What is the best betting system?

The “best” betting system is subjective and varies based on each person’s goals and preferences. Some bettors might prefer a flat betting system where they wager the same amount on every bet, while others may prefer a more aggressive approach such as the Martingale system. That said, no betting system is foolproof. There’s always an element of risk involved. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what works best for your bankroll management.

Why are betting systems important?

Betting systems are important because they allow you to learn, adapt and improve your skills as a bettor. Let’s face it, sports betting is hard — really hard, in fact. It’s even harder when you bet without any real strategy or thought behind it. Having a built-out plan of attack at least allows you to see what’s working and what’s not, which is half the battle! Testing betting systems lets us tweak our strategy and better our results.

Can you have multiple betting systems?

Different betting systems can have conflicting strategies, making it difficult to follow more than one approach at once. It’s best to try out different betting systems over time and see which one suits your style and needs the best. By experimenting with different systems, you can learn what brings you the results you’re looking for and what doesn’t. All in all, building your betting strategy is a personal journey, and it requires patience, discipline, and a willingness to learn from your mistakes.

Are parlays worth it?

Parlays can be exciting and offer the chance for a big payout, but in most cases, they are not worth the risk. Winning a single bet can be difficult enough, let alone stringing together multiple bets in a parlay. Of course, there are exceptions to this. Correlated parlays, which are bets that are tied together, can sometimes be a good option. Unfortunately, many bookies prohibit these types of parlays because they put them in a risky position. Ultimately, whether or not parlays are worth it for you depends on the amount of risks you’re willing to take.

What is bankroll management?

Bankroll management is the art of controlling your gambling funds. As a bettor, it is vital to have a strategy for approaching your bankroll, including how much money you bet on each wager and what to do with your winnings. You need to be strategic and not bet recklessly. Only betting a small percentage of your bankroll on each wager can help reduce the risk of losing all your funds quickly, so consider that. Remember this: the lifeblood of any bettor is their gambling funds.

What is the highest percent you should stake on a single bet?

There’s no hard rule here; however, any bet that risks more than 10 percent of your available funds is dangerous. This is because betting too large a percentage of your bankroll on one bet can put you in an irreversible position if you lose. As sports bettors, we must have a long-term approach to survive through the inevitable losses that come with betting. Risking over 10% of your bankroll on a single bet can make it a lot harder to recover from those losses.

What is the break-even point when wagering?

The break-even point is the percentage of bets you need to win to at least make back the money you wagered. In most cases, the break-even point is around 52.4 percent when betting on standard -110 odds (for example, 11 wins out of 21 bets). Bear in mind that this percentage can vary depending on the type of bet you place. If you bet on reduced juice lines or moneylines, the break-even point will shift accordingly.

What is odds shopping?

Odds shopping is like bargain hunting for bettors. It involves comparing the odds of a specific bet at different sportsbooks to find the best value. For example, if one bookmaker is offering -110 on the favorite team winning, but another bookmaker is offering -105 on the same outcome, you would choose the latter for better value. Over time, even small differences in odds can add up to significant gains or losses. That’s why you should try to make it a regular part of your betting strategy.

Is line shopping worth it?

Line shopping is definitely worth it. The odds are already against you when betting on sports. That’s why you need to find every advantage you can to become profitable, including getting the best betting lines. Just imagine, for example, that you’re looking to bet on the Super Bowl winner and you’ve found two different sportsbooks with odds for the same team. One sportsbook has them at +800, while the other has them at +900. By line shopping and taking the higher odds, you can potentially earn an extra $100 for every $1000 bet. That’s quite a difference, especially if you are betting on a regular basis.

What is the key to winning wagers consistently?

Two factors are essential when it comes to winning wagers on a consistent basis. One is formulating a betting strategy, which we covered in-depth throughout this article. But reason two is doing research. Lots and lots of research. “Outsmarting the bookie” on a consistent basis comes from specialized knowledge and finding value, both of which come out of the research.

