Martingale Roulette System

Written by Boris Atanasov
With more than 4+ years of experience in the iGaming industry, Boris Atanasov writes exciting content about slots, video poker, roulette and blackjack.
, | Updated: October 2, 2024

For years, avid casino fans have been trying to develop roulette betting strategies and beat the odds. But it is not a secret that roulette is a casino game based on luck. Skills cannot change the outcome of the game. The only thing roulette enthusiasts can do is properly manage their bankrolls and carefully determine the size of their bets. If you play roulette for long enough, you are bound to lose.

Many betting strategies exist, but none of them proved to be flawless. One of the most widespread betting strategies is the Martingale. Interestingly, it can be applied not only to roulette but also to other casino games such as blackjack, baccarat, and craps.

Experts believe that this betting strategy was introduced somewhere in the 18th century. According to rumors, the Martingale betting system was designed by John Henry Martindale – a greedy casino owner. As you might have already guessed, the man never tried the betting strategy. Instead, he was encouraging the visitors of his casino to use it. The betting strategy became extremely popular in 1891 when Charles Wells broke the house using the Martingale system.


The Principle Behind the Martingale Betting System

1Easy to Understand

The Martingale betting strategy is relatively easy to understand, meaning that casino enthusiasts do not have to memorize complex formulas. That explains why the system has so many followers. The main purposes of this strategy are:

  • To help players recoup their losses quickly even after a long losing streak
  • To generate a small profit in the short term

This betting strategy is a negative progression, meaning that players have to double the amount of their stakes after a loss. Whenever a win occurs, roulette fans revert the size of their stakes to the initial value. Following consecutive wins, roulette players should stick to the size of their original bets. We will use an example to better illustrate how the Martingale betting system works.

Bet Number Bet Size Outcome Net Profits
1 10 Loss -10
2 20 Loss -30
3 40 Loss -70
4 80 Loss -150
5 160 Win 10

As you can see from the example, if you adhere to the strategy, you will generate a small profit after a losing streak.

2Where is the Logic?

At first, this betting strategy might sound ludicrous. If you analyze it, you will find out the logic behind it. By doubling your bets while on a losing streak, it takes a single win to recover your losses and break even.

The Martingale betting strategy is primarily used on even-money bets. In a nutshell, these are the ones that offer nearly even chances of winning or losing. If you play roulette, the even-money bets are Red/Black, Odd/Even, and High/Low. The probability of winning any of these bets is 48.65% in French and European Roulette and 47.37% in American Roulette.

3Selecting Base Stake

If you decide to rely on the Martingale strategy, you have to first determine a fixed base stake. Keep in mind that by using this betting strategy, you can easily reach the maximum table limits. Then, you will not be able to follow the system anymore and recover your losses. That is why using the minimum table limits as a base stake is the most reasonable thing you can do.

4Legality of the Martingale Strategy

Casinos allow roulette fans to wager the amount they wish to as long as it does not exceed the maximum table limits. In other words, it is not illegal to use the Martingale strategy when playing casino games.



Drawbacks of the Martingale Roulette Betting System

  • The Martingale betting system quickly depletes a player’s bankroll
  • It works only in the short term,
  • This betting strategy is geared toward even-money bets
  • It does not eliminate or reduce the house edge
  • The risk is higher compared to the potential profits one can gain

There is no doubt that the Martingale betting system has its advantages. As we already mentioned above, it is straightforward and players can apply it to virtual and real-life roulette tables. In addition, it takes into account that long losing streaks are likely to occur and benefits from it.

However, the strategy does not eliminate the house edge. In addition, it only works on even-money bets in the short term. It requires a sizable bankroll and even if you are not on a tight budget, you will reach the maximum table limits provided that a long losing streak occurs.

Since roulette is a game of chance and the outcome of every new spin is not related to previous outcomes, it is not possible to predict how long a losing string will last.

Many players believe that if a given outcome comes out more frequently, it is less (or more) likely to occur in the future. This is also known as the gambler’s fallacy or Monte Carlo fallacy. Over the years, many casino enthusiasts fell victim to it. Keep this in mind before you join a roulette table. Our best advice is to remain disciplined and leave the roulette table whenever you reach your loss or win limit.

Being one of the least complex betting systems, the Martingale strategy has been used by many roulette enthusiasts. But as we already explained above, it does not guarantee success. Hence, savvy players altered its rules in an attempt to improve the strategy. That is how several variations of the Martingale systems were created.

The Reverse Martingale
blank Grand Martingale
blank The Mini Martingale

BonusInsider is a leading informational website that provides reviews of the latest casino, sports betting, and bingo bonuses. We also list guides on how to play some of the most popular casino games including roulette, slots, blackjack, video poker, live dealers.