Positive vs Negative Progression Systems
Updated: May 24, 2024
Published: May 23, 2024
Over time, gambling has evolved from simple games of chance to the use of complex and sophisticated strategies aimed at minimizing losses and maximizing profits. Among these casino strategies, you will often come across progression systems that stand out due to their structured approach toward bet sizing.
They are generally categorized as positive and negative progression systems, which depict how you adjust your bets based on their previous outcomes in online casino gambling.
While positive progression systems increase bet sizes after wins, negative progression systems increase bet sizes after losses. For any serious gambler, understanding progression systems is important as they allow you to manage risks in the unpredictable world of gambling.
On this page, you can learn everything there is to know about positive and negative progression systems, including which method out of the two is better.
What are Progression Betting Systems?
Before we delve into the positive and negative aspects of progression betting systems, it is important to understand the basic concept of progression betting systems.
The betting system, positive or negative, deals with the adjustment of bet size based on the previous outcomes. In online casinos, you will see people using them in casino games such as blackjack and roulette. The system is very straightforward, so much so that you can use it in everyday life when it comes to making investments or dealing with other financials.
If you are a gambler, you must also be wary while betting with progression systems in mind. This is because these systems do not always work. While they can help you earn some money over a short period, they do not necessarily shape your wins in the long run. With that said, we will also cover why the systems fail occasionally.
Positive Progression System
In a positive progression system, you, as the bettor, increase your bet size after a win and decrease it after enduring a loss. The basic idea behind this is to take advantage of winning streaks and minimizing losses during losing streaks.
Some of the common examples of a positive progression system are –
Paroli system: As an example, let us say you start the round with an INR 100 bet. If you win that round, as per the Paroli system, you will double the bet size to INR 200 in the next round. If you win again, you will bet INR 400 in the third round. In case of another win, you must decide whether betting INR 800 is feasible; alternatively, you can revert to the initial bet size of INR 100. However, if you incur a loss at any point, you must go back to INR 100
Parlay system: In the Parlay system, you add the winnings of each bet to the next bet. For example, if you bet INR 100 and win INR 50, your next bet should be INR 150. Upon betting INR 150 and winning an additional INR 50, your next bet amount will be INR 200, and so on.
Advantages of the Positive Progression System
Here are some of the advantages of a positive progression system. Let's have a look
- Easy to understand and implement: The rules of the positive progression system are straightforward and can be implemented easily. Systems like Paroli and Parlay do not require complex arithmetic, making them accessible to veteran gamblers and novices alike
- Maximizes winning streak: This system is targeted towards maximizing winning streaks by increasing the bet size progressively. You can earn substantial profits throughout several successful bets, as each win is reinvested to potentially earn more
- Psychological comfort: Gambling comes with its fair share of stress, but when you introduce a positive progression system to your gameplay, it reduces stress as you have the choice of minimizing bet sizes after a loss as compared to some systems wherein you must increase your bet size after a loss
Disadvantages of the Positive Progression System
- Excess reliance on wins: One of the pitfalls of the positive progression system is the reliance on winning streaks to generate profits. If you experience infrequent wins, the system may not bring results as desired, as the opportunity to increase bets is few
- Modest gains: Even with a successful win streak, you will notice that the overall gains are modest owing to the incremental nature of the bet size
- No impact on house edge: This betting system fails to impact the house edge in any form. You will not witness much change in the long-term odds of the game, and with time the house edge will continue working against you
Negative Progression System
The negative progression system operates in quite the opposite way as compared to the positive progression system. Here, you increase your bet size after suffering a loss and decrease it after a win.
The objective of this gameplay is to recover losses with a single big win. A couple of examples of this system are –
- Martingale system: While following the Martingale system, if you bet INR 100 and lose, you bet INR 200 in the next round, doubling it. In case you lose again, you bet INR 400 in the next round, and so on. However, if you win at any point, you revert to INR 100 and start all over again
- D’Alembert system: This system requires you to increase the bet by a certain amount after a loss and decrease it by the same amount in case of a win. For instance, if you wager INR 100 and lose, you increase it to, say, INR 50 in the next round, with the total bet amount for the next round reading as INR 150. You take a similar approach if you lose and stake INR 200 in the next round. If you win, you decrease the bet amount to INR 150 in the next round; win again, then you bet INR 100 in the next round, and so on
Advantages of the Negative Progression System
The Negative Progression System, often utilized in gaming strategies, offers several distinct benefits that can enhance both risk management and potential returns.
- Rapid loss recovery: One of the key advantages of this system is its potential for rapid recovery of losses. After each loss, you increase the bet size, which is aimed at recouping lost money, thus bringing you back to a net positive position more quickly as compared to the positive progression system
- Better adaptability: The negative progression system can be used in various games, offering you flexibility to suit your risk appetite. Its adaptability to different betting scenarios makes it the sought-after system for seasoned gamblers
- Suitable for low-house edge games: This system can be perfectly applied to games with a low-house edge. In games like baccarat and roulette, the probability of winning individual bets is high, making the strategy of recovering losses with subsequent wins viable
Disadvantages of the Negative Progression System
While the Negative Progression System can provide certain advantages, it also comes with notable drawbacks as well.
- High risk of heavy losses: A single loss can turn into a losing streak, and with the negative progression system, you are required to raise your bet size with each loss. This can result in significant losses in a short period
- Fast exhaustion of bankroll: Since you are required to rapidly increase the bet size, your bankroll can deplete quickly. Even a short losing streak can hurt your financials, leaving you unable to progress further to recover your losses
- Questionable long-term viability: The benefits that come with the negative progression system appear generous for the short term, however, it is not viable for an extended duration
Positive vs Negative Progression System – Which is Better?
In terms of advantages, the positive progression system is considered a better betting alternative. It also carries a large variety of options to choose from, making it a favorable choice.
Regardless, it is your duty as a player to recognize that both these systems rely heavily on luck. They can provide some advantages, but the overall outcome will depend on how lucky you are feeling on a given day.
Ultimately, mastering either of these strategies requires commitment discipline, and a thorough understanding of the rules of each casino game.
