007, codename James Bond, is well-known for his exploits and daring adventures for MI6. The legendary character has been the subject of quite a few books and movies, and more are being produced every day. Mr Bond was an avid gambler. His favorite games were Baccarat and Poker. Even with the odds clearly against him in Casino Royale, it is evident that 007 knows how to play and win at such games.
Do you know that in the novel ‘Casino Royale’, James Bond also takes a shot at roulette? As the Crown’s top secret agent, he actually devises his own betting system, designed to overcome the odds of the game and turn them in his favor (he even uses the Labouchere method at one point). Since the publication of the book, the James Bond system has gained popularity among roulette players.
Let’s examine what 007 invented and see if it helps players beat the odds and win at roulette.
007’s System: How Does It Work?
James Bond has a flat betting system, meaning you stake the same amount each time. If you are feeling adventurous, you can try a progressive approach to betting – we will discuss this in greater detail later in the article.
For every spin, James Bond would place the following bets:
£14 on 19 – 36
£5 on the Line bet 13-14-15-16-17-18
£1 on 0
You can see the table in the picture after you have placed your bets. You can try the system with £200 or £2000 – it doesn’t matter, as long as the proportions remain the same.
The Logic of the Strategy
There is a reason why the chips are placed this way, perhaps you have already figured it out. As a result, there will be 25 numbers where you win and 12 where you lose. Here is a list of all possible outcomes of the spin.
If you hit 19-36, you win a total of £8
You win a total of £10 if the ball lands on 13-18
You win £16 if the ball hits the 0
You lose £20 if the ball lands on 1-12
It appears that this system does the impossible and turns the odds in the player’s favor, right? Well, no.
007 Overcomes the Odds?
There is no way the great James Bond could defeat the house edge at roulette. No matter how well you appear to be doing, this nefarious foe will cause you long-term losses. The problem must be somewhere in the math. Let’s figure it out. Consider spinning the wheel 37 times, hitting each of the possible numbers once. Using the James Bond betting system, we will get the following results.
In the long run, it turns out that you will lose £20 for every 37 spins. Certainly the odds of hitting 37 different numbers in 37 spins are slim – and you would be right. Depending on how lucky you are, you can either win more or lose more. The numbers show that utilizing the James Bond strategy will eventually result in a loss.
Progressive betting: Can it help?
In the long run, people expert in roulette strategies might look at this assured long-term loss and say, “Okay, let’s just use progressive betting to make up some of the losses, so we’ll end up ahead!”’. When it comes to the James Bond system, we don’t recommend this method.
Because of the way bets scale, you might find yourself betting huge amounts after just a few games. If you consider the fact that your potential win will be very small after losses are covered, this can be very risky. Another issue is the table limits – if you hit them and you are still at a loss, there is no way to make up for them.
If you insist on using a progressive betting system, we recommend that you use the classic Martingale system or the Fibonacci strategy. Neither of them are guaranteed to win, but that goes for all roulette strategies. Unless you want to lose money very quickly, you should stick to flat betting when using the James Bond system.
The James Bond System Is Anything But Flawless
Playing roulette like James Bond may seem cool, but this strategy is nothing spectacular. Even though covering more than half the table in bets may seem like a smart move, the odds will always favor the casino. While testing this system, we ourselves fell victim to a nine-round losing streak – the ball always kept hitting the first twelve numbers on the wheel. Such a situation is extremely difficult – perhaps even impossible – to get out of, except if you hit the winning streak of your life.
Using this strategy and playing it smart can be fun. Don’t expect to break the bank, though. Still, you can try it out at one of our trusted online casino sites in the UK.
You can find out about other strategies + of their pros and cons over here.
