Some common systems used for gambling
The Flat Betting System
The principle of a flat invariable amount of the bet underlies this gambling system. The gambler makes bets of the same amount regardless of the number of sporting events and the corresponding odds. The bet amount can be defined by the gambler solely; however, it depends on the gambler’s capital. The amount of the bets is equal to a certain capital share measured in percents. For instance, the bet amount can be 5% of the capital with the Flat System. This means that if your capital is EUR 2,000, the sum of the bets will be equal to EUR 100. It should be noticed that the selected bet amount cannot be changed every day. The gambler chooses some check points, having achieved which he can reconsider the bet amount. A 20% increase of the gambler’s capital can be such a check point. This is the only way to review the bet amount. For example, the gambler’s capital has reached EUR 2,400 in a while. In this case the gambler is allowed to recalculate the amount of his bet from EUR 100 to EUR 120. From now on, he begins to bet EUR 120 each time according to the Flat System.
The Flat System is used not only at bookmaker’s offices but also in numerous games. This is one of the simplest systems that have been known for a long time. The Flat System is still very popular, so many gamblers use it to make a stable income from the gambling at the bookmakers.
- Advantages of the Flat System:
- low risk of the capital loss
- stability, the gambler’s psychological resistance
- a possibility of the strategy and plan correction "on the go" without having to change the gambling system.
- Shortcomings of the Flat System:
- the slow growth of the capital
- much time will be required for the progress, if the start-up capital is small
- a high probability of not keeping the chosen system (the gambler is tempted to make larger bets).
The Fixed Percentage System
This system is very similar to the Flat System. The only difference is that the bet amount is determined online in real time. Each time before making a bet, the gambler calculates the bet amount (unlike the Flat System, where the amount of the bet is reconsidered only after achievement of the chosen check points).
- Advantages of the Fixed Percentage System:
- more rapid growth of the capital given a large ratio of wins
- slower reduction of the capital given a large ratio of losses.
- Shortcomings of the Fixed Percentage System:
- the gambler needs more wins to reimburse the part of the capital after a sequence of unfortunate bets
- the recalculation of the bet amount before making a bet requires some time.
The Fixed Profit System
The key factor of this system is an equal amount of the potential winnings. The amount of each bet is calculated so that the gambler wins a certain sum that is always constant. For example, the gambler’s goal is to win EUR 500 with each bet made. In this case, one needs to bet EUR 500 given the odds equal to 2.0, while this amount is going to be EUR 250 given the odds equal to 3.0. The amount of the bet can be calculated as follows: the sum of the desired winnings should be divided by the odds previously reduced by 1.
- Advantages of the Fixed Profit System:
- given a good ratio of wins the gambler can calculate his gambling capital beforehand.
- Shortcomings of the Fixed Profit System:
- it is difficult to forecast the gambling capital changes because of inability to plan the amount of the bet
- given the sequence of losses the capital will be reduced by some uncertain amount
- there is a strong temptation to switch to the Martingale Gambling System
The Martingale Method
The Martingale method presupposes that the bet amount is increased each time after a loss so that the winnings of this bet would cover the previous loss. People call this system "Pursuit". The gambler kind of pursues his previous bets, i.e., he continuously wins back his losses and also wins making new bets. Generally speaking, it turns out that the gambler never loses as he covers all the previous losses with the new winnings, reimbursing the lost sums. However, this is a very risky system, so it should be used carefully. Firstly, the gambler can easily lose the whole capital given a long sequence of no-win bets. Thereby, if you decide to use this system, the initial bet will have to be as small as possible. This will allow you to make more subsequent bets, if you lose several times. You should also "pursue" the event that hasn’t happened for a long time. For instance, some team hasn’t won 7-8 matches in a row, now you can start betting on this team victory in accordance with the Martingale Method. However, please remember the following: these rules won’t save you from a loss. Anything can happen in the world of sports, and even the most improbable series can take place.
- Advantages of the Martingale Method:
- the capital grows continuously in the medium-term period
- the stable profit and earnings
- a good ratio of wins significantly reduces risks.
- Shortcomings of the Martingale Method:
- a high risk to lose the gambling capital given the series of loses
- your new bet amount can exceed the bookmaker’s limit; that is why you have to choose the best bookmakers or make bets at several bookmakers at the same time by splitting the bet amount into parts.
