Definition
Table Limits
Also known as Betting Limits
By Abhinav VasudevanReviewed Editorial policy
In short
Table limits set the minimum and maximum bet allowed on a game. The maximum exists largely to defeat doubling-up systems, which require an unlimited ceiling to work.
Every table posts a minimum and a maximum stake. Both serve the operator, in different ways.
The minimum
Minimums manage capacity. A table occupies floor space and a dealer’s time, so the minimum ensures each seat generates enough turnover to justify it.
Minimums rise at busy periods, weekend evenings in a physical casino, and this is worth anticipating. So is the relationship between minimum and house rules: low-minimum blackjack tables very often pay 6:5 rather than 3:2, which makes them substantially more expensive per hand despite the smaller stake.
The maximum
The maximum caps the operator’s exposure on a single bet. It also, and more importantly, breaks progressive betting systems.
Martingale, doubling after every loss, recovers all losses with one win, and works perfectly given unlimited money and an unlimited ceiling. Neither exists.
From a £10 base at a table with a £500 maximum:
| Loss # | Required stake |
|---|---|
| 1 | £10 |
| 4 | £80 |
| 6 | £320 |
| 7 | £640, exceeds the limit |
Six consecutive losses on an even-money roulette bet happens roughly once in 70 sequences. When it does, you cannot place the bet that would recover it, and you are down £630 with no way back.
The limit does not create this problem, a finite bankroll would end the sequence anyway, but it guarantees it, and it is the reason the ceiling exists.
Table limits are not bonus max bet rules
A separate and frequently confused restriction: the max bet rule that applies while a bonus is active, typically capping stakes at around £5 regardless of the table maximum. Exceeding it voids the bonus at most operators, and the table limit will happily let you do it.
Common questions
Why do casinos have maximum bets?
To cap exposure on a single wager and, more importantly, to break progressive systems. Martingale requires an unlimited ceiling, and a £10 base stake reaches a £500 maximum after just six consecutive losses.
Is the table maximum the same as a bonus max bet?
No, and confusing them is expensive. The table maximum is enforced by the game. The bonus max bet rule is not: the game will happily accept a breaching bet and the operator will then void the bonus.