Online Casino Betting with the Paroli Betting System

Lee James Gwilliam

Updated by Lee James Gwilliam

Senior Vice-President

Last Updated 7th Nov 2025, 02:19 PM

Online Casino Betting with the Paroli Betting System

Okay! Gather ‘round. I’m about to spill the beans on one of my favourite casino strategies ever: the Paroli system. I like to call this little gem “The Paroli Playbook” because it’s essentially your cheat sheet for riding winning streaks without losing your sanity or your savings. The Paroli Betting System encourages you to increase the size of your stake each time you win at a casino game. It’s designed to maximise winning streaks (Whoop! Whoop!). This attitude labels it as a positive progression system. And who doesn’t love positivity or progression?

Now, if you’ve ever looked at betting systems and thought, “These are all just mathy excuses to blow my pay cheque faster,” I hear you. But trust me, Paroli is different. This is the chilled cousin of the betting world. Positive, fun and only aggressive when it makes sense. It’s like a Labrador puppy: enthusiastic when it’s winning, but not destructive when it fails.

So, what is it? In the simplest terms, the Paroli system is a positive progression strategy. That’s just a fancy way of saying, “I double my bet when I win, and go back to my normal bet size when I lose.” No chasing losses, no spiralling stakes, just smooth momentum when the wins come. You can use this strategy on blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and even craps. It works at online casinos and land-based ones. And yes, I’ve tried it on them all (sometimes with more caffeine than money).

Paroli Guide Contents 

How the Paroli System Works

Let’s start with the basics. The name “Paroli” comes from Latin "Par" meaning “one that is equal”. Golfers, you know the feeling: par, bogey, birdie. In betting terms, paroli is all about keeping things balanced while riding short winning streaks. 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 roulette odds 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. (Now there’s a double whammy for you).

Paroli in a nutshell, “I double my bet when I win, and go back to my normal bet size when I lose or after 3 consecutive wins.”

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.

The aim of the Paroli system is always to secure three consecutive wins, regardless of whether you're applying it in roulette, blackjack, baccarat or craps. You double your stake with each win, but you go back to the start if you lose or land three consecutive winners.

Here's a pro tip: before using the system, set aside a bankroll. This is essentially a sum of money that you are comfortable losing in a worst-case scenario. Although I have to question your sanity, if you are ever comfortable losing any amount of money! Be that as it may, 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.

Here’s How I do It:

Paroli In Practice

1. Set a bankroll

Translations: “Here’s the money I can happily lose without crying into my latte.” (Although I secretly do go off and cry into something way stronger than a latte)

The aim of the Paroli system is always to secure three consecutive wins, regardless of whether you're playing blackjack, roulette, baccarat or craps.

Here’s a typical session using my Paroli Playbook:

WagerStakeResult of BetBalance
1️⃣ First Bet$10Loss-$10
2️⃣ Second Bet$10Win$0
3️⃣ Third Bet$20Win$20
4️⃣ Fourth Bet$40Loss-$20
5️⃣ Fifth Bet$10Loss-$30
6️⃣ Sixth Bet$10Win-$20
7️⃣ Seventh Bet$20Win$0
8️⃣ Eighth Bet$40Win$40
9️⃣ Ninth Bet$10Win$50
🔟 Tenth Bet$20Loss$30
1️⃣1️⃣ Eleventh Bet$10Loss$30
1️⃣2️⃣ Twelfth Bet$10Win$40

See that? No chasing losses, just smooth momentum. Like a yacht gliding across calm water. And this, my friend, is why Paroli is called a reverse Martingale - we’re doing the opposite of doubling after every loss, which frankly, can make anyone sweat.

The Pros and Cons of My Paroli Playbook

I like tables. They make me feel organised and smart, even if my bets aren’t always. Here’s what’s good and…slightly less good, with a pinch of humour. Following the Paroli System provides a casino player with a number of key benefits.

