Martingale Roulette Simulator
The Martingale system doubles your bet after every loss. It sounds foolproof — until a losing streak wipes out your bankroll. Run this simulator to see exactly when and how it fails.
Martingale Roulette Simulator
The Martingale system doubles your bet after every loss. Explore the math behind why it fails, and test it with real Monte Carlo simulation.
The Martingale Illusion
The Martingale feels safe because a win always recovers previous losses. But this requires an unlimited bankroll and no table limits — neither of which exist in the real world. A streak of just 8–10 consecutive losses (which happens regularly) requires bets of $256–$1,024 to recover a single $1 unit of profit.
Bet Progression
Bet size per consecutive loss
| Loss # | Next Bet | Total Lost | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.00 | -$0.00 | 1 in 1 |
| 2 | $10.00 | -$5.00 | 1 in 2 |
| 3 | $20.00 | -$15.00 | 1 in 4 |
| 4 | $40.00 | -$35.00 | 1 in 7 |
| 5 | $80.00 | -$75.00 | 1 in 14 |
| 6 | $160.00 | -$155.00 | 1 in 28 |
| 7 | $320.00 | -$315.00 | 1 in 55 |
| 8 | $640.00 | -$635.00 | 1 in 106 |
| 9 | $1280.00 | -$1275.00 | 1 in 207 |
| 10 | $2560.00 | -$2555.00 | 1 in 403 |
| 11 | $5120.00 | -$5115.00(≈$5000) | 1 in 784 |
| 12 | $10240.00 | -$10235.00(≈$10000) | 1 in 1,527 |
| 13 | $20480.00 | -$20475.00 | 1 in 2,974 |
| 14 | $40960.00 | -$40955.00 | 1 in 5,792 |
| 15 | $81920.00 | -$81915.00 | 1 in 11,279 |
Probability based on European roulette loss rate (19/37). Yellow rows indicate when cumulative losses approach common bankroll sizes.
Growth curve (log scale)
Why the Martingale Doesn't Work Long-Term
Table Limits
Platforms set maximum limits (typically 200–1,000×). After just 9 losses, your next bet of $2560 exceeds the table limit of $2,500. You cannot recover your losses.
Finite Bankroll
No bankroll is infinite. With $500 and a $5 base bet, you can survive at most 7 consecutive losses before going bankrupt — a sequence that occurs with probability ~0.9%.
Negative Expected Value
Every spin on a European wheel has a house edge of 2.7%. The Martingale doesn't change the expected value of any spin — it only changes the bet size. You're still losing 2.7 cents per $1 wagered on average, just at much higher stakes.
Quick Simulation (1,000 sessions)
Starting bankroll: $500 · Max 300 spins · European wheel
Click Run Simulation to see results.
Better Alternatives
If you enjoy roulette, flat betting with a set session loss limit gives you more spins, lower variance, and a similar expected outcome. The Fibonacci system grows more slowly than Martingale and is somewhat safer — though still subject to the same fundamental house-edge math.