Gambling Systems and Strategies — What Works and What Doesn’t

The Martingale system was first developed in the 18th century and remains popular thanks to its straightforward rules. It’s a negative progression strategy, meaning that you double your stake after every loss. The logic is that you can’t lose forever, and when you finally win, you will recover all previous losses.

While the Martingale is foolproof in theory, the problem is that bankrolls are limited, so a losing streak can wipe out your profits. To show you just how unsustainable this system is, here’s an example. If you start with a $20 bet and lose 17 times in a row, you’d need to wager over $1,000,000 to rebound.

While such long losing streaks seem unlikely, they’ve happened already. In 1913, gamblers in a Monte Carlo casino lost a fortune betting on red when the ball landed on black for 26 spins straight.

That said, the Martingale can work short-term if you’re lucky. The key is to take a responsible approach. Set aside a bankroll that can keep you in the game for at least 4-5 rounds. If you win, start over again. If you lose, call it quits.

The D’Alembert system is probably the second most popular betting method after the Martingale. Both are negative progression strategies where you raise your stake after a loss and lower it after a win. However, there’s one big difference. With the D’Alembert system, you only adjust by one unit instead of doubling.

Let’s say you start with $5, and you’re betting on the 3rd column in roulette. If you lose, your next bet goes up to $10. Lose again, and it’s $15. Now, if you win at $15, you drop back down to $10 for the next bet. Another win brings you back to $5.

This system keeps stakes from spiraling out of control, which is a plus. The downside is slower recovery, meaning you’re more likely to end with a loss, though usually a smaller one.

Like the name implies, the Fibonacci gambling system is built on the famous Fibonacci sequence, where each number is the sum of the two before it. It runs endlessly: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, and so on.

What makes it special is that this pattern isn’t just math on paper. You’ll spot it in nature all around you, from seashell spirals and sunflower seeds to pinecones and even galaxies. And now, you can even spot it in gambling patterns.

In the Fibonacci system, the key is to think of that sequence of numbers as betting units. So, if you bet $1 and lose, bet another $1. If you lose again, go with $2, then $3, then $5, following this pattern until you win. Once you win, do it all over again.

The Labouchere system was developed by Henry Labouchere, a 19th-century roulette player. It’s designed for even-money bets, such as red/black or odd/even. However, players can also apply it to other casino games like baccarat and blackjack or even sports betting.

The system revolves around creating a sequence of numbers that dictates your stake sizes. Here’s how it works: start by writing down a sequence of numbers, such as 1-2-3. Your potential profit for the entire cycle equals the sum of that sequence, in this case, $6.

Each bet is the total of the first and last numbers combined, so your opening stake here would be $4 (1 + 3). If you win, you cross those two numbers off the list. If you lose, you add the stake you just played to the end of the sequence.

The process repeats with every wager: remove numbers when you win, and extend the sequence when you lose. The goal is to eventually clear the entire sequence, locking in the profit you set at the start.

Unlike other gambling systems, the Paroli System is not a negative progressive system. In fact, it’s the opposite. Instead of chasing losses, you press your wins by doubling your stake after each successful bet.

The goal is simple: string together three straight wins, bank your profit, and reset back to your original stake. If you lose at any point, you immediately drop back to your starting bet.

Let’s say your first wager is $50. If it wins, your second bet jumps to $100. Win again, and your third bet becomes $200. After that third bet, no matter what happens, you return to the original $50 stake.

In the best-case scenario (three wins in a row), you clear a profit of $350 before resetting. If you lose along the way, the most you ever drop is your initial $50 stake.

Paroli is the safest of all the most popular gambling systems. Increasing bets only after a win keeps your losses capped at your original stake.

Any gambling system can beat the house. Of course, that doesn’t guarantee it will.

D’Alembert is the best system for beginners as it’s simple to follow. Simply add one unit after a loss and subtract one after a win.

All online gambling systems are legal to use. In essence, they are wagering strategies/tactics that cannot manipulate game outcomes in any way.

If you run out of bankroll, it means that the system did not work out for you. It’s a risk that comes with all gambling systems.