QUESTION: Okay, I have been reading you for several decades but I want to know what I can do to become a better player than just the idea that I have to play the right strategies. I play blackjack, craps, and roulette in that order. They are my favorite games. I don’t want to count cards or control the dice or look all over the world for biased wheels and the like. So, what do I do? I love casino playing, so educate me, Frank, can you do that? I wouldn’t mind winning is all I am saying. Educate me.

Frank:  No, I can’t. The three methods of getting a real jump on casino games, card counting at blackjack, dice control at craps, and finding biased wheels (or “off” wheels) are the only real ways to get an edge over the casinos. 

How many players can do that? Mostly an infinitesimal few or none at all. 

The technique of card counting has been around since the mid-1960s thanks to Edward O. Thorp who developed it and wrote a now classic book about the subject (Beat the Dealer). 

Players flocked to the game of blackjack during that time period because they thought it was a beatable game. It really wasn’t. If you don’t play basic strategy and don’t count cards correctly in a real casino, you can’t win in the long run. 

Oh, yes players are still flocking to the game. It is now the number one table game in the casinos, having surpassed craps long, long ago. 

How many of those original players and all the players since those original players have successfully navigated the card counting terrain? Think of a million and more players year after year playing blackjack? Very, very few of them can ever beat the house. 

Card counting is not an easy skill to master and the casinos are not in love with the players who demonstrate such skill. One expert blackjack player I knew once told me that you play blackjack against the dealer but poker against the pit people and the “eye-in-the-sky.” There is a lot of truth to that.

While card counting is not illegal, private businesses have the right to refuse service to customers if they so choose and card counters are merely just such customers. 

Some casinos tell the card-counting customers to play other games but not blackjack or they instruct them to leave the premises immediately. Some states do not allow the casino to ban card counters but the casinos can tell such players they can only bet “X” amount of dollars. Card counters can’t win if their betting choices are limited.

Can you learn card counting? Probably with hard work and dedication. Will you if you do not commit to it fully and unequivocally? Not at all. Most card counters are somewhat obsessed to playing in such a way. Could anyone become so obsessed? I don’t know.

So, what should you do? Learn basic strategy and don’t vary from it. If you can’t memorize it then bring a basic strategy card to the table and refer to it. 

And play the best blackjack games you can find with the best rules – but, sadly, it is harder to find the best blackjack rules today in most casinos. Search for such games and good luck to you. You might find such excellent games on the Internet casinos.

Control your betting amounts. Play at full or nearly full tables so you play a reduced number of decisions. The fewer hands you play, the better it is for you. That is, by the way, the opposite of a card counter who is looking to play as many hands as he or she can. When you have an edge you want to exploit that edge!

That’s about all I can say for someone who does not want to take the card-counting step.

Now craps. A great game and maybe the most exciting game in the casino. Anyway, I think it is the most exciting game and so do many players. 

For many years it was the number one game in the house but blackjack surpassed it because of Thorp’s book.

Craps cannot be beaten except if a player can influence (sometimes called control) the dice. Influence and control are merely synonyms. The main idea is that a player can change the odds of the game because of his or her method of throwing the dice.

With proper craps betting strategies, meaning making the lowest house edge bets, the player certainly has a chance to beat the casinos. Too many would-be dice controllers make the stupidest bets and think they can overcome the odds on those bets. They can’t.

Too many dice controllers are just gamblers pretending to be dice controllers – these folks are legion and they are long-term (and short- and medium-term) losers. 

Even today’s dice control classes celebrate their students who win outrageous bets as if they won those bets not because of blind luck but because of skill. Dice control cannot be learned in a day, a weekend, a week or less than a month – in fact, it is more like many, many months of hard work. 

Think in terms of practicing for six months or more and making only the lowest house-edge bets. Craps players, who are overwhelmingly gamblers, would find that difficult indeed.

Dice control was created by the late Atlantic City legend, the Captain, and he and "the Arm" and Jimmy P. were the only three players I met pre-2000 who could control the dice. Since then? A small few … a very small few. And plenty who think they can do it but can’t. 

Best betting at craps: So, you are not going to become a dice controller, you’ve stated that. Good. Honesty is a great policy when you risk your hard-earned money at gambling. Now what should you do? How should you bet? What is your philosophy of playing craps?

First off, and let me get this out of the way right away, do not, I repeat do not make any bets with edges over 2 percent. Correct, almost all bets at craps are bad bets, worse even than some slot machines grinding away at slot players’ bankrolls.

It is nutty that so many craps players make so many awful bets. How can they have any chance to beat the game when they just throw their money away? 

Make a list of all the craps bets that players can make and you will see that an amazing number of them just plain stink. You even have some that are coming in at 20 percent or more mark and many more scratching that 15 to 20 percent mark. Yes, these are slot machine edges and they cost the players making them to go down the drain.

Okay, two things: make pass-line bets and take the odds when the bet is on a number. Come bets are good too. Make them and also take the odds when they are on a number. You can also place either the 6 or 8. 

What have you got here now? The pass-line and come bets come in at 1.41 percent against you. That means over some time (little, medium, or long) you will lose $1.41 per $100 wagered – that’s about 14 cents per $10 wagered. The odds are just toppers to those bets and they have no house edge. You can make them if you want as long as you can afford them. You are better off with higher odds and lower pass-line and come bets.

The place bets of the 6 or 8 come in with house edges of 1.52 percent or $1.52 per $100 wagered or 15 cents per $10 wagered. These are good bets in the casino scheme of things.

And what about the darkside bets, those bets called “don’t bets” where you are rooting for the 7 to appear during the point-cycle of the game, in which case that will end a shooter’s roll? Do you want to be a darksider? The house edge is about 1.36 percent or a loss of $1.36 per $100 wagered. That’s quite good.

A drawback here. The other players might hate you and show their disdain for your method of darksider play. (Some can get obnoxious too.) If that doesn’t bother you then feel free to go with the darksider wagers and to heck with the other players – who, by the way, are called rightsiders. Darksiders are also called “don’t” players.

And that, my friend, is almost that when it comes to betting craps. Making the other bets is a waste of time and a serious waste of your money.

Now, do you want the ultimate radical way to play craps? Here goes: only make one bet! Do not go on multiple numbers as almost all other craps players do. This will cut your losses tremendously.

Your third game, roulette has been number two or three for centuries – actually number one for more centuries than not. 

The game means “little wheel” and was created by scientist, philosopher, and theologian Blaise Pascal who was looking to discover a perpetual motion machine. He failed in that (as have all other researchers) but he did hit upon roulette which may wind up lasting perpetually in the world’s casinos. 

When the game appeared in casinos in the late 1600’s, it became a smash hit. Players loved it and many couldn’t stop playing it – until, of course, they went broke. Noblemen were the worst of all because they had enough money to play and play and play until…they had little money left.  

