How to Use the Paroli Betting System with Roulette

What is the Paroli Betting System?

The Paroli betting system is an example of a positive progression betting system. This means that you increase your bets after a win and decrease your bets after a loss, the exact opposite of the Martingale.

The system works with any games that offer even money bets. In regards to roulette, this means that you can use the Paroli system when placing Red/Black, Odd/Even, and 1-18/19-36 bets.

The idea of positive progression systems is to make the most of winning streaks to try to maximise profits. This is in contrast to negative progression systems where the idea is to recover losses.

When using the Paroli system, the idea is to double your bet after a win and keep it the same after you lose. The aim is to double your bet for three winning spins in a row and then return to the original amount. This means that you will never be betting more than 4 units (1 on the first bet, 2 on the second, and 4 on the third). In theory, it delivers medium sized wins and avoids the kind of huge bets that are required in the Martingale system. .

Paroli Betting System Examples

The principle behind the Paroli system is very simple, however, it helps to see it in practice. To begin with, let’s look at a dream scenario using a betting units of €10.

In this ideal scenario, you will have made a profit of €70. You could then start again or stop playing. However, life rarely works out quite so ideally.

In the next example, we will look at a sequence of 10 rounds with a combination of wins and losses. However, at no point do you manage three consecutive wins, which is a far more realistic scenario. 

As you can see, despite coming close to three wins in a row, you end up with a loss of €60. Of course, it isn’t impossible to land three wins in a row, you just have to remember that it is entirely feasible to play numerous rounds without it happening.

The Paroli System Odds

As demonstrated, for this strategy to work, it is necessary to win 3 consecutive rounds. Therefore, it is worth looking at the probability of this happening.

When you place an even money bet on a European Roulette game, you will be covering 18 of the 37 numbers. Therefore, the odds of winning one bet are 48.6% or 1 in 2.0555. Therefore, the chances of winning three in a row are 11.5%, or 1 in 8.68 times. However, the payout is just 7:1, which is due to the house edge.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Paroli Betting System

As with all betting systems, there are a number of advantages and disadvantages to the Paroli. In fact, many of the disadvantages are those found with all betting systems, but let’s start by looking at the advantages.

First of all, it is extremely easy to remember and understand. You will not have to spend a long time learning complicated rules. Furthermore, it is flexible. It can be applied to any even money bets.

One major advantage it has over systems such as the Martingale is that table betting limits do not matter. Your bets are never going to grow to the size that you reach the upper limit. Therefore, it is a good system to use if you have a limited bankroll. Similarly, it won’t burn through your bankroll extremely quickly, it should allow you to play for an extended period.

Another advantage is that it makes the most out of winning streaks. If you win three rounds in a row with the Martingale system you will have made a profit of just 3 units. Using the Paroli system your profits will be 7 units.

Unfortunately, the disadvantages cannot be avoid. However, you look at it, the Paroli system cannot reduce the house edge. European Roulette has a house edge of 2.70% and unless you are cheating, this will always be the case. As such, in the long run, you will always lose. It will be slow, most often you are going to be losing 1 unit at a time, which means that the Paroli system is not a high risk strategy, but ultimately, the house wins.

Another minor disadvantage is that you are restricted to even money bets. While there are six that you can place, after a while you may wish to start experimenting with roulette’s inside bets, and this means that you will need to look for a different betting system.

To Conclude

In many ways, the Paroli betting system is just as effective as any other and whether you use it becomes a matter of preference. You will be lucky sometimes and make a profit and at other times, you may hit a losing streak and lose a bit of money. However, if you are looking for a way to manage your bankroll that allows you to play for long periods of time, then it is an excellent system.

In other words, if you are playing for the love of the game rather than in an attempt to hit a big win, then the Paroli system is a fantastic choice and certainly worth using on occasion.