Roulette - Remember that guy that sold all of his possessions and put everything he owned on one spin of the roulette wheel?  Well, this is sort of like that, sort of.  What the article advocates is what I would call a “chase” system.  Basically, you pick one color and bet it with $10, for example.  If the bet wins, great, bet $10, however, if the bet loses, double your bet to $20, if that one loses, double that bet to $40, and on and on until you win your original bet back.  The idea is that you have about a 50 percent chance of winning on each spin (slightly less if the wheel has a zero and/or double zero), and that probability says, so long as you have deep enough pockets, you’ll always eventually win your initial bet back.  I would keep in mind that most casinos have table limits to try to guard against this to an extent, but it isn’t a terrible idea, anyway.

Blackjack - According to the article, using basic card counting can increase your odds to win at blackjack by up to 5 percent.  The strategy is pretty straightforward.  Start at 0, then add 1 when you see a low card (2-6) and subtract 1 when you see a high card (10s, face cards, and aces), and don’t add or subtract anything on 7-9.  When you total gets high, you increase your bets, likewise, when you total falls to the low end, you’ll want to decrease your bets or find another table.   The idea is that you will increase your probability of receiving high cards when your total is highest, increasing your chances to win.

Try these strategies out by playing roulette and blackjack online at Bodog Casino.

Lottery - This idea isn’t so much to increase your chances of winning the lottery, but to maximize your winnings if you should be so lucky as to hit the lottery.  The concept here is that you want to pick numbers that aren’t commonly used.  The number 7, for example, is a no-no because it is so common.  The article also suggests staying away from numbers between 1-31 because people often pick the numbers in their birthday for the lottery.  The purpose of this is to avoid sharing your winnings if you do win the lottery.  You’re odds aren’t very at winning to begin with, so why not make sure you are the only one getting paid if you do win?

Be sure to check out more of our articles on black jack advice and roulette strategy.

Related posts:

1. Casino Games & Bonuses: BookMaker Tournaments
2. College Football Gambling
3. How to Beat Gambling Point Spreads

Roulette is one of the easiest games to play and understand in the casino. As usual the easier a game is to understand the greater the house edge, and roulette is no exception. If you are looking for a easy to understand and slow paced table game, and are willing to sacrifice on the house edge, then you may like roulette. If you want something more stimulating or with a decent return I would suggest looking at other games.

One difference between roulette and all other table games is that roulette chips have no value denomination printed on them. This actually is the true definition of a chip, one which indicates its value is technically called a check. The roulette table comes with six to eight sets of different colored chips, each set consisting of 300 chips. When a player buys-in they get their own color and the value would be the buy-in divided by the number of chips received. The dealer will place a token on top of the dealer’s stack of that color of chips to indicate the value.

United States Rules

A U.S. roulette wheel consists of 38 numbered slots: numbers 1 to 36, a zero, and a double zero. The betting layout consists of every individual number as well as a host of “outside” or combinations of numbers. After the players make their bets the dealer spins the wheel and a ball and after several seconds the ball will land in one of the numbered slots.

The following table displays the available bets, the payoff, and the probability of winning under U.S. rules. All casinos in the U.S. follow these rules except for in Atlantic City. The house edge on all bets is 1/19, or 5.26%, except for one bet. The exception is the 0-00-1-2-3 combination, which carries a house edge of 7.89%.

United States Roulette Rules Bet Pays Probability Red 1:1 47.37% Black 1:1 47.37% Odd 1:1 47.37% Even 1:1 47.37% 1 to 18 1:1 47.37% 19 to 36 1:1 47.37% 1 to 12 2:1 31.58% 13 to 24 2:1 31.58% 25 to 36 2:1 31.58% Any one number 35:1 2.63% Two number combination 17:1 5.26% Three number combination 11:1 7.89% Four number combination 8:1 10.53% Six number combination 5:1 15.79% 0,00,1,2,3 combination 6:1 13.16%

Single Zero Rules

A few places in the U.S. offer single zero roulette. This lowers the edge on every bet is 1/37, or 2.70%. The lists below shows some places that I have seen or heard have single zero roulette. The minimums at the single zero wheels are usually higher than the double zero wheels and are open fewer hours. Often the single zero wheels are found in the high roller rooms.

