responsible gaming with roulette

Responsible gambling tools are strongly recommended to help manage your bankroll. Deposit and loss limits can provide strict limits on the amount you are able to spend at the casino. This affords you the luxury of not having to work it out yourself and ensures that you remain within your means when it comes to spending. Deposit limits only calculate the amount you deposit over a preset period of time, while spending limits also take into account your withdrawals again over the same period. Reminders and session limits are also able to help curb the amount of time you are spending at the casino.

Dealing with uncertainties in roulette

Roulette is naturally a game of chance, and as we all know, it can be rewarding and punishing in equal measure. No casino game comes without risk, and it is something that every player must confront. But the uncertainty is also what makes things so exciting, after all. Whether or not fortune favours you, it is important to maintain a level head. Being up on a winning streak can lead to decisions that are equally as rash as when on a devastating losing streak. Knowing when to walk away is key in both scenarios. 

Forming a plan and a betting strategy is the best way to help you know the right time to walk away. Deciding on a goal for wins or a limit for losses before starting play will help you manage your expectations as the game progresses. Having a betting strategy will also mitigate any circumstances where you’ve suddenly lost a huge portion of your bankroll. Even a strategy like the Martingale system can work alongside setting up a loss limit. You could, for example, reset back to your baseline stake amount after a losing streak of three rounds to ensure that the doubling of stakes doesn’t go too high.

One last thing to keep in mind is that all of these practices can be applied to any casino games you might participate in. Applying effective bankroll management can help make your gambling experience more enjoyable and longer-lasting, regardless of the casino or game you choose.

FAQ

How much of my overall budget should I allocate to a single roulette session?

It is recommended that your stake should be within 1% to 3% of your total bankroll for that session. How you split up your bankroll into multiple sessions will depend on how many sessions you have over a preset period of time. Multi-session bankrolls usually work best monthly, as that is when most people get paid. You could, therefore, decide you wish to play one session per week and split up your overall bankroll into four parts, one for each session. 

Is it advisable to borrow money or use credit for gambling purposes?

It is never advisable to borrow money or use credit for any kind of gambling purposes. This can very easily lead to a spiral of debt that can’t be easily undone. This is why bankroll management is so important, as it gives you a plan to play within your means.

What is the significance of understanding odds and the house edge in roulette?

Knowing the house edge means knowing what advantage the casino has over the player during any given game round. Knowledge of the different bet types and their odds allows you to be properly equipped to make decisions on what to bet on and how much inherent risk is involved. Without knowing any of this, you might as well be playing blind. 

Can I apply bankroll management skills learned in roulette to other casino games?

Bankroll management works on any casino and any casino game. The same principles of setting a baseline bet amount, knowing when to cash out, and using your knowledge of odds and payouts will help you just as much in any gambling activity you choose to partake in.

Can practising free online roulette games improve my skills before playing with real money?

Most virtual roulette tables have a demo or free-play mode that players can enter at any time. This allows you to play roulette with real odds but without risking any of your own funds. Playing in demo mode means playing with an unlimited amount of virtual funds at your own pace. It is, therefore, recommended you try out any game for the first time in demo mode if one is available.

How can I keep track of my gambling activities and stay accountable to my bankroll management plan?

Responsible gambling tools allow you to set up limits on the amount of time you spend, as well as the amounts you deposit and spend over a certain period. These can be set up from your online casino’s account settings and can help ensure that you spend within your means. 

An additional method is to use an online bankroll management tool or app. These can help you determine how much you should wager during a single round, depending on the size of your bankroll. If you prefer a more classic way, then you can always set up your own spreadsheet with a profit/loss table for each session. These alternatives are recommended to still be used in conjunction with the casino’s responsible gambling tools.