Gambling Systems : Martingale System

The Martingale system is one of the most popular for trying to beat roulette and other games that offer an “even-shot” bet. Put simply, it involves betting on one outcome and then doubling the bet whenever you lose. You might bet £1 on red at roulette, for example, then if you lose you double this to £2, and if you lose again you double the bet to £4 and so on until red comes up. There are countless variations, such as waiting until black has come up three times in a row and then betting red, or increasing the stake in different amounts. If you are not a regular casino player and just want the thrill of playing at a roulette table for a night, then this is a reasonable system to adopt, as it will actually increase your chances of winning in the short term. The chances are, as long as you take enough money with you, you’ll come out ahead in the short term, and have fun in the process. Remember to quit when you’re ahead, and only take money you are prepared to lose as the price for an entertaining night out.

However, this is not a viable or profitable system in the long run. If you intend to play regularly you should not use this system, or ANY other progressive betting system. There is no pattern of betting that can beat the house edge at roulette in the long run. The trade-off for the increase in the likelihood that you’ll win in the short term is the potential to lose a far greater sum in the long term. In this sense, the Martingale system is like a reverse lottery ticket. Most people underestimate the chances of a bad losing streak, such as black coming up 7 times in a row. When such a run does occur you will lose everything. Remember each table has a maximum amount you can bet, and sooner or later a progressive betting system will run up against this barrier.

Tags: Gambling Systems