How to Use the Martingale Strategy in Sports Betting?

“Martingale” is a betting strategy in which the size of each subsequent wager depends on the outcome of the previous one.

The main goal of this strategy is to recover funds lost from unsuccessful bets and gain a small profit.

Key Rules of the “Martingale” Strategy

When using the “Martingale” betting strategy, players are advised to follow several important rules:

Before starting, determine the size of the bankroll that can be used during the betting process.
The initial stake should not exceed 1–2% of the total bankroll allocated for betting.

How to Determine Stake Size When Using the “Martingale” Strategy

When calculating the stake size for events with relatively low odds (below 2.0), it is recommended to use the following formula: X = (Y + Z) / (W – 1), where:

X – the desired stake size;
Y – the amount the bettor wishes to win from the wager;
Z – the total amount lost from previous unsuccessful bets;
W – the odds of the upcoming event.

Main Types of the Strategy

Both beginners and experienced bettors use two subtypes of the “Martingale” strategy – global and single-event. Each subtype has its own features.

Global “Martingale” Subtype

This variation involves betting on a specific result for a team or an athlete over the course of an entire season or tournament. It is recommended to place bets on strong teams, thereby increasing the likelihood and frequency of winning.

Single-Event “Martingale” Subtype

This subtype involves placing repeated bets on the same outcome for one athlete until the bet wins.
For example, a wager on Cristiano Ronaldo to score a goal in the next Serie A match. If he doesn’t score and the bet loses, the bettor should place a new bet on the same outcome (Ronaldo to score) in the following match.

Example of a Bet Using the “Martingale” Strategy

The player allocated $10 for betting using the “Martingale” system. They decided to predict PSG results in the 2020/2021 French football season.

The first bet: $1 at odds of 1.5 on PSG to win against Lens — PSG lost 0:1.
The second bet: $2 at odds of 1.5 on PSG to win against Marseille — PSG lost 0:1 again.
The third bet: $4 at odds of 1.5 on PSG’s next match — PSG won, and the bet was successful.

Placing the same $4 stake on PSG’s victories in rounds 4 and 5 also brought wins. As a result of these bets, the bettor earned a total profit of $3.

The player’s betting results are shown in the table below: