Paroli Betting System

Although it is one of the more aggressive roulette betting methods, the Paroli betting system still enjoys overwhelming popularity among gambling enthusiasts. Its success can be attributed to its simplicity, as the system is easy to learn and suitable even for less-experienced roulette players.

• How Does the Paroli Betting System Work
• Can You Modified It
• What Do the Numbers Say
• Advantages of the Paroli Betting System
• Disadvantages of the Paroli Betting System
• Paroli vs Martingale
• Is the Paroli Betting System Effective
• Conclusion

The name of the system is derived from the word “par” (Latin for “one that is equal”). The Paroli is essentially the opposite of the Martingale system, as it is based on a positive betting progression and imposes fixed limits on players’ maximum bets.

The Paroli calls for increasing the size of bets after a win and decreasing them after a loss. The system allows players to consistently earn small profits while avoiding the risk of sustaining substantial losses.

How Does the Paroli Betting System Work

The Paroli system is designed for games such as craps, baccarat and roulette, where it is possible to place even-money bets, but it can also be employed when betting on other casino games. It is immensely popular among casino lovers because of its straightforwardness; adjusting your wagers in line with the method’s rules is a breeze.

In order to use this system, players must first choose a fixed betting unit, which is the amount they will stake at the start of each gaming session. The size of your betting unit should not exceed 5% of your overall bankroll. Ideally, the betting unit should amount to about 2% of the sum players have set aside for their gaming session. For example, if you join the game with a bankroll of £250, your betting unit should not exceed £5 if you stick to 2% of your bankroll, or £12.50 if you do not mind risking slightly more.

Let’s assume you bet £5 on red and win. In this case, you need to double your next bet to £10. If you place another even-money bet on red and win again, your third wager should be £20.

If you happen to lose a bet, you must revert to your initial betting unit of £5. However, if your luck deserts you on the very first spin of the wheel, you should continue placing level, or flat, bets until you register your first win, at which point you need to double your next wager.

The Paroli system dictates that players should never increase their stakes after a loss. No matter how many consecutive times you lose, your next bet should always be equal to your initial betting unit.

One very important aspect of the Paroli betting system is that it requires players to stop increasing the size of their bets as soon as they register three wins in a row. After three consecutive wins, players should return to their initial betting unit, which in our case is £5. After all, winning three times in a row with even-money bets on Red/Black, High/Low or Odd/Even is not that uncommon, but winning four, five or six times consecutively is far less likely. If you continue increasing your stakes after your third consecutive win, you risk losing the profits you have already generated.

It follows, then, that the Paroli progression ends either in a loss or after three winning bets in a row. For this reason, the system is easier to comprehend if players think of wagering in groups of three bets.

So, what is the logic behind the Paroli system? The approach relies on the premise that winning and losing bets typically come in streaks. By doubling their bets during a winning streak and reducing the size of their wagers after a loss, players have an opportunity to accumulate greater profits.

In fact, the Paroli betting method relies heavily on the idea that mini winning streaks will occur several times during a session, generating profits that are sufficient to compensate for the losses incurred in previous rounds.

Moreover, the system prevents players from sustaining considerable losses because they never risk more than their initial betting unit during a losing streak. Additionally, players make the larger bets with money they have already won from the house. Each time three wins occur in a row, the player collects a profit of seven units, which is usually enough to compensate for the smaller losses sustained.

As with the other betting methods that can be applied to roulette, using the Paroli betting system does not guarantee continuous wins.

Can the Paroli Betting System be Modified

As already mentioned, the Paroli betting system is not as aggressive as some other roulette betting systems, which is precisely why so many players wish to give it a try. Although the Paroli betting system is exceptionally straightforward, gambling enthusiasts might have different views about how best to apply it.

According to the original version of the method, when players score a win they need to stake an amount that is twice their previous wager, applying this rule up to three times. More daring players, however, might prefer the so-called all-out approach.

This play style dictates that players continue doubling their wagers in the hope of accumulating a profit with which they are satisfied and, eventually, quitting before a loss sets in. Needless to say, although this is a high-risk approach, the rewards that gambling enthusiasts might collect can be quite impressive.

When implementing this betting method, players are guided by the idea that if long losing streaks can occur, the opposite scenario – a long winning streak – can also materialise.

In most cases, players would need to place eight or nine winning bets in a row to reach the upper stake limit of the roulette table. If you are fortunate enough to experience such a succession of wins, make sure you do not get carried away and continue betting. Simply collect the winnings you have accumulated so that you do not gamble them away.

It is true that the scenario described above may seem exceptionally appealing, but players should bear in mind that the chances of it occurring are very slim.

If you are a roulette player who prefers avoiding risks, you might find the idea of applying the Paroli betting method only partially more appealing. If you do not feel like risking all the winnings you have just collected, you might be more comfortable putting only half of them on the line.

Depending on how enthusiastic you are about your betting session and how much money you have set aside for gambling purposes, you might also consider implementing a one-third or two-step Paroli.

Some more daring roulette players take the Paroli system even further, continuing to double their stake after four or even five consecutive wins.

What Do the Numbers Say about the Paroli Betting System

As is often the case, when players experience multiple successive wins they feel tempted to continue increasing their bets because of the potential profit. Yet many players fail to realise that with each new win, the probability of winning the next wager shrinks. When the system is first implemented on any outside bet that pays even money, players’ chances of winning are 48.65% in European-style roulette, and 47.37% in double-zero variants. If players stake £1, the profit they collect in such cases will be £1.

