Re: Does anyone know roulette?

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If you have ever seen some of James Garner's Western movies (Support Your Local Sherrif and the sequel), he has some very memorable lines in those films about Roulette. Basically, he says, "Roulette is a game for suckers" and "Roulette is the worst game in the casino". Both of these are true. On each spin of the roulette wheel, the house odds are 2 / 38 or 5.3 percent. In other words, you expect to lose 5.3 cents out of every dollar you wager in Roulette. The only game that is worse for the player are slots and there were no slot machines at the time depicted in those James Garner movies.

By the way, Jame Garner played Rockford in The Rockford Files, a TV series that David Chase helped produced for several years in the Seventies. Interesting co-incidence.

But, bottom line, if you go to a casino, never play Roulette and never play the slot machines. For someone who has never studied any of the casino games, the best odds you can get is to go to a Craps table and bet on "The Field". It is an even money game and you'll never get any better odds than that in a casino.

Re: Does anyone know roulette?

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I wouldn't say he was breaking his losing streak as much as he was feeling the effects of the peyote. It's obviously not likely that knew exactly where the ball was going land beforehand, but he probably just spread his money around the table in a more sensible fashion, made possible by the effects of the drug.

(although the previous poster was correct- roulette carries some of the lowest odds in the casino from a players perspective.)

Re: Does anyone know roulette?

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I'm not much of a gambler, but I have been to a few casinos over the years, and the only game I have ever consistently won money at was roulette. In roulette you can bet even money on black or red (there's only one tweak in even betting-- the number 00 which is green). I think your odds of winning at least a little take home money is by betting on the corners (the intersection of 4 numbers), at least that's what I usually do.
Christofuh says: "Tony has big decisions to make, like whether or not to have that third sandwich..." :icon_razz:

Re: Does anyone know roulette?

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If you note, Tony places a bet over 4 intersecting numbers at one point. I would suggest that Tony was playing with $100 chips. Recall that at the last run, there was a special chip on a base used. That may represent a multiple chip value, perhaps $10,000. I would suspect that he won $10,000's by the end.
Don't forget he was treated as a 'whale' or a big gambler by Casino, with the pirvate jet, room and other top comps. That would suggest he was a regular and big time gambler, one who might drop $50,000 or more in a visit, with the casino usually getting to keep a big chunk of that.

Re: Does anyone know roulette?

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Umm ... HOMT ... you forgot about the single green 0. In European casinos, there are 36 numbers and only one green 0. But in US casinos, there are 36 numbers and two green zeros - a single 0 and a double 00.

So, the house odds are 2 out of 38 or 5.3%

You may have won every time you played, but that doesn't change the fact that the expected rate of return is for you to lose $5.30 out of every $100 you bet. It's a terrible game. The only worse game is Slots. But if you like Roulette, it's hard to talk someone out of a game they like.

Re: Does anyone know roulette?

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You're right about the two 00. Actually, I don't like to gamble at all, but when in Rome... I live near casinos and occassionally have to go with a group or to take an out of town visitor who wants to go. I go reluctantly, and put $50 in my top pocket. When that's gone, that's it. I've had my share of vices, but gambling has never been one of them. The thought of giving away my hard-earned money to a casino goes against everything inside me. As I mentioned, the only thing I've ever had any "luck" at was roulette. Slot machines are too boring, and I'm so tight with a buck that I feel cheap sitting down at the crap table with high rollers... I'd rather take that money and go have a lobster dinner.
Christofuh says: "Tony has big decisions to make, like whether or not to have that third sandwich..." :icon_razz:

Re: Does anyone know roulette?

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Splishak wrote:But, bottom line, if you go to a casino, never play Roulette and never play the slot machines. For someone who has never studied any of the casino games, the best odds you can get is to go to a Craps table and bet on "The Field". It is an even money game and you'll never get any better odds than that in a casino.
Not that it really matters, but as a former craps dealer I just want to clear up that "The Field" is not an even odds bet, the house still has an edge on every field bet you place. I think you're confusing that with an "Odds Bet", which does indeed have true odds. However you must have a bet on the "Place Line" in order back it up with an "Odds Bet", so you are still at a slight disadvantage to the casino there, but it is still the best bet in Vegas.

But you're right, Roulette is a fool's game. No coincidence that Tony seems to favor this game over all the others, it seems like a fair comparison to the kind of game you play with your life when you enter into the type of business that Tony has. You definitely have be a lucky guy in order to come out ahead in that game.

Re: Does anyone know roulette?

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Most dealers and other casino workers have the misconception that The Field is not an even money bet.

But there are only 36 ways a pair of dice can come up and there are 18 ways to win on the field - 14 ways that pay single and 2 that pay double. So, for every $100 you bet, you expect to win zero.

That is my definition of an even money game.
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