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The Paroli betting system is a progressive betting strategy that seeks to capitalize on the value of wins. It achieves this by requiring you to double your stake after every win, while you’ll retain the same bet unit with each successive loss.
This strategy is the total opposite of the Martingale system, while it shares some commonality with the so-called 1-3-2-4 betting system. This system creates a slightly more irregular progression after each win, but the underlying principle remains the same.
What Is the Paroli System?
It is a betting strategy primarily designed around the games of chance, such as roulette, baccarat, and blackjack. It can also be used when placing selected sports bets. Its name is derived from the Latin word ‘’par, which means ‘’one that is equal, and fittingly, the system focuses on matching your previous bet equally after each win.
This makes it one of the positive progression betting systems, as opposed to negative progression systems, where you increase the bets after each loss, like the Martingale.
The core principle of the Paroli System is to capitalize on winning streaks while keeping losses to a minimum. As with other progressive betting systems, you’ll need to carefully manage your bankroll and only focus on certain types of bets (we’ll discuss these in more detail later on in the guide).
How Does the Paroli System Work?
Before deploying the Paroli System, you should set an initial bet unit that’s between 5% and 10% of your bankroll. So, if your starting bankroll is $100, your bet unit will be capped between $5 and $10.
If you initially bet $10 and win, you’ll double this to $20 for the next round or wager. You’ll continue to double your stake with each consecutive win. With each loss, you’ll return to the original bet unit, while maintaining the original bet unit during a streak of losses.
Although losses trigger an automatic return to your base bet unit, you can decide to cap increases after a predetermined number of wins (such as three or five). This will help you to practically manage your bankroll and strike the optimal balance between risk and reward.
Examples of a Paroli System
As we’ve touched on, the Paroli system is meant to be used on bets with even odds. These odds will payout at least 1:1 and carry implied probability values of 50% or above. In the world of sports betting, suitable wagers often include totals, spreads, and both teams to score (BTTS) wagers.
When deploying the Paroli System across both casino and sports bets, you’ll need to factor in the house edge or sportsbook commission. Ultimately, your potential payout must be at least 1:1, or you’ll run the risk of losing money over time.
As stated, the Paroli betting system does require you to set aside a gambling budget and distribute it evenly. However, if you are using this strategy for sportsbook gambling, there are betting bankroll management guides that you can use to help you determine how much to bet.
Lewis HumphriesSports Betting Expert
The Paroli System for Casino Gambling
When gambling at an online casino, the Paroli System works best on games of chance. These include roulette, baccarat, and blackjack. Target bets that have an implied probability above 50%, including red/black in roulette and pass/don’t pass in craps. The Banker bet in baccarat is also suitable when using the Paroli System.
Paroli Betting Strategy at a Blackjack Table
Although blackjack is categorized as a game of chance, it also requires a strong element of skill. Therefore, success with the Paroli betting system in blackjack hinges on both mental acuteness and disciplined spending.
Paroli betting system blackjack strategy requires you to adhere to a so-called perfect blackjack strategy to maintain those near-50% odds. This includes knowing when to hit, stand, double down, or split based on your cards and the dealer’s face-up card.
Also, if you plan to count cards, head on over to a trusted online casino to find operators with the best live blackjack offer. Also, start with a modest initial bet until the deck shoe is halfway depleted. Then ramp up to $10, for example, and adjust your strategy around the cards that remain in the shoe.
Suppose the majority of the shoe consists of higher-value cards; your odds of hitting blackjack increase. This means you might even end up getting 2:1 payouts, which will help you recover your losses in the earlier rounds. After three or four consecutive wins, reset to the initial $10 bet to lock in profits.
Bear in mind that in digital blackjack games, the cards get reshuffled into the virtual deck. So there is no point in card counting. However, using the perfect blackjack strategy and Paroli betting system will still work decently, even in a purely digital playing environment.
Paroli Roulette Strategy
Using Paroli at the roulette table is smart, because there are multiple 1:1 bets – red/black, high/low, and odds/pair. To get the most out of your Paroli roulette strategy, pick either French Roulette or European Roulette. Both of these only have a single 0 on the wheel and a considerably lower house edge (2.70% vs 5.20%).
On top of the Paroli roulette system, use logic to determine your choice pattern. For example, it’s less likely to get outcomes like R/B/R/B or R/R/R/B/B/B (R – red, B- black). A more natural outcome would be R/R/B/R/B/B/R, etc.
