What is the Flat Betting System in Roulette?

Roulette has been around for more than three centuries (and has now become a favourite at any online casino), giving plenty of time for people to devise systems and strategies. One of these is the flat betting system. It contrasts with most other systems because it involves placing bets of the same size each time, rather than making them progressively bigger after either a win or loss.

As systems go, flat betting cannot get any simpler. You pick a bet size and you don’t vary it at all. If you start with a £1 bet, the next one is still a quid, and the one after that, and the one after that too.

This may not seem like much of a betting strategy since it’s not particularly mentally taxing, but there is solid rationale behind it.

In systems where you progressively increase your bet, the act of placing differently-sized wagers can shift the odds – sometimes in your favour, sometimes not. Flat betting just keeps the odds the same.

The other big advantage of a flat betting system is that you don’t need to keep doing mental arithmetic in your head. Doubling progressively larger numbers is easy when it’s 2, 4, and 8, but doubling 16, then moving back two steps, and doubling again is enough to leave anyone feeling confused.

Instead, with the flat betting system, you can just focus on the fun of the game, making the same bet each and every time.

The Origins of Flat Betting in Roulette

The flat betting system is one of the oldest recorded methods of roulette, predating many of the more progressive strategies used today. It’s believed to have been started in the 19th-century gambling halls of France, where high society players preferred the simplicity of consistent bets over the high-risk “double or nothing” style bets. While mathematics and probability theory were still evolving, flat betting gave players a sense of control in an unpredictable game.

Cons of the Flat Betting System

With strategies that require a player to amend their stakes as they see fit depending on how the game is panning out, the flat betting system’s rigidity means players cannot recover any potential losses quickly.

In addition to that, the flat betting system will never provide a player with an edge over the house; the casino will forever have the advantage due to the green zero.

Comparing the Flat Betting System to Other Strategies

Fibonacci Betting System

This is what is known as a negative progression strategy, and the ethos derives from the famous Fibonacci sequence where each number is the outcome of adding the two previous numbers together i.e. if first number is four, and the second is five, the third number would be nine (four + five = nine).

Roulette players use the Fibonacci betting system to determine the stake they will be playing. For example, if a player’s opening bet was £10, and they proceeded to lose the opening hand, then the next bet would be £10 still as the initial hand was deemed ‘one’ as 1 x £10 = £10.

If a player loses the first two hands then the sequence is ‘one, one’ so the next number in the Fibonacci sequencing would be two (one + one = two). Therefore, the stake would become two x £10 = £20.

Lose again? Then it becomes three multiplied by £10, as the last two numbers in the sequencing were one and two, so the wager is £30. If a player wins with that stake, then the strategy advises them to go two numbers back in the sequence i.e. back to one x 10 = £10 for the next wager.

The reasoning for this approach is to allow Roulette players a chance at gradually recouping any potential losses, plus making a small profit if you win after a run of lost hands.

Like any approach, it comes with its negatives, too, such as requiring a large pot to begin with should you hit a bad run of losses. Therefore, it’s important to set your budget pre-game and know that if that goes, that it is time to stop that session.

Where Fibonacci Differs from Flat Betting

The Fibonacci system, like other negative progression methods, is reactive, which means it adjusts bets based on previous results, in the hopes of recovering losses over time. Flat betting, on the other hand, is proactive in its simplicity, avoiding bet increases and sticking to the same amount regardless of wins or losses. This makes it less risky in terms of bankroll volatility, but also removes the potential of recovering losses.

Labouchere Betting System

Also referred to as the Cancellation system or Split Martingale, and although a negative progression strategy like Fibonacci, it is a more complex one and is utilised when it comes to even–money bets (red/black or odd/even).

It’s best to lay this out for ease of understanding, but you begin by writing down a sequence of numbers. For this example, let’s go for: 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14.

Each number represents the wager multiplied by itself i.e. if the wager is £1 then the 10 would denote a £10 stake and the 14 would be £14.

To kickstart your first wager, you take the first and last number of your sequence, add them together, and lay out that stake. So, 10 is the first number, and is added to 14 as the last number, giving you a wager of £24.

If you win the hand, then you cross off 10 and 14 from your sequence, and your next stake would be the ‘new’ first and last numbers i.e 11 + 13 = 24, so £24

.If you had lost that hand, you do not cross out the numbers but instead add that number to the end of the sequence: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 24.

You play the game until all your numbers from the sequence are crossed off, which would mean a profitable game, or when your pre-determined pot allowance has gone.

Why Labouchere Appeals to Some Players

Labouchere offers a way to chase losses while setting and playing toward a target profit amount. It feels strategic because players work through a sequence, crossing off numbers as they play. With that being said, it needs a lot of focus and careful record-keeping to work, as well as a larger bankroll. 

Flat Betting in Action

If a player enters a roulette game with £200 and decides to bet £5 per spin using the flat betting method, they might notice a stretch of wins and losses after several spins, but their bet amount never changes. If they are lucky enough to hit a hot streak early, they keep their profits without increasing the risk. On the flip side of that, if the losses start mounting up, they can gauge exactly how much of their bankroll is left without sudden large bets wiping it out faster. 

The Psychological Side of Flat Betting

For many, whether playing at a land-based or online casino, flat betting reduces stress and frustrations around decision-making. Without constantly having to recalculate bet sizes, they can focus on the wheel and not worry about doubling or halving their bet each time. This more consistent way of playing can also help people stick to their budget, as there’s no big increases in bet size to tempt them into chasing losses.

When Flat Betting Might Work Best

Flat betting tends to suit shorter sessions, especially for players who prefer consistent pacing over the adrenaline rush of high-stakes swings. It also works well for those testing a roulette strategy, as keeping the bet amount consistent can make patterns easier to track without their bankroll taking a major hit early on.  

FAQs