Playing roulette is the ultimate numbers game with bets of all sorts that deal with numbers – colored numbers, high and low numbers, individual numbers, groups of numbers. Players have so many, many options at this game it is a wonder they can make any decisions at all.

There are now three types of roulette games out there in the casino world.  The single-zero games (0) which come in with an edge of 2.7 percent; the double-zero game (0, 00) which comes in with an edge of 5.26 percent, and the triple-zero game (0, 00, 000) which comes in with a 7.69 percent house edge.

[Please note: The various roulette games also have names associated with them. The single-zero game is called the European or French game. The double-zero game is called the American game. The triple-zero game is called “why would you ever play this game?” Interestingly enough, the American game was created in Europe and the European and French game was created in America. The triple-zero game was created where Satan lives.]

The payback on a single-number winner is 35-to-1. That is for all the games. Note how awful the triple-zero game becomes because of such a winning payout. 

The potentially bad thing about roulette is the fact that if you bet just one number you can go through a long, long losing streak. That can be a downer to many players not only because it costs them a lot of money but because the game starts to get annoying.

The best bets to make are the even-money bets. There are only three of these bets: the red/black, the odd/even, and the high/low. They are called “even-money” because they pay even-money, not because they are 50/50 propositions. 

In fact, the casinos will win more of these bets than will the player. For example, in the double-zero games, the casino will win 20 times and lose 18 times. 

The house edge remains the same for the players who make these bets but the losing streaks are far less severe than they are in the “let us pick a single number in honor of grandma’s 100th birthday.” To me, preserving money is a key staple of gambling.

Oh, yes, there are many other bets too but you are in decent territory making the even-money bets your main wagers. Losing streaks stink.

You are better off playing at a full or nearly full table because you will face fewer decisions. More decisions are better for the casino because it has an edge. If you have an edge? Then you’d want more decisions. That is a simple rule.

Finally, are there “biased” or “off” wheels today? Probably not. The roulette wheels are seemingly perfect, at least the relatively new ones. So, gamble on them cautiously.

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Gambling is a great leveler. Whether rich or poor, famous or anonymous, we all like to have a little something riding on the turn of a card or the outcome of a sporting event. In that regard, celebrities are just like the rest of us – albeit, to a degree. They like to gamble, they deal with ups and downs, they do everything in their power to win. 

That said, things get different when you factor in sums on the line and notoriety attached to their wins or losses. Wagers are eye widening and reports of money on the line make headlines. Here then are some of the world’s most famous people who like to gamble big, what they play and how they handle outcomes.

BEN AFFLECK

The media loves writing about Ben Affleck grabbing coffee or enjoying dinner with J-Lo. So, when he plays blackjack – with her at his side or solo – everyone takes notice. And that would include casino surveillance snoops. 

Such was the case in 2014 when he got backed off from the high-limit tables at the old Hard Rock (now known as the Virgin) in Las Vegas, where he was supposedly spreading from $100 to $10,000 per hand in a double deck game. 

Unless you’re terrible, the casinos will take notice. Apparently, he is not terrible. He was card counting and winning. Underscoring that celebs in casinos really are like the rest of us, he was asked to stop playing blackjack. 

More recently, in 2021, Affleck was spotted firing it up at the high limit tables of Wynn Las Vegas. If dealers love him more than casino enforcers do, it’s because he’s what’s known as a George (Vegas lingo for a generous tipper). On one occasion, he is said to have tipped out most of his Hard Rock winnings. Another time, it’s been alleged, he and Matt Damon wrapped up a Mirage session by giving away money to fellow gamblers. Nice guys!

ASHTON KUTCHER

Watch an Ashton Kutcher movie, and it would be easy to wonder whether or not the actor is as goofy in real life as he often is on screen. In Las Vegas, that definitely is not the case. 

In fact, he’s made a killing by wagering on NCAA football. But it’s more complicated than that. Kutcher is not lucky, he’s smart. Or at least smart enough to align himself with the right people.

As Kutcher told Esquire magazine, “I used to place bets for the largest national sports betting syndicate in America. I basically just placed bets for half a season. We cleared like $750,000 in four weeks of college football.” 

Soon after going on the massive heater, he found himself persona non grata in sports books. Despite the rebuffing, and not hinting at whether or not he still gambles in Vegas, Kutcher said, “It was pretty fun … but they eventually caught on.”

TIGER WOODS

Tiger Woods is not the kind of guy who’s going to play low-roller blackjack. It’s been reported that he has a $1 million line of credit at the MGM Grand’s ultra-luxe Mansion – and that was a number of years ago. It might be even higher today. 

Phil Hellmuth, a sometime blackjack compatriot of the golf superstar, once told me, “Tiger is excellent at blackjack. He bears down a little bit, pays attention and plays perfect basic strategy. He takes his losing hands well and doesn’t get upset, though you do see that extra bit of focus at times. 

“I remember having a 13 against the dealer’s 2 and not being sure what to do. Tiger immediately told me to stand – and he was right. It’s the correct play” – unless one is card counting, like Affleck, and the count is -1 or lower, which would command hitting. “I said, ‘Aren’t you supposed to be a dumb golfer?’ He cracked up. I remember that Tiger won big that night. I’m not going into the number. But, if I say big, of course it was six figures.”

CHARLES BARKLEY

The former NBA star’s gambling habits are all too well known. He’s never hidden his gaming proclivities, nor did Wynn Las Vegas when the joint sued him over a $400,000 marker that went unpaid.

Barkley settled up with the Wynn and had to fork over an additional $40,000 to the Vegas District Attorney’s office (amazingly, the DA there has a division devoted to collecting unpaid markers and receives an extra 10 percent for its trouble). 

Barkley has come clean about having lost $1 million over the course of a day on at least 10 different occasions. Conversely, on the more positive tip, he won the same sum five or six times. He’s described his gambling as a “bad habit,” but vowed that he will not stop doing it because it’s “my life and it’s my money.”

Fair enough, though there was at least one instance when his breakneck wagering caused a pro golfer to cry. Such was explained by Andres Gonzales on the Golf magazine podcast Subpar. Gonzales, a PGA tour pro, was alongside Barkley in a casino, and, as he put it, Barkley was “putting 10 grand down on a blackjack table.” Then he’d be “turning around, putting 10 grand down on craps … he was stressing me out, man.”

That led to a panic attack and tears for Gonzales. Barkley, always hungry for action, tried convincing Gonzales to golf against him for money. Gonzales did not elaborate on his response, though the terms would have been characteristically terrible for Barkley: he wanted just one shot per side.

FLOYD MAYWEATHER

They don’t call the bling-loving boxer “Money” Mayweather for nothing. 

According to Bleacher Report, he’ll routinely walk around with $60,000 cash on his person (often in a backpack) and has been known to load $1 million into a duffle bag. That’s probably a good thing, as Mayweather has been said to play the highest stakes blackjack that casinos will allow. But his gambling in the pit pales alongside his sports wagering. It’s alleged that Money bet millions on the Denver Broncos to beat the Seattle Seahawks in the 2014 Super Bowl. Denver lost and so did Mayweather. 

