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It is well known among certain circles that roulette wheels can often exhibit bias. This basically means wheels that are showing numbers coming more than are statistically normal. On a 37 number wheel then each number will arrive once every 37 spins. Over a long enough series of trials then you will tend to see this distribution or near as damn it. But there are often reasons where certain wheels are showing numbers that are coming more often than what they should be!

This can be to do with temperature differences or the main reason is usually to do with faults that are present inside the actual wheel itself. This could be a looseness in the actual frets or canoes that are absorbing energy as the ball lands and thus warping the outcome of the event.

If this leads to so much as a certain number coming one spin in every 36 spins instead of one in every thirty seven spins then this would allow the player to be at evens with the house. It is easy to see then that if a player was seeing any individual number arrive at a rate of once every thirty fives spins or greater then this would not only reveal a bias but also a bias that was large enough to give the player enough of an edge to make a theoretical profit.

The main problem comes from detecting a true bias and this means that seeing false patterns is all too real with detecting wheel bias. I would ascertain though that any number that was coming more than it should over say 200 spins would merit further investigation. If that continued to as much as 500 spins then it would have to then be taken very seriously and after 1000 spins then wagering money could seriously be considered.

Myself and my partner had our first casino trip last night in absolutely ages and it felt sort of strange. I cannot remember the last time that we went to a casino but it was well before the World Cup started. A combination of the World Cup and the WSOP has led to me being far too busy.

I expected to play some blackjack last night but the tables were full all night and I never fancied standing behind. So instead I went and watched roulette and I found a dealer who I thought that I had a very good read on. Actually this reminds me of a very good book called “Read The Dealer” but that book dealt with blackjack.

Dealers can be read in roulette in a similar way and any experienced gaming operative who is telling the truth will tell you. However it does require certain circumstances for this to happen. I struggle to read any dealer who reverse spins constantly and if that is company practice then I would never bother to even try.

But in this casino then the practice was to always spin in the conventional direction of clockwise on right handed tables and anti-clockwise on left handed tables. I didn’t play for high-stakes and only in £1 chips but I did win two consecutive £1 bets on the number. I passed some of my winnings back but ended up winning £75 which paid for our meal and the drinks for me and my partner and so I was very happy with the evening.

Roulette is one of the oldest and most popular forms of gambling found at casinos around the world and everyone has their own approach to the game that they may swear by. Nevertheless, there are some basic strategies that players can employ on a regular basis in order to increase their chances of winning without risking too much of their bankroll each round.

The most important factor to always bear in mind while playing is to work the outside bets (odds, evens, blacks, reds, high, low, dozens and columns) almost exclusively. While it’s true that these bets tend to have a significantly lower payout ratio than the inside bets (e.g. placing a wager on a specific number or small group of numbers) this is due to the fact that their statistical probability of being rolled on the wheel is much greater than inside wagers. For this fact, sticking to them will give you a significant advantage in terms of overall financial return probability than other wagers will tend to yield, meaning they are much more worthwhile in the long-run than any short-runs would allow.

Once you have determined your play strategy, also decide how you will distribute your wagers between each of the selected areas. A smooth, even wagering system is generally best as it helps allow for maximum return potential without risking a large amount on one particular roll.

Finally, always be sure to test your strategies online or with some other free game system before playing live with real money. There are a large number of these systems available and can be found both online and offline and are a great way to refine your wagering system before risking your hard-earned money at the tables. Be sure to do this always when changing approaches as it will help prevent unnecessary losses and keep you in game for much longer than may be possible otherwise.

Yesterday I looked at gambling theory in general and how important that is with regards trying to make money from casino games. Now obviously you are not supposed to be able to make money long term from casino games but that is not the objective for most people. Casino action gives people the opportunity to experience the thrill of casino game play while presenting the opportunity for short term success.

If you go into the venture with that in mind then you will be fine. Try to forget everything else that I have talked about on this blog because that stems from me having an awful lot of experience and inside knowledge that you simply will not have.

As an ex gaming employee then it is far easier for me to get away with certain things although even then, the average croupier is far more knowledgeable these days and the average casino manager is certainly so since I left gaming for good back in 1998. Theory is very powerful if you want to reduce the house edge to a very tiny percentage on all casino games and especially blackjack and roulette. Knowing basic strategy will not get you an edge at blackjack but it would almost certainly almost eliminate the house edge…….almost!

With sign up bonuses and loyalty bonuses that online casinos offer then you could find yourself almost breaking even or even better. Theory must be approached with caution because knowledge as they say is power but knowledge in the wrong hands or misinterpreted in the wrong way and used wrongly can be very damaging.

