In this article, we'll explain 6 popular betting systems that you can experiment with in your online casino gaming experience. Truth be told, these timeless, tried and true betting systems originated in the world of offline betting, but they apply equally as well to online casino gambling, no matter what the game, no matter what the betting structure.
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Before You Begin: For most of these systems, you will need to decide what your betting unit will be ahead of time (such as the minimum allowable bet at the game and online casino in question).
1-3-2-6 Betting System
This is what's called a Positive Progression system, meaning that as you win, your bets increase. The foundation of this online casino betting system is the premise that a player can win any game a maximum of 4 times in a row before they'll probably lose.
Here's how the system works:
- Bet 1 unit each betting round until you win a round;
- After you win a round, bet 3 units on the next (second) round;
- If you win a second round in a row, bet 2 units on the next (third) round;
- If you win a third round in a row, bet 6 units on the next (fourth) round;
- Then, no matter what happens (win or lose) return to the beginning of the pattern, betting 1 unit per round until you win one, etc.
The risk-reward scenario with the 1-2-3-6 betting system is simple. You can win as much as 6 times your original bet after 4 rounds of play while only putting 2 units of your own at risk.
The worst case scenario with the 1-2-3-6 betting system is that you lose 6 consecutive times in the second round. No matter, though. You can make it all up by winning 4 times in a row.
The Martingale System
This is a Negative Progression system, meaning that as you lose, your bets increase.
The foundation of this online casino betting system is the premise that a player cannot possibly lose an infinite number of times without ever winning a single round. Therefore, what the Martingale system is designed to help you do is offset all of your accumulated losses with a single win.
Whether you consider it cynical, realistic, or both, this system works best in cases when the online casino game is paying out a 1 to 1 payout ratio on each bet. Here's how it works:
- First, place whatever bet you've decided to start with;
- If you win, bet the same amount again, but if you lose, bet double the amount;
- If you lose again, you double your bet again.
The downside to the Martingale system is that you need a large bankroll to start out with as well as the resolve to keep increasing your bets as your losses compound. Not just anyone can pull this online casino betting system off.
In the rarest of cases, you may, after enough losses, reach the online casino's betting maximum and then not be able to raise your bet further or offset your losses with one win.
The D'Alenbert System
This is another Negative Progression system. It's also considered an Insurance System in that, as you win, the size of your bets increase. Here's how it works:
- Each time you lose, you raise your bets by one unit;
- Each time you win, you lower your bets by one unit;
This system also requires a large enough online casino bankroll to pull it off.
By adding the insurance system to the negative progression system, you're hedging your increasing losses by pulling some profits off the table each time you win.
The Labouchere Betting System (a.k.a. The Cancellation System)
This system, another Negative Progression, is somewhat more complicated than those listed so far. Depending on the odds in whatever online casino game you're playing, you'll come up with some sequence of numbers -- of any length you wish -- and not necessarily sequential.
Each number in your sequence is a multiple of your predetermined betting unit (7 therefore is 7 times your betting unit; 5 is 5x, etc.) Here's how it works:
- Your first bet should be the sum of the first and last numbers in your sequence;
- If you win, cross out those two numbers you just added 10x10bet together (the two outermost in your sequence) and bet the sum of the next two;
- If you win again, cross out those two outermost numbers and repeat the process
- If you continue winning until you have no more numbers in the sequence to add together, you simply start from the beginning with the entire, original sequence.
However:
- If you lose, you add to the end of the sequence, the sum that you had just used, thus creating a new sequence;
- Crossing out no numbers at all (because you didn't win yet), add the first number in the sequence to the new last number that number and use that new sum as your multiple;
The supposed benefit of this complicated betting method is that anytime you have to start over with the original sequence, you come out with a profit. The drawback is that you can accumulate enormous losses before you ever win (if you ever win).
Your success at the Labouchere system really depends on selecting the right sequence.