But don’t feel too bad for the multimillionaire pugilist. Via non-Super Bowl bets, Mayweather is said to have cleared $200,000 on the Seahawks and another $626,923 on the Broncos, proving that, for some of us, everything comes out in the wash. 

Daily Mail reports that he had one month that yielded $4.7 million in sports betting profits. Then there was the time that his NBA and boxing smarts resulted in a windfall of $827,000 – and he didn’t even need to enter the ring.      

As Mayweather put it during an appearance on ESPN Radio, “Everyday, you have to find one [game] that you truly believe in … and that’s the one you load up on.”

Even for us nickel-and-dime gamblers, Floyd “Money” Mayweather’s words of wisdom serve as sound  advice.

Most iGaming players are familiar with traditional online casinos. Licensed online gaming platforms require real money deposits for real money gaming, with real money rewards. However, there are alternative options available to players in the form of sweepstakes casinos and social casinos. There are clear distinctions between various online casinos, which we will examine in this blog post.

Introducing Sweepstakes Casinos 

Many folks use the terms sweepstakes, lotteries and contests interchangeably. There are nuanced differences between them. Traditionally, sweepstakes refer to a giveaway with a randomly selected winner. With sweepstakes, no money needs to be spent directly upfront – no purchase is necessary for winning – and no skills or strategies are needed to win sweepstakes. But that's the traditional sense of the word, and it's slightly different with sweepstakes casinos.

Think of things like the Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes – a case in point. Randomly selected winners have their prizes delivered to their homes. With sweepstakes casinos online, players participate in classic slots, video slots, jackpot slots, card games, table games, live casino games, keno and poker games using in-game currency known as sweeps coins or gold coins (GC).

This is an important distinction. For one thing, you're not using £, $ or € to gamble with. Your stake – your bet – is usually in Gold Coins. Sometimes, sweepstakes casinos use Sweeps Coins.

Owing to the non-gambling style nature of sweepstakes casinos – no real money is used for gambling games – they enjoy widespread legal status across the United States, except for Washington state. However, players must register and purchase Gold Coins to play sweepstakes casino games.

You simply wager with a different type of in-game currency. It's not necessary to provide banking information to the sweepstakes casino online during registration. That's why it is vital to carefully screen sweepstakes casinos and pick only credible operators from the list.

Why Sweepstakes Casinos over Traditional Online Casinos?

Sweepstakes casinos are popping up all over the place, which cuts both ways. For one thing, it makes online casino games accessible to many more players worldwide.

On the other hand, they are not all created equal. The proliferation of sweepstakes casinos is because no expensive gambling licensing and regulation is required – these are readily available in gambling-restricted enclaves. That's because they are defined differently. Sweepstakes casinos are known as social casinos, where the point is to have fun – not to gamble. No real money is required to play, and no real prizes are up for grabs.

It's worth noting that sweepstakes casinos are different to social casinos in one important way: sweeps casinos online offer players a chance to win real money, while social casinos are all about fun-play entertainment.

While playing free sweeps casino games, you can win real money using sweep or gold coins during sweepstakes sessions. You don't bet your money on the uncertain outcomes of card games, table games, dice games, or live casino games. With social casinos, only GC's are used – gold coins. No sweeps coins are at stake because you can't win real money or real prizes with social casinos.

Let's clarify this a little better:

• Sweeps Coins are only available as bonuses or free rewards, but here's the kicker – they can be redeemed for real money. That's why sweeps casinos are preferred by people who want to play casino games online and win real money. It's a roundabout way of playing for real cash and winning real money, much like the pachinko parlors across Japan. Sweeps coins cannot be purchased but can be held until a sufficient number is available for exchange.
• Gold Coins are typically gifted to players as part of a signup package or a welcome bonus stop. You can always purchase additional gold coins through the shop at the social casino. You can use these gold coins to play social casino games.

Naturally, there are advantages and disadvantages to sweeps casinos and social casinos. Whether you're playing with sweeps coins or gold coins, it's important to pick wisely. There are loads of Vegas-style online casino games to enjoy, with real cash prizes up for grabs.

Suppose you cannot register at a traditional online casino due to licensing and regulations in your country, territory, or jurisdiction. In that case, you can try to register and play at a sweepstakes casino, but not in all areas.

What Sort of Deals Are Available to Players with Sweepstakes Casinos?

One operator differs from the next, so weighing your options is important. Welcome bonuses include GCs and free sweepstakes coins in varying amounts. You can also enjoy crypto-style free chance attractions, free spin offers, free sweeps coins, and more. You can typically play various online casino games, such as classic slots, video slots (Megaways, Hold & Win), card games, table games, live dealer games, keno, and others.

Pick a reputable sweepstakes casino. Your next point of call is a quick & easy registration. Think about your preferred casino games, the welcome bonus package, and mobile access. These are important considerations for a sweeps casino.

Now, claim your welcome bonus. Remember, GCs and sweeps coins are available – you may need to use a promotional code to stock up. While most games tend to be slots, you can use your welcome package on various casino games.

Here's where things get interesting – you must purchase additional gold coins. This can be done through an online mail request or by getting them through the online store. Daily challenges, offers, and rewards may be available to boost your stash of gold coin cash. Now, with sweeps coins, you can redeem them for a cash value if you choose not to play sweepstakes casino games. That's the kicker.

Since these are social casino sites, you will find many available options to choose from. It's best to connect through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X.com, etc., to stock up on gold coins. That's part of the social gaming experience. When you buy gold coin packages, you get a set value with the gold coins you purchased. Use these gold coins to play sweeps games.

Collecting Your Sweepstakes Prizes Online

Recall that games played with gold coins don't yield redeemable prizes, but sweep coins do. The best part is that sweeps coins can be exchanged for cash. Like a traditional online casino process for depositing and withdrawing in financial transactions, sweeps withdrawals require verification.

That's because KYC (know your customer) policies, antifraud measures, and secure banking are sacrosanct. You will need three critical pieces of verification to process a sweepstakes withdrawal (redeem sweeps coins) of your winnings via bank transfer, PayPal, Skrill or NETELLER.

• Verified ID document (driver's license, passport, ID)
• Proof of Address (utility bill, phone bill, bank statement)
• Financial Service Information (credit card, check, bank details)

Mobile casino players are an increasingly important segment of the iGaming scene. HTML5-compatible sites are a must for players. Various sweeps casinos feature proprietary gaming platforms and native (dedicated) apps for players on Android smartphones and tablets, iPhone and iPad devices.

FAQs

What are Sweepstakes Casinos?

Sweepstakes casinos are online gaming platforms where players can enjoy casino-style games without using real money to gamble. Instead, they use in-game currencies like Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, with the latter offering the chance to win real cash prizes through sweepstakes mechanics.

How do Sweepstakes Casinos differ from traditional online casinos?