Give a reckless maniac the knowledge of how to drive a car and he could kill himself and others so knowledge isn’t always good. The bottom line is though that theory is important but it simply isn’t the be all and end all and success cannot be automatic as a result of knowing something…….it depends on what that something actually is.

It never ceases to amaze me just how many cheating teams there are out there trying to take money either from casinos or from the actual punters who frequent casinos. I recall one interview that I did some years ago with a professional pick pocket who told me that crowded places were the best places to take wallets and purses and this made casinos a prime target.

When I asked him why, he then told me that it was because bodily contact was normal in such crowded places where many people were in such close proximity. This definitely applies around roulette at night on busy games where quite often there can be as many as ten people around one roulette table.

Pickpockets know that people who frequent casinos usually have money. Even if they are not a big hitter then they will at least be having a night out and be carrying around at least £100 on average. I actually had this skill demonstrated to me once and my wallet was lifted from my back pocket without me even feeling it. Apparently slim people make easier targets because of the cavity between the fabric of the cloth and the persons actual body.

This means that a slim person is less likely to detect any movement. It was only after I had my wallet taken and then handed back to me that I then realised just how good these people are. But then again these are practiced skills that are akin to the skills honed by magicians and card mechanics but the only difference is that their sleight of hand comes with cards and not wallets, purses and cash.

Its a scary business so watch out.

Blackjack is a game that has been with us for an awful long time now and its sister game…..Pontoon means that many people come to blackjack who have had experience of playing Pontoon. Over the years there have been many variations to change the game and I remember when the “Over/Under” feature came into existence in the UK in the mid 1990’s.

But as online gaming has took off over the past few years then there has been an even greater need for the game to be revitalised periodically. So we are now facing a situation where new variations of blackjack are coming out with greater frequency. Early and late surrender were other popular features that caught on in some casinos.

But 21-3 blackjack is an interesting concept that attempts to merge the game of blackjack with poker. The player simply makes a separate wager that his first two cards and the dealers up card make a three card poker hand.

In this instance, if their first two cards are of the same suit and the dealers card is also the same suit that constitutes a flush. If their cards are say 8,7 and the dealer is showing a 6 or a 9 that that constitutes a straight. There are even more special odds paid for big hands like trips and straight flushes. Trips are obviously where the player has a pair like 4,4 and the dealer also shows a 4.

A straight flush is if say the player has 7h-6h and the dealer is showing the 8h. The pay offs with respect to the poker hands differ from casino to casino but if you like poker and the idea of merging the two games appeals to you then 21 +3 Blackjack may just be your game.

All around the world there are countless different ways to gamble, with many different casinos offer a large selection of choices for both casual and professional visitors alike to relax, have a good time and potentially win large sums of money. The most popular games around the world right now for all players, however, are iconic and can be found in virtually every corner of the world in some form or another thanks to their timeless qualities and unerring intrigue.

Slots

The top game of choice to be found at any online casino, slots offer players a quick, easy and fun gambling experience that can potentially pay off greatly from time to time. On top of that, the automated nature of slots means that players are never pressured into an action by their peers and can enjoy their time at the machine as much as they would like without needing to worry about affecting those around them.

Video Poker

Similar to slots in the sense that it is computer-controlled and 100% automated, video poker is one machine-based game that if the right strategy is used in the right game can result in the player actually having over a 100% return on investment over time – something that is virtually unheard of in any gambling establishment.

Craps

One of the major iconic games of the casino world, craps has remained a favorite gambling game for players around the world for over 100 years. Before craps even came about dice games used for gambling date back thousands of years, meaning the modern day craps is but a continuation of a long-standing tradition of gamblers dating back as far as ancient Rome.

Roulette

Along with craps roulette has long been one of the most popular gambling games found in modern-day casinos the world over. Originally designed and first used roughly 200 years ago in France it has been a major attractor for both casual and serious gamblers alike ever since its birth due to its simplicity, excitement and reliance more upon luck than anything else for determining the outcome of a spin – making it an excellent option for many aspiring gamblers to being their career on.

Blackjack

The number one card game the world over, blackjack is another one of the few games available in casinos that can offer skilled players the chance at actually earning more than they lose against the House in the long run – something that is an elusive dream for most gamblers due to the fact that virtually all games found in gambling establishments will never let this occur even on the best of days. Simple, easy to learn and easy to enjoy, blackjack has grown to become not just one classic form either but a multitude of different games in the form of various styles that allow slight variations on the rules to help keep people interested and offer additional ways to win that standard blackjack games may not offer (such as Spanish 21, where decks contain no 10s and players may wager on one of their cards matching the dealer’s face-up card for a big win).

