Dean McHugh
One of the most iconic casino games of them all, roulette is loved by beginners and experienced players alike. Players require good fortune to predict the winning number, but that doesn’t mean roulette isn’t a game of strategy.
There are a number of systems in place which are designed to maximise winnings, and one of the most popular of these is Fibonacci. We take a closer look at the mechanics of the Fibonacci system and how to implement it for the best results.
The Basics of the Fibonacci Sequence
The Fibonacci sequence is a series of numbers that was first identified by a 12th-century Italian mathematician, Leonardo Pisano, who was also known as Fibonacci. He observed a pattern of numbers within nature, which was originally derived from analysing numbers of breeding rabbits. Fibonacci noticed that this same sequence of numbers was replicated in many ways, and over the years, it’s been applied to a whole variety of subjects to predict outcomes.
Today, the Fibonacci sequence is used for everything from statistical modelling to trading and gambling - including roulette.
The premise of Fibonacci is fairly simple compared to some other mathematical models. It starts with 0 and begins by adding 1. From thereon in, the next number is always the sum of the previous two numbers. This can be carried on indefinitely, but the Fibonacci sequence would start like this:
- 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144 …and so on.
The simplicity of the sequence means you don’t need to memorise any complicated formulas or series of numbers, as you can always calculate them yourself.
How the Fibonacci Sequence Relates to Roulette
Although Leonardo Fibonacci didn’t originally discover this sequence of numbers specifically for the purposes of gambling, it’s a useful system that can be implemented in various games. This is because it provides a structured approach to betting and theoretically can help you to recoup any losses.
With roulette, Fibonacci can be used to cover any previous losses and ensure that when a win lands, you break even or profit.
The Fibonacci sequence is a type of negative progression betting system. This means that as you lose more bets, you increase the size of your stake. It can take nerve to follow a negative progression betting system because if you have a disastrous day, you can lose your whole bankroll.
And even with Fibonacci, there’s no absolute guarantee that you won’t - but the goal is to start with the right size bet that allows you to land a win before you wipe out your money. With Fibonacci and other negative betting systems, landing a win should reverse your losses and either put you in profit or, at the very worst, allow you to break even.
All of the negative progressive betting systems have the same basis: increasing the bet each time you lose. The only difference is how you increase your bets and how the mathematics applies. Fibonacci is one of the most popular negative betting systems, but others include Martingale, Labouchere, and D’Alembert.
When you use Fibonacci to play roulette, you’ll always know exactly what your next bet is going to be. You need to stick to the system regardless of how you’re feeling because once you divert from the structure, the mathematical formula will no longer apply. This can be one of the hardest parts of using a negative progression betting system, as it can feel counterintuitive to increase your spending as you lose more.
However, by trusting the Fibonacci sequence, there’s a very good chance that you’ll recoup your money - providing a win lands before you spend your whole bankroll. Of course, it’s important to remember that nothing is ever guaranteed and with every system it’s always essential to have a strategy and a budget to stick to. One of the biggest gambling mistakes is to deviate from your planned strategy, and to chase your losses.
In the next section, we’ll look at exactly how to use the Fibonacci sequence when playing roulette and how much to spend on each bet.
The logic behind the Fibonacci Roulette Betting System and how to implement it
We now know the sequence of numbers in Fibonacci, but before we dive into the application of the theory, it’s important to note that you can choose the amount of your stake. Fibonacci does not mean that you have to start with £1, even though that’s the number the betting system begins with.
Instead, the numbers in the sequence should be seen as referring to a betting unit - and it’s up to you to decide how much a single unit is worth. You might decide that 1 unit = £1, a very simple approach that makes it easy to know exactly what to bet. However, you could bet lower with 1 unit = £0.20, or you could bet higher with one unit = £50.00 or more.
The most important thing is that you decide how much a unit is worth, and you don’t change this until a betting sequence is complete. Altering the value of a betting unit before you land a win means that you might not recoup your losses, or you could wipe out your bankroll too quickly.
When you’ve decided how much a unit is worth, it’s time to start playing. Your first bet will be one unit and should be placed on a bet with a 1:1 outcome, such as odds/evens or red/black. The Fibonacci system doesn’t work as well with higher-risk bets, as you’ll wipe out your bankroll before landing a win. Therefore, every bet you place when using Fibonacci will be a 1:1 bet.
Every time you lose at roulette, your next bet is the following number in the Fibonacci sequence. Therefore, if you lose the first bet, your next bet is one unit again. If you lose your second bet, the next bet is two units. Lose that bet, and your next bet is three units. Continue to play, betting the number of units that match the next number in the Fibonacci system until you land a win.
If any bet wins, the next bet goes back two steps in the Fibonacci sequence and continues from there. If you haven’t gotten that far, simply start from the beginning again.