Unlike traditional online casinos that require real money deposits for gambling, Sweepstakes Casinos operate on a no-purchase-necessary basis using virtual currencies. This model allows them to offer legal casino-style gaming across most of the United States, excluding a few jurisdictions like Washington state.

Can you win real money at Sweepstakes Casinos?

Yes, players can win real money at Sweepstakes Casinos using Sweeps Coins, which can be obtained as bonuses or rewards and then redeemed for cash. This provides a unique way to participate in casino games and potentially win real prizes without directly gambling with real money.

What types of games can you play at Sweepstakes Casinos?

Sweepstakes Casinos offer a wide range of casino-style games, including classic slots, video slots, jackpot slots, card games, table games, and sometimes even live dealer games. These games use Gold Coins for regular play and Sweeps Coins for the chance to win real money.

How do you collect winnings from Sweepstakes Casinos?

To collect winnings (redeem Sweeps Coins for cash), players must undergo a verification process similar to traditional online casinos, including providing a verified ID, proof of address, and financial service information. This ensures adherence to KYC (Know Your Customer) policies and secures the transaction process for redeeming cash prizes.

When we think of bingo, we normally consider it to be a game played by old ladies in church basements. It doesn’t come anywhere close to being the sort of chancy activity that people who visit gambling cities such as Las Vegas will go out of their way to engage in.

At least one casino boss is trying to change that. Jonathan Jossell, CEO of the Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Vegas, not only holds high stakes bingo tournaments on a regular basis, but he even built a special ballroom – complete with computer terminals and cell-phone charging stations, large enough to accommodate 280 gamblers – designated as the Plaza’s Bingo Hall, dedicated exclusively to the playing of this game. 

And what a game it is: In the Plaza’s Bingo Hall, an event known as Super Bingo offers $160,000 in prize money. Players who fill in all 25 numbers on their cards, competing in the Super Coverall, win $50,000. It pays well because the odds of someone hitting the coverall are long – with 54 numbers called and 600 cards being played, the likelihood of making it is 3.21 percent. But longshots are the draw of Las Vegas, and people play Super Bingo with the dream of cashing in on the usually elusive outcome.

Bingo at The Plaza

While The Plaza is a great spot downtown – with a cool steakhouse, known as Oscar’s, done in collaboration with former Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman; a cocktail lounge with live music called the Sand Dollar and all the games you will find in any Sin City casino – big-time bingo serves as a point of differentiation. 

“We have the only bingo game in downtown Vegas, and there is no bingo on the Vegas Strip,” Jossell tells me (for what it’s worth, there are other off-Strip, locals-oriented casinos that feature bingo, but the Plaza seems to be pushing it harder than most). “It’s a great amenity. We sometimes have 800 people here playing Bingo.”

For the uninitiated, Bingo is a simple game that is not unlike keno. With both endeavors, numbers, chosen at random, are called out or posted electronically. You win money by having those numbers on your card.

The big difference is that in keno, players choose the numbers they want. In bingo, the numbers are chosen for you and placed on a square of paper. As the numbers are called, you mark them off with an ink-filled dauber. To increase the likelihood of hitting your numbers, you can play multiple cards in bingo and keno.

What happens when a player makes five bingo numbers in a row? They shout out, “Bingo!” Then the round ends, and they get paid off.

Big-Time Bingo

At the Plaza, the crowd of players redefines what you might think is typical for a game like bingo. People come from places as far-flung as Hawaii and Canada to play the Plaza’s big tournaments and Jossell maintains that his games are not the exclusive domain of oldsters.

“In recent years,” he told Forbes, “the game has been attracting a variety of new players, including many millennials. So, the Plaza put a renewed emphasis on it.”

To make sure that the bingo faithful get the point, Jossell hired the best caller in the game. He keeps the bar open with cocktails flowing for those who are in action (plus free doughnuts and coffee for the early arrivals).

Jossell even brought on a so-called bingo ambassador, in the personage of Reyz Ungos. He functions as a sort of host for the players, making sure everyone is comfortable, greeting regulars by name, helping those who are unsure of what to do. As far as the last point goes, though, one would be hard-pressed to not know what to do in a bingo game.

Bingo Odds

One thing that ardent players may not be aware of is the fact that bingo is actually a pretty fair gamble. The odds are better than much of what will be found on the live casino floor. The house edge is thin and there is money to be won. So much so, in fact, that bingo can be a loss leader for casinos. But Jossell has good reason for keeping the game going and putting money into it.

He doesn’t necessarily run bingo games back-to-back. In fact, there is often a couple hours of downtime between games. That allows time for customers to eat in the Plaza’s restaurants (Hash House A Go Go is a favorite) and gamble in the casino. Luring people in to play bingo and benefiting from them blowing money on slot machines is a pretty good deal for Jossell

If there is an advantage play here, it is to stick with bingo and to not dig into pockets for spins of slot machines or sessions of three card poker. 

Bingo History

When bingo first appeared, nobody was taking it all that seriously, strategizing for edges. It was invented in Germany and known as beano. Numbers were pulled from cigar boxes. Whoever managed to have five numbers in a row, of course, shouted out “Beano!”

Prizes were as modest at the game itself. Rather than receiving cash, winners left with kewpie dolls. 

Beano came to America in the late 1920s, was renamed Bingo and became a staple of churches and synagogues. Growing up in New Jersey, I worked the bingo game in the synagogue that my family belonged to. Paid in tips, I was a teenage waiter, bringing coffee, donuts and Kosher hot dogs to players. I’m not sure who won what there, but I do remember leaving with pockets full of quarters. 

That’s how it was until the 1970s, when Indian reservations began putting on higher stakes bingo games. Steve Wynn’s father made money running bingo halls and exposed the future casino magnate to the possibilities of earning big bucks by promoting gambling. Vegas got the bingo-bug long after the arrival of Wynn. 

Right now, Jossell and his crew at the Plaza are enjoying their bingo moment and hoping that it will keep growing and keep attracting new players.

“Everyone thought it was a dying breed, but we are revitalizing it,” Jossell tells me. “Everything that is old eventually becomes cool again.”

I am guessing that almost all casino players have a method of betting, even those few who just throw out their money willy-nilly wishing and hoping for some blind luck from the non-existent gods and goddesses of such luck. That’s a system, although an uninformed one. 

Sadly, those divine beings of luck departed long ago and they included the Greek and Roman civilizations whose many citizens hoped there was something more to existence than just the plain-old existence they experienced in their daily lives.

Most other players will play some aspect of a set method or several methods of them. They too probably think that somehow or other these methods will lead to long-term wins and not just simply good luck tonight. Hope is eternal. Players want their hopeful anticipation to be realized. Some players still don’t know how the casinos get their edges over these hopeful players and they think everything is luck, luck that can be (at times) counted upon.

If you flat bet, meaning make the exact same bet for the exact same amount time after time, the casino edge will slowly wear you down. Oh, yes, you will win some, lose some, but in a short or medium or long time, you will lose a given percent of all the money you wagered. That’s the way it is. Lady Luck? Ultimately she is nowhere to be found. She will not belong to the player. 