Las Vegas

• The Tropicana
• The Monte Carlo
• The Stratosphere
• Mandalay Bay
• Venetian
• Aladdin
• Luxor
• Nevada Palace (ten cent minimum)

In addition the Bellagio and Mirage offer single zero roulette with the Hamburg variation of the European half back rule (see below). This means if the player makes an even money bet and the ball lands in zero the player will only lose half. This lowers the house edge to 1.35%. The Bellagio has one such wheel with a $100 minimum. The Mirage has two with minimums of $25 and $100.

Atlantic City

• Hilton
• Bally’s Park Place
• Harrah’s
• Caesars
• Sands
• Tropicana
• Showboat
• Taj Majal
• Trump Marina

All Other

• Grand, Tunica, Mississippi

Atlantic City Rules

In Atlantic City any all even money bets (red, black, odd, even, 1-18, 19-36) follow a variation of the European imprisonment rule (see below). In the event the ball lands in 0 or 00 the player will lose only half of any even money bet. This lowers the house edge to 2.63% on these bets. This rule does not apply on single zero wheels.

European Rules

European roulette is played on a single wheel and also features a favorable “en prison” rule. Under this rule if the player makes any even money bet (red, black, odd, even, 1-18, 19-36) and the ball lands in zero the player either gets half the bet back or it becomes inprisoned. If an imprisoned bet wins on the next spin it is released and the player gets it back, without winnings. What is subject to debate, or rule variation, is what happens to an imprisoned bet if the ball lands in zero on the next spin. I have heard of four different rule variations and each are explained below.

1. At a casino I visited in Hamburg half of even money bets are returned if the ball lands in zero. This house edge is 1.3514%.
2. At a casino I visited in Berlin even money bets became imprisoned if the ball landed in zero. The bet was returned if it won on the next spin. If a zero occured on the second spin the bet lost. The rule card in Berlin said the player may request the croupier to move the imprisoned bet from one even money bet to another. This house edge is 1.3879%.
3. According to the American Mensa Guide to Casino Gambling an imprisoned bet remains imprisoned until a non-zero occurs. This house edge is 1.3514%.
4. According to a dealer from Holland who wrote me if two zeros occurs in a row the bet becomes double imprisoned. In this case two winning bets in a row must occur to release it. If a anything else occurs, including more zeros, the bet is lost. This house edge is 1.3706%. The dealer said that the player also has the option to get half back immediately, which is the better option.

Number Placement

To the casual observer it would appear that the numbers on the wheel are not organized and seem to be distributed randomly. The only obvious patterns are that red and black numbers alternate and that usually two odd numbers alternate with two even numbers. However the distribution of numbers was carefully arranged so that the sum of the numbers for any given section of the wheel would be roughly equal to any other section of equal size. Most numbers are part of a pair, with one number between them. These pairs add to either 37 or 39.

Wheel Tracking

There are books out there that promise big riches by tracking the outcomes on a roulette wheel over thousands of spins and then examining the distribution to see if the wheel is biased toward one side. I don’t deny that this has been done in the past but I doubt it is a practical way to beat the casinos today. There are products the casinos can use today that track every spin and on a periodic basis run the distribution through a statistical test to check for bias. Although I am not an expert on the subject I believe wheel tracking to be a waste of time today.

Betting Systems

Ugh. If you think you can beat roulette with a betting system please read my section debunking betting systems. If you don’t believe what I say there here is what the Encyclopedia Britanica says under the subject of roulette:

The oldest and most common betting system is the Martingale or “doubling-up” system, in which bets are doubled progressively. This probably dates back to the invention of the Roulette wheel, but every day of the week some gambler somewhere reinvents it, or some variation of it, and believes he has something new. Over the years hundreds of “sure-fire” winning systems have been dreamed up, but regardless of what system is used, in the long run it cannot overcome the house’s advantage of the 0, or 0 and 00. This house advantage is the only system that consistently wins in the long run.

Better known as “The Wizard of Odds”, Michael Shackleford uses math and computer analysis to determine optimal playing strategy for all casino games. His work can be found on his website, WizardofOdds.com with player strategies and probabilities on most of the casino games. Michael lives in Las Vegas and in his spare time likes to college license plates and gamble.

