What Is The Fibonacci Betting System And How Does It Work?

The Fibonacci sequence is believed to have existed in Indian maths in roughly 200 BC and was then introduced to Western Europe early in the 13th Century by Leonardo of Pisa, also known as Fibonacci who was an Italian Mathematician. 

Whilst the system is associated with numbers, it is also linked to occurrences in nature such as the growth of a sunflower or a Nautilus shells. This is because of the logarithmic spiral growth pattern.

The Fibonacci betting system is known as a negative progression system because it’s based on bets that have lost. Each time you lose a bet, you increase the stakes on the next bet. 

In terms of betting, this system was mainly used for games such as Roulette and Blackjack but is widely used in sports betting these days.

This article will explain the pros and cons of the Fibonacci betting system and the mechanics behind the system.

The Fibonacci Sequence

Okay, let’s get started by explaining how the sequence works.  The sequence of numbers grows as each new number is the sum of the two numbers before it.

This example shows you the first seven sequence combinations of the system:

If you were unlucky enough to suffer seven losses on the bounce, you would continue with the same sequence which would be 13 + 21 = 34 and so on until you hit that elusive winner. 

Having a losing streak like this is extremely rare but you can never say never.  Let’s expand the sequence numbers just in case!

• 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, 610, and so on

These numbers relate to Unit bets.  When using Unit bets, you will have a predetermined bet amount that equals one unit.  For example, A £1 bet is one unit.

Here’s the rule of thumb when betting using the Fibonacci system:

• Each time your bet loses, move one sequence (number) to the right
• Each time your bets win, move two sequences (numbers) to the left

If you decide to use the Fibonacci betting system, it’s important that you follow the set sequences.  This keeps your bets structured and removes any emotional betting.

The Fibonacci Betting System In Action

Okay, you now know how the Fibonacci sequence works so let’s have a look at it in practice.

As mentioned, the Fibonacci betting system is based on unit stakes.  For our first example, let’s say you have a chosen a unit stake of £1 to keep it simple and the betting odds are evens:

So, you can see from this example that 10 bets have been placed with 7 losses and 3 wins.  This provides a profit of £8 because we need to also include our returned stakes with winning bets.  Hopefully, this helps you to understand how the sequence works in practice.

Just to make sure, we’ll now do a similar example but ramp the Unit bet up to £5.

We have followed the same win and loss pattern in this example, but the profit is obviously higher because we have used a £5 unit bet instead of £1.

Fibonacci Bet Types

Historically, the Fibonacci betting system was mainly used in Casino games but as the betting industry has grown, this system is now used as a type of bet in sports betting.

Let’s have a look at how you might use the Fibonacci betting system in different games and sports.

Roulette

Roulette is considered to be the perfect game for the Fibonacci betting system.  This is because the system is based on placing bets on even money odds and Roulette is as close as it gets. 

There are 18 red numbers and 18 green numbers.  The only reason it’s not a total 50% split is because there is one segment which is zero. This gives the house a slight edge over bettors.

Whether you bet on odd/even, red/black or 1-18/19-36, in theory the Fibonacci system is structured, so you don’t lose out.  Please note, the Fibonacci system IS NOT suited to betting on specific numbers or columns.

Ready to get started?  Place a 1 unit bet on a selection such as black.  If the ball lands on black you win and you start the Fibonacci sequence again and place another unit bet on your selection. 

However, if the bet landed on red or zero, move up the sequence by one so place another 1 unit bet on black.  If that bet loses, move another sequence up and place 2 units on black and so on as per the Fibonacci betting sequence.

The logic behind the Fibonacci roulette system is that you keep increasing the units until you win and recoup your previous losses.  

Obviously, it can be a little daunting if you hit a losing streak but such is the structure of the Fibonacci betting system, you should recoup any losses or at least minimise them.

Blackjack

Blackjack is an extremely popular game across the globe due to its simplicity and excitement.  A Little like Roulette, the house edge in Blackjack is very low. The RTP (return to player) on the classic Blackjack game is 99.41% so it’s close enough to the 50/50 bettors are looking for when using the Fibonacci betting system.

Before you use the Fibonacci strategy in Blackjack, make sure you fully understand how to play the game.  As with any type of bets you apply the Fibonacci betting system to, you must decide on the size of your bankroll and allocate a relative betting unit to use.

It’s irrelevant how you win at Blackjack, be it a split hand or a successful double down, you count it as a win and stay on the Fibonacci sequence pattern. 

Sports Bets

Applying the Fibonacci betting system to sports bets is a little trickier than Blackjack or Roulette due to the available odds.  As you know, in an ideal world, you are looking for even money odds.  To get regular even money odds in sports isn’t unheard of but you may need to bide your time for them to appear in different sports betting markets.

Football

It’s not very often you’ll find even odds on one team to beat another, but you may find some that are very close.  If you are more comfortable with the basic football bets then you’re likely to look for win only bets.  However, as mentioned, you might struggle to find suitable odds on this market.

By all means don’t give up on looking but you should also consider other football betting markets.  These might include both teams to score, first goal scorer, the number of corners or anytime goal scorer.

You don’t need to place the same type of bet each time, you can mix them up if you prefer to or if the odds permit it.  The point is, you are looking for evens odds markets or as close as you can get.

