Why Do Players Believe in Strategies?
Many gamblers cling to the idea that roulette can be beaten with “proven” tactics. This belief stems from:
- The illusion of controlling randomness.
- Anecdotal stories of short-term wins.
- Underestimating the role of mathematics in gambling.
Popular “Strategies” and Their Flaws
1. The Martingale System
Doubling bets after losses. Problem: Requires unlimited funds, while table limits make it unsustainable.
2. The Fibonacci Strategy
Betting based on the Fibonacci sequence. Risk: Long losing streaks lead to massive losses.
3. The D’Alembert System
Gradually increasing bets. Flaw: Ignores spin independence — past results don’t affect future outcomes.
Mathematics Over Illusions
Each roulette spin is independent. Even after 10 consecutive reds, the chance of black on the next spin remains 48.6% (European roulette).
House Edge: 2.7% in European and 5.26% in American roulette. This ensures long-term losses for players.
Psychological Traps
- Gambler’s fallacy: Believing outcomes “balance out” over time.
- Confirmation bias: Remembering wins, forgetting losses.
- Emotional decision-making under the “gambling haze.”
How to Avoid Costly Mistakes
- Set strict time and money limits.
- Treat gambling as entertainment, not income.
- Study probability theory to debunk “guaranteed win” myths.
