Roulette Betting Progressions

Players have been searching for the perfect strategy to apply during their betting sessions for centuries and, as a result, a great number of betting systems have been developed over time. After all, everyone wishes to win, since winning is, in fact, the ultimate goal of playing any casino game for real money, be it roulette, craps, baccarat, or blackjack.

• Betting Progressions Explained
• The Positive Betting Progression
• The Negative Betting Progression
• Reversed Betting Systems
• The Level-Betting Approach
• Is Dropping the Betting Level Advantageous
• Roulette Betting Systems Flaws
• Conclusion

Broadly speaking, we can distinguish two major categories of betting systems. Some systems are based on positive betting progressions, while others revolve around negative betting progressions. Generally speaking, following a betting progression means that players adjust the size of their stakes depending on the outcome of their previous bets.

Some betting systems are quite effective, others less so, but one thing is certain – if you wish to turn a profit or at least minimise your losses, adopting a suitable betting system while playing roulette might help. Even more so, considering that roulette is purely a game of chance and the outcome of the spins is not influenced by players’ skill or experience, it is easy to understand why most gambling enthusiasts search for ways to improve their results. The following article aims to introduce the types of betting progressions that can be applied to the game of roulette.

Roulette Betting Progressions Explained

Gambling enthusiasts should know that the main purpose of betting progressions is to help them adjust their wagers in accordance with the way the game pans out. In other words, betting progressions provide no information on the intricacies of roulette. Players should not forget, however, that before applying a betting progression they must make sure they understand its nuts and bolts.

There are various techniques to which gambling enthusiasts resort in an attempt to achieve better results during their roulette sessions. While some use prediction techniques, others prefer the so-called “hunch” method, which involves picking numbers they believe to be lucky. Another extremely popular way of wagering on roulette is to apply different mathematical systems. As it turns out, many players dismiss mathematical betting systems simply because they have failed to apply them properly, which has caused them to lose larger amounts of money.

Roulette lovers should be aware that there are no foolproof betting systems or methods of playing the game. Bear in mind that the betting progressions we will discuss have limitations that should not be overlooked. The bulk of the roulette betting systems revolve around wagers that pay even money, which is the case with bets laid on black and red, odd and even, or high and low numbers.

Roulette betting progressions fall into three categories: positive, negative, and flat. As the name suggests, flat betting requires placing wagers of the same value, regardless of whether your previous bet was a win or a loss.

This is not the case with positive and negative progressions, as they require players to adjust the amount staked according to the outcomes of their previous bets.

With positive betting methods, gambling enthusiasts increase the stake so that a winning streak can bring in even more money. With negative betting systems, however, players increase their stakes while they are losing in an attempt to prolong their time at the table or to compensate for previous losses. Furthermore, some progressive betting methods can prove exceptionally useful when players are trying to deal with cold streaks.

If players are hoping to capitalise on a winning streak, positive betting systems are the way to go, as they allow them to press ahead, ensuring that an occasional loss will not have such a detrimental effect on their bankroll.

The Positive Betting Progression

Strategies that rely on positive progressions are very popular among roulette players who want to make the most of their sessions and minimise their losses. This is hardly surprising, as positive progressions are easy to master and incorporate into a gambling strategy. In fact, many roulette players consider positive progressions the better choice.

With positive progressions, the player increases their stake after each winning bet. The number of units by which the bet is increased depends on the specific system adopted. Conversely, the player is expected to reduce the stake each time a loss occurs. The idea is that the progression will enable players to maximise their profits during a winning streak. Adopting this approach may also help to keep losses to a minimum during an extended losing streak.

It is fair to say that this theory makes sense. When players are on a winning streak, increasing the size of the stake after each win can help them accumulate greater profits. Also, when you follow this progression, a longer losing streak will not completely exhaust your bankroll. That being said, it is important to note that adopting a positive progression has no influence on your chances of winning or losing – the wheel has the final say.

Two of the most popular gambling systems based on positive progressions are the Paroli and Parlay systems.

Paroli Betting System

As a positive betting system, the Paroli requires you to increase your stake after a winning prediction and decrease it after an unsuccessful one. This approach enables players to exploit winning streaks so that losses have less of an impact on their bankroll.

Something vital to remember about this betting system is that the stakes you place are capped and should be twice your original bet. Thus, if you initially stake £10 and win, your next bet should be £20. Continuing with the Paroli system, your following wager should be £40.

If casino enthusiasts make three correct picks in a row, it is best to return to the amount originally staked, which in our case is £10. In this scenario players will have won a total of £70.

If you are a risk-averse player, returning to your original stake after three consecutive wins is vital, as this ensures that the next spin of the wheel will not wipe out the profits already accumulated.

