roulette strategy question

Hi,

I came up with this idea and I figure it won't actually work. But as I'm not a big gambler I can't figure out why. Overtime I think this could work.

I appreciate any input.


First, this idea is based of the fact that I live very close to a casino. And its based on self control.

Basically my idea is that I go to the casino everyday. I walk in an place $100 on black. If I win then I walk out the door. If I lose I double down on black trying to break even. If I hit the second hand I walk away at zero (no lose, no gain). If I don't hit I keep betting until I get to zero. As soon as I break even, I leave and come back the next day.

I realize this is a slow system over time but could it work if I stick to the system exactly as described above?

Could I bank roll this with about $2000. I think that would be enough to consider a worst case scenario of not seeing black.

Thanks!

You're describing the Martingale system.

If you start at $100, with a $2000 bankroll, you'd only need FOUR losses in a row to be down $1,500 - with insufficient cash to cover the next bet. Four losses in a row is NOT at all uncommon.

Further, bringing more money with you is not the answer because, sooner or later (probably sooner), you'll hit the table maximum.

Bottom line: Don't do it.

There is a picture somewhere on this site or WOO of 13 reds hitting in a row. It will happen again, it will happen to you.

Play for fun, but don't double up to try and beat the casino. People have been losing money for over a hundred years trying the exact same thing

Quote: dwheatley

Play for fun, but don't double up to try and beat the casino.

Not at roulette. If you want to ebat the casino, all I can think of is counting cards in BJ, if you can get away with it, or playing VP when it becomes a positive EV game (large progressive jackpots in a game with good pay tables, and/or double/triple points for comps).

Quote:

People have been losing money for over a hundred years trying the exact same thing

I find it amazing how many people re-discover the Martngale and decide to give it a try.

Ok,

Thanks everyone.

Does this means with smaller bets and a larger bankroll this would work in theory?

Say I could cover 20 straight losses if need be, then could it be ok?

Quote: friendofafriend

Say I could cover 20 straight losses if need be, then could it be ok?

Then it would be very unlikely that you'd ever see the 20th loss. the odds of losing 20 in a row is about 1 in 1.5 million, if my cell phone calculator math is correct.

But I think you're under-estimating the amount of money that this would take. If bet one was $5, bet 21 (after 20 losses) would need to be $5,242,880. and you'd need to have a total of $10,485,750 including the $5 million bet. if you had $10 million, I'm assuming that you'd have better things to do than play $5 roulette:-)

Quote: friendofafriend

Ok,

Thanks everyone.

Does this means with smaller bets and a larger bankroll this would work in theory?

Say I could cover 20 straight losses if need be, then could it be ok?

Only if the casino will book all the bets. Even if you start at $1, 20 straight losses means your next bet will be 1 * 2^20 = $1,048,576. I don't know of any $1 roulette tables which will book that bet. And do you really want to bet $1M on roulette just to make up for the prior 20 losses and win your $1?

What they're saying is, as mentioned before, you'd bump into the table limit long before you get to that point.

NO! This will not work in theory, at all. The casinos win money because it is their virtually infinite bankroll versus your piddly one. People leave the casino broke because they've spent their time trying to win their bankroll "back" only to find that it all is gone. Such is the joy of math and house advantage.

Even if for some reason the casino was offering to pay 2:1 on black, it still would be possible for you to lose enough times in a row for you to lose your bankroll.

Whether you "double up to catch up" on the next spin, the next day, the next week, etc. makes no difference.
You pays your money, you takes your chance ... and you no more allow yourself to try to get cutesy with your losses than you would allow the casino to get cutesy with your winnings.

Doesn't matter if its Tuesday or a nearby casino or you bet on red: plunk your money down, let Lady Variance smile upon or frown upon you as ever her whimsical nature dictates to her and then simply accept the consequences.