Ladder Betting in Blackjack – My Mother’s System

On my 35th birthday my mother gave me $20 cash and took me to a casino in downtown Vancouver, BC. “If you lose the $20, don’t worry about it,” she said. “Happy Birthday.” Then she added, “But if you win money, you can pay me back the $20.” Yup. That’s my mother for you!

I didn’t win any money that night, it was my first time in a casino after all. But my mother sat me down next to her at a blackjack table and taught me the ropes. And part of that teaching was her betting system which I’ve realized years later is often referred to as ‘Ladder Betting.’

My mother believed in winning streaks and she styled her betting system to take advantage of winning streaks and to cut her losses in a losing streak. I’ve since used her system at every blackjack table, but I’ve added a few personal tweaks. But more on that later. Let’s take a look at Ladder Betting.

What is Ladder Betting in Blackjack?

Ladder betting in blackjack is a strategic approach where players adjust their bets incrementally based on the outcomes of previous hands. This method aims to manage risk and potentially increase winnings by leveraging winning streaks and minimizing losses during losing streaks. It is a variation of progressive betting systems often used in casino games.

How Does it work?

In ladder betting for blackjack, players increase or decrease their bets in a stepwise manner, similar to moving up or down the rungs of a ladder. Here’s how it typically works:

Initial Bet: Start with a base bet, which should be a small, manageable amount relative to your total bankroll.
Winning Hand: If you win a hand, increase your next bet by a predetermined amount (moving up one “rung” on the ladder). Some people, my mother for example, wait until they’ve won 3 hands before increasing their next bet.
Losing Hand: If you lose a hand, either decrease your next bet by a predetermined amount (moving down one “rung”) or return to the base bet, depending on your specific ladder betting strategy.

Example of Ladder Betting in Blackjack

Let’s illustrate with a simple example. Assume your base bet is $10, and you decide to increase or decrease your bet by $5 for each step on the ladder.

First Bet: You bet $10.
Win: Your next bet increases to $15.
Win Again: Your next bet increases to $20.
Lose: Your next bet decreases to $15.
Lose Again: Your next bet decreases to $10.

This approach allows you to capitalize on winning streaks by increasing your bets while limiting your losses during losing streaks by decreasing your bets.

My mother would be a little more aggressive. If she won three hands in a row she would double her bet on the next one. And when she lost a hand, she would drop down to the original bet. So, in the example above, her bets would progress:

First Bet: You bet $10.
Win 3X: Your next bet increases to $20.
Win 3X Again: Your next bet increases to $40.
Lose: Your next bet decreases to $10.
Lose Again: Your next bet stays at $10.

And so on. You can see how a winning streak could add up to quite a bit, and in a way, you’re playing with ‘house money’ not your own! At least, that’s how my mother saw it. The first $10 is yours, the next $20 is your $10 plus the house’s $10, the next $40 is your $10 and the house’s $30, and so on. If you lose it all, you’ve really only lost $10.

What’s cool about this system.

By increasing bets during winning streaks, you can potentially maximize your profits as shown above. And ladder betting is straightforward and easy to implement, making it accessible for both novice and experienced players.

But I think the coolest thing about this kind of betting strategy is that it keeps your head in the game, not your emotions.

What’s not so cool about this system.

While ladder betting can help manage risk, it does not guarantee winnings and can still result in significant losses during prolonged losing streaks. Although, I think this would be true no matter what system you are using. A losing streak sucks! Time to walk away –

To effectively use ladder betting, you need a sufficient bankroll to sustain increasing bets during winning streaks and cover losses during losing streaks.

Also, many casinos have table limits, which can restrict the maximum bet size and impact the effectiveness of your ladder betting strategy.

Tips for effective ladder betting.

To successfully implement ladder betting in blackjack, consider the following tips:

Set Clear Rules: Define your base bet, the amount you will increase or decrease per step, and any limits to prevent excessive losses.

Stick to Your Plan: Discipline is crucial. Stick to your predetermined bet sizes and adjustments regardless of short-term outcomes. So many times I’ve seen people start out with a disciplined betting agreement with themselves and then deviate when on a winning (or a losing) streak. This disrupts the whole process.

Manage Your Bankroll: Ensure you have a sufficient bankroll to support your betting strategy and withstand potential losing streaks. For my mother, ladder bettings worked well because she started low – $1 or $2. At those sums, it’s easy to see how $100 could keep her going for the whole evening.

What is your plan?

As with all kinds of gaming, especially gaming that is taking money from you, it’s important to have a plan. To make an agreement with yourself when you walk into the casino (or log in). And this is where my mother and I differed a wee bit.

My mother kept close records of all money won and lost at the casino, and monthly she would tot it up to see if she were a winner or a loser that month. Many times she’s show me her wee book and chortle, “Look. I’m up $300 this month!” My mother was a small time player, she wasn’t interested in making thousands at blackjack. She just liked to dress up and, with husband in hand, spend the evening in a casino surrounded by the lavishness and excitement and people.

My mother’s plan was often, “I have $100 and I’ll play until I lose it, or until it’s time to go home.” Maybe she and Dad would agree on a time to leave. Maybe they stuck to that agreement regardless of winning and losing streaks. I don’t know. But to my ears, saying, “I have $100 and I’ll play until I lose it,” is setting oneself up for loss. My personal plan goes more like, “I have $100 and I’ll play until I double it.”

This plan, play until I double my money, has worked well for me. But it does take discipline! Especially on a bad night.

Ladder betting in blackjack offers a structured way to manage your bets, potentially increasing your winnings during winning streaks while limiting losses during losing streaks. By understanding and implementing this strategy, you can enhance your blackjack playing experience and make more informed betting decisions. A system takes emotions out of the equation!

It’s not only about Winning and Losing Streaks

No betting strategy at blackjack can help you if you don’t know how to play the game. Unlike games that rely totally on luck, the biggest secret to winning at blackjack is to learn how to play, and hone your skills. There are some great books out there, youtube videos, lots of free play online sites where you can practice, and even pocket strategy guides as well to help you learn. We’ve collected a lot of resources in our Blackjack, A Crash Course article here.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to learn from my mother directly, as she passed away 30 years ago. But I’ll never forget that evening in the casino on my 35th birthday. I have loved the game of blackjack ever since and think of her whenever I sit down at a table.