Parlay Betting System

The Parlay betting system is also based on a positive progression; under it, roulette fans increase the stake each time they win and reduce it after a loss. Let’s see how the system works and assume that players start by wagering £10. If that wager wins, on the next spin they must double the amount staked, so the next bet should be £20. If players make another correct prediction, they will then need to stake £40. At this point their net winnings will be £70, which helps to explain why so many players are keen to employ the Parlay system.

In fact, the main idea behind the Parlay system is that by increasing their wagers after a win, players are effectively betting with the winnings they have already amassed. In this way, they hope to accrue enough profit to withstand potential losing streaks.

You may be wondering what happens if a bet loses. In that case, your next wager should be reduced to the initial stake, which in our example is £10.

The option to step off the progression at any time is another reason why many players prefer the system. However, before applying it, they should decide on the ceiling for their wagers, because, as you can see, the amounts required can rise steeply.

The Negative Betting Progression

Many gambling systems are based on the principle of negative progressions. The latter is the exact opposite of positive progressions, as they require players to increase the size of their stake by one or more units after each losing bet and reduce it after each winning bet.

The idea behind negative progressions is that you will eventually win and that the increased stakes will enable you to offset your losses; as a result, you will turn a profit. This theory, too, appears logical at first glance, yet it is fundamentally flawed because there is no guarantee that you will break out of a losing streak quickly. Even if you do, your profits are likely to be modest. You might also lose repeatedly with ever-increasing stakes until you exhaust your bankroll.

Some players fall prey to the misconception that if even-money bets on red, for example, have won repeatedly, the ball is bound to end up in a black pocket on the next spin. In truth, no such certainty exists – the ball is just as likely to land in red again as it is to fall into black. This false belief that previous outcomes influence future ones is known as the gambler’s fallacy. Players should never forget that implementing a betting progression, whether positive or negative, has no impact whatsoever on the outcome of the spins.

Some of the most popular systems based on negative progressions include the Martingale, the Labouchère, the D’Alembert, and the Fibonacci systems.

Martingale Betting System

The Martingale system is based on a negative progression and, as it seems, inexperienced roulette fans find it exceptionally alluring. Yet, casino enthusiasts should be aware that if things go wrong with the Martingale, its use can have a severely detrimental effect on their bankroll, as they must double the stake after each losing wager.

If we assume that you choose to stake £10 on red and your prediction is inaccurate, you must put £20 on the line for the next spin. If you lose once again, you must double the stake, thus risking £40. If the small white ball does eventually land in a red pocket, your profit will be only £10. Looking closely at this scenario, roulette mavens will realise that they were required to risk 40 chips merely to recover the 30-chip loss incurred in the previous rounds.

Players should not forget that when using the Martingale, a winning bet means they must revert to the wager placed at the very beginning, i.e. £10. Given the speed at which their bets can increase, they should certainly pay special attention to the table’s maximum stake.

As you can see, the risk you must assume is considerable, and you will need a series of winning wagers to recover. Roulette enthusiasts should bear in mind that losing streaks do occur, and more often than they might expect.

Fibonacci Betting System

Roulette lovers familiar with the Fibonacci sequence know that each number is obtained by adding the previous two. The sequence proceeds as follows: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, and so on.

Each of these numbers represents the amount that must be wagered, which means that each new bet is the sum of the previous two. Bear in mind that the figures may be higher because of the casino’s minimum stake requirements. The system is straightforward, as players simply need to score two wins in a row.

Sometimes, scoring several wins in a row is difficult, which means that gambling aficionados might have to risk a small fortune. Although a run of correct predictions can bring substantial wins, players should bear in mind that, if they lose, it can take a long time to recoup the losses.

Labouchere Betting System

Apparently, many roulette fans prefer to steer clear of the Labouchere system because it is much more complex, especially compared to the options mentioned above. Yet, if you are not intimidated by its complexity, you should have a pen and paper ready before you start betting on roulette.

The Labouchere system is all about cancelling the losses you have incurred by increasing the stakes. As with most betting systems, the Labouchere is applied when placing even-money wagers.

A distinctive feature is that players must write down a sequence of positive numbers; this sequence determines the number of units to be staked.

If, for example, you choose the sequence 1, 1, 1, 1, your goal is to bag 4 chips. If you are looking for larger wins or have a bigger bankroll, you can extend the sequence or select different numbers.

Nevertheless, roulette lovers should bear in mind that aiming for bigger wins means risking a larger portion of their bankroll.

If the chosen sequence is 1, 1, you add the two outside numbers to determine how many chips to stake, which in this case is 2. If that wager loses, you add the amount staked (2) to the end of the sequence, so your next bet will be 3 chips. If the following wager wins, instead of adding new numbers, you remove the first and last numbers from the sequence.

D’alembert Betting System

Also known as a pyramid betting system, the D’Alembert is hugely popular among roulette lovers. It is preferred because players do not need a large bankroll to put it through its paces.

