Every now and again, you will see a news report explaining how a group of scientists or some other devilishly smart person managed to beat roulette. At times, this is done by means we mere mortals could not manage – like using chaos theory – at other times it might be recognizing a flaw on a particular roulette wheel, or even skirting the edges of what is legal.
Yet, in most cases it is widely understood that it is a pure game of chance, and thus is impossible to predict, at least not with specialized equipment. However, it is also the case that there are strategies that can help you win at roulette. The most famous is the Martingale Strategy, and it is unbelievably simple.
Now, before going any further, note that this is not a pamphlet on how to get rich with roulette – far from it – while the Martingale Strategy is sound mathematically, there are some drawbacks in using it, which we will also explain.
Martingale can be applied to traditional roulette games
The first thing to say is that Martingale can be applied to any roulette game online or offline, as long as the games have traditional rules and payouts, so it does not really matter if it’s a choice between American or European roulette.
The Martingale Strategy is based on placing an even-money bet, then doubling the bet if it loses. If it loses, then double it again. Keep going until it eventually wins. That will always guarantee a profit.
Here’s a quick example of the math: If the initial bet is $10 on Red, and it loses, then place $20 on the next bet on Red. If it loses again, make it $40, and if it loses again, $80. Eventually, Red will hit, and you will make a profit. In the example above, the total outlay would be $10 + $20 + $40 + $80 = $150, and the profit would be $10 once you recoup the $160 from the final even-money bet.
This math is sound, and it will work regardless of whether you start with a buck or ten thousand dollars. As long as you stick to the same bet and keep doubling it, you will eventually win.
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Plenty of pitfalls to consider
So, if this strategy is so foolproof, why aren’t casinos around the world bankrupt? Well, there is one slight catch. Or more aptly, a few catches. The first is that the strategy is based on the proviso that the bet will win within a reasonable number of rounds. Statistically, Red or Black is going to come up just under 50% of the time, so it is unlikely that you will have to double the bet more than a handful of times. But there could always be a situation where the undesired Black (in our example) comes up numerous times in succession – it is possible you would run out of money.
Secondly, there is the matter of table betting limits. Let’s say, hypothetically, that the table has a $500 betting limit; then you are going to be very nervous once your doubled bet starts reaching three figures. The math will fall apart if you start lowering the bet.
Finally, there is the matter of the returns. Your profit will only ever be equal to the first wager. So, if you started at $10 and somehow managed to double it up to millions of dollars, the final return would only be equal to that initial outlay. It’s for that reason that the risk-reward might not add up for some players.
For clarity, the Martingale Strategy is not the only one used by pro players, and many will have different tweaks on it. But it is a ridiculously simple and fun example of how the game does, indeed, have a flaw in its math. Of course, as we have seen, there are plenty of pitfalls, so don’t expect it to make your fortune.