You can read more about Michael’s work at his website, WizardofOdds.com

Related posts:

1. The Math of Gambling
2. Understanding NFL Odds
3. FanDuel Lets You Bet on Fantasy Sports

One of the most simple ones is the Martingale System, where you double your bet after each loss.  This system can be hazardous to your bankroll as the bets will get very large, very fast.  Even if you have a large bankroll that can handle these large bets, table maximums will bring this system to it’s knees quickly.

Then there is the cancellation, where you start by writing three numbers, the sum equaling your win goal for the sequence. In a three-number cancellation with a win goal of three units, you’d write 1, 1, 1. Your first bet is the sum of the end numbers, so you start with a two-unit bet. A win cancels the end number, that’s the cancellation part, so your next wager is the remaining bet. Win that, cancel out the number, and you’ve won your goal.

If you lose then you then write your wager in units at the end of your number sequence. Start with 1, 1, 1, wager two units and lose, and you’re left with 1, 1, 1, 2. Your next wager is three units, which is the sum of the two end numbers.

The problem lies in that you are still increasing wagers as you lose. It’s not as dangerous a system as the Martingale, but a few losses in a row stretches out the sequence, and it’s not unusual for your row of numbers to get so long it’d take an unusual hot streak to get you back to even.

One associate of ours likes to extend play at roulette by betting on black plus an equal amount on the third column. Eight of the numbers in the third column are red, so my friend covers 26 of the 38 numbers, all 18 black numbers plus eight red. If a black in the first two columns shows up, he breaks even, winning on black but losing the column bet. If one of his eight reds turns up, he makes a one-unit profit, winning a 2-1 payoff on the column while losing on black. But if the ball lands on one of the four third-column blacks, he wins triple, even money on black, plus 2-1 column.

Of course, he really has to worry about the 10 red numbers he doesn’t cover, plus 0 and 00. Any of those dozen numbers bring a double loss.

Undermining all roulette systems is that the house edge never rests. Whether you’re betting red or black, dozens or columns, single numbers or three-number streets, that 5.26 percent house edge is always working against you. The exception is if your system includes the five-number bet on 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. Then a little higher house edge is working against you, since the house has a 7.89 percent advantage on that bet.

Still, few players just throw their chips out haphazardly when they play roulette. Nearly everyone uses a system of some sort, whether it’s in how they choose their numbers, or in how they raise or lower their bets.

Given a balanced wheel, no number is any more likely than any other to come up, so why not have some fun? It might even produce a memorable moment.

In roulette, the magic number for the house is almost always 5.26.

Related posts:

1. The Math of Gambling
2. Cardinals at Dodgers Game 1 Betting Trends
3. How Parlays Can Be Profitable

So, let’s say you don’t hit any of your numbers on the first spin, but you do on the second.  Again, you end this 8-number group and stack up your winnings. At this point, with your total wager of $16, you win $35, with a net gain of $19.

With a hit on the third spin, against your total wager to date of $24; you win $35, with a net gain of $11.

If you score on the fourth spin, the total wagered is $32, your winnings are $35, and your net gain is $3.

And if you hit on the fifth spin, you are in for a total of $40, winning $35, and your net loss is $5. If none of your eight numbers hits over five spins, your net loss is $40. At this point you end your eight number group and either pick another set of numbers or walk away.

Now if anyone out there thinks you can beat the casino with this system, then you aren’t using the full capacity of your brain.  Groups of eight or not, every spin is a random, independent event. The ball has no memory and lacks the artificial intelligence necessary to remember which number, or groups of numbers appeared last. In addition, the 8/5 betting in no way disarms the 5.25% edge the casino holds on every number, on every spin.

Related posts:

1. The Math of Gambling
2. Sports Betting Discipline
3. Preakness Stakes Payout Odds

50/50 Chance of Winning

The most popular myth is that there is a bet that gives players a 50% chance of winning. Well of course you can put enough chips down on the table to give yourself an even chance of winning, but that doesn’t mean it’s either fair or a good idea. If you are at a double-zero table, then there are going to be 38 positions. Cover half of them any way you want and you’ll get a 50/50 probability of winning. If you drop $1 each on 19 spots or $10 on a 12-number column and $1 each on any seven spots not in that column. Five three-number rows and one 4-number corner not overlapping those rows is another choice. The options are endless.

