All about Martingale
How to apply the strategy
The Martingale Strategy Explained
Roulette is a game of chance. Results of each spin are random and players can’t improve their odds with skill (unlike in poker and blackjack). Roulette strategies, such as the Martingale system, can help you minimize the risk of losing.
The Martingale theory is very simple. Players raise their bets after a loss to recover the lost wager. When players win, the next bet will be that of the initial amount.
It is the most commonly used negative progression betting system worldwide. Read this guide and find out everything you need to know about the Martingale strategy to help you minimize your losses.
How does the Martingale System work?
At first look, the Martingale strategy may look complicated but it is really simple to learn. It is best used for even money bets – red/black or even/odd numbers.
These bets have fair odds, however, the payouts are quite low when compared to straight bets – bets on one number. Even money bets are your safest option.
The Martingale system doubles the bet after every loss and resets it to the initial bet after every win. This is how this looks in practice:
1st bet: 1 unit You lose and double it
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2nd bet: 2 units You lose and double it
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3rd bet: 4 units You lose and double it
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4th bet: 8 units You lose and double it
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5th bet: 16 units If you win, you place the next bet at 1 unit
When looking at the above example, you can see that you’ll need a large bankroll if luck is against you.
When you stick to the Martingale system your wins will not be large. Assuming that you start with a $1 bet, if you win, your return is only $1. You’ll repeat this bet until you lose it and then you will bet $2.
This strategy only works well with smaller bets because large bets cannot easily be doubled multiple times. However, this means that you cannot expect to win bigger amounts. The strategy can help you recover your losses, however, it is potentially costly. There is no guarantee for a win and therefore this system is not suitable for novice players.
Does the Martingale Theory Reduce the House Edge in Roulette?
No roulette strategy can reduce the house edge. Roulette is a game of chance and luck is the only factor in the game. The zero pocket represents the house edge and this keeps the odds against the players. Even the safest even money bets have less than 50% odds and the Martingale theory can’t improve that anyhow.
Roulette strategies are all about minimizing losses. Unlike optimal strategies in blackjack, roulette strategies don’t reduce the house edge. Negative progression strategies are not lucrative systems but they can help you offset your lost bets.
The Dangers of the Martingale Strategy
The Martingale strategy comes with its own risks. The biggest danger is that you run out of money.
Another risk is that you reach the table limit of the online casino. If this happens you won’t be able to double the bet again and therefore cannot possibly recover your previous losses. This makes the Martingale strategy very risky. Losses can happen quite frequently in roulette so having a losing streak while using the Martingale strategy can be catastrophic to your bankroll. Even with low starting bets of e.g. $1, doubling bets multiple times can add up quickly. Many players believe that after a large number of losses a win must come – this is called the gambler’s fallacy. Unfortunately, spins’ results don’t depend on the results of previous spins. The gambler’s fallacy phenomenon makes the Martingale theory very dangerous. This is a truly risky strategy that experienced players rarely apply. However, if you can afford to double your bets multiple times, the Martingale strategy can improve your game and make it more worthwhile.
Try the Martingale Strategy for Free at RouletteStrategy
It is really easy to learn the Martingale system and you can try it at the online casino of your choice. RNG roulette tables are available in most online casinos and can usually be played in demo mode.
On our free play page, you’ll find many roulette games where you can test the Martingale system and see how it works out for you. If you are an experienced roulette player, the Martingale system can add an edge to your game and you can quickly recover your losses by placing a single bet. However, novice players should try the system first in free games to avoid losing their whole bankroll in a blink of an eye.
