How to Master Roulette Strategy: Is the Martingale System Worth It in Canada?
Despite the controversies surrounding the Martingale system, many players still use this strategy. The Martingale system is risky, whether playing roulette, blackjack, craps, or baccarat. However, players who have mastered it have found it rewarding, especially when playing roulette.
After blackjack and poker, roulette is Canada's third most popular casino game. While it is visually appealing, it usually attracts one-time or casual players because of its higher house edge. Hence, players who want to play it long-term are always looking for the winning systems to help them get more returns. The Martingale system is one such system that could help them.
However, is the Martingale system really worth it for Canadian players? This guide will tell you everything you need to know.
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By LiveScore Desk, Editorial team for sports, betting and casino Last updated: 10 June 2025, 03:15PM
Understanding Roulette: The Basics
Like the other casino games, the first step to playing roulette is understanding the basics. Roulette is a French word for “little wheel.” It is a casino game in which a ball is dropped on a spinning wheel, and players bet on where it will land.
Roulette has two main types, depending on the number of pockets.
European roulette: 37 pockets (numbers 1-36 + a single 0)
American roulette: 38 pockets (numbers 1-36 + 0 and 00)
Each pocket is red or black, but 0 and 00 are green. It is available in both onsite and online casinos. The top legal and regulated online platforms offering it include Jackpot City, Spin Casino, TonyBet, PlayNow, and PlayOJO.
Roulette is a banking game in which all players bet against the house. Compared to other casino games, roulette has a high house edge. While European roulette has a house edge of 2.7, American roulette favours the house more, with 5.26.
Players can wager on inside and outside bets.
Inside bets are wagers on specific numbers or combinations. For example, a bet that the ball will land on a single number, like 11 or a split bet that the ball will land between two numbers, like 17 and 18.
Outside bets are wagers on categories of numbers like odd/even, red/black, high/low, columns, and dozens. For instance, players could bet on numbers 1-12.
The Martingale System Explained
The primary purpose of betting is to have fun. Incurring wins and losses is part of the entertainment. While losses are inevitable, players use different strategies to minimize them. One such strategy is the Martingale system.
The Martingale system is a strategy where players double their bet after each loss. The goal is to compensate for the previous losses by making a profit on the first win.
This system is available across various games, including blackjack, craps, sports betting, baccarat, and roulette. It's best for games with even-money bets where players can win or lose the same amount of money they wager.
It is commonly used in roulette, especially for bets with a 50-50 chance, such as odd/even or red/black. To better understand how the Martingale system works, follow the simple example on odd/even below.
Place a $1 bet on odds, and the result is even. You lose $1.
Next, wager $2 on odds, which is double your initial bet. Let's say you lose again and now have a total loss of $3.
Next, wager $4 on odds, which is double your previous bet. Let's say you win to get a payout of $4.
Your balance is $4 win minus the $3 loss on the first two bets. This gives you a $1 net profit.
From the example above, you would recoup your losses and gain a profit ($1), equalling your first bet.
Pros and Cons of the Martingale System
Despite being straightforward, the Martingale system has certain risks. Below are reasons to try this system and reasons not to risk it.
Is the Martingale System Worth It in Canada?
The fact that you're still reading this article means you must wonder if Martingale is worth it. To give you a simple answer, it depends on your goals, risk tolerance, and bankroll. If we're being honest, it's not sustainable over time.
Many Canadian online casinos limit how much you can bet on a table. As a result, you might be unable to recover your losses. In addition, most online casinos have responsible gambling regulations to help players avoid problem gambling. This could include using deposit limits, time limits, and self-exclusion programs to define how much players can wager.
If you ever want to use the Martingale system, target online casinos like Jackpot City, PlayOJO, and Spin Casino with low-stakes tables. These will allow you to play a low minimum bet between $0.10 and $5. Avoid high-limit tables except you've a big bankroll. These tables are for high rollers with high minimum ($50 to $500) and maximum ($5000 to $100,000) betting limits.
Some casinos also offer welcome and regular bonuses to customers. Players could use the Martingale system to meet the wagering requirements of these bonuses. However, some casinos don't allow it.
Players who prefer to play at international online casinos may also consider the buying value of Canadian dollars (CAD). If CAD is weak compared to USD, EUR, or GBP, players will get less value for their money after conversion. Some websites set lower table limits for CAD. In addition, other platforms charge conversion fees, which could eat into players' small profit from the Martingale system.
Alternatives to the Martingale Strategy
Those who find the Martingale system challenging may try other methods to get the best returns from their bets. Below are some alternatives to the Martingale system.
Reverse Martingale (Paroli)
How about trying a reverse Martingale? Instead of doubling your bets after losses, you double after each win. Also known as Paroli, the reverse Martingale is safer than the traditional Martingale system. It allows you to go on a run of winning streaks by doubling after every win. It minimizes the risk of losses because when you lose, it won't be as bad as the traditional Martingale system.
However, you'll need to reset to your base bet after 2-3 wins to lock in on profit. Nevertheless, it still doesn't beat the house edge.
D'Alembert System
Like the Martingale system, the D'Alembert system is best for even-money bets like Odds/Even and Red/Black. However, it's a moderate-risk betting strategy. It follows the idea that winnings and losses will eventually balance out.
The D'Alembert system involves increasing your bet by a specific fixed unit after a loss and decreasing it by a unit after a win. For instance, if you bet $5 on Red/Black and lose, increase the unit by $1 on your next bet to wager $6. If you win, decrease the unit by $1 to wager $4. The major advantage is that it helps you recover from losses very fast.
Flat Betting Strategy
How about keeping it simple by betting the same amount of money every time, irrespective of wins and losses? The flat betting strategy is one of roulette's safest and simplest betting systems.
It's easy for beginners to understand and implement. For instance, bet $5 on every game, whether you won or lost the previous one. It's better to use even-money bets like odds/even to ensure consistency. With flat betting, you're not chasing losses or overspending. It also helps you play for longer.
Responsible Gambling
Whether you're betting online or at a brick-and-mortar shop, practising responsible gambling will keep you from overspending. It's crucial to practice self-control and healthy habits.
Most online casinos allow customers to set deposit and time limits on their accounts. Customers may also use the self-exclusion tool to take some time away from betting.
Casinos set table limits on roulette games to help curb irresponsible habits and prevent underage betting. All players must submit a government-issued ID document to verify their identity and age.
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