The system is based on the idea that players will win nearly as many times as they lose. It should be pointed out that it is applicable exclusively to even-money wagers, i.e. bets on red, black, even, odd, high, and low numbers.

When using this system, roulette lovers must increase the stake by one unit after each loss and decrease it by one unit after each win. Thus, if players start with £10 and lose, they must stake £20 on the next spin. If their third and fourth wagers are also losses, they will end up betting £40. Yet, if the next wager wins, they decrease the stake by one unit, which means the wager becomes £30.

As you can see, this system is not particularly aggressive, which makes it suitable for players on a tight budget or those who are risk-averse.

Reversed Roulette Betting Systems

Roulette lovers should be aware that some of the betting systems mentioned above also have reversed versions. This is the case with the Labouchere, Martingale, and D’Alembert systems.

With the reverse D’Alembert betting system, players must again decide on a profit target. They start by betting one unit and increase the stake by one unit after each win, decreasing it by one unit after each loss.

Players continue to adjust their wagers in this manner until they reach either their profit target or the predetermined net loss.

The reverse Labouchere is slightly more elaborate. As with the original system, players must decide on a number sequence. Again, the first stake is determined by adding the first and last numbers in the sequence. If you lose, you remove the first and last numbers; if you win, you add another number to the end of the sequence.

The Martingale system also has a reversed version in which roulette fans will be prompted to double the staked amount after a win rather than after a loss. The reverse Martingale, also known as the Anti-Martingale, may be a slightly better option than the original, but it is still far from a foolproof way of making money at roulette.

The Level-Betting Approach

Adopting the level-betting approach, also known as flat betting, may prove to be the smartest move when playing roulette. The concept is probably the easiest to grasp. If the ball lets you down on your first bet, you neither increase nor decrease your stake but repeat the same bet until you eventually win. One of the main advantages of level betting is that there are no mathematical progressions to work out, as you always wager the same amount of money, making it less likely that you will deplete your bankroll in just a few spins while chasing your losses.

For example, if you adopt the level-betting approach and lose four consecutive £10 bets on red, you will be down only £40. By contrast, if you are using the Martingale, which calls for doubling your bet after each loss, you would be down £150. The idea behind doubling is that you will eventually win enough to offset your previous losses plus your base unit. However, when faced with a prolonged losing streak, you may run out of money if you follow negative progressions such as the Martingale.

It is evident that, of all betting systems, those based on level betting are the least volatile because the chances of players exhausting their bankrolls are smallest.

Is Dropping the Betting Level Advantageous

Dropping the bet level when you notice that things are not going your way is another option players can resort to while revelling in roulette. This approach is exceptionally straightforward as it simply involves decreasing the stake when you notice that your losses are mounting.

Let us suppose that you have made several even-money bets of £20 each and your losses amount to £200. Instead of sticking to the same bet amount again and again, you could consider reducing it to £10, for example, or another figure you are comfortable with. By doing so, you will be better able to cope with the losing streak because, in effect, you will have twice as many decisions to make compared with staking £20.

It is important to note that the same approach can also be applied to inside bets. Such wagers provide heftier pay-offs that can sometimes make up for the losses sustained during previous rounds. For that reason, it is advisable to determine the size of your stakes carefully, whichever option you choose.

Roulette Betting Systems Flaws

Although many roulette players are tempted to employ the betting systems mentioned above, believing them to be an infallible way of winning, there are certain factors they should take into consideration.

One of the most important things players should remember is that roulette is a game in which skill and knowledge are almost completely removed from the equation, unlike some other casino games.

It is vital to remember that the probability of winning on the next spin is exactly the same as it was on the previous spins and as it will be on future spins. The wheel has no memory; it does not matter whether a specific number has not appeared for an hour or whether the small white ball landed in that pocket in the previous round – the outcome of the next spin remains completely random.

Because each spin of the roulette wheel is an independent event, the betting progressions mentioned above are of little use to those who want to win consistently, as they all rely on the outcome of the previous spin. Do not forget that the number of times a particular number has appeared – or has failed to appear – makes no difference to which number will win next.

Any serious roulette player should be fully aware that applying a positive or negative progression will not affect the house edge in any way.

As already mentioned, the risk associated with these betting progressions is considerable and should not be ignored, especially given the sums you might end up placing on a single bet. If luck is not on your side while you are using an aggressive progression, it may be difficult to withstand the losing streak without emptying your bankroll.

Conclusion

While following a betting system may help roulette players to minimise their losses and occasionally turn a profit, it is essential to remember that systems do not influence the outcome of the spins. Besides, the house always wins in the long run. Nevertheless, adopting a betting system based on either progression might instil a certain degree of discipline in players. Even so, they should remember that betting progressions can be a double-edged sword and should therefore be employed with caution.