The Martingale betting system, which is widely believed to have originated in 18^th century France, is based on a simple theory. This is that, if a gambler bets on the outcome of a game or event and loses, then if they keep on betting, doubling their stake each time, they will eventually win and recover all their previous losses, earning a profit equal to the original stake into the bargain.

This system, commonly used in games of chance like roulette as well, is also a well-known football betting strategy, and can be applied in a number of ways to bet on the outcome of a match.

One such way is to bet on the likelihood of a football match ending in a draw. The percentage of matches that end in a draw varies from country to country. In the Premier League, recent statistics suggest that 26% of all matches are draws, compared to 27% in the Bundesliga and 23% in La Liga. The figures though can differ quite widely, with only 18% of MLS matches being tied, as opposed to 36% of all French matches in Ligue 1. Therefore, the Martingale(tie down) betting system, as a football betting strategy, is best applied to leagues that produce a lot of drawn matches.

Having decided which leagues to choose, we then need to decide on our teams. There are teams that specialise in draws, often those with well-organised defences and hard-working midfields. They rarely blow other teams away with a big score line but, on the other hand, do not often suffer heavy defeats either.

If we take, for example, the Premier League and exclude the obvious Manchester clubs, it can be seen that Arsenal and Watford rarely draw; their matches more often than not produce a positive result in one form or another. Brighton, on the other hand, drew no fewer than 13 of their matches last season, and Southampton 15. Similarly, in Spain, Levante and Athletic Bilbao have drawn 13 times during the current campaign, making them good candidates for this football betting strategy; Sevilla with five draws all season and Real Betis with six are not.

Having chosen our league and our team, we need to do some further research before we make our bet. For example, what is the nature of the match to be played? Is it a cup-tie, a local derby or a promotion or relegation decider where the intensity is likely to be high, or is it a meaningless, end of season match, where neither side has anything to play for, and the players are just going through the motions? Are both sides in form and playing well, or is one going through a bad run and their confidence is low? Are both teams at full strength, or is one depleted by injuries and suspensions?

Finally the conditions may have a part to play. One team might have a reputation as fair weather travellers, happy to play to their potential when the sun is shining, but quick to underperform when the rain falls and the wind gusts.

Having determined all these factors, then we should select our matches and bet on them to finish as draws, beginning with a bet of one euro. If that match does not produce a draw, we move on to the next game, doubling our bet, and continue until we win. Then we start again with a bet of one euro.

The Martingale (tie-down) betting system, as a theory, has one key flaw which is that, in the case of a run of poor results, it could leave the gambler severely depleted in terms of fund, if not bankrupt. Therefore, it is important if you are going to adopt this system, that you choose your leagues and teams carefully, and make a conscious decision at each step of the way, not just blindly following the system for its own sake. Know when it is time to bet and when to resist.