Single Number Roulette Strategy
Single number roulette strategy: flat bet one number every spin. 35:1 payout, 2.70% hit rate. Highest variance bet on the wheel.
How it works
Pick a number (17 is traditional). Bet a fixed amount on it straight-up every spin. If your number hits, you win 35:1. Otherwise you lose the stake.
Hit probability on European: 1/37 = 2.70%. On American: 1/38 = 2.63%.
Variance is extreme
Per-spin SD on a $10 single-number bet is about $58. Across 100 spins, total SD ~$580.
This is the gambling equivalent of a long flat line punctuated by sharp jumps. Most spins lose. The occasional win is dramatic.
Bankroll requirements
Probability of zero hits in 100 spins on European: (36/37)100 = 6.4%. So roughly 1 in 16 sessions of 100 spins sees no win.
With $10 base bet and $1,000 bankroll, you can absorb 100 consecutive misses ($1,000 lost) - but you would feel every one of them.
Recommended bankroll for $10 single-number flat: at least $500 for a comfortable 100-spin test.
Expected value
EV per spin on European: (1/37 × +$350) + (36/37 × −$10) = +$9.46 − $9.73 = −$0.27 = 2.70% of stake. Same edge as every other bet.
Across 100 spins, expected loss = $27. Single sessions can deviate dramatically: zero wins = −$1,000; five wins = +$1,300.
Why people play it anyway
The dream of a 35:1 payout. The simplicity of one number. The fact that one win covers many losses. The drama of a long-awaited hit.
All of those are entertainment reasons. None are math reasons. The expected loss is the same as flat red.