The reason the 50-50 chance of success is no worry to the casino is that the average profit when you win is less than what it costs when you lose. If you bet your $1 on each of 19 spots then a hit would pay you $35. Subtract $18 for the numbers you wagered on that didn’t hit for a $17 net gain. But losing costs you $19 which means you lose $2 on the entire thing. The arithmetic is more complicated for non-uniform bets or wagers on combinations whose elements don’t pay equally. But the conclusions are comparable.

Offsetting Bets to Get Comps

Some people out there think that they can trick the casino out of high-value comps if you partner up  and make offsetting bets while playing at the same table.  For example, you bet $20 on Red and your partner bets $20 on black.  The theory behind this is that you only risk hitting a 0 or 00 but get a combined ratings of $40.

The problem is that over enough spins the house expects to earn the same from your action whether you bet $40 all on one color, or split between the two.  So the combined rating is correct.  Strategies that try to get casino comps only are never good ideas.  The best way to do it is to earn a profit and get the comp as well.  That’s when gambling is at it’s most fun.

Numbers Become Due

A third myth is that numbers become due as more spins go by without hitting.  The problem is that roulette is a random game.  Past spins of the wheel have no effects on future events.  The chance of any number in a double zero game is one out of 38 on any spin. This is the case whether your number has been hitting consistently, not won at all, or appears to be next in some logical order.  Sticking to the same bets is therefore no better or worse than changing according to the pattern your mind’s eye fabricates when you “connect the dots.”

Predictable biases might be detected by analyzing past trends if wheels were off-kilter or dealers exhibited the “signatures” they’re occasionally reputed to have, but don’t count on either.

Wheels are checked, calibrated, and repaired so frequently and thoroughly that irregularities won’t get to a point where they influence results significantly. As for dealer signatures, ask yourself whether anyone could gauge the ever-fluctuating speed of the wheel, anticipate the path the ball will follow when it leaves the rim and encounters bumpers and frets on the way down then bounces around among grooves, determine when and how fast to release it, then do so precisely. All are needed to deliberately hit even a section of the wheel, let alone a target number.

If at least one of these myths were true, you could watch me sitting at the roulette table racking up the profits with a big old grin on my face, but that just isn’t going to happen.

Related posts:

1. The Math of Gambling
2. Casino Games & Bonuses: BookMaker Tournaments
3. Bookmaker Casino Bonus

If you are at the roulette table and distance prevents you from reaching one side of the table, then just ask the dealer to kindly place your wager there for you. If you want a 0/00 split then most of the time you will be able to put it between the 2ND and 3RD section of 12, but make sure you ask the dealer if this is ok to prevent you from getting worked over in the case you actually hit.
A split bet is a two number wager that allows you to cover two numbers with one bet. If either of these two numbers appears, you are paid 17 to one. For example, $10 split between numbers 0 and 00 gets you $180 ($170 plus your original $10) if either 0 or 00 appears.If you are not within reach to physically split the 0 and 00, as a courtesy most casinos will accept a split of these two numbers by placing your wager on the line between the Second and Third Dozen Box.

By the way I will recommend that you find a casino that offers a European roulette wheel that does not include the 00. Because there are only 37 numbers with the European version compared to 38 on the standard American roulette layout, the true odds of hitting you number are reduced to one in 37, with the house still paying you 35 to one. This reduces the house edge to 2.63% versus 5.36% on a 0/00 table.

Related posts:

1. The Math of Gambling
2. How Sportsboks Layoff Bets
3. Super Bowl XLIII Prop Bets

Back in 2006 there was a man who on live television walked into a casino in Las Vegas, and bet his entire life savings. This caught a lot of attention in the news, because it was such a large wager and that it was so odd for someone to risk it all. Mark Pilarski weighs in on his thoughts.

