How to Successfully Use the Martingale Betting System

What is the Martingale Betting System?

The Martingale betting system is a roulette strategy that is simple to follow and can be used in both land-based casinos and at online gambling sites. It is not difficult to learn, thus, both new players and seasoned roulette professionals can employ the strategy. The basics idea is to double your bet after every loss. However, there is slightly more to the strategy than just that. We take a look at the full details of how to use the Martingale system successfully.

Wager the Minimum Amount

One of the most important things about the Martingale system is to start small. The system is developed around placing increasing bets after every loss. Thus, it is safe to assume your bets will grow quickly. That is why it is important to start off with the minimum table bet.

If you start with a big stake for the Martingale, there is a strong chance that you will burn through your bankroll. In addition, using higher stakes will lead to a shorter game. So, if you do happen to come across a roulette table with a minimum bet of €/£1 or smaller, then be sure to stick to that stake. The Martingale is only successful when placing wagers on even money bets – that is to say, bets that have as close to 50/50 chance of coming as possible. The examples of such bets include odd/even numbers, 1-18 or 19-36 and red/black. Of course, none of these are exactly 50/50 as there is a neutral green 0 on the wheel.

Double Your Bet after Every Loss

If you lose your bet, then you must double your stake size for the next wager. That is why it is good to start off with a minimum bet. This can be quite pricey when playing at a roulette table that has a high minimum bet. Mind you, when you sit at a table with betting limits, the whole Martingale betting system becomes rather useless.

Return to Minimum Bet after Every Win

Whenever you have a successful round, the Martingale system requires you to return to your original stake. If you placed the minimum stake at first, you must return to that amount. The idea in doubling your bet after each loss makes out to eventually cover the total of all your losses. Whilst doing so, the Martingale system also provides you with a small profit. This is a slow and steady way of making a profit over a longer period of time. But be prepared to have a big budget for playing with if you want to use the strategy.

Essentially, that is all there is to know about the Martingale system. To use it, simply set a starting bet – we recommend using the table’s minimum bet. After you have done so, prepare to wager on outside bets. After a loss, double your bet and after a win, return to your original bet. That is all there is to know about how to use the strategy.

The Flaws in the Martingale System

The Martingale system is highly effective on paper, but how is it in practice? There are a few reasons why the roulette strategy is not a fool-proof system that will guarantee a win for every player using it. Perhaps the most important one is the betting limits that roulette tables have.

Both land-based casinos and online gambling sites have roulette games with different betting ranges including a maximum bet. This affects your chances of using the Martingale system successfully as the system may call for you to place a larger bet than the table allows. In other words, after losing several rounds, you may not be allowed to double your bet if this exceeds the maximum stake. Roulette tables with betting restrictions can render the Martingale system useless.

Another reason why the Martingale can fail is to do with statistics. If you happen to find a roulette table that does not have any betting restrictions, the betting strategy still requires a massive bankroll to be profitable. If you experience many losses on the trot, you may end up losing your entire budget and not having enough to double your wager. Essentially, the Martingale can prove to be a fast way of burning through your bankroll without any joy.

An Example

We give you an example of how the Martingale system can fail at a roulette table. In this example, the betting ranges from as little as €1 to a maximum of €500 per round.

• The player bets €1 and loses
• The player doubles and bets €2 and loses
• The players bets €4 and loses
• The player bets €8 and loses
• The player bets €16 and loses
• The player bets €32 and loses
• The player bets €64 and loses
• The player bets €128 and loses
• The player bets €256 and loses

In this instance, the player cannot double their bet because of betting restrictions. In this scenario, the player has already lost €511 and cannot even try and land a successful winner. As such, the Martingale becomes ineffective.

The Statistics of Winning

You may be thinking that in the scenario above, the chances of losing nine times in a row are practically impossible. However, the truth is that you can even lose up to a thousand times by betting on the same colour. There are absolutely no guarantees that your even money bet will win.

In roulette, each spin is independent from the last one. That means that for every spin, there is almost a 50/50 chance of an even money bet winning. It is important to remember this when playing roulette. It may feel as if it is time for a certain number or colour to win, but mathematically, there is no basis for this. Every spin is independent and has as close to 50/50 chance as the last one.

Using the Martingale System Online

The Martingale strategy can be an effective way of making a small profit whilst recouping your losses. It is legal in all land-based casinos and online casinos. However, before you start using the system, we advise you to check the roulette table betting restrictions first. If there are limits on the maximum wager, you may need to think again before using the roulette strategy. The other thing to consider is your budget. Do not expect to use the Martingale system successfully if you do not have the bankroll to do so. Think back to our example and how nine spins from a starting bet of €1 can quickly escalate to over €500. The truth is the Martingale system only works well if there are no betting restrictions and you have an unlimited budget.

Learn the basics with our introduction to casino table games: https://www.casinoradar.com/blog/an-introduction-to-casino-table-games/