Best Sports Betting Systems in 2025

Today’s article, designed to help you beat the bookies, will focus on different betting systems. You may have many questions in this regard, such as: ‘What is the best sports betting system?’, ‘How many different types of sports betting system are there?’ and ‘Which betting systems work?’ Sports betting systems are fundamental to any successful bettors plan, so you’ll need to work the right systems into your strategy. By the end of the article, you’ll have a strong understanding of the various betting systems that are known to secure profits and others that you should avoid. The more you know about the different sports betting systems, the easier it will be to find the one for you.

This article will focus on common systems like the Labouchere and Parlay and provide examples of how they can be used to bet on major sports. Everything you need can be found on our site, including the weird and wonderful MLB underdog chase system and the in-play betting system (which is one of our favourites!).

You should note that sports betting systems can’t be used on casino games such as Roulette, Baccarat, Craps or Blackjack. So, if you’re looking for a strategy to help you turn profit on online casino games, this isn’t the article for you!

What is a betting system?

In the world of betting, the term “system” refers to a pattern or strategy employed to increase winnings and find the best value in the market.

Betting systems are often referred to with various betting terms, which can be found in our complete sports betting glossary. In its most basic form, things like a soccer betting system are a combination of bankroll management, line shopping, and smart betting.

Our system plays sports betting guide covers positive and negative progressive gambling systems.

Some of our most common betting systems include:

negative progression
positive progression
D’Alembert

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Negative Progressions System

The two categories of betting systems can easily be defined as negative and positive.

Negative systems center around wagering higher each time you lose. This is done to compensate for any losses and ensure that the bettor eventually comes out on top. This is sometimes called “chasing,” and opinions on it are split. Is it one of the most profitable betting systems? Well, i can be when done correctly!

However, losing streaks can be extremely costly and can force bettors to wager inexorable amounts (hence the term “chasing”!). If you have a big bankroll, these systems can work very effectively. However, if you don’t these systems could cost you dearly.

Some of the most famous examples of these systems include Martingale, D’Alembert and Labouchere. These systems can be used in all sports, including golf betting systems, tennis, boxing, and other major sports (We’ll address these advanced sports systems in a moment!)

Positive Progression System

The alternative is to use positive progression systems, which certainly sound more appealing! This is a more serious and affordable option for those looking at pro gambling systems.

Bettors working with these systems will increase their stake each time they win rather than each time they lose. If the bettor is on a losing streak, this system won’t allow the bettor to recoup their losses quickly. Examples of this system are Paroli and parlay.

As we already discussed, these systems aren’t intended to be used by novice bettors with a small bankroll. Both negative and positive systems will require the bettor to make sizable wagers at some point, and sizable bankrolls are required. Regardless of if you’re winning or losing, you’ll need to stick to your strategy!

This is a proven football betting system enjoyed by millions worldwide – from New York to Las Vegas, and the evidence shows the system works.

D’Alembert Betting Theory

The Alembert system is built around slow progressive betting. This slow betting system allows bettors to ensure they don’t run their funds dry but also slowly make a profit. This theory is based on the assumption that there is no balance in even money bets. And that’s true. This is a good foundation to build on if you are looking at how to create a betting system.

If you are always winning the same number of bets you lose, you can decide on a percentage of your total funds to use for each wager. The amount used varies greatly, mainly depending on the players’ capital, but standard practice is betting anywhere between 1-5%. D’Alembert system is one we know works and, despite what it looks like, it’s not only for mathematicians.

Example

If you have $500 in your account, 1% of your first bet is $5. If you lose that first bet, you will increase your unit to $10. Each time you lose, you increase your base to ensure you keep track until you win.

With each bet you win, you need to decrease your bet by one unit. It doesn’t matter what type of bet it is. Even prop betting; it’s a money-based strategy.

You’ll find this one of the more popular gambling betting systems, but you shouldn’t enter lightly. Please read our article in full and do your research on the matter before deciding if a betting system is for you. It’s then time to choose the best one, such as the most profitable NFLbetting system.

