It’s in human nature to win—and to win, we devise all sorts of strategies. This is especially true in gambling because not only do we want to win, but we also don’t want to lose our money when betting.
One of the most popular strategies in gambling is the Martingale betting system. The premise behind it is simple and promises players a quick way to recover from big losses and earn a bit of cash.
If you want to find out what this strategy is all about, you’ve come to the right place, as this article will show you the ins and outs of the Martingale betting system!
What is the Martingale Betting System?
The Martingale betting system was first developed back in 18th-century France. The strategy would require gamblers to double their stake whenever they lose in a coin flip game. The main logic behind it was that it allowed the gambler to recover all the previous losses.
According to rumors, this betting system got its name after a greedy casino owner, John Martindale. It’s said that he kept encouraging players at his casino to use this strategy since he thought they’d lose money, not knowing that the strategy actually works.
Nowadays, the Martingale betting system is used both in investing and in a plethora of games in which you can win or lose by a 50% margin. It’s very popular since you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to use it, and, most importantly, it can bring you some cash.
How Does the Martingale Betting System Work?
Martingale betting system is one of the most straightforward gambling strategies you can implement. Its beauty lies in the fact that you don’t have to do any complex calculations or whatnot. All you have to do is double your bet whenever you lose. It’s that simple!
The betting system can be applied in both live and online casinos, but you need to play a game in which you have a 50/50 chance of winning every round. One of the best games for this would be roulette, as you can bet on red and black.
Let’s say you start with a $5 bet and win that bet. You keep betting with $5 until you lose, and then you bet with $10. If you keep losing, you keep doubling your bets. When you win, you return to the initial bet, which in this case is $5.
Does the Martingale Betting System Really Work?
Now that you’re familiar with the Martingale betting system, you’re probably wondering whether it works.
In short, no strategy can guarantee you wins. But if you’re looking for a strategy that can improve your winning rate and help you recover from previous losses, the Martingale betting system is the best option.
This strategy is perfect if you want to increase your short-term winning chances. It allows you to bet big, win small, and recoup from a loss or two.
Keep in mind that, like with every betting strategy, you need to have a gambling limit you must never overstep. This will keep you from destroying your personal budget and going broke.
Is Using the Martingale Betting System Allowed?
The Martingale betting system is allowed in both online and live casinos, which means you can’t get banned for using it. It isn’t considered cheating in any way because all you’re doing is doubling your bet whenever you lose.
Even if you keep winning big with this system, you won’t get in trouble because all casinos have a maximum amount you can win on all of their games.
At the end of the day, when it comes to the Martingale betting system, people are more worried about its advantages and disadvantages than its legality.
Pros and Cons of Using the Martingale Betting System
Can’t seem to decide whether the Martingale betting system is the right option for you? Weigh out its pros and cons by checking out the section below!
Pros
- Easy to play. You can try out the Martingale betting system whether you’re a completely new player or a professional gambler. It doesn’t require much tinkering, and you don’t have to perform complex mathematical calculations.
- Can be used in many games. Unlike some betting strategies, the Martingale betting system can be used in various games, which means that all players can give it a go. These games include roulette, slots, blackjack, and even sports betting.
- You can recover from big losses with it. By far, the biggest advantage of the Martingale betting system is that it allows you to recover from big losses. Let’s say that you lose $500 or even $1000. By applying this strategy and betting with $20 or $50, you’re bound to bounce back in no time.
Cons
- Not suitable for limited bankrolls. If you want the Martingale betting system to bring you a lot of money, you need to have a big bankroll. The system requires you to bet a certain amount of money to win, so if you have a limited bankroll, it might not be the most suitable strategy for you.
- Unusable at tables with low betting limits. If the casino has low betting limits on tables, the Martingale strategy will be unusable. You need to place big bets if you’re using this strategy, and a table with low betting limits doesn’t cut it.
Different Variations of the Martingale Betting System
Did you know that the Martingale betting system has different variations? In the section below, we’ll go over the most popular ones to show you how you can play around with this simple strategy!
Classic Martingale
The key principles of the classic Martingale betting system have been discussed previously in the article. It’s the simplest version of this strategy—all you have to do is double the bet whenever you lose and return to the initial one once you’ve won a round.
We’ve prepared a table where you can find the most important details of a scenario in which you’d have a 50/50 chance of winning or losing. Check it out below:
| Round | Wager | Result | Profit |
| 1 | $10 | Loss | -$10 |
| 2 | $20 | Loss | -$30 |
| 3 | $40 | Loss | -$70 |
| 4 | $80 | Loss | -$150 |
| 5 | $160 | Win | $160 |
| 6 | $10 | Loss | $150 |
| 7 | $20 | Win | $170 |
| 8 | $10 | Win | $180 |
| 9 | $10 | Loss | $160 |
| 10 | $20 | Win | $200 |
As you can see, even if you’ve won only 4 out of 10 rounds, you’re still making profits.
Grand Martingale
The Grand Martingale betting strategy is quite similar to the original one, as you still increase your bet after each loss round. The difference is that, besides doubling your initial bet, you also add 20% of the original wager to it.
