Play Roulette with the Fibonacci Betting Strategy

Where Does the Fibonacci Betting System Come From?

The Fibonacci system is a negative betting system, which means that just like the Martingale, it requires you to increase your bet after a losing round. However, there are a number of differences that you must be aware of.

It takes its name from the 13th century Italian mathematician Leonardo Pisano, also known as Fibonacci. Fibonacci made a study of Indian and Arabic mathematic systems and he is known for spotting certain patterns in nature that kept on reappearing, everywhere from the spirals on a snail’s shell to the breeding patterns of rabbits.

You may be wondering how this relates to roulette. The pattern that Fibonacci spotted is a sequence whereby you start with one and add the two previous numbers together to give you the next number in the sequence. Following this, the first few numbers of the Fibonacci sequence are 1 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 5 – 8 – 13 – 21 – 34 – 55 – 89 – 144 – 233 – 377 – 610.

Using the Fibonacci Betting System

The first thing to know is that you can only use the Fibonacci betting system on even money bets. This is true regardless of what game you are playing but when it comes to roulette, it means you can place Red/Black, Odd/Even and 1-18/19 – 36 bets.

First you need to settle on a betting unit, which for the sake of simplicity we will say is €1. You start at the beginning of the Fibonacci sequence and multiply the number by your betting unit. If you lose you progress to the next number in the sequence, then the third, fourth, fifth and so on, until you eventually place a winning bet.

Those who are used to the Martingale system may have already noticed that as you progress further along the Fibonacci sequence, you will not be winning enough money to cover your loses. In fact, the further you progress, the more you will lose. You will make a profit if you win with your first bet and you will break even if you win with your second or third.

Therefore, you may be thinking that the entire system is a waste of time and that you should try something else. However, if you use the Fibonacci system properly, then you still have a chance of coming out on top.

It is important to stay with the sequence until you land a win. Consider the example below:

1. Bet €1 and lose
2. Bet €1 and lose
3. Bet €2 and lose
4. Bet €3 and lose
5. Bet €5 and lose
6. Bet €8 and lose
7. Bet €13 and lose
8. Bet €21 and lose
9. Bet €34 and win

Following the bet of €34 and winning, rather than return to the start of the sequence, you should move back just two numbers and bet that amount. In the above example, your next bet would be €13. You then keep repeating the process until you make it all the way back to the beginning of the sequence and you are betting €1 again.

Below you can see a longer example of how this would work:

1. Bet €1 and lose
2. Bet €1 and lose
3. Bet €2 and lose
4. Bet €3 and lose
5. Bet €5 and lose
6. Bet €8 and lose
7. Bet €13 and lose
8. Bet €21 and lose
9. Bet €34 and win
10. Bet €13 and lose
11. Bet €21 and win
12. Bet €8 and win
13. Bet €3 and lose
14. Bet €5 and win
15. Bet €2 and lose
16. Bet €3 and lose
17. Bet €5 and win
18. Bet €2 and win
19. Bet €1 and win

In the previous example, you will have made it all the way back to the start of the sequence and made a profit of exactly €1, so in this respect, it is similar to the Martingale system. As long as you keep playing until you have made it back to the beginning of the sequence, then you will have made a profit of one betting unit.

The Fibonacci verses The Martingale

While it is true that both the Fibonacci and the Martingale result in a profit of one betting unit, there is a big difference between the two systems. In the above example, the player lost the first eight bets in a row and the largest amount bet was just €21. Using a starting bet of €1 and the Martingale system, the eighth bet would have been a much larger €256, and it still lost. Therefore, the Fibonacci is definitely preferable for those with smaller bankrolls and when playing at tables with low betting limits.

The Fibonacci system also allows for a larger range of outcomes. In the example above the player lost 12 rounds and won just 7 yet still made a profit. With the Martingale, the player would likely have to play through many more consecutive losses before winning.

Disadvantages of The Fibonacci Betting System

The first of these is not really a disadvantage, rather a very common mistake that it is important to avoid. You must remember that the Fibonacci sequence starts with two number 1s (1 – 1 – 2 – 3….). When working your way backwards through the sequence, if you reach then second number one, place a bet and win, you must remember to move back to the first number one afterwards, bet on it, and win. If you do not, then you will not be making a profit.

There are other risks involved in the system. One of the biggest risks when playing roulette is that you hit a long losing streak. When this happens, your losses can grow very big very quickly. Furthermore, it can take many rounds to return to the start of the sequence, so you must stay patient and stick to the system, which doesn’t suit everybody’s playing style.

Furthermore, as stated, the system only works with even money bets and while there are a number to choose from, for some people this will be too restrictive and make the game boring. Therefore, if you want to place inside bets, you will need to use a different strategy.

You must also keep in mind the fact that the house will always have an edge due to the presence of 0 on the wheel (and 00 in American Roulette). If the ball lands on 0, then none of the even money bets will win. European Roulette has a house edge of 2.7% and American Roulette has a house edge of 5.26% and there is nothing you can do to change this. It means that in the long term, the house will win.

To Conclude

In the long run, you cannot beat the house edge. However, you can manage your bankroll to ensure that you can keep playing for longer, which means that you can keep having fun for longer. The Fibonacci betting system is an excellent way of doing this, especially if you have a limited bankroll and don’t want to place huge bets. Just remember to stay patient, stick with the system, and even if you hit a long losing streak, there is still the chance of making a small profit.