Is this encyclopedic? I'm not sure of exactly how the Wikipedia stands on howtos... Ed Cormany 03:19 18 Jul 2003 (UTC)
Question: who invented the Martingale system, and when? Martin
Is there any reason why this should not be merged into the main Martingale article? --Henrygb 17:09, 3 Apr 2005 (UTC)
This seems pretty POV to me.. Like warning to some gambling addicts that this will not work. This is one of the best betting strategies on roulette and works pretty good if you find a high limit table somewhere..
- I don't see how this is any more POV than stating that perpetual motion machines are not physically possible. You can't ever have positive expected value on an unbiased roulette table.
- You're right. It's a statement of fact. But it's best just to let the idiots who think they can win at roulette using Martingale (or anything) find it out the hard way. 82.13.187.127 08:48, 27 December 2005 (UTC)
But does the strategy really require that the gambler has an infinite wealth? I would easily try this out once as soon as I have a companion that could lend me any amount of money for a very short period of time without interest. I would pay him back everything within a minute or so—guaranteed. It's risk free for him and it's risk free for me—and yet I know I will win the amount I want. Am I really an idiot then? INic 02:09, 1 February 2006 (UTC)
- In what way is it risk-free? It is perfectly clear that there is *always* a chance of catastrophic loss. With any real amount of money, you have a chance to lose it all. That is *not* risk-free.
- If you play this strategy long-term, you are *mathematically guaranteed* to lose all your money, since you will eventually hit a large enough losing streak to clean you out. With "infinite wealth", you can keep doubling your bet each time and you will eventually hit a win and recoup your losses; therefore with infite wealth you win on average. But without infinite wealth, you will eventually lose.
- Incedentally, why would the money have to be borrowed? Surely you have your own which you can gamble with? Or would you just like to ensure that if you do lose, somebody else pays?--Rhebus 11:00, 6 February 2006 (UTC)