The idea is that if the coin flip goes in the player’s favor, they win double their bet. After winning, they can either collect their winnings, or risk them all on another coin flip to have a chance at doubling them. The initial bet is fixed at, let’s say $1.
Mathematically, this seems like a fair game. The expected value of each individual round is zero for both house and player.
Intuitively, though, I can’t shake the notion that the player will tend to keep flipping until they lose. In theory, it isn’t the wrong decision to keep flipping since the expected value of the flip doesn’t change, but it feels like it is.
Any insight?
the house can only make $1 per play, and the bettor can make a functionally unlimited amount.
see the martingale strategy. you are basically sticking the house with a martingale strategy in which you get to decide when they bet.
But the odds of the player managing to do so are proportionate. In theory, if 8 players each decide to go for three rounds, one of them will win, but the losings from the other 7 will pay for that player’s winnings.
You’re right that the house is performing a Martingale strategy. That’s a good insight. That may actually be the source of the house advantage. The scenario is ideal for a Martingale strategy to work.