The idea of Fibonacci in roulette is that when you win, you’ll balance out previous losses because the size of the winning bet will be much larger. This is why you have to hold your nerve and continue to increase the bet value until you win. Reducing or freezing the amount you bet halfway through a session means that the sequence will be breached.
It can be helpful to have the Fibonacci sequence written down so you don’t lose where you’re up to when you bet. It’s important to ensure that you progress through the sequence accurately to collect the right amount of winnings.
Advantages and Limitations of the Fibonacci System
Mathematically, using Fibonacci, you can cover previous losses a lot more easily, and there’s a much greater probability that you’ll walk away with a profit. However, that depends entirely on implementing the system fully - if you deviate from the Fibonacci sequence at any point, you’ll lose its advantage.
This means that before you start playing, you need to check the betting limits on the table and compare this to how much you want to bet per unit. If the maximum limit doesn’t allow you to advance very far through the Fibonacci sequence, it’s not likely to work. Your betting unit value and the betting limits of the roulette table must allow you to work your way through the Fibonacci sequence in order to receive the winnings you hope for. This is one of the biggest limitations of the Fibonacci system and other negative progression systems, and it’s vital to check this before you start playing.
The other problem is that Lady Luck doesn’t pay any attention to betting systems, and roulette is all about good fortune. There is always the risk that on a bad day you could end up betting your whole bankroll without winning - but that’s not really different to any other betting system within roulette. Fibonacci doesn’t guarantee that you’ll win, but if you can keep going for long enough until you do, you’ll recoup your losses.
The advantage is that Fibonacci uses low-risk bets of 1:1. This means there’s a better chance that you’ll land a win, and as soon as you do, you’ll start to recoup anything you’ve lost. Even if you have multiple losses, it only takes a few wins to leave you with a profit. Below is an example of what ten spins on Fibonacci could look like with three wins and seven losses:
| Bet Value | Outcome (bet loss or win) | Running Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loss (-1.00) | -1.00 |
| 1 | Loss (-1.00) | -2.00 |
| 2 | Loss (-2.00) | -4.00 |
| 3 | Loss (-3.00) | -7.00 |
| 5 | Win (+10) | +3.00 |
| 2 | Loss (-2.00) | +1.00 |
| 3 | Loss (-3.00) | -2.00 |
| 5 | Win (+10) | +8.00 |
| 2 | Loss (-2.00) | +6.00 |
| 3 | Win (+6.00) | +12.00 |
As this table shows, it only takes a few wins to counteract any losses very quickly, and it’s much easier to acquire a profit. The mathematical basis of Fibonacci allows losses to be neutralised very quickly, but it relies on the player being able to follow the system through until they land a win (and of course, a fair share of luck).
Comparing the Fibonacci System with other Roulette Strategies
No roulette strategy can guarantee a win because the game is essentially dependent on good luck. But they all aim to help players maximise their wins and recover losses quickly.
Some systems do this better than others, while some require players to accept a greater risk or pay a higher stake. Martingale is another popular negative progressive betting system which requires players to simply double their stake for each losing bet. The trouble with this is that the stake can increase very rapidly, which means that there’s the risk of wiping out much more quickly. To put that into context, with ten successive losses, Fibonacci bets would reach 55.00 - Martingale bets would have escalated to 512.00. Ouch! For this reason, many players prefer the slow and steady approach of Fibonacci.
The complete opposite of the negative progressive betting system is a positive betting system, where you decrease your bet value as you lose and increase it when you win. This can also achieve good results, but the expert consensus is that it’s best used on games like craps rather than roulette. The profits on a positive progressive system are typically much smaller, and for longer playing sessions, the results may not be as good.
Of course, there’s no requirement to follow a progressive betting system, and you can simply bet a flat rate each time. This is an easier system to adopt and may be preferable for beginners as the bets don’t escalate. However, with flat bets, there’s no way to recoup losses with a single win, and you’re more reliant on landing multiple wins.
Conclusion: is the Fibonacci Roulette Betting System worth trying?
It’s important to emphasise that neither the Fibonacci sequence nor any other type of betting system can guarantee you a winning roulette session. However, what it can do is increase the chances of turning a profit by using a mathematical formula.
Fibonacci is a simple sequence that can be quickly calculated without having to use complex equations. It’s easy for everyone to follow, even total beginners. The notion of increasing bets can be daunting, and if you’re on a losing streak, stakes can rise steeply. However, it only takes a couple of wins to be in profit, and with 1:1 bets, the probability of a win is quite high.
For this reason, the Fibonacci roulette betting system is certainly worth trying and has the potential to significantly improve profits compared to simple flat bets. If you decide to try this system, check the table limits in advance and don’t set your unit value too high. Make sure to only use the money you can afford to lose. With those caveats in place, Fibonacci offers great potential for both winnings and fun times!