Roulette is one of those games where most people think they know how it works, but actually don’t know much beyond “red or black” and “the ball spins.”
Which means if you know just a bit more than that, you can sound like a roulette genius at the casino or during a game night. Here are three things that’ll make you look like you’ve been studying the game for years—even if you haven’t.
Trick #1: Exploit the “La Partage” Rule (and Explain Why Nobody Else Does)
Most casual roulette players have no idea this rule exists. Hell, most regular players don’t know about it either.
Here’s what La Partage is: On French roulette tables, if you bet on any even-money bet (red/black, odd/even, high/low) and the ball lands on zero, you only lose half your bet instead of the entire thing.
So if you bet $10 on red and zero hits, you get $5 back. On American or standard European roulette, you’d lose the whole $10.
Why this matters:
This single rule cuts the house edge on even-money bets from 2.7% (European roulette) down to 1.35%. That’s almost half. It’s one of the best bets you can make in any casino game.
How to impress your friends:
Next time you’re at a casino or playing online, casually ask if the roulette table has La Partage. When your friends look confused, explain it to them. Then point out that most people don’t even know to look for this rule, which means they’re playing at worse odds than they need to.
Bonus points if you can find a table with La Partage and demonstrate it by betting even money when others are scattered across random numbers.
The catch:
La Partage tables are somewhat rare. French roulette isn’t as common as American or European roulette, especially in US casinos. But many European casinos offer it, and some online casinos have French roulette variants.
There’s also a similar rule called “En Prison” where instead of getting half your bet back on zero, your bet stays “imprisoned” for the next spin. If you win on that next spin, you get your original bet back. The house edge works out roughly the same.
If you’re checking which online casinos actually offer French roulette with these rules, RouletteUK.co.uk has breakdowns of which sites have the best rule variations and where to find the lowest house edge games.
Trick #2: The Sector Betting “System” (That Isn’t Really a System)
This one makes you look sophisticated without requiring you to do any actual math or memorization.
Here’s the concept: Instead of betting randomly across the board, you bet on sections of the wheel that are physically close to each other.
The most famous sector bet is called “Voisins du Zéro” (neighbors of zero). This covers the 17 numbers between 22 and 25 on the physical wheel—they’re clustered around the zero.
On a French roulette layout, you can place this bet with a single chip arrangement:
- 2 chips on the 0-2-3 trio
- 1 chip on the 4/7, 12/15, 18/21, 19/22, and 32/35 splits
- 2 chips on the 25-26-28-29 corner
Why this impresses people:
Most players bet on numbers or colors without thinking about where those numbers actually sit on the physical wheel. Sector betting shows you understand the wheel’s layout, not just the betting grid.
When your friend bets on 7 and 29 because those are their lucky numbers, you can point out those numbers are on opposite sides of the wheel. If there’s any bias or pattern (there usually isn’t, but that’s not the point), they’re covering the least efficient spread possible.
How to use this:
Call out sector bets using their French names. “I’m playing Tiers du Cylindre this round” sounds way more impressive than “I’m betting on a third of the wheel.”
The main sector bets are:
- Voisins du Zéro: 17 numbers around zero (0-3-12-15-18-21-19-22-25-26-28-29-32-35-2-4-7)
- Tiers du Cylindre: 12 numbers opposite zero (5-8-10-11-13-16-23-24-27-30-33-36)
- Orphelins: The 8 numbers not covered by the above two sections
Some roulette tables have these bets marked on the layout. If not, you can place the chips manually (though this gets complicated fast).
The reality check:
Does sector betting actually improve your odds? No. The house edge remains the same regardless of how you distribute your chips. The ball doesn’t care about sectors or patterns.
But it looks impressive, and it demonstrates you understand roulette beyond “pick a number and hope.” That’s the entire point of this trick.
Trick #3: Predict the Dozen on the Previous Spin’s Number
This is pure showmanship with a dash of probability, but it works surprisingly often and makes you look like you have some kind of system.
Here’s how it works: After the ball lands, look at what number hit. Then confidently “predict” that the next spin will land in a specific dozen (1-12, 13-24, or 25-36).
But here’s the trick within the trick: you predict the dozen that the previous number was NOT in.
Example:
- Ball lands on 19 (which is in the second dozen: 13-24)
- You announce: “Next spin will be in the first or third dozen”
- You bet on both the first dozen (1-12) and third dozen (25-36)
Why this works psychologically:
People’s brains are wired to see patterns. After a number hits, it feels like that section is “used up” and the ball should land somewhere else. This is called the gambler’s fallacy, and it’s completely wrong—but people believe it anyway.
By betting on the two dozens that didn’t just hit, you’re playing into this cognitive bias. When you win (which happens about 63% of the time on European roulette—24 numbers out of 37), people think you called it.