The casinos do not rely on luck. They make their profits not from wishful gambling, but from solid math and probabilities. 

[Please note: People are superstitious and even sometimes casino people are superstitious. The famous tale of the super-evil-unlucky craps table at Caesars Palace tells us such a story. You see, this table was a seemingly long-term loser. Day after day, night after night, the super-evil-unlucky table kept losing. Finally, the casino manager decided Caesars was getting killed by Brutus the table and had the table removed, brought to the rear of the property, chopped to shreds with the shreds finally being burned to cinders. The new table? Wonderful because it won what it was expected to win over the right periods of time.]

Positive Progressions: The Paroli 

Many players are not just satisfied with a win, especially if it is small or, worse, trivial. They want to go up and up and maybe up some more. The most typical way to go up and up is to increase one’s bet after a win. Doing so is called a positive progression because the player is ahead when doing this.

The classic system in doing this is called the Paroli Betting System or the Paroli. It is more often called the parlay method of wagering where the player doubles his or her bet three times before going back down to their initial bet. Thus, bet $25, win, now bet $50, win, now bet $100, win, then go back down to $25 and start all over again.

The parlay can be for more steps or it can end at the usual three and the player then stays at his original bet until he or she decides to parlay some more. 

The parlay can also be for less money. The player could put (let us say) $10 or $15, more, or less, on his or her original bet. The player makes the choice of how to play his or her parlay.

The Anti-Parlay

Yes, there is such a thing as the Anti-Parlay where the player increases his or her bet after a win (or two) and then decreases his or her bet below the original bet. 

Some roulette players like to do this on an early win in order to stay in the game longer when the inevitable losing streak occurs. Savvy roulette players know that long losing streaks can occur when they bet only one or two bets directly on a number or two.

They think of the anti-parlay as a safety measure.

The Spread the Wealth Paroli

Some blackjack and Pai Gow Poker players enjoy playing more than one hand, thinking that such a technique increases their chances to win. This is called the Spread the Wealth Paroli. The assumption is that the more bets, the better the chance to beat the house and win some money.

Well, does it do what these players think it does? Yes, it can at times win the player money, maybe even a lot of money. Hot streaks can occur on both hands or three (or more!) hands. That’s the good news. But…

The Bad News Folks

The bad news is that the house edge is working on all the money being wagered. It doesn’t matter if you are only betting one bet, no matter how low or high that bet or those bets, you can trust that the casino will be extracting its percentage over time. 

What that time is can be questioned of course.

Some players can fall into a hole right away and never see the light of day or the bright lights of the casinos because of the fog of losing bing-bam-boom, just like that. 

All the Paroli systems are (now do you want to hear this?) losers. You cannot overcome house edges with betting styles. I’d like to put the word “period” at the end of the last sentence but that would be rubbing it in. 

Hey, who knows, maybe there is a magic craps table out there, or a bent and broken roulette wheel, or an unlucky dealer or ... come on, just play smart and give the casinos your original bets and let that be that. There is no magic coming your way over any lengthy period of time.

All Paroli betting techniques are based on initial positive results. The player wants to increase his or her wins and starts moving the bets skyward. That will ultimately end in losses or reduced wins. Let that be a warning to you. Although I am thinking you already know this.

Negative Progression Systems

There are some betting systems that are geared to getting you out of losses that you have already suffered. I wish I could tell you that these negative progressions worked but they don’t. Still, they might be fun to play for a short while if the amounts wagered are reasonable for a player’s bankroll. That statement is also true for the positive progressive systems as well.

The most famous negative progression system is the Martingale, named after a person that history has forgotten but whose system has soldiered on and might continue to soldier on through, perhaps, the ages.

Many casino players believe that they have discovered this system, especially those who are relatively new to casino games. I know I did. 

I figured I was a genius for coming up with this idea for beating the casinos and I played the system on my very first trip to Atlantic City way, way back when. I played it at the now long defunct Sands, which was across the street from where I was conceived (the Claridge) way, way, way back when. I knew nothing about casino play because I was in Atlantic City to learn about craps for a play I was starring in.

By the way, my playing that system had nothing to do with the Sands closure. Seriously, had everyone played my way the Sands might still be around.

Here Is the Martingale in its simplest form: You make your bet and you lose, then you double your next bet and you lose and you double the next bet. Like this; you bet $10, lose, then you go up to $20. Yes, at first this sounds like a negative Paroli play. Is it?

It’s not.

Let us say you now lose your $20 wager and you go to $40. Lose that and you go to $80. Notice we are always doubling the previous bet because a win will return our initial bet and the $10 win. 

The idea is that sooner or later you will win back everything you lost and wind up ahead of the casino. Brilliant! (Yep, I really thought I was brilliant coming up with this system as do all the other casino players who also thought they invented this system. Ah, the arrogance of youth! I really thought this method could guarantee a win.)

In about six, seven, or eight plays you will be betting as follows: $10, $20, $40, $80, $160, $320, $640, or higher if the casino lets you. As you can see the escalation is quite heavy and quite dangerous and will result in a severe loss.

And what are you betting that $640 (or higher) to win? A mere $10! You are chasing a $10 win by betting a total of $1270! Losing that much money can be overwhelming.

Truth be told. My Martingale went the whole route on the second day of my visit to Sands and I got clobbered – I lost all that money in order for me to win a mere $10! 

I learned my lesson by actually experiencing the horror of it all. It wasn’t until I started to read books and articles about casino play that I learned the Martingale has hurt many a player through the centuries. Yes, centuries. I was just one of the shell-shocked crowds of the down and out that have trundled as losers who used this method of play.

Scattered Martingale

There is no law of nature that says you must play the Martingale as written about above. You can tweak it and bet a negative progression in any manner that you choose. The same actually goes for the Paroli positive progression. You are after all the commander of your own fate…well, kind of.

The key to the Martingale is not what game you are playing or what bets you are making but the increase in those bets as you go through a hopefully short losing blip in your play. 

One method that some players like is the Scattered Martingale. You are increasing your bets in a negative progression but you are not playing the same bet each time. You are reorganizing the Martingale to your liking.

When playing roulette you might bet the red of the red/black bet and it loses; there is no reason to double up the bet on red. Jump over to black or high or low or odd or even with your increased wager. You are still playing the Martingale but it is not based on the same propositions time and again. You are allowed to jump what bets you make. The Martingale is a money betting system, not a what should you bet system.

However, I would not recommend doing a negative progression on inside bets that pay multiple monies since the payouts are not one-to-one. I would not recommend betting Martingales on most card games.

You could also go game-to-game making one-to-one (or almost one-to-one) wagers. Lost a $10 bet at roulette? Jump over to craps and play a place bet of 6 or 8 for the next higher amount. You can go from a $10 bet on red to an $18 or $24 bet on either 6 or 8. The increase in the bets might be more in this case but you are walking on the Lady Luck’s tightrope anyway and you are challenging fate and you should be aware of that.

