Betting systems like the Whittaker Progression are simple to grasp and allow the player to structure their stakes when playing roulette.

But does the Whittaker Progression work when playing roulette online? Let's take a closer look.

How the Whittaker Progression betting system works

The Whittaker system is a simple gambling plan that can be used in online or offline roulette games.

The staking plan is similar to the Fibonacci betting system: the player adjusts their unit stakes according to whether their previous bet has won or lost. The difference is in the increase and decrease in the size of the bets.

As in most progression plans, the Whittaker Progression system requires the player to stick to outside bets that pay 1/1. These include red, black, odd, and even.

If a bet loses, the stake is increased. If the bet wins, the stake is reduced.

The theory is that even after a long downswing, the player can hit a winning spin and win big, therefore cancelling out their losses.

The Whittaker Progression system in practice

Let's look at how the Whittaker system works in practice. In the Fibonacci system, there is a strict set sequence of bets that must be used.

For example, using a starting stake of £1, losing bets would go something like: £1, £1, £2, £3, £5, £8. In this instance, the next bet is equal to the sum of the previous two bets (£2+£3, £3+£5, and so on).

After a win, the player moves back to the start of the number sequence.

The Whittaker Progression works slightly differently in that the player only gradually adjusts their stakes after a win. In that respect it's more like the Labouchere betting plan.

Take a look at the table.

Our player hits nine losing spins on the bounce. They win spin #10 and subsequently move their stake back two spots on the number scale.

Their eleventh spin would be staked at £13, not £1. Betting continues until the player works their way back to their original unit stake.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Whittaker betting system

Like all negative progression betting plans, there are big downsides to the Whittaker.

Going bust is the player's biggest issue. As you can see from the table, after eight losing spins the player has lost over 20 unit bets. Clawing back winnings can be a laborious process.

And, of course, the house edge of roulette means that the casino always has the long-term advantage over the gambler. In European Roulette, for example, the casino keeps £2.70 of every £100 wagered over the long term.

The advantages of the Whittaker Progression system are that it can be altered depending on the player's bankroll and circumstances. If you have a tight bankroll, make your sequence less severe. If you can handle the downswings, however, make your progression line a little higher.

The Whittaker is also good with other types of roulette bets. If you like the Column and Dozens bets (which pay 2/1), you can adjust the Whittaker system accordingly.

In fact, having a higher payout (2/1) works much better with the Whittaker, as it rewards winning players who may be trying to claw back any losses.

Try the Whittaker system for free at Betway Casino

Learning the rules of online roulette is straight forward The next step in a player's evolution is to work out a system that's right for them.   

A negative progression system can be good for players who don't hit long downswings. But you need to have the funds in place to handle losing runs.