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages
No massive bankroll required: I’m not betting my rent here. Unlike Fibonacci or Martingale, I don’t need to throw hundred at a single hand after eight losses. Certain betting systems, like the Fibonacci, require you to significantly ramp up your bets when you suffer losses as you bid to hunt down the worst losses.
Table limits aren’t a problem: No crying into chips because I hit the ceiling. You can easily exceed the tab l limits when following the Fibonacci system, as it requires a huge increase in stakes when you go on a losing streak. However, with Paroli, losing streaks are small and unspectacular.
Psychologically fun: Riding a hot streak is thrilling and Paroli takes advantage of hot streaks. This can increase the enjoyment. A negative progression system (Martingale or 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.
I quit while I’m ahead. No temptation to chase a fourth win and lose it all. 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.
Easy to follow: Just double and reset. It is very easy to enjoy Paroli. Fibonacci is relatively complex, while the Labouchere system requires ongoing mental calculations. However, the Paroli system only involves doubling or returning to one base unit.
Improves bankroll discipline: I feel in control and stay longer at the table. The Paroli strategy helps you think about bankroll allocation and management, rather than increasing or decreasing your stake at random, giving you more control helping you stay at the table longer.
Disadvantages
Short streak limit: Winning more than three bets in a row? Paroli says “Nah, stop now, chill”. 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 other approaches.
Single Unit losses can pile up. If luck hates me, I might feel like I’m swimming in a slow drip of tiny losses. 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.
Hose Edge still exists: Even Paroli zen can’t 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.
Can be slow: Not exactly the racket to millionaire status. 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.
Emotionally tricky: A string of small losses can test your coffee-fueled patience. It may also play on your mind a little. But reach for the coffee and you’ll be good to go.
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Applying The Paroli Playbook To My Fav Games

Paroli Blackjack: Doubling Down Without Losing My Mind

Blackjack is my favourite playground for the Paroli system. Why? Because classic blackjack has an RTP (return-to-player) of over 99%. That’s nearly a 50/50 chance for each hand. I like those odds, just enough tension to be fun without heart attacks. As one of the leading blackjack betting strategies, the Paroli system 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 blackjack using the Paroli system, 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 worth $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're winning or losing by then. This is because you always revert back to a one-unit bet either when you lose or when landing three consecutive victories. If you lose your very first hand, just bet $20 again on the next one. Keep going until you win a hand and you're able to double the size of your stake.

The hope is that you will embark on a winning streak of three hands. This would cancel out any single losses you might have incurred and earn you a profit. If you want to learn how to play blackjack and win, the Paroli system could be a positive progression approach that builds up short winning runs rather than chasing losses.

Of course, there are ways to earn extra money when using the Paroli system to play 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 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. This blackjack strategy 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.

Here’s my routine:

  1. Set aside a bankroll. Let's say $100
  2. Choose a base unit. $20 sounds reasonable
  3. Start betting. First hand: $20. Win? Next hand: $40. Win again? $80. Win a third time? Back to $20. Lose? Back to $20.

I don’t chase losses. I let the streaks ride. If I get a blackjack (hello; 3:2 payout), I just leave the extra cash in my bankroll so it doesn’t affect the Paroli progression. Same for splitting aces or doubling down; I follow my base unit rules. And yes, claiming online casino bonuses is smart. Those little freebies can turn a small session into a slightly larger one. Retail casinos? Not so much.

Paroli Roulette: Betting on Colour Like a Pro

Roulette is where the Paroli system shines for even money bets: red/black, odd/even, 1-18/19-36. Don’t mess with individual numbers, corners, or dozens unless you want a headache. I stick to European Roulette, whenever possible. American roulette has that evil double-zero that laughs at my streaks and significantly increases the house edge. French Roulette can be even better, as the la partage rule cuts your losses in half when the ball lands on zero.

When playing roulette, a Paroli strategy can be applied to side bets where the chances of success are roughly 50/50. The actual chance of winning is slightly lower, as the green zero provides the house with an edge on side wagers. It is generally advisable to stick to European Roulette as opposed to American Roulette unless there is a clear reason for choosing the latter, such as an enticing bonus.

Knowing how to bet in roulette is important here. For example, you can play Paroli system roulette when better on red or black, odd or even, or 1-18 or 19-36. But you would never use Paroli system roulette to bet on individual numbers, corners, dozens, or columns.

This roulette strategy is an alternative to keeping the same stake for each spin or following a strategy like the Martingale, James Bond, D’Alembert, Fibonacci, or Labouchere. It requires you to set a base unit and double it each time you win. If you lose, go back to one unit. If you win three in a row, go back to one unit. It’s as simple as that.

Let’s say you choose $5 as your base unit when playing Paroli system roulette. Start off by betting $5 on red, black, odd, even, 1-18 or 19-36. If it loses, bet $5 again. If it wins, increase your stake to $10 for the next bet.

If that loses, go back to $5. If it wins, double it again to $20. If you win or lose your third bet, you go back to $5, as you always go back to square one when you win three in a row.

Here’s how I play:

  1. Choose a base unit: Let’\s say $5
  2. Pick a bet: Red feels lucky today
  3. Bet, double, reset. Lose? Back to $5. Win? The next bet is $10. Win again? $20 Win a third time? Back to $5. Easy peasy. 

