The Martingale betting system, defined
The Martingale system is a betting pattern in which you double your stake after each loss and go back to the starting stake after a win. This page defines it and shows the sum as of 13 November 2026. It is not a method for winning and not advice to use it; table limits stop the doubling.
Re-check window: 365 days
The sequence on a £5 start
Each loss doubles the next bet. The total you have staked by the end of a run of losses grows quickly.
| Bet number | Stake | Total staked so far |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £5 | £5 |
| 2 | £10 | £15 |
| 3 | £20 | £35 |
| 4 | £40 | £75 |
| 5 | £80 | £155 |
| 6 | £160 | £315 |
| 7 | £320 | £635 |
| 8 | £640 | £1,275 |
After n bets the total is £5 × (2^n − 1). A win on the last bet returns a profit of the first stake, £5, and nothing more.
Why table limits cap it
A table has a minimum and a maximum stake, set by the operator and shown in the lobby. See why table limits differ.
Illustration only: if a table's maximum were £100, the sixth bet of £160 in the table above would not be accepted, and the sequence would stop after £155 had been staked.
We have not recorded a real table's limits for this example. When we do, they will carry a date and the lobby as source.
What it does not change
It does not alter the house edge. Every bet is still made under the table's rules, so the expected loss is the total staked times the edge.
In the example above, £315 staked at an illustrative 1% edge is £3.15 in expectation. The 1% is for the sum only. Whether the pattern works is checked in does the Martingale work at blackjack.
Risk
A run of losses can use up your budget before a win arrives, and the next bet may not be allowed. Gambling is not a way to earn money or recover losses.
Decide your limit before you play: set a deposit limit. Help and tools are on staying in control at a live table. Free, confidential help is available from the National Gambling Helpline and GambleAware.
Quick answers
- What is the Martingale system?
A betting pattern in which the stake is doubled after each loss and returned to the starting stake after a win.
- Why do table limits matter?
Each doubling raises the stake. A table's maximum stops the sequence once the next doubled bet would exceed it, so the pattern cannot continue as long as the maths assumes.
- Does it change the house edge?
No. Each hand is still played under the table's rules, so the edge on each bet stays the same.
- Do you recommend it?
No. This page defines the term and shows the arithmetic. It is not an instruction to use it.