24+8 Roulette Strategy: Complete Guide with Math, Examples & Calculator (2026)

Picture this: you place bets that cover 32 out of 37 numbers on the roulette wheel. The ball drops, the wheel spins — and 86.5% of the time, one of your numbers hits. Sounds too good to be true? That's the 24+8 roulette strategy, and as of 2026, it remains one of the most popular coverage systems in both live and online casinos.

Here's the catch: covering most of the table doesn't mean you're printing money. The math behind the 24+8 system is more nuanced than YouTube tutorials suggest — and understanding it is the difference between having fun at the table and wondering where your bankroll went.

In this guide, you'll get the exact probabilities, a real $100 session breakdown, an interactive calculator to test your own bet sizes, and an honest look at why the house still wins.

TL;DR — 24+8 Strategy Quick Reference

Key Numbers You Need to Know

Bottom line: You'll win most spins, but the majority of those wins are actually small net losses. Straight-up hits are where the real money comes from — and they only happen ~21.6% of the time. The house edge doesn't disappear just because you covered 86% of the table.

What Is the 24+8 Roulette Strategy?

The 24+8 system is a number coverage strategy — you're not chasing streaks or adjusting bet sizes after wins/losses. Instead, you spread bets across the table to cover as many numbers as possible on every single spin.

The name says it all: 24 numbers from two dozen bets + 8 straight-up bets from the remaining dozen = 32 numbers covered per spin.

How Many Numbers Does It Cover?

The roulette layout has three dozens:

You pick any two of the three dozens — that's 24 numbers. Then from the remaining dozen (the one you didn't bet on), you select 8 of its 12 numbers for straight-up bets. That leaves only 4 numbers from that dozen + the zero(s) uncovered.

On European roulette: 37 total - 32 covered = 5 uncovered numbers. On American: 38 - 32 = 6 uncovered.

European vs American Roulette: Which Table to Choose

This one's not even close:

Always play European roulette. The extra zero on American wheels adds another uncovered number and nearly doubles your expected loss. Over 100 spins at $18 each, you'd lose about$49 on European vs $95 on American. Check the exact impact with our house edge calculator.

How the 24+8 System Works: Step-by-Step Betting Guide

Step 1 — Choosing Your Two Dozens

You have three options:

• Dozens 1+2 (numbers 1-24 covered by dozens)
• Dozens 1+3 (numbers 1-12 and 25-36)
• Dozens 2+3 (numbers 13-36)

All three combinations are mathematically identical — same probabilities, same EV, same house edge. Some players pick based on "hot" or "cold" dozens, but that's the gambler's fallacy at work. Each spin is independent.

Pick whichever feels right, or rotate between them. It genuinely doesn't matter for your expected results.

Step 2 — Selecting 8 Straight-Up Numbers

From the dozen you didn't bet on, choose 8 of its 12 numbers for straight-up bets. This leaves exactly 4 numbers from that dozen uncovered, plus the zero(s).

How to choose which 8?

• Random selection — statistically sound, every number has the same probability
• "Hot" numbers — numbers that appeared recently (popular but mathematically irrelevant)
• Personal favorites — birthdays, lucky numbers (same EV as any other selection)
• Spread them out — some players avoid clustering for visual variety

The honest truth: it doesn't matter which 8 you pick. Each number has a 1/37 chance of hitting on every spin, regardless of past results.

Step 3 — Setting Bet Sizes and Bankroll

The bet ratio between dozens and straight-ups determines your risk profile:

The classic $5/$1 sizing is most popular because dozen hits only cost you $3 (manageable), while straight-up hits pay$18 (meaningful). Use our bankroll calculator to find the right sizing for your budget.

Real Math Behind the 24+8 Strategy (Updated 2026)

Probability of Each Outcome Per Spin

With the classic $5/$1 sizing on European roulette, there are exactly three outcomes:

Here's the critical insight: winning a dozen is actually a net loss. You win $10 from the dozen but lose$5 on the other dozen and $8 on the straight-ups. That -$3 per dozen hit is why the strategy feels like "death by a thousand cuts."

Expected Value: The Math Doesn't Lie

$EV = \frac{24}{37}(-3) + \frac{8}{37}(+18) + \frac{5}{37}(-18) = -\$0.49$

In plain English: for every spin with $18 at risk, you expect to lose 49 cents on average. That's -2.72%, which is exactly the European roulette house edge (rounding accounts for the tiny difference from 2.70%).

The math confirms what we already know: no combination of bets can change the house edge. Whether you bet $18 on a single number or spread it across 32 numbers, the expected loss is the same percentage.

How Long Can Your Bankroll Last? ($100 Session Example)

Let's walk through a realistic 20-spin session with the classic $5/$1 sizing ($18/spin), starting with$100. The outcomes below match the expected probability distribution: ~13 dozen hits, ~4 straight-up hits, ~3 misses.

Session result: Started $100, ended$79. Lost $21 over 20 spins.

Notice the pattern: straight-up hits feel great (+$18 each) but barely offset the constant drip of dozen-hit losses (-$3 × 13 = -$39) and the devastating misses (-$18 × 3 = -$54). The actual session EV was$18 × 20 × (-2.7%) = -$9.72, but variance pushed it worse.

For a deeper dive into how variance affects your session, try our session simulator.

$\text{Bankroll survival (spins)} \approx \frac{\text{Starting bankroll}}{|\text{EV per spin}|} = \frac{\$100}{\$0.49} \approx 204 \text{ spins}$

That's the theoretical average. In practice, a bad streak of misses can cut your session much shorter.

