Guide to Fibonacci Betting Sequence

What is the Fibonacci Betting System?

The Fibonacci betting system is a negative progression system based on the mathematical concept of Fibonacci’s sequence. Leonardo Bonacci (Fibonacci) popularized the idea of the sequence in the 13^th century, and it appears throughout mathematics, nature, music, and other fields. 

The betting system involves increasing wager sizes based on the Fibonacci sequence. You start with a wager of $1, and then another $1, then $2, and so on, with your next wager’s value as the sum of the previous two wagers. As you might expect, wager sizes grow exponentially, and the system is designed to maximize profit after a series of losses.

How the Fibonacci Betting Sequence Works

The Fibonacci betting system is pretty simple to follow, and you can easily get started by memorizing the Fibonacci sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, 20, 32, 52, 84, etc.)

For people with small bankrolls, starting off with a base unit of $1 allows you to follow the sequence verbatim. However, you can also set your own base unit. For example, if you to set your minimum wager as $5, your sequence would be 5, 5, 10, 15, 25, 40, 65, 105, etc.

Like many other betting systems, Fibonacci works best when the wager is even odds, with 50% chances of success and failure. Blackjack’s main hand, the Banker bet in baccarat, and a handful of roulette wagers are all close to even money, making them good candidates for Fibonacci. 

Here’s an example of using the Fibonacci sequence to play baccarat, setting the base unit as $5.  For this game, I’m playing Baccarat from Real Time Gaming, betting exclusively on the Banker.  

In this scenario, I treated the Tie as a loss to keep the progression going. I eventually ended up walking away with $20.25 in profit. Playing games with a high-paying outcome like 21 or Tie boosts the sequence. Had the Tie been an actual loss, my finishing total would have been $5. 

The Fibonacci sequence for betting is imperfect, and can rapidly accelerate out of control. That’s why playing even-money wagers is important. The chances of prolonged losing streaks is decreased, which helps reduce the amount you need to keep the progression going. 

Pros and Cons of the Fibonacci Sequence for Betting

The Fibonacci betting method has it’s ups and downs, and isn’t super helpful for people with smaller bankrolls. However, if you have a significant amount to wager with, it can help manage your spending over extended sessions. Here are some of the pros and cons for using the Fibonacci betting system:

Fibonacci Betting for Roulette

The Fibonacci system is most popular with roulette, simply because the probability on roulette wagers are very close to 50/50. The best wagers to use Fibonacci with are Even/Odd, Red/Black, and High/Low. They all have 1:1 payouts, and a 48.65% probability while playing European Roulette. 

Here’s an example of using the Fibonacci system while placing wagers on Red/Black on European Roulette. I played 10 hands and here were the results:

I hit a win streak near the end, and it brought me out of a deep loss, and I managed to walk away with $5 in profit overall. 

Is the Fibonacci Betting Sequence Worth It?

The Fibonacci betting system is less aggressive than the Martingale (which doubles your stake amount for each loss), and grows your wagers at a slower pace. 

However, the sequence is a negative progression model, which focuses on recouping losses. You’ll notice in some of the above examples that after 10 hands, profit wasn’t scaling massively, but the sequence manages to pull me out of loss streaks, allowing me to recoup my bankroll. 

If you’re gambling for extended stretches, systems like Fibonacci probably aren’t your cup of tea. They can be expensive and risky if you’re not careful. For short sessions, Fibonacci isn’t a bad option, but there are definitely more well-refined strategies to try out. 

Alternatives to the Fibonacci Sequence

While no betting system is equipped to beat house edge, there are a few that make it easier to scale. 

• Paroli – The Paroli system is a positive progression model where you double your bet after each win, up to 3 wins before resetting to the base unit. You can use this system to build a bankroll instead of focusing on recouping losses. 

• 1-3-2-6 System – This is another positive progression system where you’re betting along the 1-3-2-6 sequence throughout the course of wins. It locks in profit incrementally and minimizes the risk of large losses. 

• Kelly Criterion – Designed for use with sports betting, the Kelly Criterion takes a more mathematical approach by betting a percentage of your bankroll as it relates to perceived edge in certain wagers. This method is more advanced and better suited for sports or poker. 

Don’t Spiral Out with Fibonacci Betting

Fibonacci betting is a structured way to manage your bankroll using a negative progression model, especially for even-money wagers in games like roulette and baccarat. While it can help recover losses during short sessions, it isn’t ideal for prolonged play or players with limited funds. 

If you’re curious to try Fibonacci betting in a real casino setting, make sure to explore our list of the best real money online casinos. Whether you stick with Fibonacci or test out a positive progression system like Paroli, always gamble responsibly and with a plan.