The Paroli System (a.k.a. The Anti-Martingale System)
This is another Positive Progression system. More than simply selecting a unit of betting, with the Paroli system you also need to determine two other criteria before you begin:
1. A cap: The uppermost amount at which you will stop increasing your wager and return to your starting unit;
2. A multiple: How much you'll increase your bet every time you win (1 unit, 2 units, 3 units, etc.)
You should base these factors on the odds of the online casino game you happen to be playing. The appeal of the Paroli System is that you can play at the online casino for a while with a small bankroll. You cut your losses and let your profits ride.
The Parlay System
This is another Positive Progression system. Similar to the Paroli System, the effect of the Parlay system is to "pyramid" your profits, meaning that every time you win you wager both your winnings and the amount of your initial bet as your next bet.
The reward of the Parlay system can be huge. The risk is that you can lose it all in a single bad online casino beat.
Winning money at blackjack isn't all about basic strategy and counting cards. Consistently winning big money depends a lot on the betting system you use. Anyone who has played blackjack at a real casino knows that one moment you can be on top of the world in chips but the next you can be digging in your wallet for more funds.
The chip stacks in a normal game of blackjack typically fluctuate erratically and therefor finding the best betting system when gambling is crucial. This article discusses three popular gambling betting systems used throughout history (and current) and which ones are the best to use when playing blackjack. The three betting systems are the Labouchere, Paroli and Parlay systems.
1.) Labouchere Betting System
Description: The Labouchere system is a negative progression betting system. It is also referred to as "Cancellation", "Crossout", "Labby" and "Split Martingale". Using the Labouchere betting system, you will always make a profit after finishing the entire betting cycle. To complete the system you must win all bets.
How It Works: You must first write down a series of numbers, such as "1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8", however the series could be any numbers and any length. It could be "1 1 1 4 3 7" or 3 1 5 6 1 1 8 4 2 1". The length and values of the numbers depend on the game you are playing and the rules.
Each number in the series represents a value in units or chips. You start by adding up the first and last number in the series. The sum is the unit of chips you will bet. If you win, you cross out the first and last number, and add the next first and last number in the series (the ones not crossed out) and use this sum for your second bet. If you lose at any time before completing the system, you start from the beginning. If you win all bets and complete the system, then you start again from the beginning (the original sum from the first and last number).
You must carefully develop this system before playing and strictly adhere to following it once playing to win money. Be sure to account for your bankroll.
2.) Paroli Betting System
Description: The Paroli system is a positive progression betting system. This system does not require a large bankroll and is considered more stable than other betting systems when playing blackjack.
How It Works: You start your bet with one unit. If you win the first bet, then your second bet is the first bet plus your winnings. If you win the second bet, then your third bet is the second bet plus the winnings from that. At any time that you lose, you start the next bet at one unit.
For example, if you start with $100.00 and win $100.00, then your second bet would be $200.00. If you win the second bet, then your third bet would be $400.00... etc. You include all winnings in your next bet, including extra winnings from doubling down, splitting or blackjack.
An important part of this system is having a stop point, which you must determine before you start gambling. The stopping point may be a unit or dollar amount. After you lose a bet or reach your stopping point, you must bet one unit on the next bet.
3.) Parlay Betting System
Description: The Parlay system is another positive progression betting system and can successfully be used in the game of blackjack. It's derived from the system that banks use to compound interest and is also referred to as the "Let It Ride" betting system.
This betting system involves less risk than similar systems and does not require a large bankroll to use.
How It Works: This system is similar to the Paroli betting system. The only difference with this system is that you literally "let it ride" with your bets. With each successive bet, you place your winnings on top of the original bet. There is no stopping point. Since you are betting in a pyramid fashion, you can turn a small bet into exponentially large winnings. Unfortunately with this system, when you lose you lose everything.
The Labouchere, Paroli and Parlay systems are the best betting systems for playing blackjack. There are other betting systems out there but they are better used with different gambling games such as craps and roulette. Which system you choose will depend on your own personal style and bankroll. These betting systems are great for all blackjack games including those at real and online casinos.