You can use these natural laws to your advantage, and you can also view the outcome history in both digital and live roulette games. Of course, you don’t need to read into it too much, but it is a neat thing to know that might be helpful when you play roulette online or at a brick-and-mortar casino.
Paroli Strategy for Baccarat Players
Players will love using this strategy in baccarat. This is another casino game with 1:1 payout options. All you have to remember is to bet on either the player or the banker and ignore the tie option as well as other side bets.
Just keep in mind that while the banker bet has a slightly lower house edge, it includes a commission on the wins, but this will barely affect your budget. Also, the Paroli baccarat system is just one of many baccarat strategies that players love to use, so make sure to check the alternatives as well.
Another game where you can implement the Paroli betting system is craps. It will serve you best on bets such as pass/don’t pass or come/don’t come. Again, avoid the more complex bets with higher house edges and lower win profitability.
Sports Betting Using The Paroli System
Sports betting outcomes with a 50% win probability and above are also suitable for fans of the Paroli System. The key is to identify the sports and markets that offer optimal value and payouts of 1:1 or above (evens).
Using Paroli for Soccer Betting
When betting on soccer matches, you can unlock hundreds of potential markets. This is crucial if you want to deploy the Paroli System, as it’s rare to find moneylines that payout at evens or above while retaining a 50% or better chance of occurring. This is also complicated by the prevalence of draws when betting on soccer.
Superior soccer betting markets include Both Teams to Score (BTTS) or the over/under on how many goals will be scored during a game. The former requires you to bet on whether both sides will score during a particular game (or not), with the two potential outcomes typically characterized by close to even odds.
For example, you can bet both teams not to score in the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal, at odds of 2.20. These odds imply a 45.5% of the outcome occurring, but your form and team news analysis may reveal that this is more likely than the odds suggest.
Over/under betting is also advantageous as it unlocks several potential betting lines. For example, you can bet under 2.5 goals being scored in the aforementioned EPL game between Man United and Arsenal, at odds of 2.05. This affords you at least a 48.8% chance of success, while the profit on a successful $10 bet will be $10.50.
Paroli Tennis Betting Strategy
If you want to use the Paroli betting strategy when wagering on tennis, you should know that moneylines may offer value. This is because draws are eliminated as a potential outcome on the ATP and WTP Tours, creating only two viable outcomes when predicting match results.
The key here is to focus on moneylines about two evenly matched players. For example, Ben Shelton is priced at 2.25 to defeat Alexander Zverev in their ATP Cincinnati match, implying a 44.4% probability of success.
Although he has lost all three of his career matches against Zverev, Shelton is in better form and excels on hard courts. His career win percentage on the surface is 68.0%, compared to 68.2% for his opponent (who is stronger on clay). So, he may offer increased value here.
Total set betting can also prove valuable when using the Paroli system. In the above example, you can bet on over 2.5 sets being contested at odds of 2.20. The implied probability value here is 45.5%, but the form and H2H analysis hint at an incredibly close and keenly contested match.
Boxing Betting Using the Paroli System
As with soccer, it can be hard to identify suitable boxing moneylines for the purpose of Paroli betting. This is because fights often have a clear betting favourite, forcing you to either bet at short odds or on outcomes that are statistically unlikely to occur.
However, there are occasional exceptions. For example, in-form heavyweight Dave Allen is priced at just 2.05 to beat Arslanbek Makhmudov on October 11th, implying a 48.8% probability of success.
Allen has won seven of his last nine bouts. One of his two defeats (a split-decision loss to Johnny Fisher) was highly debatable and subsequently avenged. Conversely, Makhmudov has lost two of his previous four fights to fringe contenders, while his opponent will have home advantage at the Sheffield Arena.
Other boxing wagers that offer value are the method of victory, while you can also bet the over/under on how many rounds will be contested.
Different Variations of the Paroli System
In total, there are three variations of the Paroli System. These include the Classic Paroli, the Inverted Paroli, and the Reverse Paroli. The latter is a negative progressive system that’s commonly referred to as the Martingale System. Here’s a summary of each variation and its benefits.
The Classic Paroli
The Classic Paroli has been described in detail in this guide as a positive progression betting system that sees you double your stake with each successive win.
Positive progressive systems tend to be focused on careful bankroll management and maximizing the value of wins. So, they’re a little more risk-averse than negative progressive systems, which may require you to incur huge losses before you bank a return.
As with all Paroli iterations, markets and betting lines must be carefully selected here. Although you can target markets where the implied probability value may be lower than the actual probability, qualifying bets must always deliver a payout of at least 1:1.