The Anti-Martingale Method
The Anti-Martingale Method is contrary to the Martingale Method. The point is that the bet is decreased after a loss and increased after a win. This method makes the winning series particularly profitable while losses in unfortunate series decrease. The gambler defines at its sole discretion the amount the bet should be increased or decreased by. Therefore, this method allows to avoid the largest disadvantage of the Martingale Method, namely the risk of the capital loss. There is no such a risk any longer! In the meantime, due to the fact that the last bet in the series is the biggest one and all series end some day, a considerable portion of profit generated by such series disappears. The Anti-Martingale Method has much more followers. Such popularity of this method is explained mostly by low risks. However, if the win percentage is low for a long period of time, this is going to result in the small bet amounts, which can be used for learning and plan correction, though.
The D’Alamber Method
The D’Alamber Method is very similar to the Martingale method. The only difference is that the amount of each subsequent bet after a loss is increased by the amount of the lost bet. Accordingly, the amount of each subsequent bet after a win is decreased by the winning amount. It is important to realize the aforesaid rule refers to the bet amounts but not the lost money or winnings. Oppositely, the lost amount or the winning amount is a priority in the Martingale method. While gambling according to the pursuit system, it is essential to recover a loss, whereas the D’Alamber method presupposes that only the bet amount is important. The D’Alamber method is frequently called a method of pyramid construction.
- Advantages of the D’Alamber Method:
- a significant profit is gained given 50% of the winning bets. It happens mostly due to the cover of losses with the bet amount
- stable profit and earnings
- a good ratio of wins reduces risks considerably.
- Shortcomings of the D’Alamber Method:
- a high risk of losing the gambling capital given the series of loses (however, this risk is lower compared to the Martingale Method)
- your new bet amount can exceed the bookmaker’s limit; that is why you have to choose the best bookmakers or make bets in several bookmakers’ offices at the same time by splitting the bet amount into parts.
The Anti-D’Alamber Method
The Anti-D’Alamber Method is contrary to the D’Alamber Method. The deal is that the bet amount is decreased after a loss and increased after a win. This method means that the winning series are particularly profitable, while losses are reduced in the unlucky series. The subsequent bets are changed by the amounts of the previous bets like in the D’Alamber method, but the other way round. Whatever is fair in relation to the Anti-Martingale method is the same fair for the Anti-D’Alamber method. However, the D’Alamber Method is less tough and risky.
The Grind Method
The D’Alamber system underlies the Grind Method. The only difference is that the bet amount will be reduced to the initial bet amount, once the gambler achieves the positive balance. I.e., if your initial bet equal to EUR 100 increases up to EUR 600 as a result of the series of three losses (EUR 100, 200, 300, 600) and then you win with the last bet and, therefore, cover all the previous losses, the next bet will be equal to the initial amount, i.e., EUR 100 (it would be EUR 300 according to the D’Alamber Method).
The Kelly Criterion Method
The system based on the Kelly criterion is a professional technique. Every self-respecting gambler should seek to use this system. The essence of this method is a correct assessment of the outcome probabilities of the sporting events and their subsequent comparison with the odds provided by the number of bookmakers. If the product of multiplication of your outcome probability expressed in percentage by the bookmaker’s odds and divided by 100 is more than one, this means that, in your opinion, the bookmakers underestimate this outcome. Thereby, professionals identify underestimated outcomes and make bets on them, beating the bookmakers on a regular basis.
- Advantages of the Kelly Criterion Method:
- one cannot lose the capital (given the probability assessment at least close to the right one)
- this is the good experience as the gambler can learn how to assess the outcome probability and betting odds correctly.
- Shortcomings of the Kelly Criterion Method:
- one needs to have a good understanding of sports and possess the appropriate skills, experience and statistics
- not high profit.
The Miller Method
According to this system, only sporting events with the equal outcome chances are subject to betting; only two outcomes are considered. Therefore, the probability of each outcome is about 50 x 50. The essence of this method is to guess more than 55% of the outcomes of such matches. The bet is fixed, so the method resembles the Flat System in this context. The only limitation is the following: only outcomes with odds from 1.85 to 2.0 are used. The bets must be single (but not the multiple bets).
Conclusions
Besides the aforesaid most famous gambling systems used at bookmakers, there is a number of systems, which you can find by yourself on the Internet or in Gambling Systems section of this website. However, the knowledge of the gambling systems mentioned on this website is enough to start earning money from sports and become a professional gambler in the bookmaker’s offices. You can experiment, invent new systems by yourself and attempt to combine the aforementioned gambling systems. You need to take into account, though, that millions of people have already passed this way. And, most likely, whatever could have been invented has been already invented and known. Therefore, you’d better utilize the ready systems, slightly updating or modifying them to suit your own gambling strategy and tactics.
