The Paroli system is a popular betting strategy that encourages you to increase the size of your stake each time you win at a casino game. It is designed to maximise winning streaks, so it is considered to be a positive progression system. You can use the Paroli system in blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps and other casino games and at leading online casinos. This Paroli system guide will teach you everything you need to know about the strategy, the pros and cons of following it, and how to apply it to the most common games on the casino floor.
How Paroli System Works
The Paroli betting system derives its name from the Latin term “par”, which means “one that is equal”. Anyone that plays golf is well versed in the concept of par. The idea is that you double the size of your wager each time you win a blackjack hand, a spin of the roulette wheel or a throw of the dice.
The Paroli system is designed to be used on bets with even odds, such as red/black in roulette or pass/don’t pass in craps. The house takes a slight edge on all casino games, but those bets are considered 1:1 wagers. The Paroli system is an alternative to strategies such as the D’Alembert, the Martingale and the Fibonacci. In fact, the Paroli system is actually a reverse of the Martingale.
These strategies tell you how much to wager on each hand, and they are all applicable to bets with a roughly even chance of success. The Paroli system is more aggressive than many competing strategies, as it requires doubling your stake after a win and it does not require the player to chase losses.
Related Reads
- Online Casino Betting with the Fibonacci Betting System
- Online Casino Betting with the D’Alembert Betting System
The aim of the Paroli system is always to secure three consecutive wins, regardless of whether you are following a Paroli system roulette, a Paroli system blackjack, a Paroli system baccarat or a Paroli system craps. You double your stake with each win, but you go back to the start if you lose or land three consecutive winners.
If you want to use the Paroli system in blackjack, roulette, Pai Gow or any other casino game, you must start by setting aside a bankroll. This is essentially a sum of money that you are comfortable losing in a worst-case scenario. The Paroli system is popular with many casual players, because it does not require a substantial bankroll.
Allocate a percentage of your bankroll as your base unit. For this example, let’s say you have chosen €10. Place your first bet for €10 at your game of choice. If it wins, double your stake to €20 for your second bet. If it wins again, double it to €40 for your third bet. If that also wins, start again by wagering €10 the next time. If you lose a hand, go back to the start and bet €10 on the next hand.
This chart shows a theoretical casino session when using a Paroli system:
| Wager | Stake | Result of Bet | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1️⃣ First Bet | €10 | Loss | -€10 |
| 2️⃣ Second Bet | €10 | Win | €0 |
| 3️⃣ Third Bet | €20 | Win | €20 |
| 4️⃣ Fourth Bet | €40 | Loss | -€20 |
| 5️⃣ Fifth Bet | €10 | Loss | -€30 |
| 6️⃣ Sixth Bet | €10 | Win | -€20 |
| 7️⃣ Seventh Bet | €20 | Win | €0 |
| 8️⃣ Eighth Bet | €40 | Win | €40 |
| 9️⃣ Ninth Bet | €10 | Win | €50 |
| 🔟 Tenth Bet | €20 | Loss | €30 |
| 1️⃣1️⃣ Eleventh Bet | €10 | Loss | €30 |
| 1️⃣2️⃣ Twelfth Bet | €10 | Win | €40 |
As you can see, the Paroli system does not involve chasing losses, as you do not increase your stake when you lose. It works best when you achieve short winning streaks of three bets, and it does not leave you facing up to a series of large losing bets, as you keep your stake at one base unit with every loss you suffer.
A Paroli system is often referred to as a reverse Martingale. The Martingale requires the player to do the precise opposite. You double your stake after every loss, and go back to the start by betting one base unit after a win. The Martingale is therefore a negative progression betting system, while the Paroli system is a positive betting strategy. This style appeals to players that like the sense of building up momentum at a casino table. However, it remains moderately cautious, as you revert to one base unit after winning three in a row rather than chasing a longer streak.