The Reverse Paroli
The opposite of Paroli is the well-known Martingale system. Unlike Paroli, where you double your bet after each win, with Martingale, you double your bet after a loss. If you love strategies with strong recovery, Martingale or reverse Paroli is the best choice out there in the long run.
You start with a bet, $50, for instance, and after a loss, you double it to $100, and then to $200, and finally to $400. If you win the $400 bet, you’ll cover all your losses ($50+$100+$200=$350) and earn a $50 profit.
The upside of the Martingale is that as long as you eventually win, the system practically guarantees you’ll cover all your losses and make a profit equal to your original bet.
However, it’s a high-risk strategy, as loss streaks aren’t impossible. Within a short period, it’s possible to exhaust your bankroll and increase the risk of reckless gambling. This system may also be described as the Inverted Paroli.
The Extended Paroli
This is an extension of the Classic Paroli, as it still requires you to increase your bet unit with each successive win.
In this case, however, you may set a higher initial bet unit or adjust the amount as this is increased. You base this on your remaining bankroll or your precise choice of betting market. For example, you may use the Kelly Criterion to increase each stake by a more specific and targeted amount. Do this rather than simply doubling each time.
This variation usually recommends that players return to their original stake after three straight wins. This is based on the notion that your win probability will diminish over time, but this depends on your choice of game or sports betting market.
Pros and Cons of the Paroli System
Here are some upsides and downsides to this system:
Pros
- Controlled risk: The system resets after each loss.
- Large win potential: Even when you hit a 3-round win streak, you still get meaningful gains.
- Simplicity: It’s pretty straightforward to follow. No complex calculations are needed.
- Psychological benefits: By focusing on your winning streaks, your gambling experience can be more enjoyable.
- Bankroll management: It promotes disciplined spending by ensuring that you only increase your bets when you’re winning.
Cons
- Dependence on winning streaks: Without a winning streak, the system may not produce significant profits, and losses can accumulate over time.
- No recovery: When you lose a few times in a row, a win or two doesn’t help you win your money back, so it can feel bad.
Tips for Using the Paroli System
Here are some tips that will help you regardless of whether you’re using the Paroli betting system for sportsbook and casino games.
- Set a winning goal: Determine a specific number of consecutive wins before resetting your bet to the initial amount. Usually, players choose three consecutive wins. This helps you lock in profits and minimize risk. For example, if you start with a $10 bet and win three times in a row, you would then reset your bet. This would go back to $10 regardless of whether you win or lose on the next bet.
- Start small: Don’t go all out on your first bet. This ensures you can sustain the strategy over multiple betting sessions and reduces the impact of potential losing streaks. If your bankroll is $100, an initial bet of $10 is reasonable, representing just 10% of your total funds.
- Stick to even money bets: The Paroli system is most effective when the probability of winning is close to even.
- Discipline and consistency: Follow the system rigorously. Double your bet only after a win and reset to the initial bet after reaching your winning goal or after a loss. Avoid the temptation to deviate from the system based on hunches or emotions.
- Manage your session time: Set a time limit for each gambling session to avoid extended periods of play that could lead to exhaustion and poor decision-making. For instance, decide to play for no more than two hours in a single session.
Alternatives to the Paroli Betting System
While the Paroli system can be effective for many players, others might need different strategies that align better with their risk tolerance and betting style. Here are some alternative strategies and betting systems:
- The Martingale system: As we mentioned previously, this system is the opposite of Paroli. It involves doubling your bet after each loss. If you don’t mind taking a bigger risk, this method can pay off.
- D’Alembert system: A more conservative approach. You increase your bet by one unit after a loss and decrease it by one unit after a win. This system is less aggressive as it helps manage risk while aiming for steady profits.
- Fibonacci system: Based on the Fibonacci sequence, this system increases bets according to the sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, etc.) after a loss and moves two steps back after a win. The numbers in this string are supposed to represent the number of your betting units, so it’s ideal for small bets of $1 or $2.
- Labouchere system: Also known as the cancellation system, the Labouchere involves setting a sequence of numbers that represent betting units. You bet the sum of the first and last numbers in the sequence. After a win, you cross out those numbers; after a loss, you add the lost bet to the end of the sequence.
Paroli System FAQs
What is the Paroli betting strategy?
Can you use the Paroli system on casino games?
Is Paroli betting guaranteed to work?
Is Paroli better than the Fibonacci system?
Can the Paroli System be used for sports betting?
Can the Paroli System be used with alternative strategies?
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