The person who did this was Ashley Revell, who put up his entire net worth of $135,300 on red at the roulette table while a British film crew recorded the event. However, it was not live as your question suggests, but taped delayed. The reason for the tape delay was because the Wire Act provides criminal penalties to anyone engaging in the business of betting when using a wire communication facility for the transmission of interstate or foreign commerce of bets or wagers on any sporting event, contest or betting information. I’m sure The Plaza Hotel-Casino in downtown Las Vegas, where the bet was placed, made sure the wager was taped and not broadcast live.

There isn’t a chance that I would have taken this wager if I was a casino owner. Even with the global exposure that the wager received, I would have nixed the idea of someone betting his or her life savings on one spin. This columnist has recommended countless times that you should only bet what you can afford to lose, not everything you own. Most of the casinos in Las Vegas would probably agree with Yours Truly; of course, the others would have had their limos curbside at the airport awaiting Revell’s arrival.

Finally, even though he won $135,300 (not $270,000, see below) when the ball dropped into the seven slot, a red number, I must challenge Revell’s wisdom for choosing roulette when risking his total net worth.

There were plenty of wagers in the casino that offer a better deal than double zero roulette, where the house edge is 5.26% on every bet you place on the table, including betting red. Revell broke the most fundamental principle of all of gambling; finding the best bet and conditions. He was not gambling smart when he decided a single spin at a double-zero roulette table is where he’d lay his brazen bet.

If Revell was so gung-ho on roulette, he should have at least made that same wager on a single zero roulette wheel where the house edge is a less murderous 2.70%. Better yet, he should have avoided Las Vegas entirely and made the play in Atlantic City, where some casinos have a special rule that allows only one half of the wager to be lost whenever the ball lands on zero or double zero (0, 00). This even-money outside bet is called Surrender. Surrender (or “en prison” in French) is allowed only on even money bets that pay off at 1 to 1 (Red/black, odd/even, 1-18/ and 19-36).

In Revell’s case of betting Red, if 00 or 0 came up, without Surrender, he would have automatically lost his bet. If Surrender were available at the casino where he made the play, half of his wager would remain on Red through the next spin. It’s called Surrender because his bet is temporarily held hostage, or “en prison” if you like, awaiting the outcome of the next spin. This Surrender option cuts the house edge on even money bets to 2.63% on the American game, and down to 1.35% on the European, single-zero table.
By the way, Danny, he did not win $270,000 as many news accounts reported. He risked $135,300 and won $135,300.

Related posts:

1. The Math of Gambling
2. Super Bowl XLIII Prop Bets
3. How Sportsboks Layoff Bets

Many of you would be surprised to find out that the Roulette rules in Atlantic City are different than they are in Las Vegas. That is good news if you are in AC but bad news if you are in Sin City.

When you make an even-money bet (red/black, odd/even, 1-18/9-36) in Atlantic City, you lose only half your wager if the roulette ball lands on 0 or 00. These outside wagers cut the house edge down from 5.26 to 2.63%.

Keep in mind that this advantage is only in effect for even-money bets. For even better value, Las Vegas offers single zero roulette tables at numerous casinos. A single zero game will give the casino only a 2.7% edge on all roulette bets.

Related posts:

1. Motor City Bowl: Central Michigan vs. Florida Atlantic Football Picks
2. Best Vegas Sportsbooks
3. 2009 Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Tournament Predictions

We want to stress the fact that you are going to need to do the math on roulette odds before the dealer spins the wheel. You are going to want to stick to what works and not superstitious schemes.

This article was written by the Wizard of Odds

The first thing to be clear about: past spins does not help predict future spins. This is true if you are betting in either land or online casinos. The reason I emphasize this is because roulette seems to be a magnet for con men selling get-rich-quick betting systems. Usually these betting systems are just a glorified Martingale, an early betting system based on doubling bets until you win. As with every casino game, all betting systems are equally worthless. The odds are the same on each and every spin. If the ball landed in red the last 100 times the probability of red is still the same as black the next spin. If you don’t believe me here is what the Encyclopedia Britannica says on the topic of roulette:

“The oldest and most common betting system is the Martingale or ‘doubling-up’ system, in which bets are doubled progressively. This probably dates back to the invention of the Roulette wheel, but every day of the week some gambler somewhere reinvents it, or some variation of it, and believes he has something new. Over the years hundreds of ’sure-fire’ winning systems have been dreamed up, but regardless of what system is used, in the long run it cannot overcome the house’s advantage of the 0, or 0 and 00. This house advantage is the only system that consistently wins in the long run.”