The math:
You’re covering 24 numbers out of 37 (European) or 38 (American). Your probability of winning is roughly 65% on European, 63% on American.
But you’re betting two units (one on each dozen), and the payout is 2:1. So when you win, you get 3 units back for your 2 unit bet—a net profit of 1 unit.
Over time, you’ll win about 2 out of every 3 spins, netting you 1 unit each time. But you’ll lose 1 out of every 3 spins, losing 2 units. The house edge is still there. You’re not beating the game.
But in the short term? You’ll win more often than you lose, and it looks like you have some kind of prediction system.
How to sell this:
The presentation matters. Don’t just place the bets—announce what you’re doing beforehand. “Watch, it’s going to hit the third dozen” (while also quietly betting the first dozen). When it hits, act like you nailed it.
If you lose, shrug and say “The wheel is off today” or “It’s disrupting the pattern.” People remember your wins more than your losses anyway.
Advanced version:
Track the last 5-10 spins. Notice which dozen has hit the least. Bet heavily on that one and frame it as “the dozen is due.” This is still gambler’s fallacy—past spins don’t affect future spins—but it creates a narrative that makes your bet seem strategic rather than random.
Why These “Tricks” Work (Even Though They Don’t Actually Work)
Let’s be clear: none of these tricks beat the house edge. Roulette is a negative expectation game. Over time, the casino wins. That’s mathematics, not opinion.
But these tricks serve a different purpose. They make you look knowledgeable. They give you something to talk about. They make the experience more engaging for you and the people you’re playing with.
Roulette is entertainment. If you’re going to lose money anyway (which you probably are), you might as well lose it in an interesting way that makes you seem like you know what you’re doing.
That’s what these tricks provide. Social capital. Entertainment value. A reason to pay attention to the game beyond just “I hope my number hits.”
What Actually Wins at Roulette (Spoiler: Nothing)
Since we’re being honest, let’s talk about what actually works in roulette.
Wheel bias: Historically, some physical roulette wheels had manufacturing defects that made certain numbers hit more frequently. Professional gamblers would track thousands of spins to identify bias, then bet accordingly. This worked in the 1970s and 80s. Modern wheels are too well-maintained and regularly serviced for this to work now.
Dealer signature: The theory that some dealers spin the ball with enough consistency that you can predict roughly where it’ll land. In theory, this could work. In practice, casinos rotate dealers, the ball bounces unpredictably, and even a slight change in dealer force ruins any pattern. Not realistic.
Physics-based prediction: Using computers or devices to measure wheel and ball speed, then calculate where the ball will land. This is illegal in most jurisdictions and requires equipment you can’t sneak into a casino. Also, modern wheels have features specifically designed to disrupt this.
Card counting or advantage play: These work in blackjack. They don’t work in roulette. Every spin is independent. There’s no memory, no deck penetration, no count to track.
The honest answer? Nothing beats roulette in the long run. The house edge is baked into the game’s structure. You can’t overcome it with betting systems, pattern recognition, or lucky charms.
So What Should You Actually Do?
If you’re going to play roulette, here’s the realistic approach:
Play European or French roulette, never American. The double zero on American roulette nearly doubles the house edge (5.26% vs 2.7%). It’s objectively worse. There’s no reason to play it unless it’s the only option.
Look for La Partage or En Prison rules. These cut the house edge in half on even-money bets. Not every casino offers them, but when they do, take advantage.
Bet on even-money or dozens/columns. These have the best odds of winning (close to 50%), even though the payouts are smaller. If you’re playing for entertainment and want your money to last, these bets work better than straight-up numbers.
Set a budget and stick to it. Decide how much you’re willing to lose before you start. When you hit that number, stop. Roulette is designed to be addictive—the near-misses, the occasional wins, the rhythm of the game. Discipline is the only edge you have.
Don’t chase losses with betting systems. Martingale (doubling after every loss) sounds logical until you hit a losing streak and run out of money or hit the table limit. No betting system changes the house edge. They just redistribute when you win and lose, but the long-term expectation is always negative.
The Real Trick: Knowing When to Walk Away
Here’s the actual trick that’ll impress your friends more than any sector bet or La Partage knowledge:
Walk away when you’re ahead.
Most gamblers can’t do this. They win $200, think they’re on a hot streak, keep playing, and give it all back plus their original bankroll.
If you can hit a reasonable win (say, 50% of your starting bankroll) and actually cash out and leave, you’re ahead of 90% of casino players. Not in terms of money—variance will catch up eventually—but in terms of discipline and understanding what gambling actually is.
That’s the trick worth learning. The rest is just showmanship.
But showmanship is fun too, so use the three tricks above to look like a roulette expert next time you’re at the tables. Your friends will think you’re a gambling savant. Just don’t believe your own hype.
The wheel doesn’t care how smart you sound. It’s going to take your money eventually. Might as well look good while it happens.