Ascot System
Of all the various roulette systems that have been developed over the years, the Ascot is one of the oldest, but it remains popular with online players today. It is a variation of the D’Alembert strategy, though it has a degree of interactivity and flexibility that the D’Alembert lacks. Mainly employed with roulette, it is also used in a number of other casino games, such as baccarat and craps.
By Adiela de Bruyn - Last modified 2024/02/08 - Estimated reading time: 3 minutes.
Table of contents
How Does the Ascot Work?
The Ascot system is used with bets on binary outcomes such as Red/Black, Odd/Even and so on. It is similar to other progressive strategies in that it calls for varied staking after each bet, and for increasing your stake after a winning bet. Yet it offers more flexibility than normal progressive systems such as the D’Alembert or Martingale.
The key to the Ascot system is the pre-determined betting series, which is drawn up before any online roulette session. The series consists of a list of numbers that increase in value. Many players opt for a simple sequence such as 5,7,9,11, 13 and so on, but the precise values used are up to the individual and depend on your risk tolerance and playing style. The only requirement is that the sequence has an odd number of values in it.
Your first bet will be based on the centremost value. So, for example, if your sequence is 30, 50, 70, 90, 110, then your first bet will be R70. If this bet wins, then you increase the stake on your next bet to R90 and continue increasing the bet value with every winner, until the last bet in the series is reached. At this point, you can either stop playing or start the series again. If you have a losing bet, the next will be based on the previous value in the sequence. If you reach the starting value and this bet also loses, the sequence is over and if you wish to continue, you will have to start again with the centre value.
Pros and Cons
The Ascot System has many positive aspects. Unlike other, more rigid progressive systems, it offers players the chance to adjust their staking to their particular needs. The numbers you choose can increase dramatically or slowly, and you can have a sequence that is as long or as short as you prefer. Many players enjoy the interactivity of setting your own betting sequence and following its progression.
The system has also proven popular because it is less volatile than other progressive systems. It enables players to stay in the game for longer periods of time, and to control the extent to which their stake increases after each bet, minimizing the risk element.
Despite its advantages, the Ascot has the same problem as all the other progressive systems. It has the potential to wipe out a player’s bankroll more quickly than would be the case with a level-stakes strategy. For this reason, the Ascot is best employed by experienced players. These players will be better able to create the optimum sequence of bets to suit their risk tolerance, and will be prepared to cope with the volatility of the strategy.
Author and fact checker: Adiela de Bruyn
Expertise: Online casino reviews, player insights, and marketing strategies.
Experience: 10+ years. Former croupier, casino enthusiast, and contributor to South Africa's online gambling regulations.
