Ever since the creation of roulette in the 18th century, gamblers have attempted to beat the game using various betting strategies. Over the years, one of the most popular betting systems implemented daily by punters is the Martingale strategy devised by a French mathematician and named after the American layer John Henry Martindale.
New players often favour this roulette strategy for its ease and can be lucrative for players who have a bit of luck on their side entering into their favourite roulette game. At Casino Martini, we offer more than a list of the best roulette sites in the UK. Our team works around the clock researching and testing a variety of casinos, games, software providers, bonuses, and of course, strategies and betting systems to provide our fans with informative knowledge to aid in their winning casino journey.
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If you desire to learn more about how the Martingale betting system works and the pros and cons associated with this betting system, you have landed on the right page. Let’s dive right in and dissect the crucial elements of this betting strategy.
How to Use the Martingale System?
The concept behind the Martingale roulette strategy is to double your bet after every loss with the idea that a losing streak won’t last forever. Once you break the losing streak, you will regain all previous losses and make a small profit in return.
In order to use the Martingale betting strategy, you must commence with a small initial bet. This starting bet will be the amount your return to in the event of a winning wager. Only even money bets on the roulette table can be placed, so the Martingale strategy works properly.
Within your chosen casino game, place your first bet. For this example, we shall use the table minimum of £10. Let’s say you lose the opening bet; the Martingale strategy dictates you should double all losing bets. Before the next spin, you place £20 on your desired even money bet and again fall short with a loss. Now doubling the bet to £40, you spin again. Here you eventually win the bet and receive your initial wager plus £40 for your winning bet.
Overall the money spent in this instance accumulated to £70 and the total earning amounted to £80. In total, you obtained a £10 profit, and you can start the Martingale strategy again from the beginning.
From this explanation, this roulette strategy may seem like a sure-fire method to boost your bankroll. However, a few hurdles can make using the Martingale strategy risky if you don’t have an infinite bankroll or the casino games on offer have low table limits.
Does the Martingale Strategy Work?
The Martingale system works if you are lucky enough to break losing streaks before spending your entire bankroll. It is also subjective to the table limit, which can become destructive if your next bet surpasses the maximum betting limits.
Also, like all casino games, whether you are playing on a blackjack table or a game of craps, the house edge remains prominent within the game. However, it may seem like 50% of winning an even-money bet, the green spaces containing zeros reduce the probability of winning to slightly less than a flip of a coin.
In order to combat this ever so slightly, opt for European roulette over its American relative as the house edge is lower due as there is only a single zero within the roulette wheel.
Pros & Cons of the Martingale Betting System
There are pros and cons associated with every roulette strategy. While some are considered extremely risky, the Martingale roulette strategy can be successful if players start with a small bet amount. As the player doubles their bet after every loss, the betting amount won’t jump significantly if you enter into a roulette table with low betting options.
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This isn’t to say that the Martingale betting strategy will work every time; if you don’t break the losing streak past the table limit, the entire strategy will be worthless. To weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of the Martingale betting system before you try it yourself, we have laid out the pros and cons below.
Pros
This popular strategy does present healthy opportunities for players to secure small winnings boosting their bankroll within roulette games. However, as stated, while using the Martingale strategy, you must eventually win for the system to function properly.
Here are some key benefits of using the Martingale betting system.
- It is effective for all players who have the bankroll to burn, ensuring they don’t run out of cash while doubling their next bet.
- Once the losing streak is broken, you will retain all previous losses within the game and earn a small profit in return.
- The Martingale system is exciting for all new and seasoned roulette players to use, spicing up this classic game to new levels.
- This system can be implemented within any roulette variant that offers even money bets.
An alternatively betting strategy that also functions opposingly to the Martingale system is the Anti Martingale strategy. Our team at Casino Martini has created a fully comprehensive guide to the Anti Martingale system for our readers to check out as well.
Cons
There is no perfect betting system; like others, the Martingale system does come with a set of disadvantages that all players should be aware of before playing for real money. Consider each point below that is associated negatives with the Martingale system.
- As bets are doubled, they increase rapidly, risking the chances of surpassing the limitations of your bankroll.
- Table limits may be exceeded if you are not lucky enough to break a losing streak. If this occurs, you will run the risk of losing a large portion of your bankroll.
- While the Martingale system is an exciting strategy to use, the casino has the house edge within each game you play. Over time the odds are designed to favour the casino resulting in fewer winning opportunities for your bets.
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There are risks while gambling within all casino games and strategies in the online gambling world. Without such risks, the rewards wouldn’t be as thrilling as they are. Just remember to wager within your budget and gamble responsibly while implementing the Martingale system.
The Martingale system FAQ’s
Does the Martingale betting strategy work in other table games?
The Martingale strategy will work within any online casino table game that provides even money bets. Some examples of these table games include blackjack table games, baccarat games, and craps.
What is the probability of winning an even-money bet on a roulette wheel?
Wagering within a game of American roulette with two green pockets offers a 47.4% chance of winning. In contrast, European roulette is slightly better, with a single zero and a 48.6% chance at winning.
Is the Martingale system profitable?
The Martingale strategy can be profitable to those with a bit of luck on their side. If you manage to break the losing streak early within games and consistently play, profits will slowly rack up.