What if a sequence of numbers that was discovered in the 1200s gave you a way to know how to bet on roulette in the present day? That's the entire proposition of the Fibonacci roulette strategy. Take a mathematical sequence that appears in seashells, galaxies, and rabbit populations and somehow use it to stay alive in a casino game designed to take your money.
It sounds like the sort of thing you might come across in a late-night YouTube rabbit hole. But here is the twist: it is one of the most common betting systems in roulette, and has proven popular enough over a long period of time. Let's break down what it is, how to use it, and whether or not it is a good idea or just math cosplay for gamblers.
The Fibonacci system is based on the Fibonacci sequence developed by a mathematician named Leonardo of Pisa (Fibonacci) in the thirteenth century. Here’s the sequence:
1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34…
Each number in the sequence is the sum of the two numbers immediately before it. What makes this sequence really cool is that it’s not just math; it appears in nature, art, and design. People are attracted to it for its validity as what seems to be a favorite pattern of the universe.
Roulette players adopted it for a negative progression betting system. This means you increase the bet after a loss. However, instead of doubling up immediately like the Martingale, the Fibonacci bets are meant to rise gradually.
Here are the rules:
The point for the system is to pick up small wins throughout the process that will eventually pay back your previous losses without needing to push the game to nosebleed bets.
Let’s go through how you would put this into practice at the table or online.
Bet # | Fibonacci # | Bet Size | Result | Total Profit/Loss |
1 | 1 | $1 | Loss | -$1 |
2 | 1 | $1 | Loss | -$2 |
3 | 2 | $2 | Loss | -$4 |
4 | 3 | $3 | Loss | -$7 |
5 | 5 | $5 | Loss | -$12 |
6 | 8 | $8 | Win | -$4 |
7 | 3 | $3 | Win | -$1 |
8 | 2 | $2 | Win | +$1 |
To see where Fibonacci falls, compare it to several of the most common systems:
Strategy | Type of Progression | Risk Level | Good for Beginners? | Best Bet Type |
Fibonacci | Negative (add by sequence) | Medium | Yes | Even-money bets |
Martingale | Negative (double after loss) | High | Yes, but risky | Even-money bets |
D’Alembert | Negative (add/subtract 1 unit) | Low | Yes | Even-money bets |
Paroli | Positive (double after win) | Low-Medium | Yes | Even-money bets |
Here is how I visualise it:
The Fibonacci roulette strategy, if compared to aggressive systems, is a slower and safer way to control your betting. It might help you recoup some of your losses slowly, but it does not change the house edge. So it would play much like other systems. If you have the patience and discipline, it can help make the game of roulette a little more structured and more fun.
Try out the Fibonacci system on your next roulette session, and see if it works for you.
No, it's a betting system, not a cheat code. The house edge is still there.
That's the risk. You may not be at the end of the sequence, and your chips may run out.
It is safer, because your bets won't grow as quickly. But it will be slower.
Yes. In fact, you'll find that online play makes tracking the sequence easier.
The best types are even-money bets: Red/Black, Odd/Even or High/Low.
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