The Paroli betting system is a popular strategy that helps you capitalize upon winning streaks when playing online casino games. You can apply the Paroli strategy to 50/50 bets when playing roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and various other games.
This guide explains how the Paroli system works. You will discover the key pros and cons of this approach, and we’ll also discuss how it compares to alternative systems, such as the Martingale and the D’Alembert.
The Paroli betting system requires you to double your stake (bet size) after you place a winning wager. For example, let’s say you place a successful $10 bet when playing roulette. You would then need to bet $20 on the next spin. If you secure three consecutive wins, you go back to the start and wager $10 again.
How the Paroli System WorksThe Paroli system is a positive progression strategy. It’s designed to capitalize upon short winning streaks.
This system works best on bets that pay 1:1 (double your money) if you win. Examples include a red/black bet on the roulette wheel, or a wager on the player’s hand when playing baccarat.
If you’d like to pursue this system, you can start by determining your base unit. This can be a small percentage of your bankroll. For example, let’s say you have a $500 budget. You might then decide to make your base unit 2% of that bankroll, which would be $10.
Here’s how the Paroli system works:
Let’s say you’re playing online roulette, and you decide to bet on “black.” Your base unit is $10. Here’s a hypothetical example of how a session might unfold if you’re pursuing the Paroli betting system:
| Bet | Result | Balance |
|---|---|---|
| $10 | Loss | -$10 |
| $10 | Loss | -$20 |
| $10 | Win | -$10 |
| $20 | Win | $10 |
| $40 | Loss | -$30 |
| $10 | Loss | -$40 |
| $10 | Win | -$30 |
| $20 | Loss | -$50 |
| $10 | Win | -$40 |
| $20 | Win | -$20 |
| $40 | Win | $20 |
| $10 | Loss | $10 |
| $10 | Loss | $0 |
| $10 | Loss | -$10 |
| $10 | Win | $0 |
| $20 | Win | $20 |
| $40 | Win | $60 |
| $10 | Loss | $50 |
| $10 | Loss | $40 |
In this example, you win 10 bets and lose 10 bets. If you had simply wagered $10 on each spin, you would have ended the session flat. However, you actually ended with a $40 profit, as the Paroli system allowed you to capitalize upon a couple of short winning streaks.
Pros and Cons of the Paroli SystemYou can use the Paroli system whenever you’re placing even money (1:1) bets. Here are some common examples:
The Paroli strategy is most commonly used on roulette. You can apply it when placing side bets that pay 1:1. There are three options: red/black, odds/even, or high/low.
A bet on the player’s hand pays 1:1 if successful, so it’s a great option for anyone following the Paroli system. This bet also has a low house edge (1.24%). A wager on the banker’s hand has a lower house edge (1.06%), but it pays 19:20, so it doesn’t work as well.
Bets on pass/don’t pass and come/don’t come pay 1:1. They also carry a low house edge, so they’re ideal for anyone interested in using the Paroli strategy.
You can use Paroli system when playing blackjack, as you’ll be paid out at 1:1 if you win a hand. However, doubling down, splitting cards, and getting paid out at 3:2 when you’re dealt a natural can mess with the system. As such, blackjack isn’t quite as neat as roulette, baccarat, and craps.
Yes, you can use the Paroli system for sports betting. However, it’s not quite as neat as betting on red/black or odd/even when playing roulette, as it’s pretty rare to find odds of +100 (1:1) when betting on sports.
If you bet on football, basketball, or baseball, the most common markets usually have odds of -110 (91:100). That means you won’t double your money if you win, as you need to risk $110 to generate a $100 profit.
In theory, there’s nothing to stop you from using the Paroli system when betting on sports, but try to follow these principles:
The Paroli is one of many progression strategies used by online casino players. Others include the D’Alembert, Fibonacci, Labouchere, and Oscar’s Grind. However, the most famous system is the Martingale. This chart explains how the Paroli system compares to the Martingale.
| Paroli | Martingale |
|---|---|
| A positive progression strategy, which requires you to increase your bet size after a win. | A negative progression strategy, which requires you to increase your bet size after a loss. |
| The Paroli system doesn’t chase losses, as you don’t increase your stake after losing. | The Martingale doesn’t capitalize on winning streaks, as you don’t increase your stake after winning. |
| This system doesn’t require a particularly large bankroll, as you’ll never need to bet more than 4 units. | This approach requires a very large bankroll, as you need to keep doubling your bet size during losing streaks. |
| Table limits won’t be an issue, as you never need to place particularly large wagers. | You need to find a table with very broad limits to try out the Martingale. |
| This is a relatively cautious approach, which should appeal to players that like minimizing losses and seizing up short winning streaks. | This is a very aggressive approach, which appeals to players that like chasing losses and grinding out small wins. |
The Paroli is similar to the Reverse Martingale, but it’s far less aggressive. If you follow the Reverse Martingale, you simply double your stake after each win. You keep on doubling your bet size until you either walk away or surrender all of your previous winnings with a single loss. By contrast, the Paroli is more conservative, as you return to betting 1 unit after winning three times in a row.
The Paroli betting system helps you effectively manage your bankroll when playing games like roulette, craps, and baccarat. This positive progression strategy helps you make the most of short winning streaks, and it doesn’t require a large bankroll or high table limits.
If you’d like to try out the Paroli betting system, sign up with one of our favorite online casinos. These trusted sites offer loads of high-quality roulette, baccarat and craps games, so they’re perfect for anyone following the Paroli system.
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