Reverse Martingale Betting System

Players have enjoyed the thrills of roulette for hundreds of years now, and are always looking for a way to upset the odds and beat the game. Several systems have been implemented in this time, with varying levels of success. One of the most popular roulette systems is the Martingale System, and as its name suggests, the Reverse Martingale (also known as the Anti Martingale) offers a completely opposite approach to the original. Let’s take a deep dive and discuss the advantages and drawbacks of this strategy.

How The Reverse Martingale System Works

The reverse system is just as simple as the original. The classic Martingale is designed to recover losses accrued from a bad run, so the reverse Martingale does the opposite. It is designed to take advantage of a good run, by increasing the stakes for players with the ‘hot hand’. According to this system, players should double their stakes after each win, and following a loss, return to staking the original amount.

An important part of the system is the player’s decision on how long they will spend at the table. Some players win big by riding a winning streak and walking away with a large profit, while others might play a few more spins and see their profits disappear. You can set your own limits based on your playing style, but it is important to stick to them when you are playing.

To ensure the system can be implemented properly, players will need to wager on even money bets exclusively, such as High or Low, Red or Black and Even or Odd.

While this roulette strategy may sound appealing, the idea of ‘streaks’ is an example of gambler’s fallacy (the mistaken belief that past events affect the probability of something happening in the future), as any spin of the roulette wheel is independent from all other spins.

Does The Reverse Martingale System Work?

Pros

If you’re fortunate enough to win a number of bets in a row, the Reverse Martingale system is designed to boost your profits, as you double your stake following each win. There is less risk involved compared to the original Martingale system, as you are increasing your stake with money that you have won from the casino.

Here’s an example to demonstrate how the Reverse Martingale can be effective . If you place a £10 wager on red, and win this spin, you will then double your next bet to £20, and the next bet to £40. After your fourth consecutive winning spin, you will be required to stake £160. If this bet loses, you will not make a loss overall, despite losing such a large wager, as you started with a £10 bankroll and made £150 profit from previous spins. If you walked away from the table after the fourth spin in this example, you would have banked a tidy profit of £150.

In theory, you should win more by using the Reverse Martingale effectively, but in reality, there are far more drawbacks than advantages to using the system.

Cons

This system relies on an eventual winning streak, which may never come. Even if you are lucky enough to experience a purple patch, doubling up your bets after each win means that one loss could wipe out all of your profits, if you don’t bank your profits or walk away while you’re up. Each spin is independent of any other spins, so it is possible that you could even experience an extended losing streak instead, which could decimate your bankroll.

The biggest drawback of the system is that systems such as the Martingale, and the Reverse Martingale convince players that they are eliminating the house edge. The house edge, created by the green zero(s) on the table, means that the odds always lean in favour of the casino. This means the probability of landing an even money bet is just under 50%. Due to the house edge, the casino almost always wins in the long run, and no roulette system can compensate for this. While several strategies may seem convincing, none are ever foolproof. It is important to remember that you are playing a game of chance.

Reverse Martingale In Action

We gave the Reverse Martingale strategy a go in a game of online European roulette.

As the table above shows, in our Reverse Martingale simulation, we were lucky enough to win three spins in a row, racking up a total of £70 profit, giving us a balance of £80. This run came to an abrupt end by the fourth spin, where we lost after placing an £80 stake. In the end, we made no loss or profit. This example shows that while the system works in theory, it did nothing for us in practice.

Whether you decide to give the Reverse Martingale a go yourself or implement your own strategy, you can find some of the best  European and American roulette titles at our Top Rated UK Casinos.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Which system is more effective – Martingale or Reverse Martingale? This depends on your playing style and bankroll. If you want to play with less risk, go for the Reverse Martingale. While the reverse strategy involves less risk, it offers less opportunity for players to win back their losses. If you have a bigger bankroll and you don’t mind raising the stakes, go for the original Martingale strategy.

Is the Reverse Martingale system illegal? No, it’s completely legal. The Reverse Martingale system is just a betting pattern, so you won’t be penalised for using it.

Does the Reverse Martingale system guarantee profit? In theory, the system would only enhance the profits earned during a winning run. However, you are not even guaranteed to win once, let alone go on a winning streak. It is possible that you could spend your entire bankroll before you win on a spin. So, while the strategy may win you some short-term profit, this isn’t guaranteed.