Betting Systems

Below I have outlined some of the more popular betting systems around. You can use these betting systems with any casino game you wish. Be sure that you completely understand a betting system before you start using it. You can always try them out with play money to test them out for yourself.

The Martingale Betting System

The Martingale system, which was named after its creator of the same name, was invented around 200 years ago. It's basically a damage limitation exercise because it protects your wins, but at a great risk.

The Martingale system is easy to apply. Every time you lose a bet, you double your next bet, if you lose that hand, you double your bet again, until you win a hand. This will return you to your initial bankroll.

For example. If you start playing blackjack with an initial bet of $5 and you lose that hand, your next bet would be $10, if you lost that hand, your next bet would be $20. The pattern would lead to $5, $10, $20, $40, $80, $160, $320, etc. If you win at any point you would return to your $5 bet.

The Martingale system seems pretty straightforward and foolproof at first glance, but it does have its shortcomings. Online casinos have a limit on the maximum wager that you are allowed to place. While this can be hundreds of dollars, as you can see it doesn't take long to reach this limit using the Martingale system. Another problem with the Martingale system is that you need a large bankroll to start with.

The Reverse Martingale Betting System

The Reverse Martingale system is the same as the Martingale system outlined above, but in reverse. This means that you double your bet after a win and not after a loss. The Reverse Martingale system is based on the theory that winning streaks will give you profits even if you lose a large number of hands in an online casino.

The Progressive Betting System

The Progressive Betting System is a little less risky that the Martingale system. The Progressive Betting System is based around a player deciding upon a maximum and a minimum betting level. After losing a hand, the lower amount is wagered and after a win, the larger amount is wagered.

For example. If your minimum wager level was set at $5 and your maximum wager level was set at $15, you would start playing with $5 bets. If you win a hand, you then bet $15 on your next hand. You then keep betting $15 until you lose, after which, you then return to your minimum wager level of $5.

The Progressive Betting System works on the assumption that the outcome of one hand predetermines the probable outcome of another.

Progressive Betting System 2

The Progressive Betting System is based on a 1-2-3-5 back to 1 progression. For instance, with a $5 wager, the players betting levels would then be $5, $10, $15 & $25. If you start with a $5 wager , you would then progress to a $10 wager if you win that hand. If you lose that hand, you would return to your initial $5 bet. If you win four hands in a row, you would then return to your original $5 bet.

1-3-2-6 Progression Betting System

This is a popular betting system because you are only risking 2 betting units for the chance to win back 10.

Your starting bet is only 1 unit (say $5)
If you win, you then increase your bet to a total of 3 units ($15)
If you win your second bet, you will now have 6 betting units ($30). Now take away 4 units ($20) and use the 2 that you have left ($10) for your third wager.
If you win your third bet, then you make your fourth bet 6 units ($30). If you win this hand, you will now have 12 units ($60), or 10 units profit ($50).

The success of this betting system works on the assumption that you will win four hands in a row.

If you lose on your first hand, you will only lose one betting unit.
If you lose on your second hand, you will only lose two units.
If you lose on your third hand, you will have a profit of two units.
If you lose on your fourth bet, then you will break even.

The d'Alembert Betting System

The d'Alembert Betting System was invented by a French mathematician named Jean Le Rond d'Alembert in the 18th century.

You start betting with 1 unit (say $5). Every time that you lose, you increase your bet by 1 unit (another $5). Every time you win, you decrease your wager by 1 unit ($5). The d'Alembert Betting System is similar to the Martingale betting system, but it is not as dangerous.

The Labouchere Betting System

The Labouchere Betting System, also known as the Cancellation Betting System, comes in a few different variations. The following is the Labouchere Betting System in its simplest form:

Write down a series of numbers, like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. This sequence can be any length and does not have to be sequential.
Each number represents the amount of units you will wager. The idea is to bet the first and last of your numbers. For my above example, we would be betting 1 and 6, for a total of 7 units.
When you win, cross off those 2 numbers and wager the next 2 outside numbers. 2 and 5 in my example.
If you win again, you bet the next numbers in the sequence, 3 and 4.
You now will have completed the sequence, so restart from the beginning.
If you lose, add that 1 number to the end of the series. For instance, if you lost your first bet of 7 (1+6 units) then add the number 7 to the end of the series to look like this: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and your next bet would be 8 units (1 + 7). If you win your first bet, but lost your second bet, 2 and 5, then the series of numbers would look like this: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7.
When the series is completed there is always a profit.

The Fibonacci Series

A 12th century mathematician named Leonardo Fibonacci discovered a specific progression of numbers, which came to be known as the Fibonacci Series.

The Fibonacci Series has been discovered in the growth patterns of everything, from all living organisms through to the stock market. There are a lot of gamblers who believe the Fibonacci Series is an important part of gambling.

The Fibonacci Series is a development of a series of numbers originating from the addition of the previous 2 digits. It gives you the sequence:

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, etc.

A lot of professional gamblers have turned this sequence into a betting system with some very surprising results.

Play your first hand
If you lose, move up one in the sequence
Every time you win, repeat the current bet
If you win again, start the sequence from the beginning
If you lose, move up one step