Should You Try the Reverse Martingale System?

Casino

Should You Try the Reverse Martingale System?

Casino

people’s hands placing poker chip bets on a roulette table in a casino

Should You Try the Reverse Martingale System?

Casino

multicolored poker chips falling through the air onto a green felt poker table in a casino

Used extensively by experienced players, the reverse Martingale system, otherwise known as the Paroli system, dates back to 16th-century Italy. Back then, it was a popular strategy used in the game Bassett. Fast forward to the present and it’s used across several online casino games, primarily roulette and baccarat. Read on to discover more about the ins and outs of the reverse Martingale strategy.

What Is the Reverse Martingale System?

stacks of green, red and black poker chips on a green felt poker table with a dark shadow in the background

So, what is a reverse Martingale system? Initially used in financial trading and also termed the anti-Martingale system, it’s the act of doubling your bet after a win and reverting to the original stake after a loss. In other words, it amplifies triumphs during successful streaks. Your first bet should be the minimum stake allowed. As you win, you’ll double up. But if you lose, you return to your original bet.

Take roulette as an example. You enter a table that requires a minimum $5 bet, meaning your first stake is $5. Then, if you win, you double your following bet to $10. If you keep winning, it doubles to $20, $40, $80, $160, $320, $640, $1280 and so on. But, if you lose at any time, you must return to the original stake of $5, irrespective of the amount you were betting — whether that was $20 or $640.

This follows the opposite methodology to the Classic Martingale betting system, which focuses on chasing losses and improving the odds of breaking even. Here, the approach is to double up on losing bets and halve winning bets. 

When Should I Use the Reverse Martingale System?

When choosing between the classic or reverse Martingale strategy in roulette, timing is everything. Simply put, knowing when to use both strategies effectively can impact your game tremendously. For instance, the reverse Martingale approach, which is regarded as one of the safest strategies in online roulette, is best used as a long-term approach. In contrast, the classic Martingale method is best suited to short-term betting since it focuses on chasing losses. 

Regarding the best time to implement the reverse Martingale in roulette, like the Labouchère system, outside bets are the answer — red or black, even or odds, and low (1–18) or high (19–36.) Why? Because their combination of low risk and high probability increases the chances of going on a winning streak. In comparison, the classic Martingale system is most effective after a heavy loss.

Pros and Cons

people’s hands placing poker chip bets on a roulette table in a casino

With so many betting options available in roulette, gamblers have a range of strategies at their disposal to increase their winnings. While one method is most effective in a particular scenario, another approach may be better in another. Knowing when to implement the most suitable strategy at any given time is what separates the great player from the good player. This blog will focus on the anti-Martingale strategy, its advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

A significant advantage of the reverse system is that it eradicates the risk of losing all your money simultaneously because returning to the minimum bet after a loss shields you from a continuous streak of big losses. In addition, if you’re on a winning streak, your profits will increase significantly. In other words, the strategy exposes you to the possibility of big wins while providing insurance to your already-gained profits. Overall, it encourages disciplined betting and prevents excessive risk-taking — an excellent recipe for responsible gambling.

For beginners, the relatively simple formula means that it’s easier to adopt, allowing you to gain confidence early on. Entering a casino game with at least one strategy in mind can make all the difference in the early stages of your gambling experience. Without it, you risk being exploited, unable to maximize potential winnings and making poor decisions. 

Disadvantages

Although it focuses on winning, players must be aware that there’s a good chance they’ll lose often and risk tilting since the odds are always in the house’s favor. Remember, in roulette, even outside bets, which offer odds of 100, only give the gambler +111 odds of winning because of the green zero slots (0, 00.)

Additionally, the strategy’s conservative approach of starting at the minimum bet means it can take a long time before you start experiencing significant profits. Most experienced players argue that it relies too heavily on winning streaks, which may only occur occasionally when one plays roulette. And if a player experiences multiple wins in a row, it only takes one hefty loss to eradicate your profits. 

Test Your Skills on Borgata Online

With free demos or low-stakes games available, Borgata Online is a great place to practice and perfect newly learned strategies. With games available 24/7 on all devices, you can play from the comfort of your home or on the go. Register today and enjoy themed tables, bonuses and live dealer online casino games.

Apart from roulette, Borgata Online also gives you access to an almost endless array of online casino games, from slots and bingo to poker, blackjack and baccarat.