There are many betting systems that people use when playing roulette online, or at a brick and mortar casino. Several systems, referred to as martingale systems, are based on increasing bets after losses and pulling back after wins. One such advanced system is called the "Grand Martingale."

How the Grand Martingale Works

With the Grand Martingale roulette system, you double your bet after you lose and add a dollar to it. For example, say that you started with a bet of $2 and lost. Your next bet would be $5 ($2 x 2= $4, $4 + $1 = $5). Say that you lose again; then your bet would be $11. The more you lose, the more you will win in the end.

The Grand Martingale Compared to the "Regular" Martingale

Say you lost 3 in a row and won the fourth. Your betting sequence would be $2, $5, $11, $23. You would have bet $41 total and won $46, giving you a $5 profit. If you instead lost on the fourth bet and then won your fifth, you would be betting $47 and winning $94, for a $6 profit.

If you compare this to the "regular" Martingale, your betting sequence would be $2, $4, $8, and $16, making your win $32, giving you a $2 profit. If you lost on the fourth and won on the fifth, you would win $64, which is still a $2 profit. The profit doesn't change with the regular Martingale system.

Variation on the Grand Martingale

Some players add two units to that doubled bet instead, and if you have the extra bankroll, that's not a bad idea. Using the last example this way, our betting sequence for three losses and a win would be $2, $6, $14, $30. You would win $60 on the fourth, having only bet $52 on the sequence, for an $8 profit.

The most defining characteristic of the Grand Martingale roulette system is if you're losing a lot, you'll be putting a lot on the table. The decision is up to you as to whether or not the risk is worth the potential outcome.