Roulette Simulator

Martingale Strategy Guide

The "foolproof" system that can lead to devastating losses in just a few spins.

What is the Martingale Strategy?

The Martingale strategy is a progressive betting system where you double your bet after every loss. The idea is that when you eventually win, you'll recover all previous losses plus make a profit equal to your original bet.

Basic Martingale Rules:

  1. 1. Start with a base bet amount (e.g., $1)
  2. 2. Place bets on even-money outcomes (Red/Black, Even/Odd, High/Low)
  3. 3. If you win, return to your base bet
  4. 4. If you lose, double your bet for the next round
  5. 5. Continue doubling until you win, then start over

Martingale in Action: Example Sequence

SpinBetOutcomeWin/LossTotal LossNext Bet
1$1Loss-$1-$1$2
2$2Loss-$2-$3$4
3$4Loss-$4-$7$8
4$8Win+$8+$1$1

Result: After 4 spins and risking $15 total, you made a $1 profit and return to your base bet.

โœ… Pros of Martingale

  • โ€ข
    Simple to understand

    Easy rules that anyone can follow

  • โ€ข
    Guaranteed profit on wins

    Each winning sequence nets your base bet

  • โ€ข
    Works short-term

    Can produce quick profits in winning streaks

  • โ€ข
    Psychologically appealing

    Feels like you're "getting your money back"

โŒ Cons of Martingale

  • โ€ข
    Exponential bet growth

    Bets double quickly, requiring huge bankroll

  • โ€ข
    Table limits

    Maximum bet limits can break the system

  • โ€ข
    Catastrophic losses

    Long losing streaks can wipe out bankroll

  • โ€ข
    Small profit vs. huge risk

    Risk hundreds to win a few dollars

โš ๏ธ The Martingale Reality Check

How quickly bets escalate:

Starting with $1, after just 10 losses in a row:

$1 โ†’ $2 โ†’ $4 โ†’ $8 โ†’ $16 โ†’ $32 โ†’ $64 โ†’ $128 โ†’ $256 โ†’ $512 โ†’ $1,024

Total at risk: $1,023 to potentially win $1

Probability of losing streaks:

  • โ€ข 5 losses in a row: 3.1% chance (happens ~1 in 32 times)
  • โ€ข 8 losses in a row: 0.4% chance (happens ~1 in 256 times)
  • โ€ข 10 losses in a row: 0.1% chance (happens ~1 in 1,024 times)

Martingale Monte Carlo Simulation

Martingale Progression Example:

Loss 1: $5Loss 2: $10Loss 3: $20Loss 4: $40Loss 5: $80Loss 6: $160Loss 7: $320Loss 8: $640Loss 9: $1280Loss 10: $2560

Total at risk after 10 losses: $5115

Roulette Type

Martingale Variations

๐Ÿ”„ Reverse Martingale

Double your bet after wins instead of losses. Aims to capitalize on winning streaks while limiting losses.

  • โ€ข Lower risk than classic Martingale
  • โ€ข Profits from hot streaks
  • โ€ข Can lose profits quickly when streak ends

๐Ÿ“‰ Mini Martingale

Set a maximum number of doubles (e.g., 3-4) to limit losses. More conservative approach.

  • โ€ข Caps maximum loss per sequence
  • โ€ข Reduces catastrophic risk
  • โ€ข Lower profit potential

Better Alternatives to Martingale

๐Ÿ“ˆ

D'Alembert System

Increase bets by one unit after losses, decrease by one after wins. Much safer progression.

๐Ÿงฎ

Fibonacci System

Follow the Fibonacci sequence for bet sizing. Slower progression than Martingale.

๐Ÿ’ฐ

Flat Betting

Bet the same amount every time. Simple, predictable, and limits variance.

๐Ÿ’ก Final Verdict on Martingale

The Martingale strategy is mathematically flawed and will eventually lead to significant losses. While it can work in the short term, the risk-to-reward ratio is terrible.

โœ… Use Martingale if:

  • โ€ข You want to test it safely with play money
  • โ€ข You have a massive bankroll and tiny bets
  • โ€ข You understand the risks completely

โŒ Avoid Martingale if:

  • โ€ข You're playing with real money you can't afford to lose
  • โ€ข You're hoping for a "guaranteed" system
  • โ€ข You don't have a very large bankroll

Test Martingale Safely

Try the Martingale strategy risk-free in our simulator and see why it's so dangerous.

๐Ÿงช Test Martingale Strategy