Yesterday was not a good day, it started badly…..continued poorly and got downright horrible towards the end. My three horses that I backed on the Grand National all fell within a few fences of the start (my worst ever National).

I also backed Hull to beat Burnley and they got beat 4-1……AT HOME! Then last night we had a casino trip and I was playing blackjack for about three hours inbetween watching the golf in the bar. I only intended to play for an hour but I committed the ultimate sin…….I played on to get my money back.

I didn’t play badly, blackjack isn’t like poker where a player can tilt. With blackjack then you simply do what needs to be done and the increased bets are necessary. You always know of course that the edge with a game like blackjack is so wafer thin that a loss on any one particular night is a strong likelihood.

I ended up losing about £300 which was six of my maximum bets. On top of that I had the misfortune to have not only an annoying dealer on my table who I felt like telling to shut up but also a really annoying punter. Both of them had backed the winner of the National (what a surprise) and both of them couldn’t believe that I hadn’t.

Sometimes I really hate the people who frequent live casinos and this has certainly not changed since the days when I used to work in them as a croupier and Inspector. Is it any wonder why I spend so much time on my computer. No annoying dealers, no tobacco smoke and no travelling……absolute bliss!

Roulette is one of the biggest casino games ever played and features in many smash hit films that show a hero spending his cash over at the casinos roulette table while speaking to a woman.

The glamour that seems to come with playing the game is a huge draw factor and because of this there are a large number of big money gamblers that head straight to the roulette tables once they enter a casino or sign into an online based client.

There are a couple of things that new and inexperienced players should know, helping to reduce the chances of you staking all of your cash and not hitting at least one win.

The first thing that you should be aware of is the number of online roulette scams that are operating, these are usually in the form of an ebook that claims to be able to give you the secrets to beating the game every time.

Believe me when i say, these are nothing that are going to improve your chances of winning, they are just a scam that has been created in order to draw money from people who are looking to make quick money through gambling. The majority of the information that you get within these ebooks is easily accessible online, it just needs to be searched for.

The second thing that you should be looking at before heading to the roulette table is that the odds are there for a reason. This means for example that all the numbers on the table pay out 35/1 odds, mainly because the possibility of you choosing the right number is very limited.

Ok you see these new television versions of the game and there are always people hitting the right numbers, you have to think on the larger scale here, it will seem that people are continuously winning but when you have 40 to 50 people all looking to place money onto numbers, there are going to be a couple of people who will guess correctly.

Thirdly and most importantly, manage your bankroll efficiently, assign what you would consider to be disposable funds and stake comfortably within that amount. This way should you have a rough time at the tables, you still have enough cash for other things. If you are looking to place a number of bets, make sure that you space them out, giving you a bigger winning area than if you were to place directly onto 3 numbers next to each other.

The best advice that could be given if you feel that you will get too caught up in the moment is to only have the cash that you are willing to wager on your person, that way should you run out of funds you have to move away from the table, giving you time to think about what to do next.

Approach the game with caution and you will have a good time, regardless of the result but step up to the table with the wanting for fast money and your bound to feel that you have been robbed by the casino.

Play smart and play responsibly.

I can well understand anyone who thinks that the dealer cannot control a roulette ball. After all, their views and opinions are backed up by scientific evidence and the “pro” brigade don’t have any proof.

It is the lack of proof that is so frustrating but no one will ever convince me that dealers cannot spin sections. I have heard the question asked so many times that if dealers could do this then why wouldn’t more of them work in collusion with punters or friends and associates?

Well I have a very simply answer to that, firstly how would anyone ever get to find out that dealers were doing this. The dealers and the accomplices certainly wouldn’t tell. Secondly in my experience only a very small percentage of croupiers ever have the ability. It takes considerable practice to build up this skill.

The staff turnover in casinos due to the conditions of the job and the fact that the working hours are not conducive to a social life means that many leave within a year or two. So most of the croupiers never get to acquire the skill. Even most of the longer term croupiers are simply not bothered by trying to win money.

But getting an edge is all a croupier can do. The house starts off with a 2.7% house edge, so the dealer needs to affect the result enough to offset this first. Even a very skilled dealer cannot guarantee success. So to make a considerable amount of money doing this would involve having a considerable bankroll and the confidence to be able to withstand losses that may have been far bigger than what you have ever experienced.

This is very difficult, but even if you are successful then the casino will not allow you to remain that way and will take countermeasures against you or any other winner.

See you soon

Carl