The Martingale is a famous betting strategy that dictates the amount you should wager on games (roulette, blackjack and baccarat) as it progresses, specifically after losing the previous hand. This system may initially seem hard and difficult to master, but it is straightforward and highly effective, especially for players with large bankrolls.
However, you should first look for a perfect online casino to make the most out of this system. The logic behind Martingale's strategy is to recoup any built-up losses by using the system on even-money bets. Does the Martingale strategy work? Does Martingale Roulette Strategy reduce your losing chances?
What is Martingale Strategy?
Martingale strategy dates back to the 18th century. It was designed to help players manipulate odds when playing games of chance like roulette. Like all progressive systems, Martingale Roulette Strategy works by either increasing or decreasing the bet size. In this case, you double your bet size every time you lose.
The main point about Martingale roulette strategy is that, after every double bet, it offers sufficient possible win to cover the losses and adds a small profit on top. You can play the Martingale system via online casinos and local casinos.
The Martingale Strategy should be played with caution since it doesn’t guarantee positive results. Since roulette is a game of chance, there is no strategy that can guarantee wins, including The Martingale Strategy.
In roulette, The Martingale system is often used to play red or black, 19-36, 1-18 and odd or even. The system aims at creating small winnings from the initial bet, making it one of the essential roulette strategies.
The Working Principle of The Martingale System
You have an idea of how the Martingale strategy works and you want to put it into practice. Here is how to go about it.
- Start by setting your bankroll and select a percentage to serve as the base unit. For example, if you have a bankroll of $1000, you can set a base unit of $10 which is 1%.
- You can start with any amount (recommended to start small since you will eventually progress to higher numbers), with the minimum being $1.
- Your initial bet will be $10 (1 unit).
- Continue betting 1 unit until you lose.
- If you bet on red and the ball landed on black, using the 1 unit, you’ve lost.
- The next round you are supposed to bet twice, 2 units ($20).
- If you lose again, you are supposed to bet $40.
- If you win this round, you will get $80, which is enough to cover the previous losses and leave you with a small profit of $10.
Pros and Cons of the Martingale Strategy
The main benefit that the Martingale system brings to casino games is the ability and flexibility to cancel out previous losses. However, it is not a 100% reliable approach, it has its disadvantages.
Pros
- It helps players accumulate small profits since you never increase your betting amount after every win. You will always start wagering from unit 1 after a win.
- Just by winning a single bet, you will be able to recoup all the previous losses.
- Easy-to-follow system compared to systems like 1-3-2-6 and Fibonacci system.
- Offer a great excitement and better control over your bankroll.
- Works in both physical and online casino games.
- It can be used on multiple casino games.
Cons
- It is best suited to large bankroll since it will all fall apart if you have no more money to double your bet amount after losing.
- It works on specific games and bet types.
- If luck is not on your side, the system can be psychologically challenging to keep doubling your bets, which can quickly end up with a huge wager.
- It requires a huge bankroll to get a sizable amount of profit.
Playing Martingale Roulette System
Roulette is among the most popular games in online gambling sites and among players using the Martingale strategy. This betting system works perfectly and often on even chance bets. Because of that, you are left with only three key options for roulette:
- Odd/Even
- Red/Black
- High/Low
The process is simple: you place your chips on black, odd, red, 19-36 or 1-18 and hope luck is on your side. If you win, continue playing with 1 unit. If you lose, you will have to double your unit to 2. The Martingale Roulette system requires you to continue doubling your initial bet until you win and start from 1 unit again.
French roulette is the most recommended variation since it has a higher RTP (Return to Player) compared to European and American roulette. Additionally, it has a zero pocket that will earn you a 50% rebate if the ball lands on it, according to the rule called la partage.
Reverse Martingale Roulette Strategy
This is one of the compelling alternatives to the Martingale strategy, also referred to as the Anti-Martingale. The normal Martingale strategy works by doubling your bet amount after every loss when playing online casino games like roulette or blackjack. Anti-Martingale strategy works the opposite: you are required to double your bet amount after every win. You start from 1 unit again if you lose. Unlike the Martingale strategy, the Reverse Martingale strategy aims at capitalising on winning streaks. If you have a long winning streak (very, very lucky), you can lose all the winnings with a single bet loss. This betting system is ideal for short busts.
Other Alternatives to Martingale Strategy
If you wish to try another negative progression strategy, you can try one of the below options:
D’Alembert System
This strategy requires players to decrease their bet unit by 1 if they win and increase by the same amount if they lose.
Fibonacci Strategy
This system follows the famous sequence, 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34……….. You move a step forward after a loss and two steps back after a win.
Labouchère System
You start by choosing the amount you wish to win and break it down following any sequence, like for $100 it can be, 5-5-10-10-10-20-20-20. The system requires you to start by adding the last and first number to form your starting stake. After a win, add the two numbers at both ends to form your second stake. If you lose the bet, add the last number of the sequence to the bet amount and continue playing.
For positive progressive strategies, there are several systems you can use, like the 1-3-2-6 system, Paroli system and Oscar’s Grind.
In a Nutshell
A game of chance like roulette should never be seen as a straight path to financial freedom or any ticket to get regular income. As the famous investment saying goes “It takes money to make money”, this is not to imply that roulette is an investment, but the same rules apply to the starting money. Placing your first bet with decent money can result in a slight increment when implementing the Martingale strategy. However, starting small allows you to recover losses faster without risking your bankroll when using Martingale Roulette system.
Author
Dom Lormier, an experienced content writer at GWEB MEDIA, has been passionate about gambling for many years. Since 2000, he has closely followed the world of gambling and has written numerous articles on the regulation of online gambling, including those initiated since 2010 in different countries such as France, Belgium and Switzerland. His experience gives him in-depth expertise in casinos, poker and sports betting, allowing him to cover a wide range of topics and strategies in the vast field of gambling.