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The 24+8 Roulette Strategy Playbook: Balance Risk and Reward Like a Pro
Peter Nairn
Casino Operations Specialist
- Over 3 decades of experience in casino operations management, with a focus on Table Games and Slots;
- Senior executive positions in both Native American and traditional casino markets for companies like Harrah’s New Orleans and Minnesota-based Grand Casinos;
- Hands-on experience as trainer and dealer of multiple casino games including: Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, and more;
- Profound knowledge of Title 31 regulations, State compacts, and Federal MICS.
Carol Zafiriadi
Senior Content Writer
- Specialised in video poker, table games, RNG, land-based casinos, and promoting responsible gambling;
- Over 6 years of experience in presenting and analyzing the latest trends and innovations in the world of gaming and tech;
- BA in English and German Language and Literature and MA in Literary Translation, both from the University of Bucharest, resulting in sharpened critical thinking and quality iGaming content.
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16 min
Updated on Mar 11, 2025
Welcome to the 24+8 roulette strategy guide.
Over the years, many different systems have been developed for roulette.
Some are very aggressive and seek to win big or lose your money in a short amount of time.
Some seek to stretch out your money so you can play for a long time, and perhaps come out a winner in the long run.
The 24 + 8 roulette system is an example of the latter philosophy.
This is what makes it popular: You can play for a long time, you have a chance of coming out ahead as long as you rein in your expectations, and it is also a great tool for generating a strong comp value.
More about generating comp value and why you want to later.
24+8 is one of the most popular systems today, and it shows up in its original form, and sometimes in a modified version, which is 24+10 – although it’s never called that.
Once you’ve read this article, you will know how to play the 24 plus 8 roulette system, why it’s sometimes ‘modified’, and why it’s a popular system in both land-based and online casinos .
Let’s get into the gritty details.
What Is the 24+8 Strategy?
The 24+8 roulette strategy involves covering 24 numbers by placing bets on two dozen (each covering 12 numbers) and betting on 8 additional numbers. This approach increases the chance of winning by covering 32 of the 37 numbers on a European or French roulette wheel, but the payouts are lower due to the extensive coverage.
How the 24+8 Strategy Works
As with all roulette games, it is better for the players if you play on a European wheel, which means it has a single zero. A single zero European wheel has a House Advantage of 2.7%. The American wheel has a single and a double zero, which means it has a HA of 5.26%, double the European wheel’s House Advantage.
It’s better for the players to play on a European wheel, but if you can’t find one that suits your budget, the double zero isn’t too bad.
Let’s take a look at how the 24+8 bet is laid out on an American layout.
I’m choosing to highlight the American wheel because the casino prefers it as they make more money.
In the US, they usually reserve the European wheel for the High Limit room.
Explanation of the Two Main Bet Types (Outside and Inside bets)
The roulette layout is divided into two sections, the Inside and the Outside.
As you can see, the Outside has some sections that include multiple numbers, and the Inside includes the individual numbers that you can bet both individually and in smaller groups.
Let’s say we decide to bet $300 as our first bet. The bet is scalable, so it could be $30, or $60 and so on.
On the Outside, in the 1st Dozen and 2nd Dozen, we would bet $100 each where it says, ‘1st 12’ and ‘2nd 12’.
This would give us the 24 numbers included in those Dozens (and that’s where the 24 in the system’s name comes from). If one of the Dozens hits, it pays 2 to 1. So, our $100 bet pays $200
The third $100 would be broken down into 4 bets of $25 each on 8 Inside numbers in the 3rd Dozen. (And that’s where the ‘8’ in the name comes from).
These $25 bets are made on the splits between two numbers, and you can choose any 8 of the 12 numbers in the 3rd Dozen.
In our example shown below
We are betting $25 each on the splits between 27/30, 33/36, 32/35, and 31/34.
This leaves the following six numbers uncovered: 0, 00, 25, 26, 28, 29.
Coverage of 32 Out of 38 Numbers and the Logic Behind the Strategy
The reason I chose to leave those six numbers uncovered is because the 25 and 29 are right next to each other and only 2 spaces away from the double zero on the American wheel. The 28 is right next to the single zero, and the 26 is two spaces away from it.