Martingale Staking Plan

Another of the most popular sports betting systems is the Martingale System. Similarly to the D’Alembert Theory, this involves progressive betting.

It differs because bettors wouldn’t increase the bet by a small incremental amount, a unit, but rather double the stake when the bet loses. The risk is high, but if the bettor has the funds, the system eventually pays off.

Again, please don’t enter this one without considering it properly. It can be expensive, especially when just starting and finding your feet.

Labouchere Betting System

Quite different from the systems above, the Labouchere system divides the bet into various wager amounts. There is a set wager; then, the bet is divided into smaller amounts.

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As the bettor loses, they continue adding the wager to the end to take away the house edge. They discard the first and last units if it’s a winning bet. This system requires deep pockets, so this may be one to avoid – always bet within your means.

Here’s an example of this type of system in action which should clear things up.

Example

Taking a stake of $100, a bettor may break this down into $10, $20, $50, $20. So once the first bet comes in, the winnings will need to be your first unit plus your last unit (double the $10 = $20, which is first on your list).

If the first bet is successful, the bettor crosses off the $10 and moves on to the $20. However, if the bet fails, the bettor would add the $20 lost to the last $10, meaning the wager would now be $30.

Winning streaks could earn you a lot of cash with this system, but please keep in mind that if things go wrong, they can all unravel quite quickly.

Paroli Formula

Another sports betting algorithm is the Paroli formula, used in even wager betting. As we mentioned, it depends on the individual’s finances, but a stake between 1-3% would be a good starting point.

Principally, bettors double their steak each time they win and, after winning in 3 consecutive bets, drop your bet back to the base stake, starting over. If the bettor loses, they make no progress and remain on the base stake until they are successful. This could take one bet or several bets.

Parlay System

Parlay is a common term in sports betting, and you likely have placed a parlay bet or at least know the type of bet. It’s up there with the most popular way to bet on sports, from single-player to team games.

Let’s say you build a five-leg parlay with various NFL teams on the moneyline. There may be multiple selections, but they must win for your bet to be paid out for a profit. That’s why it is for one stake. A $10 parlay will have various selections and may take many hours or days to complete, but it remains $10 to play.

Parlays are seen as great value-for-money bets, and they can land you a huge profit, regardless of the bet size or stake. For example, if your five-team parlay for a $10 stake is a winner and the odds of each pick is +100, the bet would pay $320.

As a system, it functions by reinvesting winnings from each bet. <Bettors must choose the winning team for every option selected for this system to work. For example, if you get four out of five correct, the bet would be a loser. Parlays are so exciting as it’s an all-or-nothing scenario in terms of payout.

Fibonacci System

Another system, based on the famous Fibonacci sequence, works by choosing your betting unit. Somewhere between 2-3% is generally considered the best.

The Fibonacci sequence begins with zero, but this system starts with the number two 1s. The sequence is therefore 1,1,2,3,5,8,13 and onwards. So with a unit size of $10, the Fibonacci numbers tell you how to bet.

The first bet is $10. If you lose, you place your second bet at $10. If you lose again, place your third bet on two units, $20. Now you win, move down 1 unit to $10. Yes, it can get complicated and may even be seen as too much work for most average sportsbook <bettors. But it gets results if you are dedicated.

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Unit System

The Unit System is a fund management strategy using a designated value by the bettor. Classically, the range is somewhere between 1 and 10.

Bets for the value of 10 if for your longshot, rare wagers that show value. The 1 is for certified bets, ‘sure thing’ bets. The term unit refers to a percentage of the bettors’ wallets.

Kelly Formula

This option works with the bettor deciding on any sportsbook fixture, and then you rate the possible outcomes as a percentage. In the English Premier League, you may have Man City winning six of ten meetings with Man Utd, leaving them with a 60% win rate.

Now check that the odds match your opinions. If the odds and probability are different, you have found the value. According to your calculations and percentages, it’s time to act if the bookie has a team over-priced.

You may not always win with this system, but you will always have the value working in your favour. But creating your percentages does take a lot of work.