Betting systems like the Martingale (doubling your bet after every loss) are famous for a reason: they work… until they don’t. The danger lies in the “Fatal Streak”—a sequence of losses long enough to either bankrupt you or hit the casino’s table limit.
This calculator analyzes the mathematical risk of using progressive betting systems over a specific number of spins.
How to Use the System Analyzer
- System: Currently supports the Martingale (Double Up) strategy.
- Bankroll & Base Bet: Enter your total funds (e.g., $1,000) and your starting wager (e.g., $10).
- Table Limit: This is crucial. Casinos set max bet limits (e.g., $5,000) specifically to break Martingale players.
- Analyze the Risk: The tool calculates:
- Fatal Streak: How many losses in a row until you can’t double anymore.
- Chance of Ruin: The probability of seeing that fatal streak occur within your session.
Example: The Table Limit Trap
You start with $10 on Red. You think, “I can double 10 times, I’m safe!”
However, the table limit is $500.
- $10 -> $20 -> $40 -> $80 -> $160 -> $320 -> $640 (Blocked!)
You can only double 6 times. The 7th bet requires $640, which is over the limit. The calculator shows that a losing streak of 6 Reds in a row is surprisingly common (roughly 1 in 60 chance per sequence), making the strategy much riskier than it seems.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can a betting system beat the house edge?
No. Mathematical systems change the distribution of wins and losses (many small wins vs. one catastrophic loss), but they cannot change the House Edge. In European Roulette, the house always has a 2.7% advantage on every spin.