The Grand Martingale

Do you love danger and you are not afraid to jump up and off a high mountain playing a Martingale that is more dangerous than the traditional one? Well, the Grand Martingale might suit you.

The grandness of this Martingale is its precipitous skyward thrust. You bet your $10, lose it and then go to $25, lose then go to $60. You can use whatever increase in bets that you desire but (of course) you will hit the table maximum much quicker. 

However, if you get in positive territory your wins will be for more money. 

Obviously, the Grand Martingale can be far more dangerous than the traditional one but it is skydiving for any Martingale player. Enjoy the fall!
  

Casino games should be played straightforwardly and simply. You don’t really want to do too much in the way of thinking and analyzing because that will, generally, just cause fatigue. Do your deep thinking about your favorite games at home in a relaxing and warm atmosphere.

In part one of this two-part series, I looked at casino playing generally and two games, blackjack, and craps, individually. Now, let’s go to some other games. In all, I want to keep things simple.

Roulette

Roulette is the “little wheel,” a game discovered by scientist and philosopher Blaise Pascal in the 1600s. He was looking to create a perpetual-motion machine, failed at that (as all have so far failed that) and came up with the “little wheel,” a device that has mesmerized casino players for centuries.

Right now, it is the second or third most favored table-game in the casino. It even has a favorite number that players bet, the 17, known a James Bond’s number because actor Sean Connery always played that number when he was in a casino. And Connery was “Bond, James Bond.”

Players attempt to guess which numbers and propositions will come up when a little ball spins around a little wheel, then plunges into the receptacle, then lands on a numbered, colored pocket, where it stays and, quite simply, that is the winning spin.

You can wager directly on a number or two or multiple ones. You can bet on a proposition or groups of numbers with a single bet, or colors, or sequences.

The game itself is pretty simple. You bet what you think will come up, watch the ball spin, watch it then slide down through the side grooves, bounce around the pockets somewhat and finally settle into one pocket for the winning wager.

Players love the game and it is played in just about every casino in the world, legal casinos, and illegal casinos, and on the Internet casino websites such as 888casino.

There are three different roulette games currently competing in the casinos, one a good one (the single-zero [0] European/French game – house edge 2.7 percent), one a so-so double-zero [0, 00] American game with a house edge of 5.26 percent, and one an awful one made up of three zeroes [0, 00, 000] created by a modern-day Doctor Victor Frankenstein with a 7.69 percent house edge. (The villagers should stampede that one out of their small town.)

[Please note: What do house edges mean? If the game has a 2.7 percent house edge that means for every $100 you bet, the cost will be $2.70. The cost will be $5.26 for a game with a 5.26 percent house edge. And the cost will be $7.69 for a game with a 7.69 percent house edge. The higher the edge, the more a player will lose over time. Combine a high house edge with a speedy game and the player can be in deep trouble.]

I do believe there are better and worse ways to bet roulette. You can go straight up on a number or more than one number. Each number will require an individual separate wager. That can get expensive if you hit a losing streak. Think of 10 numbers each with $50 on them. The cost could be too much to bear. 

Or you can bet propositions such as the columns (three columns of 12 numbers each which pays two-to-one on a winning wager) or the dozens (which also pays two-to-one on a winning wager). Then you have what are called even-money bets of red/black, odd/even, high/low – each of which pays even-money. 

Yes, you can mix and match every wager at all three games. Heck, you could even bet all the numbers on a game and even though that would probably be a sign of true insanity, maybe some folks might do such a thing before they are hauled away.

Quickly, how does the casino get its edge at roulette? That’s simple, it short-changes the payment of a winning bet. If the bet should pay 37-to-1 on a win in a fair game (meaning a game where the casino does not have an edge), instead the casino pays 35-to-1. That short pay will lock in the house edge. That is what occurs on all three roulette games.

What is the simplest, best way to play roulette? Here we go:

• Roulette is a leisurely game, maybe 40 decisions an hour at a full table.
• The house edge of 2.7 percent is decent considering the game is leisurely. The other edge of 5.26 is somewhat high and at 7.69 percent is somewhat ridiculous.
• Play at crowded tables to reduce the number of decisions.
• One bet on one of the three even-money wagers (red/black or high/low or odd/even) and you have a decent chance to have a winning session. It is usually hard to get creamed in such a betting scheme. And you can usually last a long time as well. 
• If the even-money wagers have “surrender” (American 0, 00 wheels) then this is a boon. It reduces the house edge to 2.63 percent. Or “en prison” for European/French wheel (0) which reduces the house edge to 1.35 percent – one of the best bets in the casino.
• Do not bet any side bets.

Since casinos are starting to usher in that three-zero game, you might decide to play only half the decisions on those games to keep those projected losses somewhat low. If you play four hours of roulette a day, then play those four hours but make half the bets! That would be a wise way to handle the incredibly high edge on the triple-zero game.

Remember this: No one is forced to play every decision! Take that to heart.

Mini-Baccarat 

Traditional baccarat was also called “high-roller-room baccarat” because the minimum bets were high. The table was long and the dealers were all well-dressed; tuxes for the men and evening gowns for the women. There were usually four to six dealers per table.

The game had three bets, two of them excellent, one just awful. The two excellent bets were “player” and “bank” both of which came in with a house edge close to one percent. The third bet, “tie” was a truly awful bet. 

One of the fun aspects of traditional baccarat was that players got to deal the cards. Unlike when playing blackjack, the players did not have a say in how the hands were played. Still, dealing the cards was fun.

Over the years, casinos have started to do away with traditional baccarat and have instead substituted “mini-baccarat” played on a table somewhere between a blackjack-sized one and a somewhat larger one. There is only one dealer and he or she deals all the cards. Players do not deal.

Some of these tables have been put in the high-roller rooms and indeed they do get players for the high-roller game.

While traditional baccarat was leisurely, mini-baccarat is a game whose speed passes the sound barrier. It can have 150 hands dealt per hour (maybe more). It has numerous side-bets, all of them coming in with relatively high house edges. The game is a gambling trap, great house edges (on two bets) with lightning-like speed.

While the house edges on the three main bets are the exact same as on the traditional game, the speed of mini-baccarat makes those bets hit the player quite hard. In this game, speed definitely kills.

Here is a brief strategy for mini-baccarat:

• Do not play every decision. Only play maybe 33 percent of the hands.
• Since “bank” has the lowest house edge only bet “bank.” 
• Skip betting on “player.”
• Do not bet “tie” or even think about betting it.
• Do not make any side bets.
• Be aware that some mini-baccarat players are extremely superstitious and some of these will play opposite your betting (you bet “bank,” they bet “player”) and if they lose (and you win), they will not take it well.

Pai Gow Poker and Face-Up Pai Gow Poker

This is now one of my favorite games. Actually, two of my favorite games! 

