The Martingale System vs. the Paroli System: Which One Is Better?

Many of the gaming theories and principles used today are influenced by the research and findings of French philosophers and mathematicians Blaise Pascal and his close friend, Pierre de Fermat. The 2 exchanged letters and shared ideas and solutions in figuring out various gameplay styles and gambling probabilities.

We also must give credit to the Hungarian mathematician, John von Neumann. He had a great influence on principles associated with game theories. He came up with the first set of formal rules that we use today for modern gaming applications. Through the work of these commendable individuals, players are able to harness different gaming theories and principles to use while gambling.

Tests have shown that betting systems like the Martingale and Paroli systems are not similar to the prisoner's dilemma. In simple terms, the prisoner’s dilemma is when 2 rational players don’t cooperate during the game even if it would work in their favor to do so. Still, the Martingale and Paroli systems have been invented using the exact same thought processors. This is to improve winning chances during gaming.

Gamblers want to make their gaming experience worthwhile. So betting systems are beacons of hope to gamers. It makes them believe that they can outsmart the game's odds that aren't working in the gambler's favor. Included with this is a belief that the house always wins.

Claiming that the house always wins means that casino payouts don't match up to the probabilities set with the games. Let's face it, casinos are businesses. These establishments won't survive if they give in to offering payouts that could damage their financial position. However, casinos and casino games give an unfair advantage to their establishments. So, it's no surprise to find many inexperienced players wanting to know more about these betting systems and game theories.

An excellent example of these findings includes mathematical calculations which state that you can win roughly 48.6% in European roulette if you place bets on outside bets.

The reality is that payout odds can’t be changed or influenced by betting systems. These systems can try to better RTP scores by raising bets using strategic methods and reducing losses. 

Something to note about the Martingale system is that there are no winning streaks with this technique. This shows that neither betting system offers promises for returning full potential value to players, no matter the game you play.

To a certain extent, however, the Martingale technique does come with a theoretical advantage since the payouts seem much higher than you would find with the Paroli technique.

Since it cannot be determined how long you can stay in your winning streak, the Paroli system seems to have the upper hand in comparing the two. If you're a gambler looking to make profits from gaming, you wouldn't necessarily have to worry about those table limits like you would when using the Martingale system. Knowing this means that the Paroli system may work in your favor to be the less expensive technique. This is because of the fresh start that you use after every third win.

Baccarat, blackjack, and roulette have some of the best odds that can be found in all casino games. You'll find that they tend to work in favor of the house. So, because of their random nature, it doesn't matter if you're using either 1 of the 2 systems. You’ll continue to remain at a disadvantage.

Use your discretion when gambling, and always remember to gamble responsibly. Regardless of research, there's no guarantee in betting systems.