The Martingale betting system is among the popular options used by online bettors all over the world because it allows them to double their bets after losing. Despite being one of the famous alternatives, some people do not have enough information about it. That’s why this article will include important details about this betting system and everything you must know.
What is the Martingale System?
The Martingale system is a strategy that some online bettors use, which allows them to double the bet after every loss. Although they may spend a lot of money, the idea is that the first win would cover all of the losses and even provide the bettor with a small profit. Unsurprisingly, not everyone is willing to use this strategy because it requires them to spend a lot of money.
The Martingale betting system has been around since the 18th century. The option gained huge popularity because it is simple to follow and can be rewarding. Losing a couple of consecutive bets and winning the next could result in huge success. However, we will discuss a few disadvantages later in this review.
Martingale Sports Betting Formula
As mentioned, the easiest way to use the Martingale method is by doubling your bet when you lose. With that said, this bettingsystem is used by people who place even wagers. The formula for this strat is the following:
Your total losses / (the odds in Decimal – 1) = Bet
The abovementioned formula is only applied when we don’t make even wagers. For example, let’s say we’ve wagered $10 on a given event and lost, and we want to bet on a market with odds of 1.40. In this case, using the formula above, we need to bet $25 to get back the money we’ve lost. We used the following equation for this example – 10/(1,4-1) = 10/0.4 = $25. So, if we wager $25 on odds of 1.40 and win, we will get $35, which will cover our losses from the previous bet.
It might sound complicated at first, but this is a fairly simple betting strategy used by people for years. Sadly, it is not always applicable among modern bookies and casinos, but more about this in the subsequent paragraph.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Many online bettors reading this might use the double bet strategy because it seems simple and effective. This is true up to a point, but we have to remember that the original strategy was created many years ago. Things have changed since then, and modern bookies and casinos have a lot of rules that can prevent users from utilizing the option.
With that said, here are a few pros and cons you should be aware of:
- Pros:
- Easy to use
- Can be rewarding
- You can use it on a wide range of things
- Betting sites (usually) won’t cause you any problems with using it
- Cons:
- The betting limits and other rules may prevent you from using the Martingale strategy
- You need to have a lot of money to play with because you must double your bet when losing
- The calculations can be complicated unless you wager on even odds
How is the Martingale Betting Strategy Used?
| Bet Number | Bet Amount | Odds | Status |
| 1 | €10 | 2.00 | Loss |
| 2 | €20 | 2.00 | Loss |
| 3 | €40 | 2.00 | Loss |
| 4 | €80 | 2.00 | Win -> €160 [€80 clear winnings] All losses from the first 3 bets are covered + €10 Clear win |
| – | – | – | – |
| Start over – 1 | €10 | 2.00 | Win -> €20 [€10 clear winnings] |
| – | – | – | – |
| Start over | … | … | … |
The Martingale betting strategy is used in casino games and sports betting. Although the person who designed it focused on the casino, people can also apply it to punting on sports. However, the system may not work in some situations, so you have to be careful and check things like betting limits and other regulations.
Example
We know that football is the world’s most popular sport for online betting, so many people punting on it will want to apply the Martingale betting system. Therefore, we’ve provided you with an example of this sport.
Football is actually a good sport to use this system on because some events often have even odds. So, let’s say you find a match from the English Premier League or another competition, and you bet $10 on even odds. If you don’t predict your bet, you have to find another selection with even odds and wager $20 (doubling your initial wager).
That said, some people will want to wager on markets that do not have even odds. In this case, you should do the maths and figure out how much should your next stake be.
Martingale Calculator
If you’re having problems using this betting system, you can check our reliable Martingale calculator, which will do the math. Although we’ve provided you with a formula, some gamblers will have difficulties using it. That’s why the calculator is here to help you with any type of market, as long as you decide to use this Martingale betting strategy.
Anti-Martingale
Anti-Martingale is another gambling method double down system where you need to double your winnings instead of doubling your losses. Even though this strategy is also easy to understand and you can use it in a wide range of sports, it has some drawbacks.
The main one is that doubling your recent win and using it to place a bet means that you could lose a lot of money. Needless to say, most people are not comfortable with it, so they prefer to use the classic Martingale alternative.
Example of the Reverse Martingale Strategy
Also known as the reverse Martingale strategy, you can use this option while wagering on a lot of sports. If you look at football, you must choose a given market and predict it successfully. Once that happens, and you win something (let’s say it is $10), you need to double that amount and place another bet.
After you wager $20 and win, you must double that amount. The good thing about this betting strategy is that it could provide you with significant winnings. However, this comes at a cost; in this case, the losses will be painful.
The “Shortened” Martingale Betting System
Aside from the reverse strategy mentioned above, some online bettors use the so-called “shortened” version of the original one. This version is the same as the classic one, but people wager on a couple of options instead of punting on one event. So, if you bet $10 on five selections and lose, you have to bet $20 on another 5 options.
Mini Martingale Betting Strategy
Doubling your losses until you win seems easy, and it is, but as mentioned, it can cost you a lot of money. That’s why some people came up with a mini version of this betting strategy. Following this method will limit the number of double bets you make so that you don’t end up spending a fortune.
Grand Martingale Betting System
The Grand Martingale betting strategy is similar to the original one because you double the money you used for your previous bet. However, you add another after each loss instead of punting on the same number of events.
Although this increases your potential winnings, it increases the risk of losing even more. Furthermore, many bookmakers have limits on the number of events you can bet on.
Martingale Alternatives
Despite being one of the most popular betting systems, Martingale is not the only one. There are several popular alternatives that we’d like to share with you. Some of them are famous for using the “negative progression” strategy, such as the Fibonacci System. You can also find bettors who use the D’Alembert system, where you have to increase your bet by a fixed amount when you lose and decrease it using the same amount if you win.
When talking about the Martingale alternatives, we also need to include the positive progression strategy. There are a few good alternatives here, such as the Paroli System. This is something that requires you to increase your bet amount by 1, and if you do that 3 times, you have to go back and start again.
Being Responsible while using the Martingale Betting System
Even though the Martingale betting system is attractive, as mentioned, it can also cost you a lot of money if you are not careful. Like any other betting system, the results you can get are not guaranteed. Therefore, it’s very important to know what you are doing, have a budget, and be responsible.
If you are having issues and/or other problems, you can always contact us for help. Alternatively, you can use the responsible gambling features that some operators have and even contact third-party institutions dedicated to helping users with gambling issues.
FAQ
Does the Martingale betting System Work?
Yes, the Martingale betting system works, but only in some cases. You have to take a look at the given betting site’s limits, as well as several other things, before using this strategy.
Who Invented the Martingale Strategy?
Paul Pierre Levy, the French mathematician, invented the Martingale strategy in the 18th century. Many people created their own version over the years, but some punters use the original one even today.
Is the Martingale System Allowed in Casinos?
Yes, the Martingale system is usually allowed in casinos. Although there might be some exceptions, most casinos should enable you to take advantage of it.