Sign up
Roulette

MARTINGALE ROULETTE STRATEGY GUIDE – THE MARTINGALE BETTING SYSTEM EXPLAINED

Play
Martingale Strategy for Roulette Explained | HotSlots

When playing online casino games, there may be a few different methods that may aid you in securing a win, but this is never a guarantee. Online games always have a house edge, which describes how much of an advantage the house has over the player. However, this doesn’t mean that you should simply give up on playing. 

Utilising roulette strategies is a great way to step up your gaming while boosting your chance to rack up big wins. Betting systems can help you make strategic moves rather than random guesses that lead nowhere. While there are many different strategies out there, the Martingale betting system is probably the most renowned.

The Martingale strategy can be used by any type of roulette player — veteran and novice alike — as it is quite simple, perhaps the easiest strategy to follow. Let’s take a closer look at what the Martingale system entails. 

WHAT IS THE MARTINGALE BETTING SYSTEM?

The Martingale strategy can be used on many online games, but it is more widely accepted as an online roulette betting system, as it is most efficient on Outside wagers with maximum odds of winning. Other games that offer even-money bets, like craps and baccarat, are also suitable for the Martingale. 

In online roulette, you can place wagers on colour outcomes, Odd/Even wagers or Low/High bets — all of which have a nearly 50% chance of winning. Technically, the odds are never exactly 50/50 because of the single-zero numbered pocket in European roulette, even less in American roulette due to the additional double zero.

This strategy is a negative progression system, that capitalises on the eventual likelihood of breaking a losing streak, making a marginal return when you hit the win. In other words, using the Martingale yields small returns to offset large losses. 

If you’re wondering how the Martingale system is used at an actual roulette table, check out this chart depicting this betting system in action:

Round Bet (€) Outcome Profit (€)
1 € 1 Win € 1
2 € 1 Lose -€ 1
3 € 2 Lose -€ 2
4 € 4 Win € 1
5 € 1 Lose -€ 1
6 € 2 Lose -€ 3
7 € 4 Lose -€ 7
8 € 8 Win € 1
9 € 1 Lose -€ 1
10 € 2 Win € 1

HOW TO USE THE MARTINGALE SYSTEM?

To help paint the scene a little better, here’s a quick example of the inner workings of the Martingale system.

Suppose you have a starting unit of €1 (or currency equivalent): 

  • Begin by wagering €1 (or the table minimum) on any Outside bet of your choice. 
  • If you lose the bet, double your next one. So, your next bet is €2. You have now wagered a total of €3.
  • If you win, you will receive €4, covering the €3 lost and earning a small profit equal to your original bet. 
  • Once you hit a winning bet, revert back to your initial bet and repeat. If you lose, keep doubling your bet until you eventually win and your losing streak ends. 

PLACING BETS & DOUBLING UP

When using the Martingale system in roulette, it’s pretty clear that roulette players may end up having quite a steep progression, so we always recommend to begin with a low bet value, according to the table limit. Remember, you’ll be doubling your bet with every loss and using your first win to recoup previous losses.

While this system is easy to implement, always bear in mind the risks. There is no guarantee that your losing streak will ever end, so you might just deplete your bankroll before hitting a win. Additionally, pick roulette tables with betting limits that suit your bankroll, as the Martingale is known to fall short when an extended losing streak hits a low-limit table. 

PROS AND CONS OF USING THE MARTINGALE SYSTEM

Like any other roulette strategy, the Martingale roulette system comes with both benefits and pitfalls. Let’s first take a look at why this Martingale roulette strategy is the best strategy to use in roulette:

ADVANTAGES

Take a look at this quick list of the advantages of using the Martingale strategy:

  • Easy to use and implement.
  • Easy to track moves and small winnings made.
  • Appropriate for managing losses.
  • Successful in the short term.
  • Allows roulette players to set a loss limit of an acceptable amount of money according to their bankroll. 
  • Can be applied to all variations of roulette.

