What is the Martingale roulette strategy?
The Martingale strategy is one of the most widely used systems in roulette. Our run-through covers the pros and cons of the strategy, plus an insight into how the reverse Martingale (also known as Paroli) system works.
What is the Martingale system in roulette?
The Martingale system is a betting strategy based on recovering your losses. The idea is that with every losing roulette spin, you double your wager. In theory, this means that if you eventually win again, you’ll recover any previous losses plus gain a small profit. Here’s an example of how the Martingale system works for roulette:
| Spin | Bet | Stake | Result | Profit | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red | $1 | Lose | -$1 | -$1 |
| 2 | Red | $2 | Lose | -$2 | -$3 |
| 3 | Red | $4 | Lose | -$4 | -$7 |
| 4 | Red | $8 | Win | +$8 | +$1 |
| 5 | Red | $1 | Lose | -$1 | $0 |
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Using the Martingale system
For roulette, the most effective way of using the Martingale system is to focus on even-money outside bets. Wagers like red, black, odd, even, 1-18, and 19-36 all have odds of 1:1 and are the safest bet you can make in roulette. That said, there’s still risk involved.
The main issue with the Martingale is that if you hit a losing streak, your wager will quickly double. Even with even-money bets, there’s a chance you could deplete your bankroll before you’ve recovered your winnings. On top of that, you could end up betting big but only to gain a very small profit.
What are the pros and cons of the Martingale roulette system?
Pros
- It’s easy to understand and simple to apply
- There’s a chance you could recover your losses
- It could bring small winnings in the short-term
Cons
- If you hit a losing streak, you could quickly wipe out your bankroll
- All roulette tables have betting limits, so the maximum amount you can wager will always be capped
- You can end up betting big but for a potentially small win
How does the Paroli roulette system work?
The Paroli system is the reverse of the Martingale strategy. If you lose a round, you keep your stake the same. And if you win, you double your stake – this is known as ‘positive progression staking’. The overall aim of Paroli is to double your stake for three winning spins in a row. Once that happens, you go back to your starting stake. Here’s an example:
| Spin | Bet | Stake | Result | Profit | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red | $1 | Lose | -$1 | -$1 |
| 2 | Red | $1 | Lose | -$1 | -$2 |
| 3 | Red | $1 | Win | +$1 | -$1 |
| 4 | Red | $2 | Win | +$4 | +$2 |
| 5 | Red | $4 | Win | +$8 | +$10 |
FAQs
Is the Martingale system allowed in casinos?
Is the Martingale system profitable?
How big a bankroll do you need for Martingale?
Can Martingale beat the house edge?
What are the risks of the Martingale system?
Can Martingale help me win at roulette?
Try other roulette strategies
- Roulette strategies
- For the basics
- D'Alembert system
- For first timers
- Fibonacci system
- For risk-takers
- Labouchere system
- For high rollers
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