These two small sections, including the single zero and the double zero, have 4 pockets and 5 pockets in them, and then there are huge chunks of the wheel between those two small sections that contain numbers that will either win or push.
On one side of the wheel there are 14 covered numbers, and on the other side there are 15 covered numbers.
The two small ‘danger’ sections are opposite each other on the wheel.
If you hit one of their uncovered six numbers, you lose your entire $300.
The chance of that happening is 15.79% - or approximately once every 6 spins.
The odds of hitting either of the two Dozens for a push is 63.16% (approximately twice every 3 spins), and hitting one of the eight numbers in the 3rd Dozen for a win is 21.05% (about once every 5 spins).
If you hit one of the eight numbers in the 3rd Dozen, you win $150.
Here’s the math of how you get to the $150 amount
- A split pays 17 to 1.
- A $25 split pays 17 x $25 chips, which is $425.
- The losing bets, which are the $100 each on the Dozens and the remaining 3 $25 chips that lost in the 3rd Dozen total $275.
- $425 - $275 = $150.
- The odds of either getting a push (i.e. hitting one of the Dozens) or a win are 84.21%.
This means that you should hit a win or a push approximately 5 spins out of 6.
And that’s why this system is so popular – there is a strong bet hedge built into the system, so you will have a lot of pushes and potentially a few wins.
Of course, no system can overcome the House Advantage (including this one), but it does give you a chance to play for a long time and possibly get to your ‘… and I’m going to quit when I’m ahead by this much…’ number.
Step-by-Step Guide to Placing Bets
There are other ways to place this bet.
You could choose to bet the 1st and 3rd Dozen on the Outside, with the Inside bets being made on the 2nd Dozen.
Or you could bet the 2nd and 3rd Dozen on the Outside, with the Inside bets being placed on the numbers in the 1st Dozen.
The odds remain the same, and the choice is yours.
It could be that your birthday and your wife’s birthday are in the 1st Dozen, and you decide to play the Inside bets there.
Here’s how that may look
- You would bet $100 each on the 2nd Dozen and the 3rd Dozen.
- And then you bet the 4 x $25 on the following splits:
- 3/6, 5/8, 4/7, and 11/12
- This would leave the following 6 numbers uncovered:
- 0, 00, 1, 2, 9, and 10. These represent two very small sections.
- Around the 0, you would have the 2 and the 9, for a section of 4 numbers, and around the 00, you would have 1, and 10 – another 4 number section on the opposite side of the wheel.
Of course, you can cover the 0 and 00 if you prefer and choose to leave six of the numbers in the 1st Dozen uncovered.
And you can choose to do so on consecutive spins, or even switch from placing the Inside bets on the 1st Dozen to placing them on the 2nd or 3rd Dozen, switching the $100 bet to a different Dozen every consecutive spin.
However you choose to play them, the odds don’t change.
Pros of the 24+8 Strategy
Here are the positives of betting this particular strategy:
- You’re going to hit winning numbers a lot of the time. By covering about 90% of the betting options, the likelihood of hitting one of them is, well, about 90%! Which is good.
- You can generate good complimentary value because you’re betting $300 a spin on a high hold game. See the FAQs for an explanation of why this is a good thing.
- No heavy calculations are required as it’s a simple system to bet and follow.
- The player has a lot of choices when it comes to which numbers to bet, and she has lots of coverage to make sure that she doesn’t lose too much.
- It’s good for playing a long time, enjoying the ‘free’ cocktails and being ‘in action’ with the potential to win always there.
Cons and Risks
Here are the negatives of betting the 24+8 strategy:
- Rewards are very small, and the player will see lots of pushes.
- It’s a good way to spend a couple of hours, but not for making a big score.
- If you hit one of the uncovered numbers, you lose your entire bet, and it takes many wins to catch up.
- If the player decides to implement a ‘double up’ strategy like the Martingale after a loss, it’s easy to get into deep water very quickly. The player must watch their bankroll carefully when playing the 24+8, especially when linked to the Martingale system.