Now that I got that out there let me talk about roulette odds. In the United States, most roulette wheels feature both a zero and a double zero. With this wheel all bets on the layout except one carry the same house edge of 2/38, or 5.26 percent. Also, every possible mixture of bets will also carry the same house edge of 5.26 percent. The only exception is the dreaded five-number bet on 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. This pays 6 to 1 and has a house edge of 7.89 percent, making it an even worse bet. Thus on the double-zero wheels it doesn’t matter what you do as long as you stay away from the five-number bet.

In Atlantic City casinos, if the ball lands in zero any even-money bet (such as red, odd, and 1 to 18) the player loses only half. This cuts the house edge on the even money bets in half to 1/38, or 2.63 percent. The other bets are still 5.26 percent so consider this fact if you want your money to last longer.

Single-zero roulette games also offer better odds than the standard double-zero game, and they come in two flavors. “Plain” single-zero games offer a house edge of 1/37, or 2.70 percent. European single-zero games follow the Atlantic City convention of giving half back on even-money bets if the ball lands in zero, and offer a house edge is 1/74, or 1.35 percent. Bodog offers the plain single-zero game, although they call it European Roulette.

Some casinos with the European rules may give you the option to “imprison” your bet when the ball lands on zero instead of giving you half back immediately. If you then win on the next spin you get the full amount back. However I advise taking the half back instead.

In American casinos, single-zero roulette is rarely found on the main floor but can be found in most high-limit rooms in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Some of these games are plain single-zero and some are European. Some Las Vegas casinos with high-limit European roulette are the Bellagio, Mirage, Aladdin, MGM Grand, and the Wynn. The few American casinos with single-zero games on the floor post higher minimums, such as at the Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Wizard of Odds is one of the foremost gaming experts in the world. His advice helps many casino goers throughout the world and we hope you enjoyed his insight into roulette odds.

Related posts:

1. The Math of Gambling
2. Understanding NFL Odds
3. Can You Win With Bonus Hunting?

We take a look at roulette history from it’s inception all the way through the revolution of online roulette. If you love to play roulette then you should enjoy reading where the game got it’s start.

Roulette got it’s start in France in the 17th century when a French mathematician called Blaise Pascal, inspired by perpetual motion mechanisms invented the roulette wheel for gambling. Roulette got it’s name because it means little wheel in French.Two fellow Frenchmen Francois and Blanc developed the rudimentary gambling device in 1842. They added a zero pocket on the roulette wheel to increase the house odds and gain an advantage.

Roulette was brought to the United States in the early 1800’s and another slot with 00 was added to increase the house edge even further so you are going to get worse odds with American wheels. In some early forms of the game the 00 is replaced with an American Eagle as a show of patriotism.

The game began to spread rapidly over Europe and North America to become one of the most popular and celebrated casino games and now is called the “King of Casino games.” Roulette soon became associated with all things glamorous due to the connection with Monte Carlo when Francois and Blanc established the first casinos there.

Folk lore has followed the game of roulette with the story that Francois and Blanc made a deal with the devil in return for the secrets of the game. The connection with the devil comes about when you add all the numbers on a roulette wheel up (1-36) you will find they add up to 666, which according to the New Testament is the sign of the devil.

The game of roulette never reached the same kind of popularity in the United States as it has in Europe. This is due to the fact that the odds of playing roulette with the 0 wheel as opposed to the 00 are much better in European countries.

With the increasing popularity of online gambling, online roulette has become much more popular as it is very easy to find websites which offer the single 0, in fact online roulette games don’t really use the double zero which is much better for the gambler.

Online roulette has become a favorite with gamblers because there is not really any skill involved and the result of the game is left largely to chance. If the player understands how the odds of the game work it is possible to win fairly consistently.
We hope that hearing some folk lore and how the game originated will help you enjoy your roulette experience. Roulette history does not help you with a lot of strategy, except that you are going to want European odds casinos.

Related posts:

1. The Math of Gambling
2. March Madness History
3. 2009 President’s Cup Predictions