If players win their first bet, the probability of landing a second consecutive win is 24.3%, while the potential profit is £3. The chance of winning three times in a row is 12.15%, and the profit players can collect would be £7.

The probability of achieving four and five successive wins is 6.08% and 3.04% respectively, with corresponding profits of £15 and £31. The odds decrease exponentially: the probability of six wins in a row is only 1.52%.

Although placing more consecutive winning bets is not impossible, the chances are very poor. This is why most roulette players recommend sticking to the original version of the system.

Advantages of the Paroli Betting System

Without a doubt, one of the biggest advantages of this system is its simplicity: it takes little time to learn and is easy to apply at the roulette table. There is no need to write anything down, which is not the case with systems such as the Labouchere.

Another advantage is that a relatively small degree of risk is involved, giving players the opportunity to generate consistent, albeit small, profits. If three consecutive wins occur, the profit of seven betting units will be enough to offset the smaller losses.

The Paroli betting system is also considered much more stable, especially when compared with systems like the Martingale, which is based on a negative progression. Players who use the Paroli method are less likely to sustain considerable losses and deplete their bankrolls – unless, of course, they experience a very long losing streak. The Paroli allows for adequate bankroll management and prevents players from chasing their losses. Letting it ride on a longer winning streak is impossible, as players are required to revert to their initial betting unit after three consecutive wins.

Let’s assume you decide to give the method a chance and that your base unit is £5. If wins and losses alternate, after six consecutive wagers you will be £15 behind. Roulette lovers may notice that the sum of losses sustained up to that point exceeds the value of the base bet unit. This is because the very first bet does not mark the beginning of the progression.

If we revisit this scenario but assume that flat betting is more to your liking, your wins and losses would ultimately balance and you would break even. This is precisely why players are required to raise the amount they wager next.

Those who adopt the Paroli system will not have to worry about reaching the table limit before successfully completing their series of three consecutive winning bets. And finally, a sizable bankroll is not a requirement if you wish to give this system a try.

Disadvantages of the Paroli Betting System

Like all betting systems, this one also has its faults. Its greatest disadvantage is that it requires a winning streak for players to generate profits. Sometimes it is not possible to win three times in a row even with even-money bets. Players may win once or twice, but if they lose their third bet they must start again with their initial unit. The Paroli system may help you generate small short-term profits, but you are unlikely to walk away with a life-changing prize.

In addition, the system does nothing to turn the odds in your favour. Like all other betting systems, the Paroli does not affect the outcome of the wheel and cannot influence the built-in house advantage. Therefore, the chances of losing with even-money bets invariably exceed the probability of winning – especially in American roulette, where the house enjoys a bigger edge because of the additional double-zero pocket on the wheel.

Paroli vs Martingale Betting Systems

You may have noticed that many roulette lovers draw parallels between the Paroli and Martingale betting systems. This is hardly surprising, as the Paroli operates in the exact opposite way to the Martingale.

One key difference is that the Martingale system revolves around the idea that, even if players place several losing stakes, such successive losses will not continue indefinitely. The main principle behind the Paroli is that players will enjoy several wins in a row.

As you may know, the Martingale system is based on a negative progression, which means you are prompted to reduce your stake after a win and increase it after a loss. For that reason, it should come as no surprise that the Paroli is often referred to as the Reverse Martingale.

Although at first glance these two systems appear to function similarly, the most obvious difference is that the risk inherent in the Paroli is lower, as the progression does not rise as steeply.

Another difference is that, because players must increase the value of their stakes each time they win, the money they risk does not come from their bankroll; instead, they are using the profit they have already generated.

This is not the case with the Martingale, which dictates increasing the stake after a loss – meaning the money comes directly from the player’s bankroll. As is often the case, using the Martingale leads to occasional small wins but potentially devastating losses, which is why most seasoned players steer clear of it.

Is the Paroli Betting System Effective

Many avid casino fans, roulette lovers included, are tempted to implement betting systems in an attempt to improve their chances of securing a profit.

Casino enthusiasts should bear in mind that, when using the Paroli, the value of their stakes can escalate fairly quickly. Although this increase is not as rapid as with the Martingale, players must ensure that their bankroll can sustain the method.

Fortunately, even if players place several losing wagers, the amount they surrender will not exceed the chosen base unit, which is not the case with some other roulette betting methods.

Another advantage of the Paroli over other systems is that players are less likely to empty their bankroll or hit the upper table limit while using it.

So, if you do not mind settling for smaller wins, the Paroli betting system might be right up your alley. However, it is vital to note that it is viable only in the short term and is not the key to substantial gains.

An important detail many gambling enthusiasts overlook is that, even when they employ a betting method, the casino’s edge still exists. The house advantage will continue to be 2.30% for European roulette variants and 5.26% for American roulette variants, no matter which approach players wish to try.

Finally, using the Paroli betting system has no bearing on players’ actual chances of winning, a factor that is well worth remembering.

Conclusion

With all this in mind, the system’s popularity can be attributed to several factors. Aside from being exceptionally easy to master, it is less likely to cause players to go bust in the blink of an eye, as can happen with other systems. This is simply because casino enthusiasts are required to adhere to the ceiling imposed on their wagers.

Another aspect that makes the Paroli worthwhile is that it allows players to collect smaller, yet fairly frequent, wins.