Martingale vs Flat Betting

Which roulette betting strategy is right for you? Compare these two popular systems side-by-side.

Martingale Strategy

Double your bet after each loss to recover losses plus a small profit when you win.

very-aggressivesimplenegative progression

Flat Betting Strategy

Bet the same amount on every spin regardless of wins or losses.

conservativesimpleflat progression

10,000 Simulated Sessions Each: Martingale vs Flat Betting

We ran both systems through 10,000 simulated sessions on a European wheel under identical conditions: $1,000 bankroll, stopping at $1,500 (win), $500 (loss), or 500 spins.

Measured over 10,000 sessions	Martingale	Flat Betting
Sessions ended in profit	39%	25.7%
Average session result	−$65	−$132
Average spins per session	132	490
Average worst drawdown	−$272	−$244
Best single session	$500	$500
Worst single session	−$635	−$500
Hit the table limit	20.5%	—

In this run, Martingale came out ahead on both measures — more sessions in profit and a smaller average loss. The house edge still won overall: both averaged a losing session.

How Martingale sessions ended

Losing sessionsWinning sessions

Lost over $800

Lost $400–$800

35.8%

Lost $100–$400

25.2%

Lost up to $100

Won up to $100

Won $100–$400

Won $400–$800

39%

Won over $800

How Flat Betting sessions ended

Losing sessionsWinning sessions

Lost over $800

Lost $400–$800

11.9%

Lost $100–$400

42.7%

Lost up to $100

17%

Won up to $100

12.4%

Won $100–$400

15%

Won $400–$800

1.1%

Won over $800

Methodology: fixed-seed runs from our open simulation engine, using the same settings as the strategy guides and interactive simulators — the numbers here match each system's guide page and can be reproduced there. Both systems lose on average because no betting progression changes the house edge; the comparison shows how differently they get there.