Most people stick to the same bet every spin, but I like mixing it up sometimes - red, then black, then odd, then even. Keeping it fun while following Paroli rules.

Paroli Baccarat - Quietly Crushing The Table

Baccarat is intimidating to some, but I love it. Low house edge, fast pace and perfect for the Paroli system. Stick to player or banker bets. Never the tie. The banker bet has the lowest edge, so that’s my go-to. Baccarat is renowned as a dangerous game for casinos. It carries a low house edge and high table limits. It is extremely popular among Asian high rollers, but its popularity has spread across the world. 

The live dealer version of baccarat is now a fixture at all the best online live casinos. Players love its high RTP, its speed and the simple rules. So, they are keen to try out a Paroli baccarat strategy. Which is nice - but don't get ahead of yourself if you've not yet mastered baccarat for beginners

In Baccarat, Paroli should be used for even-chance wagers. Many Paroli baccarat strategy fans use it for banker bets, as they have the lowest house edge. The rest is quite simple. You start off with a base unit and wager it on your first hand. If it is $25, you lay down that amount and hope for the best. If you lose, you start again and place another $25 bet. You can rack up a number of single losses when applying Paroli to baccarat.

If you win, you double your stake to $25. The next step is to double your stake again when you land two consecutive winners. You always stop at three wins in a row and go back to the start again. The idea behind the Paroli system is that streaks come in short bursts. So, a baccarat strategy using the Paroli system involves quitting while you are ahead. This way you do not chase losses either.

Here's what my Paroli Playbook says:

  1. Set base unit: Let’s say $25
  2. Wager and watch: Win? Double next bet. Win again? Double again. Win a third time/ Back to $25. Lose? Reset.

Then beauty here: short streaks, calm play, no crazy table-limit nightmares. I ride the hot streaks, quit while I’m ahead and sip my Irish coffee like a champ.

Paroli Craps: Riding the Dice Wave

Craps can be chaotic, but the Paroli system keeps it smooth. Focus on even-money bets like pass line, don’t pass, come or don’t come. Use it, or don’t use it. Avoid hard ways to single-roll bets. Those are just dice roulette chaos. Paroli is popular among craps players as it helps them build up momentum during winning streaks while keeping losing streaks small and unspectacular. In craps, the Paroli system can be applied to the sort of 50/50 bets described in the roulette section above.

Knowing how to play craps is vital when using this system. For example, you would not use Paroli for bets like hard ways, one roll, place bets, and so on. It's designed for 1:1 bets such as pass line or come bet, don’t pass or don’t come bet, field bets on 3, 4, 9, 10, or 11, and Big 6 or 8. These all have a 50/50 chance of success, although the house edge reduces that slightly.

Choose your base unit and stick to it. If you go for $10, that will be the amount you wager on the first throw of the dice. You can then ramp up your stake to $20 if it wins or keep it at $10 if it loses. You would up your bet to $40 if you win twice in a row, but you would go back to $10 if you ever win three on the bounce. Always return to one base unit whenever you lose or land three consecutive victories while playing craps with a Paroli strategy.

What I recommend:

  1. Pick a base unit: $10 feels right
  2. Bet, double, reset: Win twice? Next bet is $40. Win three? Back to $10. Lose? Back to $10

You can mix your wagers a bit, but stick to even chance bets for sanity. This is where Paroli’s positive progression shines. It builds momentum while keeping losses small and….well, slightly boring.

Wrapping Up: Why I Love the Paroli Playbook

So here’s my verdict: the Paroli system is the perfect blend of fun, control and manageable risk. It’s not going to make me a millionaire overnight but it keeps me playing longer, enjoying shorter streaks and avoiding heart-stopping losses. 

  • Pros: Small bankroll, easy to follow, fun momentum, discipline-friendly.
  • Cons: Won’t beat those edge capped winning streak, slow accumulation

If you follow my guide, The Paroli Playbook, you’ll know exactly how to play blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and craps like a calm, confident casino-goer. You’ll double on wins, reset on losses and sip your coffee while everyone else panics over Martingale spirals.

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Didn't Like Paroli? No Problem

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Meet The Author

10 Years
Experience
Lee James Gwilliam
Lee James Gwilliam
Senior Vice-President Senior Vice-President

Lee James Gwilliam has over 10 years as a poker player and 5 in the casino industry. He has been all around the industry, working for a casino, writing more than 3,000 articles for various independent review sites and is an active player of slots, live dealer and poker.

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