The Martingale Roulette Strategy – How To Apply It

As the saying goes, “May the odds be ever in your favor”. And, with the Martingale roulette strategy, they just might be. This strategy, which originated in 18th-century France and is used for everything from live dealer roulette online to large investment portfolios, can help you make the most of your roulette game! 

But what is Martingale’s strategy in roulette? How do you find your Martingale betting strategy roulette? Does the Martingale system work better for roulette or blackjack? What are the roulette Martingale odds? Keep reading, and we’ll answer all your questions about the Martingale betting system for roulette and how it works. 

The Martingale roulette strategy explained using poker chips

What Is The Martingale System In Roulette?

If you’re looking for a betting strategy based on recovering losses, then the Martingale roulette strategy is the one for you. The idea is that, with every losing roulette spin, you double your bet. This means that if Lady Luck is on your side and you win again, you will recover any previous losses as well as make a small profit. There are Martingale strategy calculators, but below is a visual representation of the strategy. Let’s take a look at this example of how the roulette Martingale system might work:

SPIN BET STAKE RESULT PROFIT RUNNING TOTAL
1 Red $1 Lose – $1 – $1
2 Red $2 Lose – $2 – $2
3 Red $4 Lose – $4 – $7
4 Red $8 Win + $8 + $1
5 Red $1 Lose – $1 $0

Using the Martingale System

When you’re hitting the roulette wheel, the most effective way to embrace the Martingale strategy for roulette is to focus on even-money outside bets. Wagers like red, black, odd, even, 1-18, and 19-36 all have odds of 1:1, which means they’re a safe bet. Actually, they are the safest bet you can make in roulette or online roulette for real money. 

However, nothing is ever totally risk-free, and one of the biggest risks with the roulette Martingale system is that, if you hit a losing streak, you’ll double that wager pretty quickly, and, even with even-money bets, the chances of your bankroll diminishing before you’ve recovered your winnings are pretty high. And that’s not a place that any gambler wants to be.

Pros and Cons of the Martingale Roulette Strategy

When you’re trying to find the answer to “what is Martingale in roulette”, one way to find the answer to this question and others is a pros and cons list.

Let’s take a look at the pros of the roulette Martingale strategy:

  • It’s easy to understand and simple to apply;
  • You can recover your losses, if you play smart;
  • The Martingale betting system roulette could bring small winnings in the short-term.

And now, we flip the coin and take a look at the cons: 

  • You could quickly wipe out the bulk of your bankroll if you hit a losing streak;
  • Because all roulette tables have betting limits, the maximum amount that you can wager will always be capped, which will limit your winnings;
  • You can end up betting big but only coming away with a pretty small win.

Martingale vs Paroli

Just like gamblers who favor particular colors or have a favorite chair or drink or a little superstition they cannot play without, so too do gamblers have their favorite roulette strategies. This is the Martingale roulette strategy, which many people use. For others, it’s Paroli. 

The Martingale system and the Paroli system are two sides of the same coin. In fact, the Paroli system is the reverse of the Martingale strategy. The main aim of the Paroli betting system is to double your stake for three winning spins in a row. Once that happens, you go back to your starting stake. If you lose a round, you keep your stake the same, and if you win, you double your stake. This is known as “positive progression staking”. 

The system you choose to follow is really up to you; both the Martingale betting system for roulette and the Paroli system have their pros and cons, and both will deliver wins and losses in what is likely to be an even measure.

The Paroli system is generally known to be more risk-averse and is popular with more conservative players. But, as we all know, at the end of the day, the only constant in roulette is that there are no constants and Lady Luck rules the roost.

a aerial view of a cartoon roulette table spinning the white ball

Anti-Martingale Roulette Strategy

When you play roulette using the Martingale betting strategy, the aim of the game is to increase your bets after each loss in hopes that an eventual win will recover all previous losses.

The Anti-Martingale roulette strategy, which is also known as the Reverse Martingale, does the opposite: it increases bets after wins while reducing them after losses. The perception is that players will benefit from a winning streak or a “hot hand,”  while reducing losses while “cold” or otherwise having a losing streak. 

May the Roulette Martingale Odds Be Ever in Your Favor

Now that you know how to incorporate the Martingale roulette strategy into your spinning, you’re on your way to getting a win like never before! Take advantage of your welcome bonus and start spinning right away, using the newly acquired knowledge of the Martingale roulette strategy!