You play two hands against the dealer, a two-card hand, and a five-card hand. The five-card hand is the dominant hand and must be a stronger hand than the two-cared one. You have to beat the dealer on both hands to win. There are a great number of ties. 

The game is leisurely and generally the players at the table are friendly and not too tightly wound up.

The original game, you play the dealer blind. You don’t know what hands he is going to make (nor does he or she). In the newer version, the dealer makes his hand first and you know what you have to do to beat him or tie her.

You should learn how to make your hands but – and here is a great part of the game – you can always ask the dealer what the “house way” is for setting the cards you’ve been dealt. This isn’t just his opinion but the set and solid way the house makes its hands. It is the best way.

[Please note: Not all dealers know the best bets at craps and blackjack. For some reason all they have to do is know the payouts and how to shuffle, etc. I always thought in my early days of play that the dealers were the experts but they aren’t. They are, however, the experts at dealing.]

Pai Gow Poker has a 2.8 percent house edge which can be lowered when you play the bank against all the other players. Face-Up Pai Gow Poker has a low edge of 1.81 percent. If you can play this version of the game it is the better one. What to do with this game:

• Do not make any side bets and unfortunately there are dozens of them.
• Most games will have at least two side bets with very high house edges.
• Do not play two hands or three hands, etc. Do not increase the money you are risking. What’s the point of that?

Slot Machines

The one-armed bandits have been in existence for well over a hundred years – well over. They started as simple machines with maybe a thousand possible ways to set the lines of which a tiny percent were winners.

You could win cigars (“that man won a cigar!”), candies, or gum (women who chewed gum were thought to hang out in saloons), and then players could go and exchange those gifts for money (that was the way to get around the gambling laws). You could also get a lemon, which was a crummy line. Come on, what can you do with a lemon?

Then the machines became electrical and hundreds of variations were introduced including video poker. 

Today’s slot machines are actual marvels, true marvels. They are the superheroes of casinos (and many are available on 888casino) for without them we would not have seen casino playing taking over the world. There are casinos in almost every continent and almost every country.

Today you can have dozens of different plays on a single machine. You can have prizes that go into the millions of dollars. You have people playing penny machines spending upward of 50 cents a spin!

How many spins (decisions) can a player create on a modern slot machine? Oh, brother, some 500 or more! Slot players are the true queens and kings of the casino world and the casinos know this and react accordingly for their royalty. Even so-called penny players can actually be dollar players. Yikes!

Okay, what to do with those former one-armed bandits? I am a believer in protecting my money even though I have stayed at casino-hotels 130 times a year in my four-decade career.

• The faster you play the worse off you will be. Slow down. Maybe after a few decisions turn around and study some of the other players or anyone who is ambling by. 
• Play the least you can play that gives you a thrill.
• If you are in an altered state of consciousness then quit. You probably aren’t getting anything out of your play.
• Slot machines are strictly luck and if you’ve been lucky that is great but it is no indication of your character.

That’s it for me for this new year of playing. All the best in and out of the casinos!

What do the casinos want from their players? Oh, yes, of course, to win the players’ money in a way that makes the player want to come back to play some more. That’s the game they play with us. I think (I hope) we all know that. The casino has edges on every game and very few players can beat those edges for any prolonged period of time.

I’ve been playing in the casinos for almost 40 years and I have played most games offered, either because I liked them or because I needed to write about them or both. 

Yet, the casino has another goal in mind; one seemingly at odds with making players happy that they are playing the casinos’ games – the casinos want to win a lot of money from every player. The more money, the better! 

What is the casinos’ definition of “a lot?” 

If you bring $100 to the table to play, the casino would love to win that $100. The win could be in $10 increments (or $5 in some casinos), but $100 would be the casinos’ goal. Depending on how the player plays will depend over some period of time how much he or she loses.

Now, what keeps a player playing? The game seems to offer the player opportunities to win. The player has to feel he or she has a shot at the bucks, be they big bucks or just some bucks. The illusion is that winning can happen.

Indeed, winning does happen. Tonight, of course, it could be a winning night for you. This afternoon? Sure thing. Playing this way for weeks at a time? Probably not. Playing this way for a few years? Oh, come on now.

So, the player has to know that the long-term prospects are dim, dimmer, and dimmest. That is the rule. It is the rule of probability and simple math.

Now the player might like craps or playing blackjack or roulette or any of the other table games, or the player might enjoy time (perhaps long periods of time) at the slot machines. A few wins here and there and that player tends to be happy with the game. That player is a caught fish at a beautiful lake. Casinos are – for the most part – beautiful lakes with fish swimming all over the place looking for food (wins). 

High rollers might even play in the great big ocean with the other big fish! Certainly, the ocean is really beautiful and fit for a big fish.

Stupendous Wins Are Coming, Right?

Let's say that as a player, you have won some and lost some more than that; all right, all right, sometimes much more than that. What keeps you coming back for more play? Why bother yourself?

I think it is one word – anticipation. 

People tend to be fantasists, even if they don’t know it. Anticipation of wins, perhaps big wins such as in the state lotteries, will drive players to play. Of course, it is the hope of the win and that hope becomes that anticipation and that anticipation makes the idea of going to the casino (or buying lottery tickets) appealing.

I'm sure that many or most or almost all casino players have that tingle when they know that soon they will be leaving for their favorite playing haunt. The idea that a win is dangling out there, especially for them helps them fuel the car or buy the plane ticket or sign up for that gambling cruise. 

The win is coming; maybe the big win, finally, please, the big win. I deserve a big win, don’t I? I anticipate the big win.

Seriously, my friends, it probably isn’t coming. That’s why when someone wins an amazing amount on a slot machine that is news – often television and newspaper and magazine news. Small wins aren’t news. Losses big or little aren’t really news. Unless something hideously bad happens to the small winning player, he or she will go unnoticed by anyone except him or herself.

How to Play the Games

Okay, enough about the feeling of anticipation and the winning big or medium or little. Let’s talk about how to keep those house edges somewhat at bay so that your losses don’t add up to members of your family scolding you for playing in the houses of Lady Luck.

I am going to give you a primer for slot machines and for some table games in order to keep your play simple and strong enough so that you will have a better chance of coming home with something other than hurt feelings. Maybe a happy something too. 

Sometimes just knowing you played well is enough to make you proud of yourself with or without winning.

Table Games

The number one table game is blackjack. It has been since the mid-1960s when Ed Thorp’s book Beat the Dealer roared onto the gaming best-seller lists. This book taught players how to play blackjack basic strategy, count cards and actually get an edge over the house.

Thousands of players have tried to accomplish this feat; few have succeeded but the idea that blackjack was a game that was a close contest between players and casinos caught on big time. Blackjack soon surpassed craps as the number one game in the casinos and has been so for many decades.

Sadly, too many players do not follow the “basic strategy” for the play of their hands and this diminishes their ability to give the casinos’ blackjack games a run for their money. 