Paroli Betting System Pros and Cons
Following a Paroli system provides a casino player with a number of key benefits:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 👍 The Paroli system does not require a large bankroll. Certain betting systems require you to significantly ramp up your bets when you suffer losses as you bid to hunt down those losses. For example, the Fibonacci system requires you to wager 21 times your base unit if you suffer eight consecutive losses, so you need to set aside a large bankroll in order to cover each bet. | 👎 It does not help you capitalise upon winning streaks of more than three bets. For example, if you win five bets in a row when using a Paroli system, you will earn 10 times your base unit in profit. However, if you were to keep doubling after every win, you would earn 31 times your base unit as a profit. It is therefore more conservative than some approaches. |
| 👍 Table limits do not pose a problem when using a Paroli blackjack system, Paroli system roulette, Paroli baccarat system or Paroli craps system. Sticking with the above example, you can easily exceed the table limits when following the Fibonacci system, as it requires a huge increase in stakes when you go on a losing streak. However, losing steaks are small and unspectacular when following the Paroli betting system. | 👎 The accumulation of one-unit losses can eventually exceed the seven-unit winning streaks required to compensate for them. The system only works when you enjoy winning streaks, and that is true of all betting systems. |
| 👍 It takes advantage of hot streaks. This can be psychological beneficial for a player, and it can increase the enjoyment. A negative progression system like the Martingale or the D’Alembert requires you to increase your stake when you lose, but decrease it or keep it the same when you win. The Paroli system is more aggressive. | 👎 Like all strategies, the Paroli system cannot overcome the inherent house edge built into casino games. The chances of landing three wins in a row are therefore slightly lower than the chances of losing streaks. |
| 👍 The concept of going back to the start after winning three in a row means you will not see your profit wiped out by doubling your money again and losing the fourth bet. This maximum win limit can ensure profitability when things are going in your favour. The Paroli system offers the potential for consistent small wins. | 👎 It does not chase losses, so you could be down for a considerable period during your session, even after a winning streak, which can be psychologically difficult for some players. |
| 👍 It is very easy to enjoy Paroli system roulette. The Fibonacci requires you to follow a relatively complex chain, while the Labouchere system requires ongoing mental calculations, but the Paroli system only involves doubling or returning to one base unit. That means you will not be distracted at the table, so you can concentrate on enjoying the experience, and it cuts out the risk of costly miscalculations. | |
| 👍 Following a system like the Paroli strategy helps you think about bankroll allocation and management, rather than increasing or decreasing your stake at random, giving you more control and helping you stay at the table longer. |
Paroli Blackjack Betting System
The Paroli system in blackjack works well due to the low house edge that this popular casino game carries. The RTP (return to player) is greater than 99% on classic blackjack and other variants of the game, so you stand a roughly 50/50 chance of success when playing a hand.
If you want to play Paroli system blackjack, you can start by setting aside a modest bankroll and choosing a base unit. If you decide to make each unit €20, start off by staking €20 on your first hand. Hopefully it will win, and your next hand will be for €40. If that wins too, you increase your bet to €80 for your third hand.
Your next hand will be for €20, regardless of whether you win or lose, as you always revert back to a one unit bet each time you lose or land three consecutive victories when using the Paroli system in blackjack. If you lose your very first hand, just bet €20 again on the next one, and keep going until you win a hand and you are able to double the size of your stake
The hope is that you will embark on a winning streak of three hands, cancelling out any single losses you might have incurred and earning a profit. Remember that when playing blackjack, Paroli system blackjack is a positive progression approach that chases short winning runs rather than losses.
Of course, there are ways to earn extra money when playing Paroli system blackjack. You might be dealt a blackjack and earn an extra 50% of your stake. You might decide to double down, or successfully split aces. This is all built into the RTP, and it does not impact your Paroli system blackjack strategy.
When using the Paroli system in blackjack, you can double your base stake if you win, but just leave any extra winnings in your bankroll. The blackjack Paroli system is popular among players, as it does not lead to extreme losing streaks and it means you can generally spend a long time at the table.
Make sure you claim any available online casino promotions, as those bonuses can make the difference between an overall profit and loss when following the Paroli system in blackjack. Paroli system betting cannot cancel out the house edge, but a bonus can really eat into it. Bonuses are not available when playing Paroli system blackjack in a retail casino, so you should always claim them when playing online.