Modified 24+8 Roulette Strategy: Variations

24+10 Variation (91.9% Coverage)

Want even more coverage? Instead of 8 straight-up bets, place 10. Now you cover 34 of 37 numbers on European roulette — only 2 numbers from the uncovered dozen plus zero remain as gaps.

The tradeoff is clear: higher coverage means thinner profits on straight-up hits and slightly higher absolute EV loss. But the win frequency jumps to 91.9%, which can make sessions feel smoother — you'll go longer between misses.

Progressive Betting Within the 24+8 Framework

Some players combine 24+8 with progressive bet sizing — increasing bets after losses (Martingale-style) to recover.

This is dangerous. Here's why:

• A miss costs you $18. To recover in one dozen hit, you'd need to bet much more, which compounds losses if another miss follows
• The Martingale approach requires exponentially growing bets — combine that with the 24+8's $18 base and table limits become a problem fast
• Flat betting is recommended. Same EV percentage, predictable bankroll drain, no risk of catastrophic escalation

If you want to experiment with progressive systems, test them risk-free first with our staking plan calculator.

24+8 Strategy Pros and Cons (Honest Assessment)

Advantages

1. High win frequency (86.5%). You'll see a win on most spins, which keeps the dopamine flowing and sessions entertaining. Compare that to ~48.6% with even-money bets.

2. Balanced risk profile. Straight-up wins (+$18) provide meaningful upswings that offset the gradual bleed from dozen hits (-$3). You're not relying on a single big win.

3. Simple to execute. Place 10 bets (2 dozens + 8 straight-ups) and wait. No sequences to track, no conditional logic, no bet adjustments between spins.

4. Works with small bankrolls. The $1/$1 conservative sizing only requires $10/spin. With a$200 bankroll, you have 20 full bets of runway before even accounting for wins.

5. No cascade risk. Unlike Martingale or Labouchere, a losing streak doesn't force you into exponentially larger bets. Every spin costs the same.

Disadvantages and Why the House Always Wins Long-Term

1. Dozen hits are net losers. The most common outcome (64.9% of spins) actually costs you $3 each time. The strategy literally loses money on most "wins."

2. Miss = full wipe. Those 5 uncovered numbers erase $18 when they hit — equivalent to 6 dozen hits. One bad cluster of misses devastates your stack.

3. House edge is unchanged. Despite covering 86.5% of numbers, the expected loss remains 2.7% (European) on every dollar wagered. Math doesn't bend to clever bet placement.

4. False sense of security. Winning 86% of spins creates an illusion that you're "beating the table." In reality, you're slowly bleeding bankroll through the dozen-hit tax.

5. EV is always negative. Over 1,000+ spins, you will converge toward -2.7% regardless of bet sizing, number selection, or how "lucky" you feel. The math doesn't lie.

Comparison: 24+8 vs Other Popular Roulette Systems

24+8 vs Martingale

24+8 vs Fibonacci

24+8 vs 666 Strategy

Big Comparison Table

Notice the last row: every system has the same house edge. The difference is purely in how that edge plays out — the ride, not the destination.

Bankroll Management Tips for 24+8 Players

Minimum Recommended Bankroll

Your bankroll determines how many spins you can survive. Since variance can create nasty losing clusters, you need enough cushion to weather the storms:

The general rule: 30× your total spin bet at minimum, 50× for a comfortable session. This accounts for the inevitable clusters of misses that will test your patience.

Use our bankroll growth calculator to model different bankroll sizes against expected losses.

Setting Win/Loss Limits

The most important skill in any roulette strategy isn't bet placement — it's knowing when to walk away.

The walk-away rule matters more than bet placement. A player with discipline and average luck will keep more money than a "systems expert" who plays until the bankroll is gone.

The Recovery Trap

After a miss (-$18), many players feel the urge to increase bets to "catch up." Resist this. It takes 6 consecutive dozen hits to recover one miss at standard sizing — and that happens naturally about 3.2% of the time (0.6486⁶). Chasing losses turns a manageable -2.7% expected loss into a potential blowout.

Wondering how likely you are to go bust? Run the numbers with our risk of ruin calculator. And for understanding the math behind win probability at different session lengths, check our probability tool.

Try the 24+8 Roulette Calculator

Plug in your own bet sizes and see exactly how the numbers play out. Adjust the dozen bet, straight-up bet, and number of spins to find the setup that matches your bankroll and risk tolerance.

Expert Tips for the 24+8 Strategy

Choosing the Right Table

Not all roulette games are equal:

1. European single-zero — your baseline. 2.70% house edge
2. French roulette with la partage — even better. La partage returns half your even-money bets when zero hits, but the 24+8 uses dozens (not even-money), so the benefit is limited
3. American double-zero — avoid. 5.26% edge is nearly double

Online vs Live Table Differences

Online roulette spins faster (60-80 spins/hour vs 30-40 live). This means your expected loss per hour roughly doubles online. Adjust your session time limits accordingly.

How to Track Your Results

Keep a simple log:

• Date, table, starting/ending bankroll
• Number of spins (count or estimate)
• Number of misses (the painful ones stand out)
• Whether you hit your win/loss limit

After 10 sessions, you'll see the pattern: results cluster around that -2.7% expectation, with variance creating both winning and losing sessions. This data keeps you honest about the strategy's real performance.

For a broader look at how losing streaks work across casino games, our probability tables apply the same mathematical principles.

If you're also interested in other roulette strategies, check out the Paroli system for a completely different approach — it's a positive progression system that rides winning streaks instead of covering numbers. And the loss recovery calculator can help you understand how deep a hole you're in after a bad session.