Martingale Strategy for Roulette Explained - Expert Guide
The Martingale strategy is one of the most widely used systems in roulette. Our review covers the pros and cons of this strategy, plus an insight into how the reverse Martingale (also known as Paroli) system works.
What is the Martingale Roulette Strategy?
John Henry Martindale, a casino tycoon, aimed to incentivize increased gambling, especially during periods of house losses. In the late 1800s, a betting system emerged, named after Martingale, that adopted his theory but empowered players to control the stakes.
The concept was quite straightforward: Starting with a modest stake, players made even-money roulette bets on the outside sections with 1:1 pay outs. Upon a loss, the stake was doubled, and this process continued until a win occurred. Players then banked their profits and readjusted back to their initial modest stake.
How the Martingale Strategy works in Roulette
The Martingale strategy centres on betting solely on outside sections, like Red or Black, Odd or Even, and 1-18 or 19-36, all offering a 1:1 pay out.
Start with a unit stake of $1 for instance. Place stake of $1 on an even-money bet. If it loses, double your stake to $2 on the next spin. Continue this progression: $4, $£8, until a winning spin. After a win, reset the stake to $1 and continue.
Advantages of the Martingale Strategy
In roulette, individual numbers have lower frequency of hitting but offer a payout of 35 to 1. On the other hand, outside bets are more prevalent but only yield an even-money payout. The greater the number of covered spaces, the higher the likelihood of a successful bet.
Opting for near 50/50 scenarios, such as choosing between red or black, increases the likelihood of long-term success. Moreover, with doubled stakes, there's an enhanced prospect of concluding a gaming session with a profit.
However, it's essential to note that as the probability of profit rises, so does the risk of incurring losses.
Disadvantages to the Martingale Strategy
Martingale encounters a challenge due to the inherent house edge in roulette. Despite the division of numbers into red and black, the presence of the green slot ensures that all outside bets result in losses, placing roulette players at a perpetual disadvantage over the long term.
In European roulette, featuring a single green zero slot, the house maintains a 2.7% edge. This implies that for every £100 wagered, the house theoretically wins £2.70.
In American roulette, with two green zero slots, the house edge increases to 5.26%, equating to £5.26 out of every £100 bet.
Consequently, players find themselves in a constant pursuit to offset the house's advantage.
The primary flaw in the Martingale Method lies in the consideration of one's bankroll. During a losing streak, the escalating losses—doubling with each unsuccessful bet—can lead to bankruptcy before the system has a chance to function. Alternatively, the player may surpass the table limit as Martingale stakes increase, causing the system to falter.
