Is Fibonacci System the Safest Roulette Strategy?

The Fibonacci system is one of the most popular trading strategies in the stocks, forex and crypto markets. Interestingly, it is also popular among roulette players. It was created by 13^th century mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci. The system works by summing the previous two numbers.

For example, one + one equals two. Two + three equals five. Three + five equals eight. Summing up numbers in this sequence can continue to infinity. But that's not the point. In trading, traders divide Fibonacci numbers to get ratios that can help predict areas of value.

When it comes to roulette, this is how the Fibonacci system works.

Recommended for Even Money Bets

Roulette has numerous bet types. On the one hand, there's inside bets:

• Straight Up: bet on any number in a wheel
• Split: wager on two adjacent numbers
• Street: bet on one of three numbers in a row
• Corner: bet on one of four corner numbers
• Basket: bet on 0, 1, 2, or 3.

On the other hand, there's outside bets:

• Red/Black
• Odd/even
• High/Low
• Dozens
• Columns

The Fibonacci system works best on outside bets. Many experts recommend that you test the systems using small units. So, you could wager $1, then $2, $3, $5, $8 and so on as long as you follow the sequence.

You don't have to start at $1, though. You could start at $5. Then you could wager $8, $13, $21 or $34 until you start to win. Speaking of which, it's advisable to start the sequence after a win or to move two Fibonacci numbers back before you continue.

Is the Fibonacci System Profitable?

The Fibonacci System has been around for centuries. That means it has a huge, loyal fanbase that believes it works. All the same, let's examine its profitability using an example. The goal is to wager 10 times in roulette.

First round: you bet $1 and lose. You wager another dollar and lose. The next Fibonacci number is three. So, you wager $3 and lose. You're $7 in the hole. But on your next wager of $5, you win.

As we mentioned, this system works well in outside bets that payout $1:1. So, a $5 bet earns you $10. After four rounds of losing and one winning round, you've lost $7 and won $10. That's a $3 profit.

According to the system, you need to retrace two numbers back after a win. So, in your sixth round, don't wager $8. Instead, you retrace two numbers from $5 to bet $2. Let's say you lose. Next, you bet $3 and lose.

But on your eighth round, you wager $5 and win. You'll have lost $5 and won $10. That's a $5 profit. That said, you can always test the system at any of the many online roulette casinos out there. If you happen to live in Canada, Luke Holmes provides some good suggestions for Canadian roulette sites that you can check here.

Fibonacci System Flaws

Like many roulette systems, the Fibonacci strategy isn't perfect. No betting system is. That's because all casino games come with a house edge. In roulette, the house advantage depends on your bet type and the roulette variant.

European roulette has a 2.70% house edge for straight bets. By comparison, American roulette has a 5.2% house advantage for the same wager type. Based on this fact alone, you're likely to lose more in American roulette than in European roulette.

In outside bets, more so even money wagers, the odds of winning in European roulette stand at 48.6%. By comparison, the same wager types have odds of 47.4% in European roulette. In other words, you're more likely to win in the European variant of the game.

In light of that information, European roulette is the better game to play. All the same, it doesn't come with an assurance of winning. Roulette is a game of chance. If you go on a ten-round losing streak, not even the Fibonacci system can help you.

Roulette Table Limits

Another reason the Fibonacci system might not work is if there's a small betting limit on a table. Let's say the minimum wager starts at $1 and the maximum you can bet is $100. Based on the Fibonacci system, 89 is the closest number to 100.

If you're on a losing streak at lose your $89 while following the Fibonacci system; you have to concede defeat. With that in mind, you can always look for roulette table with a high maximum betting limit.

That way, you could wager between $1 and the maximum your budget allows. And if you're lucky enough to hit a few wins occasionally, there's a chance you could make a profit using this system.

Fibonacci Vs. the Martingale System

The Fibonacci system is one of many roulette strategies. So, how does it fare against competing strategies, especially the Martingale strategy?

1. Martingale Strategy

This system works by doubling your bet after every loss. The aim is to recover your losses when you win. Let's say you bet $1 and lose. Next you wager $2 and lose. You wager $4 again and lose. But in your fourth wager, you bet $8 and win.

In an even money roulette bet, your $8 bet attracts an $8 profit (1 to 1). In your three previous wagers, you'll have lost $7. So, with your $8 profit, you'll be able to make a $1 profit.

With the Fibonacci system, three losing bets will cost you $4. With your fourth $5 bet, you win $10, leading to a profit of $6 (10-6). Against that backdrop, the Fibonacci is safer and more effective.

The Takeaway

The Fibonacci system is a popular number-based strategy popular among day traders and roulette players. It follows a sequence of numbers which if used consistently, can help you make a profit in the long haul.

Like many roulette strategies, though, the Fibonacci system isn't full-proof. It doesn't always lead to profits. As a result, use it cautiously, preferably using small bet amounts.