Everything You Need To Know About The Fibonacci Betting System
The origins of the Fibonacci number sequence can be traced back to the work of ancient Indian scholars, but was popularised in the 13th Century by Italian mathematician Leonardo of Pisa and Fibonacci. The sequence starts with a zero, and is followed by a one. Each number after this is the sum of the two previous numbers.
The first 12 numbers in the sequence are: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377
If you decide to use this system, it would be useful to either memorise or take note of the sequence.
The Fibonacci betting system is based on this famous mathematical sequence, but it ignores the zero at the beginning. This system has been used for sports betting and horse racing, but we’re going to look at how it can be used for online roulette.
How The Fibonacci System Works
You’re probably wondering how a mathematical sequence can help you win on roulette. Much like the Martingale gambling strategy, the Fibonacci system involves increasing your stakes following a losing wager. The aim of this strategy is to recover any losses on previous spins, by staking larger amounts on the following spins.
Before you start using the system, you must first decide how large you want your initial stake to be. This will be your your ‘single betting unit’. Let’s say you choose to make an initial bet of £5, remembering that we ignore the 0, your sequence of bets will look like this:
5, 5, 10, 15, 25, 40, 65, 105, 170, 275.
If your initial one unit bet of £5 loses, you are required to move to the next number in the sequence to determine your required stake. Following a loss, your next bet is always equal to the sum of the two previous ones. The next number in the sequence is one, so again, you stake a one unit bet of £5. If you lose this spin too, you move further along the sequence and stake two units. In this instance, one unit is equivalent to £5, so you stake £10 on this third spin. This rule applies following each loss, so you move further along the sequence and increase the stakes, in an attempt to recover your losses.
If you’re fortunate enough to win a spin, you are required to move back two numbers in the sequence. So if you win after staking 21 units, for example, you would stake just eight units on the next spin. What if you start off with a win? What happens next? Fortunately, there is an exception to the rule: if you haven’t moved along the sequence at least twice before winning, then you are required to start at the beginning following a win.
To ensure the system can be implemented properly, players will need to wager on even money bets exclusively, such as High or Low, Red or Black and Even or Odd.
Does The Fibonacci System Work?
Pros
Much like the Martingale system, you can enjoy some short-term success using the Fibonacci strategy, or even over a longer period of time if you manage to avoid a lengthy losing streak.
The main benefit of the Fibonacci gambling system is that it should reclaim any losses made in a series of bets, by increasing the stakes as you move along the sequence. There is less risk involved in this element of the Fibonacci system, when compared to the Martingale – While the bets do progressively increase as you move along the sequence, they do not increase as drastically as the doubling of bets in the Martingale system.
Cons
Despite these advantages, the system is ultimately flawed. While the system should reclaim any losses made in a series of bets, there is no guarantee that it will. It is possible that a losing streak could be so lengthy, that it decimates your entire bankroll.
Let’s take a look at our earlier example, where we started with a single betting unit of £5. In this instance, it would only take nine consecutive losses before you are required to stake £275. If, at this point, you do not have £275 available to stake, you won’t be able to reclaim the £440 you lost over the nine spins.
This shows how costly the Fibonacci system can be, and how it could cause many players to exceed any limits they have set for themselves.
A key disadvantage of the Fibonacci, and other gambling systems such as the Martingale and Reverse Martingale, is that they lead players to believe they are eliminating the house edge. The house edge is created by the green zero(s) on the table. It means that the odds always lean in favour of the casino. As there are actually three outcomes to an even money bet (red, black, or neither), rather than two the probability of landing an even money bet is just under 50%.
Due to the house edge, the casino almost always wins in the long run, and no roulette strategy can eliminate this advantage. While several strategies may seem convincing, none can make the odds more favourable to the player. It is important to remember that you are playing a game of chance.
Fibonacci In Action
| Spin # | Stake (£) | Selection | Result | Cumulative Profit (£) |
| 1 | 5 | Red | Win | 5 |
| 2 | 5 | Red | Lose | 0 |
| 3 | 10 | Red | Lose | (10) |
| 4 | 15 | Red | Lose | (25) |
| 5 | 25 | Red | Win | 0 |
The table above shows that the Fibonacci system did little to enhance our profits, when playing online roulette. We were lucky enough to win our first spin, and did not need to progress along the Fibonacci sequence. It seems our luck run out pretty fast, as we then lost our next three spins, increasing the stakes each time, according to the strategy. Fortunately, we won the last spin in this cycle of bets, winning a bet on red with a £25 stake. In the end, we made no profit or loss. The system was effective for regaining our losses quickly, but did not earn us any profit. This example shows that while the system may sound appealing, it simply does not work in practice.
Whether you decide to give the Fibonacci Betting System a go, or develop your own strategy, try your luck at one of our top rated UK casinos. Always remember to play within your limits and most importantly, have fun.
Good Luck!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the differences between the Fibonacci system and the Martingale system? While certain elements of the two systems are similar, there are definitely a few differences. In the Martingale system, your stake doubles following a loss but in the Fibonacci system, you follow the next number in the sequence to determine your next stake.
Does the Fibonacci system increase my chances of winning? The Fibonacci system does not actually improve your chances of winning at an online casino, as the odds remain the same. It is simply a staking plan. Even if you enjoy some short-term success, the house edge means that the odds always lean in favour of the casino, and it is likely that you will lose eventually.