DISADVANTAGES

Now that we’ve gone through the benefits of using the Martingale system, here are a few of the disadvantages to keep in mind before spinning the roulette wheel:

  • Many gamblers are more likely to lose the longer they play. 
  • Players can reach table limits before they recoup previous losses.
  • Requires a large bankroll.
  • Bet increases quickly.
  • The small winnings earned may not be worth the strain on players’ bankrolls.
  • Not viable in the long-term.

RISKS OF USING THE MARTINGAL SYSTEM

On paper, the Martingale system looks like a great strategy to use when your next spin rolls around, but this is not always the case. To help shed some light on the harsh reality of using this betting system, let’s take a look at the following chart:

Round Bet (€) Total Loss (€)
1 1 1
2 2 3
3 4 7
4 8 15
5 16 31
6 32 63
7 64 127
8 128 255
9 256 511
10 512 1023
11 1024 2047
12 2048 4095

As you can see, the expected loss often outweighs the small profit the Martingale promises. Without a winning streak, you might quickly hit the maximum bet limit of the table before you manage to repair the hit your bankroll took. 

On top of that, players with a smaller bankroll will likely struggle tp keep up with the demands of the Martingale, given how easily the bet value can grow — an increase from a €1 bet to a €2 bet won’t break the bank, but an increase from €500 to €1,000 might just end up being a player’s entire bankroll. 

The worst part is, players’ bets will increase at a super fast rate, especially if they lose for eight times in a row, for example. 

TIPS ON USING THE MARTINGALE SYSTEM

Using the Martingale betting strategy is full of ups and downs, but here are a few tips to make using this system more worthwhile: 

  • Do some research — Before you actually load up a roulette casino game, do a bit of research and learn the strategy’s nuts and bolts. A lot more goes into betting strategies than simply knowing how they work, so doing some research can go a long way. You never know what tidbits of information you may come across.
  • Practise in the demo modeLive Casino roulette requires players to place bets for real, but First-Person roulette does not! Practise using this strategy in the demo mode to learn exactly how it works without depleting your bankroll.
  • Manage your money — Because your bets can get really large really fast, it is important to use a money management system on top of the Martingale. That way, you’ll be able to keep your gambling in check while safeguarding your funds.
  • Start slow — As we mentioned earlier, Martingale bets can increase at an exponential rate, so start slow while you get the hang of it until you grow your bankroll.

CONCLUSION

As we’ve mentioned, the Martingale roulette system can help you bag long-term wins. But doubling your bet in a long losing streak can add up! The Martingale system works the best when you have deep pockets, as large losing streaks are not unheard of in online gaming or gambling in general.

So, be sure to form a solid game plan before diving into online roulette and the Martingale betting strategy. Jumping into the game unprepared may have serious implications on your bankroll, as you can lose big money in no time. 

On the other hand, if you’re more of a big baller and enjoy betting big, you may take issue with the bet limits set by the online casino. Every table game has a minimum and maximum wager limit, so you might reach a point in your strategy where you won’t be able to double your bet. 

There are many factors to consider when utilising betting strategies like the Martingale system, but if you had to take home the most crucial ones, we’d say to always bet within your limits, safeguard your funds and practise using the strategy first.

PLAY ROULETTE AT THE HOTSLOTS ONLINE CASINO AND TRY OUT THE MARTINGALE STRATEGY!

Now that you’ve gotten the full low-down on the Martingale strategy, the only thing left to do is to see it in action. And what better place to do so than at HotSlots? Fair warning, though, a whole sea of epic games is headed towards you, so you better buckle up because it will be a wild ride!

FAQ

Yes! One of the benefits of this betting strategy is that it can be applied to all roulette games.

If the regular Martingale requires players to increase their bet after a loss, the Reverse Martingale requires players to increase their bet after a win.

The Martingale was designed to offset previous losing bets with smaller wins over a short period of time, but it is not super profitable in the long-run.

Yes, the Martingale is allowed in any online or real casino that offers fair play. This strategy never guarantees a win, which is what makes it legal.

It may seem like the Martingale System is flawless, but the house always comes out on top — the odds are always in favour of the online casino. Players’ number one rival in online roulette is the single-zero numbered pocket, which basically represents the house edge in its purest form.