The Paroli Roulette Strategy
One of the most popular betting strategies used throughout casinos today is the infamous Paroli system in roulette. Derived from the Latin word, par – meaning ‘one that is equal’, the system has been successfully used by gamblers since the 1600s. The Paroli roulette strategy is the complete opposite of the heralded Martingale system. Although, instead of trying to recover your losses, the Paroli betting system focuses on capitalising on your wins and playing with house money. Put simply, when you win, double your bet, and if you lose, start again.
The Paroli betting system can be applied to more than just roulette games. It can be utilised in any game featuring even odds such as baccarat, craps and with a few modifications, blackjack. Whilst there is no doubting its popularity and simplicity, there are a few shortcomings to the system as well. Let’s find out what they are.
The Pros and Cons of Using the Paroli System in Roulette
Many Paroli supporters argue that the system is great because it gives players the opportunity to bet big with house money and minimises your losses during losing streaks. While this is true, the Paroli roulette strategy does not have any impact on the inherent house edge, and it has its own unique flaws.
- Simple to learn and use
- Losing streaks do not hurt as badly
- Capitalise on winning streaks
- Bet big with house money
- Can be modified to fit your needs
- One loss can wipe out all profits
- Requires intricate timing
- Impossible to predict streaks
- No impact on house edge
- Not a long-term strategy
How on Earth Does the Paroli Betting System Work?
The Paroli roulette strategy is only meant to be used on even-money wagers such as betting on low (1-18) or high (19-36), odd or even or most commonly, red or black numbers. The primary objective of the Paroli system is to play until you achieve three wins consecutively. It starts by deciding what your minimum bet will be. This is very important as you may have to sustain a series of losses, so make sure it is relative to your personal bankroll. For this example, our minimum bet will be £1 and we will be betting on the probability that the ball lands on red. If we lose after the first spin, we will place the same £1 bet again. We will continue to do this until we win. Following a win, we will double our bet to £2. If this bet loses we will return to betting £1. However, if the £2 bet wins, we will double our next bet to £4. If we were to win all three of these bets in row, we would finish with a total profit of £7. Once you have achieved this, you should retrieve your winnings and start betting again with your minimum bet, in this case, £1. For any three consecutive bets, there are only eight potential outcomes. Check out the table below to gain a better understanding of how the Paroli system works.
| First Bet | Second Bet | Third Bet | Net Profit/Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| £1 loss | £1 loss | £1 loss | – £3 |
| £1 loss | £1 loss | £1 win | – £1 |
| £1 loss | £1 win | £2 loss | – £2 |
| £1 loss | £1 win | £2 win | + £2 |
| £1 win | £2 loss | £1 loss | – £2 |
| £1 win | £2 loss | £1 win | £0 |
| £1 win | £2 win | £4 loss | – £1 |
| £1 win | £2 win | £4 win | + £7 |
The Golden Rules of the Paroli System
To help you when playing a Paroli system roulette game, there is a tried and tested set of rules you can memorise in order to best utilise the strategy effectively. These rules are easy to remember and will propel your game to a whole new level.
- Golden Rules of the Paroli System
- Rule 1: Your initial stake should be fixed: Stick with easy to remember units
- Rule 2: Double your bet after winning – for a chance to maximise profits
- Rule 3: Stop after three wins – probability of another win drops
- Rule 4: Return to initial stake after losing to minimise losses
Working Out Your Odds
The pivotal question underlining the Paroli roulette strategy is working out how many progressions you should play before retrieving your winnings and starting over again with your initial bet. Whilst the recommended number of wins to stop by is three, players who enjoy taking more risks or have a higher bankroll may prefer to play more. If you choose this strategy, your pay out will increase dramatically, however, your probability of winning decreases as well. Let’s have a look at the mathematics. The chances of winning on red or black in European roulette is 48.6%. Remember, it is never an exact even bet because of the green zero field in the roulette wheel, also referred to as the house edge. Whilst winning three consecutive games in a row could stand to win you eight times your initial bet, there is only an 11.5% chance of that actually happening. The probability of winning five consecutive times plummets to 2.7%. Familiarise yourself with the below table to give yourself a better understanding of how the risk-reward elements of a Paroli system roulette game unfold.
| No. of Progressions | Chance of Winning | No. of Chips Won |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 48,60% | 2 |
| 2 | 23,60% | 4 |
| 3 | 11,50% | 8 |
| 4 | 5,60% | 16 |
| 5 | 2,70% | 32 |
| 6 | 1,30% | 64 |
| 7 | 0,60% | 128 |
Other Betting Systems
Now you’ve had time to digest the Paroli system, lets take a look at some of the other niche systems on the menu today. The Garcia system relies on the bank not winning two times in a row. Playing with nine units in total, the player bets one third (three units). If the bet is lost, the player bets the remaining six units. Provided the player doesn’t encounter two consecutive losses, they can increase the initial capital of nine units up to and above 200 units. The Garcia strategy is strong as the player won’t lose more than nine units however, the Paroli betting system is a lot more resistant to losing streaks.
The Oscar’s Grind system believes that there are both periods of winning and losing streaks. In short, if you lose a bet, you bet the same amount, and when you win, you raise the bet by one unit. This strategy can withstand many bad runs, however, the Paroli system gives a lot more opportunity for bigger wins. If you’re interested in finding out more about the existing strategies, we would recommend our comprehensive guide to roulette systems.
Using this Strategy in a Casino
When you’ve spent enough time practising at home and are starting to get a feel for how the Paroli system works, you will be ready to use it in your favourite roulette casino. The first thing you should do is notify the croupier at your table of your Paroli approach and how many progressions you want to do. This means the croupier won’t accidentally remove your winnings from the table until all of your progressions are complete. Never forget the golden rules. If you get confused, there is usually a rules box written on the table, or you can check out our guide to the rules of roulette.
Practicing online is the best way to learn and test out your Paroli system. It also helps to play with low stakes in a relaxed environment, with no haughty high-rollers rolling their eyes at you every 30 seconds. If you need help finding an appropriate online casino to play with, you can check out our reviews for our recommended online casinos in the UK.
Summary of the Paroli Roulette Strategy
The objective of the Paroli roulette system is to bring you a few big wins coupled with lots of little losses. Of course, this method never guarantee’s success and does not take into account the impact of the house edge or the differing odds between the variants: American Roulette, French Roulette and European Roulette. This Paroli betting review shows the system does nothing to improve your overall chances of success but is best used as a way to manage your bankroll and take advantage when luck is on your side.