In Roulette, not all bets are created equal. While the “House Edge” remains constant (2.7% for European, 5.26% for American), the risk to your bankroll changes drastically depending on where you place your chips.
A player betting on “Red” experiences gentle swings, while a player betting on “Number 7” faces violent variance. Most calculators ignore this distinction. Our Roulette Bankroll & Bust-Risk Calculator is the first tool that adjusts for Volatility. It tells you exactly how likely you are to go bust (reach $0) based on your specific playing style and session length.
Roulette Bust Calculator
☸How to Use the Roulette Bankroll Calculator
This tool helps you visualize the “Best Case” and “Worst Case” scenarios for your upcoming session. Here is how to configure it:
- Enter Financials: Input your total Bankroll (the money you are willing to lose) and your flat Bet Per Spin.
- Select Game Version:
- Choose European (Single Zero) whenever possible. It has a significantly lower house edge than American (Double Zero).
- Select Bet Type (Crucial): This is the engine of the calculator.
- Low Volatility: Red/Black, Odd/Even (1:1 payouts). Wins occur frequently (48.6%).
- High Volatility: Straight Up (35:1 payouts). Wins are rare (2.7%), requiring a much larger bankroll to survive the dry spells.
- Analyze the Results: Look at the Chance of Busting. If this number is high (e.g., >20%), your bet size is too large for your bankroll.
Related Tools: If you are analyzing a specific betting system like Martingale or Fibonacci, use our Streak Calculator to see the odds of losing 10 times in a row. To understand the mathematical cost of American Roulette, check the House Edge Calculator.
Real-World Examples: Volatility Matters
Why do you need a calculator? To understand why “Straight Up” players go broke faster than “Red/Black” players, even with the same luck.
Example 1: The “Grinder” (Even Money)
You have $200 and bet $5 per spin on Red. You plan to play 100 spins.
- Volatility: Low.
- Risk of Ruin: ~0.5%.
- Verdict: You are very safe. Your balance will likely fluctuate between $150 and $250. It is very unlikely you will lose everything in one session.
Example 2: The “Sniper” (Straight Up)
You have the same $200 and bet $5 per spin on Number 17. You play 100 spins.
- Volatility: Extreme.
- Risk of Ruin: ~65%.
- Verdict: Even though your bet size is the same ($5), the math shows you will likely go bust before hitting enough wins to cover your losses. To play Straight Up safely, you would need a bankroll 10x larger (approx. $2,000).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Volatility in Roulette?
Volatility (or Variance) measures how much your bankroll swings up and down. High volatility bets (like single numbers) pay out huge amounts but rarely, causing massive downswings. Low volatility bets (like Red/Black) pay out small amounts frequently, keeping your balance stable.
Why does American Roulette have a higher bust risk?
American Roulette adds an extra “Double Zero” (00) to the wheel. This increases the House Edge from 2.70% to 5.26%. This extra edge drains your bankroll twice as fast as European Roulette, increasing your probability of ruin over time.
Does this calculator work for the Martingale system?
No. This calculator assumes “Flat Betting” (betting the same amount every spin). Systems like Martingale (doubling after a loss) increase your risk of ruin exponentially. For Martingale analysis, you need to calculate the probability of hitting the table limit.
What is a safe bet size?
A general rule of thumb for recreational play is to bet no more than 1% to 2% of your session bankroll on Even Money bets, and no more than 0.1% to 0.2% on Straight Up bets.