Roulette Betting Systems: Martingale Strategy

The casino can be a daunting and intimidating place, especially for those who’re taking their first steps into the topsy-turvy world of gaming. Plenty have walked in without something like the Martingale strategy and walked out with nothing. To that end, it’s important to approach any new game with a strategy – it can help you to learn the ropes and enjoy the experience, and not lose all of your money in the first three bets. No one ever had any fun betting their entire bankroll on black, only to see the ball land on red!

In roulette, more so than in other games, it’s vital to have a decent roulette system, particularly due to the number of betting options and variations in payouts. This guide will walk you through one such system – the Martingale strategy. You’ll learn how to use the Martingale system for roulette, see the impact on your game, and understand its advantages and disadvantages.

Basics of the Martingale System: Roulette

Before we examine the nitty gritty of the Martingale strategy, let’s look at the overarching ideas that constitute it and dispel some commonly held myths about the roulette betting system.

The Martingale strategy is primarily based on ‘Gambler’s Fallacy’, which is the belief that an event will occur if it hasn’t done so in a long time. In the case of roulette, for example, Gambler’s Fallacy dictates that if the ball keeps landing on black, it is going to land on red soon. Unfortunately, this simply isn’t true, which doesn’t mean that the Martingale strategy is worthless, but that it’s impossible accurately predict where the ball will land.

Equally important to note is that no roulette system, Martingale included, will ever affect the odds. There is no real way to limit the house edge, as you have no direct effect on the play; however, by betting smart and following detailed systems like Martingale, you can give yourself a decent chance against the house.

How the Martingale Strategy Works

As a negative progression roulette betting system, the principle of the Martingale strategy is to chase your losses in an effort to recoup them and potentially make a profit. There are two very simple rules:

To ensure that you can track your progress effectively in the Martingale system, you should stick to even money bets. These are bets that have 2:1 odds, meaning that you make back double your wager, plus the original bet. Examples of even money bets in roulette include odds/evens, red/black, and high/low.

In a European roulette system, the odds of winning on an even money bet are 47.4%, not 50% as the name might suggest. This is because the ‘0’ that appears on the wheel, tips the odds in favour of the house. On an American roulette table, the odds are 44.8% due to the fact that there is both a ‘0’ and a ‘00’.

Advantages of the Martingale Strategy

The Martingale roulette betting system has many advantages for new players: This system is incredibly easy to learn, meaning that novices do not need to have a complex grasp of roulette to implement it properly. It can generate profit in a short space of time, provided that you are able to maintain a winning streak. There are several variations, meaning that you can find the roulette system to suit your playstyle. You have full control of your initial bets, so you can be as risky or as cautious as you please.

Disadvantages of the Martingale Strategy

That being said, the Martingale system isn’t without its drawbacks: This strategy does not affect the house edge in any way, meaning that your chances of winning are still 47.4% on an even money bet. If you’re not careful, you could exceed the betting limit and be unable to recoup any of your previous losses. There is no clear get-out scenario, so knowing when to up and leave the table can be tricky, especially if the wins keep coming.

The Grand Martingale System: Roulette

Over time, players have adapted the martingale system for roulette to suit a number of different scenarios. One example of this is the Grand Martingale strategy, which dictates that after a loss you double your bet and add one unit. A unit, in this instance, refers to your base bet. The aim of this particular roulette system is to recover your losses faster than the traditional version.

Let’s see how the Grand Martingale system works in practice:

As shown in this example, the Grand Martingale strategy has the potential to make more profit than the traditional version. However, it also ups the ante in terms of betting. If you continue to bet without a win, you’ll hit the table limits much faster than in the regular Martingale roulette system!

Now that you’re fully aware of how to use the Martingale strategy in roulette, why not have a spin on one of our free games before moving up to the real table?