Negative Progression Systems – Which One is Right for You?

Posted by Harry Kane on Tuesday, February 27, 2024

If you’re familiar with negative progression betting systems, you’ll know that such entities require you to increase your bet unit with every single loss. Theoretically, this helps to maximise the value of individual wins and recover previous losses, although each system is fraught with risk and challenges.

Not all negative progression systems have been created equal either, as some more aggressive in nature and require much larger bankrolls. We’ll explore negative progression betting systems in more detail below, while appraising the best examples and asking which one is the best for you?

What are Negative Progression Betting Systems?

As we’ve touched on, negative progression systems require you to strategically increase your bet unit and stake after every single loss. This is the polar opposite to how a positive progression betting system works, as this works by raising your bet unit after each win.

Most negative progression betting systems are highly structured, although the rate at which they require you to increase your stake varies from one strategy to the next. The underlying goal of a negative progression betting system is to maximise the value of each individual win, and recover a series of losses (especially when wagering on higher price outcomes).

The main challenge associated with negative progression systems is that you’ll have to sustain a series of losses before you’re able to claim a win. This requires you to have an initially large bankroll and a healthy appetite for risk, which is why negative progression betting systems tend to be favoured by experienced bettors and high rollers.

The Best Examples of Negative Progression Betting Systems

As we’ve already touched on, there are various examples of negative progression betting systems. However, the best and most popular iterations are highly structured and enable you to adjust your bet unit systematically over time. Below, we’ll address the most popular negative progression systems and ask why they’re so widely deployed!

• The Martingale System: We’ll start with the most aggressive negative progression betting system. The Martingale strategy requires you to double your stake after every loss, with a view to recovering your losses and banking a viable profit with each individual win. To successfully adopt this system, you’ll have to start with a sizable bankroll that can comfortably sustain significant losses, along with a healthy appetite for risk and passion for online casino gameplay.
• The Fibonacci System: Next up is the similarly structured Fibonacci system, which is built on a mathematical sequence that’s known as the ‘Fibonacci sequence’. This is slightly less aggressive than the Martingale system, as it requires you to increase your bet unit by adding the previous two stakes together after a loss. Ultimately, you can chase losses in a more responsible manner through this betting system, although any subsequent wins may not fully recover the amount previously wagered. It’s another negative progression betting system that’s synonymous with online casino gaming.
• The Labouchere System: Labouchere betting remains the most flexible example of a negative progressive system. This asks you to initially create a unique sequence of numbers, such as 1,2,3. To create your first stake, you’ll add the first and last numbers together (£4), with a losing bet causing your bet unit to be added to the end of the sequence. When you win, you remove the first and final number from your sequence, with a series of victories bringing the betting cycle to the close when all digits have been removed. This is a widely used and flexible betting system that can also be used to when engaging in sports wagering.

How to Choose the Right Negative Progression Betting System

If you do decide to adopt a negative progression system (based on the size of your initial bankroll and underlying appetite for risk), the question that remains is which one is right for you? Here are some key considerations to help you select the right negative progression betting system to suit your needs!

#1. What Do You Want to Bet On?

This is a key consideration, with most negative progression systems designed for games of chance (like roulette) or markets that unlock even money wagers. So, iterations like the Martingale and Fibonacci systems are ideal for risk-hungry players who prioritise games like roulette and blackjack, but not so suitable for sports bettors (due to the additional variables that impact outcomes and results). However, the Labouchere betting system does offer value to sports bettors, thanks to its flexibility and compatibility with even money markets.

#2. How Do You Want to Chase Losses?

Fundamentally, the notion of chasing losses is frowned upon in the realms of iGaming and sports betting. However, negative progression betting systems require you do just that, so the key is to decide how aggressively you want to chase losses while simultaneously factoring in your bankroll. For example, the Martingale system is ideal if you want to aggressively recover your losses and create potentially profitable wins. However, the Fibonacci systems affords you better control over smaller bankrolls, while Labouchere betting introduces an element of flexibility in terms of your bet unit.

#3. Have You Simulated Your Systems and Outcomes?

Before you commit to a betting system and stake your hard-earned money, we’d recommend simulating different outcomes and scenarios. Online tools like the GSimulator can help in this respect, as they let you simulate and experiment with different negative progression betting systems and gauge your potential level of profitability. This is a crucial step that may help you to make an informed choice, while it enables you to potentially tweak your negative progression betting system and initial bet unit.

So, there you have it; our guide to negative progression betting strategies and the most popular iterations. Just take care to understand each system in detail before taking steps to choose the right one for you, as this is key given the potential scale of losses when you first start to wager.