Comparison with Other Strategies
All roulette systems have their merits, and the 24+8 system is no different.
Having said that, it doesn’t alter the House Advantage, which is working against you every spin.
No system ever devised can do that
What the 24 + 8 system does do is offer a strong hedge against catastrophe.
With the odds of hitting a winner or a push at almost 85% on an American wheel, and just over 90% on a European wheel, it’s a less risky system than many of the other systems like The Martingale, theFibonacci, the James Bond, the D’Alembert and so on.
The 24+8 has a lot of the same benefits as the Romanovsky in that you are covering a lot of the wheel with a small chance of disaster.
But the rewards are small too, and when you do hit one of the numbers not covered, you lose your entire bet.
The other systems are perhaps more your style if you’re a gambler, and the 24+8 (and the Romanovsky) may work better for you if you want to play for a long time with a lot less risk.
One other thing to consider is if you do hit an uncovered number and lose your entire bet, some players like to add the Martingale system to the 24 + 8 system and double up their losing bet.
Here’s how that would look
- Let’s say you were playing the $300 bet we were talking about.
- To ‘Martingale’ that in the event of a loss, you would increase your total bet to $600, which is $200 on each of the two Dozens and $50 each on the 4 splits in the remaining Dozen.
- If you hit a winner on one of the 4 splits, you get paid $850 plus keep the $50 bet for a total of $900, which is the initial bet of $300, plus the Martingaled $600 bet.
- Which gets you back to even.
- But if you lose the next spin and want to continue to ‘Martingale’ your bets, your next bet is $1,200. That’s $400 on each Dozen, and $100 on each of the 4 splits on the Inside bets.
- Now you’re in $2,100. Which may be more than the bankroll you came to the casino with.
- And you’re rapidly approaching the table maximum.
And as you probably know, these are the classic downsides to the Martingale System. Hitting the table maximum, and the bankroll you need to be able to keep playing when things don’t go your way.
The other thought I have about using a Martingale with a 24 + 8 system is that they are 2 diametrically opposed systems.
The Martingale is a ‘go big or go home’ system, designed to appeal to the gambler who is not afraid to put a large bankroll at risk, and the 24+8 is for the ‘I want to play for a long time with little risk’ player.
Those two philosophies are worlds apart and using them together may not work for you.
By the way
You can go here for a complete breakdown of all you need to know about roulette mechanics and formats.
Variations of the 24+8 Strategy
Using the 24+8 on a European wheel is better for the players. The differences between the two games.
The European wheel has an overall House Advantage of 2.7%, which is a better deal for the players.
Remember
If you have the choice to play either an American or a European wheel, always choose the European wheel.
There is only a single zero on the European wheel, which means that there are only 5 numbers uncovered, when the 24+8 on an American wheel has 6 numbers uncovered.
So the European wheel changes the odds in the player’s favor a little.
Here’s a table showing how the two compare:
| Odds of Hitting | American Wheel | European Wheel |
|---|---|---|
| One of the Dozens – It’s a push | 63.16% | 64.86% |
| One of the uncovered numbers – Lose the whole bet | 15.79% | 13.51% |
| One of the Splits – a Winner | 21.05% | 21.62% |
| One of the Splits or Dozens – a push or a winner | 84.21% | 86.49% |
What is the 24+10 system?
When doing the research for this article, I frequently saw a modified version of the 24+8 system. Using our initial $300 bet, the two bets on the Dozens stayed the same, but the third $100 was changed from 4 x $25 on 4 splits to cover 8 numbers to 10 x $10 bets on 10 numbers straight up in the 3rd Dozen.
That would look like this
I chose not to place a $10 bet on 25 and 29 because they are adjacent to each other on an American wheel, which means there are the two zeroes plus these 2 numbers next to each other, and then the dealer has the whole wheel to hit.
If you were to hit one of the straight up numbers, it would pay $350 for the straight up, and you would keep the $10 bet. You would lose the $200 on the Dozens, and the $90 on the other straight up bets in the 3rd Dozen, for a net win of $60.
