Fibonacci Roulette Strategy Explained: A Player’s Guide

Today, we’re going to look at one of the most famous and world-renowned system for playing roulette, the Fibonacci sequence. As a roulette system, it’s been around since the 1200s, although Indian mathematicians have been using it since 200 BCE.

Once you have read this guide, you will know how it compares to other systems, how effective it is, and why you may have some interest in playing it. 

Over the years, many systems have been developed to help players maximize their winnings on roulette and other games with even money betting opportunities.

You can check out this short video first to get the basics of the Fibonacci strategy before exploring the details in the article.

What is the Fibonacci System?

The Fibonacci System is a sophisticated system which allows the player to protect their bankroll with minimal risk and without the large bankroll required by other systems such as the Martingale.

 The Fibonacci is the perfect system to protect your bankroll against any major losses and is much less likely to end in catastrophe because it develops in a much more controlled way than many systems, including the Martingale.

The Martingale is a nuts-and-bolts way to (hopefully) ultimately win your money back – but the Fibonacci gets you there with a lot less risk, a much smaller bankroll, and is, quite honestly, a far more elegant solution than the Martingale. 

Let’s take an in-depth look.

Understanding the Fibonacci Sequence

The Fibonacci Sequence in roulette is a sequence in which each number is the sum of the two preceding numbers in the sequence. The system occurs in nature, for example, in the way the curve of a Nautilus snail shell develops, or flower petals expand and grow.

Here is a simple example of the Fibonacci Sequence, showing the first eight numbers of the sequence in an expanding array of tiles.

How the Fibonacci Sequence is Used in Roulette Betting

Let’s use a simple example to help you get started. It’s easy and straightforward.

• You start with an initial bet of $1. 
• If you win, you continue to bet $1 until you lose.
• Once you lose the first bet, you continue with the Fibonacci Sequence, making the second bet of $1.
• If that loses, you then add the first two losing bets together, and bet $2.
• Then add the previous two bets together and the sum becomes the next bet - $2 + $1 = $3.
• And then the next bet is $3 + $2 = $5.
• And then the next bet is $5 + $3 = $8.
• And as you continue to lose, you keep betting the sum of the previous two bets.
• At any point when you win, you go back two bets in the sequence.
• So if you win the $8 bet, you would go back past the $5, and settle on the $3 bet.
• And start again from there. 

 Let’s take a look at how the Fibonacci performs with a losing streak, a winning streak and a choppy, back and forth streak

Now, let's see the winning streak results:

And here are the win/loss streak results:

Roulette Fibonacci vs Martingale

Let’s take a look at the Martingale System and compare it to the Fibonacci System.

As you know, the Martingale is a negative progressive system where you double your bet every time you lose.

Ultimately, you will find yourself with a very large bet, and you will be betting that large amount to win the same amount as your very small first bet – usually just one unit. 

The Fibonacci looks a little more complicated than the Martingale, but it’s really quite simple when you take a closer look. 

Comparison of Fibonacci and Martingale Systems in Roulette

And starting with the same $1 bet - after a 10-bet losing streak of the Martingale, you would have lost $1,023.

And the further you get into the sequence, the greater the disparity between the two becomes.

Clearly, and as you can see, you need a much bigger bankroll to play the Martingale than the Fibonacci, and the Martingale can get you into really deep water very quickly.

The Martingale requires a large bankroll to stay afloat, and inevitably, you may hit the table maximum before you have the opportunity to get out.

And that’s what makes the Martingale so dangerous – you can quickly run out of money before you have the opportunity to hit the one bet that is going to get all your money back in one fell swoop. 

Scenarios Where One System May Be More Effective 

As with all systems, there is no guaranteed way to win. 

The House Advantage on a European (single zero) wheel is 2.7%, so the Return To Player (RTP) is 97.3% on this game.

On an American wheel, it is 5.26%, and with an RTP of 94.74%, always try to play on a single zero wheel.

(Oh – and avoid the triple zero wheel like the plague – it is absolutely not your friend with a House Advantage of 7.69% - so has an RTP of only 92.31% - Ouch!).

So, for example, you may find yourself betting $2,048 to win $1.

Given the same numbers and the same number of losses in a row (11 losses in a row), you would have lost $232 using the Fibonacci system, and your next bet would be $144.

Which would require a bankroll of $376 – a lot more accessible for the average retail player than the Martingale’s required bankroll of $4,095.

 Practical Steps to Implement the Fibonacci System in a Casino or Online Roulette

Here's how to put this strategy to good use. Follow the steps and you'll get the hang of it very easily.

1. Decide how much your session bankroll is going to be. 
2. Let’s say it’s $100, divided into 100 units of $1 each.
3. And then just start betting with the first number of the sequence, the first of the $1 bets.
4. If you win, you keep betting the $1.
5. If you lose, you go to the next bet in the sequence, which is the second $1 bet.
6. And if that loses, you go to the next bet, which is the $2 bet.
7. And then keep going.

Managing Bankroll and Betting Limits with the Fibonacci System

The system is perfect for protecting your bankroll. It mitigates your risks, but by doing so, it also limits your ability to hit a big win.

Apart from that, it offers the opportunity to play for a long time with minimal losses.

Reverse Fibonacci Sequence Roulette

The Reverse Fibonacci is exactly the opposite of the Fibonacci System. 

Instead of being a negative progressive, it becomes a positive progressive. 

Which means that every time you win, you increase your bet up to the next number in the sequence.

As you can see, the numbers of the Reverse Fibonacci Sequence are identical to the regular Fibonacci Sequence, but it is a positive progressive system instead of a negative progressive one. 

The Reverse Fibonacci isn’t as safe a system as the regular Fibonacci system, but it does offer the opportunity to ride a winning streak to greater winnings than the regular system.

 Examples of Bets Using the Reverse Fibonacci Sequence

• The first bet is $1 and when you win, you get paid $1. 
• There is zero surplus.
• The next bet is $1. When you win, you get paid another $1.

 $1 surplus

• And your next bet is $2. 
• And if you win, you get paid $2. 

$2 surplus.

• And your next bet is $3, and if you win, you get paid $3 

$3 surplus.

• And your next bet is $5. And if you win, you get paid $5. 

$5 surplus.

• Your next bet is $8. And you get paid $8. 

$8 surplus.

• And your next bet is $13. 
• And if you win, you get paid $13. 

$13 surplus.

• And your next bet is $21. And if you win, you get paid $42. 

$21 surplus.

And so on, and so on.

And you continue to get a small bonus payout every time you win.

What’s fascinating to me is that as you continue to win, your surplus winnings follow the Fibonacci Sequence, too!

The Fibonacci Strategy in Roulette - Final Thoughts

Given the choice between the Fibonacci System and the Martingale System, the Fibonacci offers a better choice for the player in that it requires a much smaller bankroll to be competitive, and it has a significantly smaller risk profile than the Martingale System.