In general, no, doubling down after every loss does not work, even when the odds are 50/50 of winning, which they definitely are not in Roulette. If you bet on Red, for example, the odds are not exactly 50/50 or winning because you could lose with. The 1-3-2-6 system is relatively straight-forward – especially if you have any experience using other betting or card-counting systems. Here’s how this works: Place an even-money bet. For example, place a bet on black/red or even/odd in roulette. For the following steps, we’re going to say we made a $5 bet. This is one of the riskiest roulette strategies that you can use. Side note – this is a system that can be used all over the roulette table, not just red and black. It is red and black where it is most commonly used though. Reverse Martingale – This is the exact opposite to the system above. It’s know as the Reverse Martingale or the Paroli. The Martingale system is a staking plan for betting. It originates from roulette, but is also applied in sports betting. After each loss, you double your bet. By doubling your bet after a loss, you can recoup.

Table Of Contents

• Why is the Martingale betting system such a popular strategy?
• What can go wrong with using the Martingale system?
• Have you heard of the anti-Martingale system?
• Should you use the Martingale system?

The Martingale system is one of the most commonly used betting strategies for traditional Casino table games, as well as sports betting.

The Martingale betting system is one that many people have latched onto due to its simplicity and an assumption that no-one can possibly lose all of the time.

But does it really work? Or is it just another betting fallacy?

Read on to discover all there is to know about one of the oldest betting systems in the book.

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How did the Martingale system come about and how does it work?

This particular betting strategy dates all the way back to the 18th century. The system is named after a man named John Henry Martindale, a proprietor of multiple gambling properties in the UK back in the day.

Although the title of the betting strategy is ever so slightly different from his surname, it was inspired by his belief in the system.

He would encourage his customers to use it in his Casinos, who would believe him when he said that many of his high-roller players had won vast sums of money at the tables.

Register a free gaming account and use the demo credits to play.

See the Martingale system in action on your favorite games!

The Martingale system quickly became a go-to approach for recreational punters as it was a straightforward and seemingly rational strategy.

There were no algorithms or equations to remember, they simply had to remember the following:

• Double your next bet after a loss
• Continue doubling your next bet after a loss until a win is achieved
• Restart the cycle again

For example, if you were to place an initial bet of $10 on black on the Roulette wheel and the ball landed on a red number, you would wager $20 on the next bet.

If you were to lose that bet, you would wager $40 on the following bet and so on, until you win a bet.

It is an approach that has proven particularly popular with those fascinated in Roulette strategies and Blackjack strategies.

Games that offer a perceived coinflip outcome on winning and losing i.e. those with the tightest house edge.
However, there are several pitfalls to be mindful of too, as we'll explain later below.

The pros of the Martingale strategy

• If you continue to double your bet after every loss, you are certain to win back the amount you lose – and improve your net winnings in the short term.
• Speaking of short-term betting, Martingale betting works best if you're thinking of playing for a short timeframe rather than a long session.
• The Martingale strategy can help beginners quickly recover losses whilst learning to play a new Casino game.

The cons of the Martingale betting system

• You'll need a large betting bankroll to be able to handle a run of losing bets, as this system depletes your bank far quicker than most other strategies.
• It's not tailored for long-term players – the longer you play, the more chance there is of the Casino's house edge eating into your bankroll.
• It's possible the Martingale system will be affected by caps on the maximum bet at any given table. If you experience a lengthy losing streak, you may not be able to sufficiently increase your bet above the maximum bet to retrieve your losses.

Should you use the Martingale system?

If you're testing out new Casino table games like online Roulette and online Blackjack for the first time, the Martingale system could be a dangerous option for you.

If you don't have a sufficient bankroll or you just don't want to risk to lose your money, have a look at this gaming website.

Open a free account and use the demo bankroll to try all the games you like. There isn't a better way to learn how the Martingale betting system works than to practice online with free money!

Alternatively, you might wish to consider the anti-Martingale betting system:

• Half the next bet after every losing money bet
• Double the next bet after every winning bet

You could try this out on some of the table games at the same site with a 50-50 percent split of the bankroll.

This allows you to see whether the anti-Martingale strategy can help you capitalize on 'hot' winning streaks better than the regular Martingale.

Martingale betting FAQs

To conclude this guide to the Martingale betting system, let's go through some of the questions our readers sent us on Facebook and Twitter.

What is wrong with the Martingale Roulette strategy?

If you encounter a losing streak on the Roulette or Blackjack table, you can lose your betting bankroll alarmingly quickly.

You might think that it's impossible to lose ten times in a row when betting on red. The statistics show that there is a 784/1 chance of losing ten bets in a row for betting on a colour on a European Roulette table.

If your starting bet is $10, you could expect – statistically – to win £7,840 before encountering said losing streak.

However, this losing streak would wipe out your profits, costing you $10,230 in the process. It just goes to show why Martingale strategy is very much a short-term option and not for the long run.

Does the Martingale strategy always work in Blackjack? Why?

As we've already touched upon, the Martingale strategy works best for Casino games that offer 50/50 'coinflip' situations.

Blackjack is (almost) one of those. In terms of table limit restrictions, some Casinos will only offer a minimum bet, with no maximum bet ceilings either, which gives Blackjack players a chance to chase their losses continuously – providing they have a bankroll that's substantial enough to handle losing streaks.

Is the Martingale strategy legal on betting and Casino sites?

Roulette System Of A Down

Yes, Martingale betting systems are permitted when you play Casino games online. There's no reason why it wouldn't be prohibited.

In the long term, the Casinos will always take money off players, but those prepared to practice Martingale for short-term bursts could succeed.

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Can a Martingale system work in Forex trading, too?

The Martingale is actually increasingly popular among Forex traders.

Roulette Double Down System Diagram

That's because, unlike stocks, the value of fiat currencies almost never fall to the bottom. When you trade forex, there is a 50% chance of your trade being profitable, and a 50% chance of your trade being a loss.

This makes Martingale strategy a possible forex trading system, however you'll still need deep pockets to handle losing runs, particularly if you make bad decisions regarding entry points into the forex markets.