Horse Racing

You do get a lot of low odds favourites when it comes to horse racing bets but a bit like football, they aren’t always available. 

There’s an incredible amount of bets you can place on horses but the majority aren’t going to be suited to the Fibonacci betting system as the odds tend to increase as you work your way up from Single bets to Multiple bets such the Yankee bet and Lucky 15 bet.

In reality, you’re only likely to find even odds on low odds win only markets and possibly the Each Way bets. 

Pros And Cons Of Fibonacci Bets

Every type of betting strategy has advantages and disadvantages so let’s explore the ups and downs of the Fibonacci betting system:

Pros

Mitigated Risk:  The system lets you win the losses back.  Even if you hit a losing streak, by sticking to the Fibonacci sequence, you will eventually recover those losses.  You just need to make sure you have a large enough bankroll to weather the storm when losses occur.

Relatively Cautious: This strategy isn’t considered to be particularly aggressive so it suits the more cautious bettors and it’s unlikely to clear out your bankroll.

Consistent Profits: Following the sequence usually returns consistent profits as you start at the beginning each time you win.  The profits aren’t huge but they are usually regular.

Structured Betting: Thanks to the Fibonacci sequence, you have a structured betting strategy that helps you keep control of your bankroll.  It also removes emotional betting and stops you from placing random amounts on bets.

Straight Forward: The Fibonacci sequence is quite simple to follow once you get the hang of it.  It’s always recommended that you keep a copy of the sequence to hand.

Cons

Costly Mistakes:  The Fibonacci betting system is a little trickier than the D’Alembert betting strategy so any errors could be expensive, although how expensive would depend on the Unit bet size. It’s important you stay focused and follow the correct sequence.

Daunting Losses: If you go on a long losing streak, it can get a little scary about your losses. For example, if you had a higher unit stake of £10, a straight loss of 9 bets would see you needing to place £550 on your tenth bet.  Runs like this are extremely rare when you are betting on a 50/50 market but you should always be prepared and set your unit stake according to your bankroll.

Low Profits: Due to the nature of the Fibonacci betting system, you’re unlikely to make huge profits.  This is mainly down to reducing your unit bets after each win.  The idea being that this system is based on risk mitigation on losses instead of banking big returns.

House Edge:  It’s hard work to beat a house edge with gambling and in truth, there isn’t a system that takes the house edge away otherwise there would be no bookies and casinos. However, occasionally you will be able to beat the bookies to odds drops and find value bets.  Always keep an eye out for promotions and bonuses as these can help remove the house edge and steer things in your favour.

Bankroll: The Fibonacci betting system is not fire proof as aren’t similar progression betting systems like D’Alembert or the Martingale system. Indeed, it’s possible to lose your entire bankroll if you had an extremely bad losing run.

Fibonacci Betting v Other Similar Betting Systems

There are other negative progression betting systems similar to the Fibonacci betting system.  Let’s compare them:

Fibonacci Betting System Tips

If you think the Fibonacci betting system might work for you and fancy giving it a try, it’s worth considering the following:

Protect Your Bankroll:

• You can’t predict losing streaks or how long they will last. Therefore, it’s important you don’t use unit bets that are too high, especially if you’re new to the system.

Keep to the Budget:

• Once you have decided the Unit bet size you can afford, make sure you stick to it. Deviating from the system can cost a lot of money.

Pick the Correct Odds:

• The Fibonacci system works off even odds. Make sure you place bets that have odds of evens or are very close.

Casino Limits:

• Some casinos have table limits. Always check the table limits before you start as any restrictions can interrupt the Fibonacci betting system.

Know When to Stop:

• Make sure you set and keep to your rules regarding wins and losses. If you reach your set budget, it’s time to stop.

Fibonacci Betting FAQs

Is the Fibonacci Betting system legal?

The Fibonacci system is 100% legal.  Using it has no impact on the outcome of a game and doesn’t involve card counting.  It’s just a betting strategy to manage your funds in a structured way.

Does the Fibonacci system work?

Yes, it works in terms of managing your bankroll effectively.  It doesn’t guarantee winning bets though and sometimes, there might be long losing streaks.

Is it a safe system to use?

The Fibonacci system is a safe system. Because it uses a moderately cautious approach, your profits are more likely to be smaller.

Can I use the Fibonacci Betting System on football?

The Fibonacci betting sequence can be used in any sports game. However, it’s not as easy to find the correct bets in sport compared to using the system for casino games.  Remember, you’re looking for bets that have a 50% winning probability.

Conclusion

The Fibonacci betting system offers a maths based approach that also provides a structured betting strategy.  The system isn’t too complicated and provides you with control over your bankroll.

Whilst the Fibonacci system can provide a steady flow of profits, a long losing run can see bettors suffer significant losses if the stakes are high enough.

If you’re more of a recreational bettor, the Fibonacci betting system offers a strategic and structured way to manage your bets and bankroll. 

An alternative to placing back bets only using the Fibonacci betting system is to look at matched betting for casino and sports betting.  This article about Matched Betting should help.

Provided you remember that it’s unlikely to provide big wins, this system can be a good addition to your betting strategy.