Martingale Strategy Explained
Short Answer
The Martingale Strategy involves increasing your stake by 100% after a losing bet and is commonly used in 50-50 scenario games such as Roulette. If your bet has a stake of £10 and it loses, you should increase the stake to £20, £40, £80 and so on until you win again.
The idea is that all losing streaks will come to an end eventually, writing off any losses that were sustained during the run. Once you are back to winning ways, the stake will also revert to the original amount.
What is the Martingale Strategy?
The Martingale strategy is one of the most famous betting systems in the world and is thought to date back to the 18th century, when it was used for simple games such as betting on the toss of a coin. In essence, the strategy involved increasing a stake by 100% after a losing bet. Should the bet be a winner, then the stake would revert to the initial amount that was used.
Therefore, the strategy can be used for casino games like roulette which offer an almost 50-50 chance of winning. As an example, the roulette wheel has several betting options that are almost 50-50 in terms of odds: red or black, odd or even and so on.
However, critics of the Martingale Strategy say that due to the fact it cannot be used to predict future outcomes, it is essentially gambling on a random event happening. Those who use the strategy accept that this is the case and that their fate is somewhat in the hands of the gods, though.
There is also the Reverse Martingale Strategy, which works in the opposite way, with stakes increased after a winning wager, rather than after a losing bet as with the traditional way of doing it. With all that in mind, how do you learn how to use the Martingale Strategy at the casino? Let's take a look.
How to use the Martingale Strategy
Among the reasons why the Martingale Strategy is enduringly popular is its simplicity. Unlike a lot of the other famous betting systems, there is no complex mathematics to get to grips with, nor are there long sequences of numbers that need to be remembered.
Despite its simplicity, we have put together a step-by-step guide on how to use the Martingale Strategy below:
Pick the Gambling Game and a Realistic Stake
Roulette is a great option for the Martingale Strategy, with the options red or black and odd or even offering a 50-50 chance. This is not exact, of course, due to all roulette wheels having at least one green space for zero. This is a way for the casino, or the house, to protect its profit.
The strategy also involves selecting a realistic starting stake. This might be £10, for example, which might sound low but due to the nature of the system, it could quickly become a lot more. So always keep that in mind.
Place the £10 Bet on the Chosen Market
After picking your stake, the next step is to actually place the bet, which could be on the red or black market for example. If the bet ends up a winner, place another £10 wager on the same bet.
Double your stake after the first loss
Once you register the first loss, double the stake to £20 and place the same wager again.
Continue With the Same Pattern
The Martingale Strategy uses the same pattern throughout. So if the first five bets all lost - at stakes of £10, £20, £40, £80 and then £160 - then the next wager in the sequence would have to be £320. The idea is that you will return to winning ways eventually, recouping the losses made along the way.
Revert to Original Stake When You Win
Once you are back to winning ways, it is time to revert to the original stake, which in our example is £10. And that is how you use the Martingale Strategy!
Pros and Cons of the Martingale Strategy
Now that you know what the Martingale Strategy is and how it works, what are some of the top pros and cons? Let's take a look.
Pros of the Martingale Strategy
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A handy way for beginners to get used to casino games like roulette
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Proven to result in solid short-term wins for the majority of players
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Very easy to learn and use for newcomers to playing at the casino
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Can be used at both land-based casinos and on online casino sites
Cons of the Martingale strategy
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Requires an unlimited bankroll to be able to cover long losing streaks
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Even online casinos have betting limits in place for certain gambling games
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No firm guarantee that a losing streak will ever come to an end with a win
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Very large bets may need to be placed in order to recover prior losses
Martingale Strategy FAQs
Does the Martingale strategy work?
Is the Martingale strategy legal?
Steven is an experienced iGaming content writer who has been working in the industry since 2018. He is passionate about sports betting and enjoys writing about all aspects of the industry, including bookmaker reviews, betting tips and strategies, and news and analysis. If you have any questions about online gambling in the UK, please don't hesitate to contact him.