Space Bandit wrote: It's okay if you play for fun and can keep it as entertainment. The only way you can win in the long run is if you can either count cards somehow in blackjack, or cheat. If you ever watch that Louis Theroux programme then you'll see that the casino is extremely relaxed about people winning (unless they think they can count cards, or are cheating). Because they know that if you win, you'll play more, and the more you play, the more you'll lose. If it was possible to win then it would be easy to create a computer program that played perfectly and won all the time. Chess and backgammon computers are bordering on unbeatable, poker is heading that way, draughts is solved completely. Guess what...no-one's built a machine that can win at the casino yet!

Regarding the martingale or doubling up your bets on any two outcome sporting events.

You will end up staking ridiculous amounts just to break even when things go against you,also if the casino or bookmakers liability is to their disliking they can just refuse to take your bets which is in the rules (they make them).

humanspirit wrote:
That's true but you can bet so that you end up ahead rather than breaking even which is the point of the theory, even if you do end up staking loads of money.
Bookies can refuse bets but you can use different bookies or find somewhere online to take your bets.
But places like William Hill will pay out up to £1m so it's unlikely they'll refuse bets.... but they'll only pay out to that ceiling. It's not in their interest to turn people away as it just creates bad publicity for them.

Space Bandit wrote:
If you try and place a large bet they won't touch it with a barge pole.

The £1m payout will be promoted on massive accumulators which never come off,ask them to stand liability of a £50,000 bet on a 1-2 fav (50p in the pound staked) they will turn pale with fear.