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The Martingale System Explained
- The Martingale System Explained
Author: Ben Williams
Updated: 8 January, 2023
How to Use Martingale
Martingale only works for even bets, so attempting to utilize it for specific betting is folly. The reason why even bets are necessary is that Martingale also deals with repeat results. Only in the case of an even bet can you have dependable repeat results, as most carry a fifty-fifty chance of winning.
Take a Roulette wheel, for instance. Half the numbers are red and half the numbers are black. Taking the numbers themselves into account, half are odd and half are even. This means that betting on a red/black or even/odd yields a 50% chance of the marble landing in a player's favor.
This chance decreases the second spin. If the marble hits black the first time, for instance, then odds are it will not hit black the second. It still could, but the chances are lowered to 25%. This is where Martingale comes in.
The Martingale System banks on the dwindling chances of the same result repeating. So a player using Martingale would bet on an even wager such as odds in Roulette. They bet 10 dollars, for instance, and then spin. If they win, they pocket the extra ten and bet another ten.
If they lose, they double down on the second spin. As the chances of coming up even again are reduced, they have a better chance of winning. Because their increased wager is now $20 a win pays back the amount they lost beforehand. This is how Martingale works.
In theory, a player would steadily build up their bankroll with wins and eliminate any losses by doubling down following a loss. Unfortunately, streaks do happen and the longer the streak, the more money is doubled down.
True, eventually the player will win as by the seventh spin the chances of a repeat number or lower than 1%, but the player in question may not have any money at that time. This is one of many drawbacks to Martingale.
Drawbacks
- Streaks: As aforementioned, streaks happen in Roulette. The longer the streak, the more money is wagered, as each loss results in the amount being doubled. So if a streak goes on for a quite some time, it will ultimately destroy the player's bankroll.
- Cost: Doubling down on a bet can get rather costly the further along you go. So to properly play Martingale, you have to make sure you have a sizable bankroll to risk.
- Stagnation: If you double down and break even after each loss, you will not lose any money. However, you will not make any either. The problem with Martingale is that it can be a lot of effort for nothing. Even if you win big after a long streak, the payout only refills the money you initially spent.
Advantages
- Better Odds: Martingale strategy does require players to bet more favorable odds. Even bets are by and large more reliable than specific bets. So right away, players are committing to a smarter strategy.
- Stacking: If a player is fortunate, they will get into a rhythm where they will win a few spins before a loss. This allows them to stack their payroll and steadily build profit.
- Streak: Streaks can be a con, but if a player finds themselves on the right side of one, they will stack up a nice amount before losing.
Ben Williams
Content WriterBen grew up in a small beach town on the Coromandel Peninsula. He spent most of his childhood surfing and playing rugby. After graduating from university in Auckland, he moved to Australia to work for a startup. He returned to New Zealand a few years later and started working in the iGaming industry.
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