See the table below for more details:
| Round | Wager | Result | Profit |
| 1 | $10 | Loss | -$10 |
| 2 | $22 | Loss | -$32 |
| 3 | $46 | Loss | -$78 |
| 4 | $100 | Loss | -$178 |
| 5 | $220 | Win | $220 |
| 6 | $10 | Loss | $210 |
| 7 | $22 | Win | $232 |
| 8 | $10 | Win | $242 |
| 9 | $10 | Loss | $232 |
| 10 | $22 | Win | $254 |
Again, after winning only 4 out of 10 rounds, you’d see a profit of $254.
Inverted Martingale
As its name suggests, the Inverted Martingale betting system is a strategy whose rules are completely different compared to the original one. Its aim is to maximize your winnings when you’re on a lucky streak, so you need to raise your wagers whenever you win.
Check out the table below to see how it works on a 10-round example:
| Round | Wager | Result | Profit |
| 1 | $10 | Loss | -$10 |
| 2 | $10 | Loss | -$20 |
| 3 | $10 | Loss | -$30 |
| 4 | $10 | Win | -$20 |
| 5 | $20 | Win | 0 |
| 6 | $40 | Win | $40 |
| 7 | $80 | Win | $120 |
| 8 | $160 | Win | $280 |
| 9 | $160 | Loss | $120 |
| 10 | $10 | Win | $130 |
Although it brings the least profit of all the three Martingale variants, the Inverted Martingale betting strategy still brings you a profit of $130.
The Best Games for Trying out the Martingale Betting System
Feel like trying one of the Martingale betting system variants? Here are the best games to do so!
#1. Roulette
Roulette is one of the most suitable games for the Martingale betting system. Luckily, it can be found in every casino as it’s popular and simple and can bring you a lot of cash.
Martingale roulette is so effective because the game has several betting options that give you a 50/50 chance of winning or losing, such as:
- Even or odd
- High or low
- Red or black
Most players stick to one betting option until the end of their session and apply only one variant of the Martingale betting system. Yet, if you notice that you’re losing more than you’re winning and you can’t seem to recover, feel free to switch it up a bit.
#2. Slots
Whether you prefer playing low or high-stakes slots, you should consider applying one of the Martingale betting variants to this casino classic.
Even though you don’t have a 50/50 chance of scoring in slots, the game is still quite simple and requires you to only adjust bets and hit one button every round. However, keep in mind that the Martingale betting strategy is only viable short-term when it comes to slots.
This is because, in slots, losing streaks tend to last longer than in other casino games. So, when applying the Martingale betting strategy, limit yourself to anywhere between 10 and 20 rounds, count your profits, and see whether you should proceed with it for longer or not.
#3. Blackjack
Similar to slots, blackjack doesn’t give you 50/50 odds of winning, as the game requires you to rely heavily on skill, emotion, and experience. Yet, the Martingale strategy can still be applied to it unless you’re playing surrender blackjack.
We recommend opting for the classic Martingale betting system because it’s most suitable for drawn-out gambling sessions.
But, if you prefer playing the 21+3 blackjack, you should use the Grand Martingale betting system, as you can add 20% of the wager to the +3 side bet.
#4. Sports Betting
Besides the classic casino games that the Martingale betting system can be used on, sports betting is also viable for this strategy.
You can apply this betting system to any sport, but the odds you’re betting on are close to each other and give you 50% scoring. This means that you can’t place a bet for a draw—only for a win or loss.
When using the Martingale betting system for sports betting, you need to pay close attention to the sportsbook’s stats monitor. It should be your best friend, as it shows which underdogs and favorites are closest to each other.
Key Takeaways
At the end of the day, there isn’t a single strategy that can bring you fast and easy earnings. How much you win depends completely on you, your patience, skill, and gambling experience.
We hope that this article has shown you the ropes of the Martingale betting system, which you can use to spice up your gambling sessions. Having this in mind, let’s summarize everything we talked about:
- The Martingale betting system originates from France, and it was first developed in the 18th century.
- To use the Martingale betting system, you have to double your bet whenever you lose and go back to the original wager once you win.
- The Martingale betting system is completely legal and allowed in all casinos.
- There are three variations of the Martingale betting system:
- Classic Martingale
- Grand Martingale
- Inverted Martingale
- The best games to apply the Martingale betting system to are roulette, slots, blackjack, and sports betting.
Martingale Betting System FAQ
#1. What is the Martingale betting system?
The Martingale betting system can be used in all games in which you can lose by a 50% margin, such as roulette. It’s also called the double-up system because you double your bet whenever you lose.
#2. Which games are best for applying the Martingale betting system?
Some of the best games for applying the Martingale betting system include roulette, slots, blackjack, and sports betting.
#3. Is the Martingale betting system profitable?
The Martingale betting system is most profitable short-term, as you’d need a lot of money to keep doubling your bets whenever you lose.
#4. Will a casino kick you out for using the Martingale system?
No, a casino won’t kick you out for using the Martingale system because this strategy is completely legal.
#5. What is the best variation of the Martingale system?
There isn’t a definite best variation of the Martingale system, as it’s completely up to the player’s personal preference which one they will use.
Harvey Dickenson
Safe Gambling Specialist
Harvey Dickenson is our safe gambling specialist. Harvey is a recreational poker player and an expert in online casino safety, cons, and scams.