By changing to the 10 x $10 bets, you give yourself more opportunity to hit a winner, but will be paid less when you do.
As you can see from the table below, the odds of hitting a winner with the 24+10 system are greater with its 10 potential winners – 26.32% vs. 21.05% for the 24+8 system.
| Odds of Hitting | American Wheel | European Wheel |
|---|---|---|
| One of the Dozens – It’s a push | 63.16% | 64.86% |
| One of the uncovered numbers – Lose the whole bet | 10.53% | 8.11% |
| One of the 10 inside bets – a Winner | 26.32% | 27.03% |
| One of the Inside bets or Dozens – a push or a winner | 89.47% | 91.89% |
24+8: Adjusting Bets Based on Preference and Bankroll
The 24+8 is a very scalable betting system. The example I’ve used is for easy math, so it includes $100 bets on the Dozens, and $100 bet on the Inside numbers, broken down into 4 x $25 split bets for 8 individual numbers, or 10 x $10 bets on individual numbers.
It works exactly the same if you decide to bet $10 each on the two Dozens, and $10 on the individual numbers, $1 on each, for a total outlay of $30.
Double it to $20 on each Dozen and 10 x $2 bets on the individual numbers for a total outlay of $60 if that works better for you.
It’s an easy system to make work with your bankroll and how you like to bet.
Tips for Successful Play
Choose the amount you’re going to bet based on your budget.
An average bet of $30 per spin on a busy game, with a session bankroll of $300 should give you a playing time of a couple of hours, and possibly more if you win a few more bets than the averages would suggest.
If your goal is to play for a long time, I would suggest using the 24+10 system. It offers more coverage on the individual numbers, even though a win pays less.
The best game to play is on a European wheel, although most US casinos have the European wheel in their High Limit room.
If the High Limit room is within your budget, that is the best game to play simply because the House Advantage is 2.7% - about half what it is for the American wheel.
As I said earlier, some players like to add a Martingale approach to the game if they lose a bet.
I would rather use the positive progression Paroli system, where you double your bet when you win. I believe you ‘ride the wave’ of a lucky streak, rather than try to recover from losing a bet.
The Paroli has the additional advantage of only ever having your initial bet in action, so you don’t have a lot of your bankroll in action at any one time.
You and your gambling philosophy (and your bankroll) can make your own decision about that.
Conclusions
I watched a few YouTube videos that explored this system, and the guys usually lost, and quite quickly.
Having said that, they didn’t have much patience, and often didn’t follow their own system rules.
Once they started losing, they also went full Martingale to try and catch up.
The first video I watched had them losing $4,000 in less than 20 minutes. Of course, it’s easy to get in that amount when its Monopoly Money.
And on the next video, the host lost two in a row, and also went full Martingale.
After a few spins, he didn’t have enough to bet the $2,400 he needed to bet to stay in full Martingale mode. Again, it’s easy to do with Monopoly Money.
I did see a couple of videos where the host won a couple of hundred, but my overall impression was that it’s hard to win, and can be a bit boring, especially if you scale it down to where you’re betting $10 on each of the Dozens, and $10 on the Inside, for a total bet of $30 a spin.
My recommendation is that it’s a good system to pass the time, you may be able to break even or not lose too much while generating some good comp value, but it’s not going to be a strong moneymaker.
And good luck.
And while we’re talking about Monopoly Money . . .
The YouTube videos I watched were not using real money. Most of the videos had the hosts losing anywhere from $200 to $4,000 in less than half an hour.
Please make sure that you play responsibly. It really is so easy to get in over your head.
Over the years I’ve seen thousands of folks gambling with no problems at all.
It’s all for fun, and they have a great evening’s entertainment and go home happy and laughing with their friends. Occasionally with a big score.
On the other hand, if it’s getting too serious, and you find yourself betting the rent money or your car payment, then it’s time to reevaluate what you’re doing. Please check these resources for some information on how to monitor yourself, and make sure you’re taking care of yourself.
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