Why players don’t bother to learn “basic strategy” is beyond me. Most casinos (and of course online operators like 888casino) will even allow players to bring a card that shows basic strategy. You almost never see anyone using such cards. Weird isn’t it?

Okay, first things first – play “basic strategy” as if your money was riding on it – because it is!

Make sure you know the statistics of the game. For example, a player will win about 44 percent of the hands, the casino will win about 48 percent of the hands, and the rest of the hands will be ties. 

The casino has allowed certain plays that let players add more money to their bets. You can double down on hands, split pairs, double after splits, and receive a bonus payout for a two-card hand of 21 (a blackjack). Some casinos limit such playing options and techniques so don’t play in those casinos.

The game for a basic strategy player comes in at about a one-half percent house edge. The is an expected loss of 50 cents per $100 wagered – if you play “basic strategy.” Now that is a low house edge in the scheme of things.  

Okay, here are some simple hints on how to play blackjack:

• Play at full or crowded tables. You want fewer decisions. The more decisions, the better for the casino; the fewer decisions, the better for the player.
• If you win a hand, do not parlay your bet by putting the win on top of the previous bet thereby doubling that bet – the casino wins 48 percent of the hands! So, flat bet the entire game.
• Look for the best rules such as: the casino pays 3-to-2 on blackjacks (not 6-to-5), the casino stands on soft 17, doubling allowed on any first two cards, splitting allowed, double on splits allowed.
• Never take insurance even if you have a blackjack against the dealer’s ace.
• Always split aces and eights. Never split fives or 10s.
• Do not give anyone advice on how to play his or her hand. Tell them to ask the dealer. If you give the right advice and the player loses, who will the player blame?
• Give yourself enough money to play but if things are not going so well, quit, and come back later. The game isn’t going anywhere. 
• Do not play more than one hand. Why increase your potential losses? You are not increasing your potential wins when the house has the edge on each hand.
• Save your drinking for after the game. Do not drink during a game as drinks can loosen you up to make silly plays and bet more than you should. Casinos like players who drink it up! That’s why the drinks are usually free.
• Do not make any side bets at the game.
• Go to the bathroom during play; not during the shuffle. If you have to wait to get back into the game – that’s fine and dandy. Non-playing time is break-even time.

Blackjack is a terrific game if played well. It can be devastating if the player makes foolish mistakes. There is no reason to play foolishly. Leave that to the other players. You play smart!

Oh Boy, It’s Craps!

Craps was the number-one table game for many decades until the blackjack revolution. 

The game was a favorite along the Mississippi River for generations and it was called crabs, not craps. As it made its way to Northern cities the folks heard the word “crabs” but thought the word was “craps.” So, the North won that regional war and the game was now called craps.

It was a big hit in the big cities. It was a big hit even in the towns and the small towns. 

But craps became the second game to poker in the armed forces during World War II. The greatest craps player of all time and my mentor "the Captain of craps" learned the game in the armed forces. It was he who taught me everything I know about casino playing. I tip my cap to him. He is long gone now. Atlantic City is not the same without him. 

[Please note: I have written several books about craps, always giving the Captain due credit for his thoughts and innovations. The Captain came up with two huge ideas, dice control and the Five-Count. For those players who practice both of these techniques, the game of craps is a new world indeed.]

It is my belief that craps is the most exciting game in the casino. No matter where you are in Lady Luck’s palace you can hear the cheers when a shooter is having a great roll with the dice. You can also hear the moans when everyone is getting clobbered too.

Craps is essentially a communal game as all (or most) of the players are betting with the shooter to hit various numbers and when those numbers get hit the cheers and applause can be deafening. You can hear them everywhere.

But, and this is a big BUT, craps can be a deadly game to one’s bankroll if not played properly. Do most players play properly? Not really.

There are a multitude of bets at craps, almost all of them lousy as can be with house edges to rival slot machines. Yes, some scratch the 20 percent mark and many come close to it.

For some reason, the overwhelming majority of craps players enjoy making multiple bets, almost all of them bad bets, limiting their chances to win on given nights where there aren’t many fair, good or some epic rolls. A quick loss with so many bets losing makes it hard for players to recoup their losses and get into the black.

Yet, craps does have a few, very few, excellent bets and these should be the ones players must make in order to have a chance to beat the casino. You want a chance to beat the casino? Then follow the following:

• If you desire a way not to have to bet on every shooter, learn the "Five-Count."
• Only make the pass-line bet for a small amount and back that bet with what you can afford in odds.
• Make a come bet and place odds on that bet. Perhaps make two come bets backed with odds. I only bet three bets on myself; I bet one bet on all the other shooters. I prefer to wager on me, no one else.
• Do not drink. 
• Do not get angry when shooters seven-out quickly. The game is random and short rolls happen all the time.
• Although the game is random, do not annoy a shooter. Let the shooter relax with the dice and enjoy his or her roll.
• If you are a woman, please try your hand at craps. There are so few women who play the game and they are a welcome presence at the table.
• Do not make any side bets or bonus bets. Stick to the basic good bets.

I will have another part to this article. Look for it.

All the best in and out of the casinos!

This article is about betting strategies used on blackjack and relates to other casino games too. I delve into that mysterious and often misunderstood world of betting strategies and systems. 

I’ll attempt to explain the principal codes of why using one can lead to success and at other times fail to. 

Join me in this guide as I try to make sense of what betting strategies are all about. And whether they can help players win more in the short-term or generate any long-term tangible profits. My focus will be on topics such as:

• The meaning of betting strategies and systems.
• The casino’s house edge.
• Expected values and betting odds on blackjack.
• And the randomness of outcomes.

I’ll conclude by answering whether blackjack betting strategies are worth trying when you gamble on casino games such as blackjack. 

How does a betting strategy operate when used on casino games? 

Most betting strategies are wagering governors. When you use a betting strategy, you’re agreeing to follow its fixed rules. The core rule regulates the amount of money – the bet size or chip value – a player should wager on the outcomes of casino games.

A lot of wagering betting strategies were created to try and gain an advantage over casino games with fixed payout odds. Most betting strategies were designed to be played on even-money chance games. 

Do betting strategies work on casino games?

Many betting strategies try to conquer the nature of randomness by advising players to increase their stakes following losing outcomes. 

However, negative progression betting strategies create too much risk because, the issue players face is to avoid losing too many times in a row before winning again. Therefore, most betting strategies fail because they only focus on the wagering aspect of things.

What are the best casino games betting strategies? 

The best type of betting strategy for some casino games focuses on bet selections when playing roulette and decisions that form the advantage play rules for blackjack. 

They should also have more rules to follow to protect a casino player’s bankroll. For example:   

• Wager X amount more when winning and for X number of games or on certain games.
• Wager X amount less when losing and for X number of games.
• Maybe skip some games. 

The rules of betting strategies can be complex or simple to understand. Each is vastly different though, and results will vary depending on the sequence of a player’s win/loss ratio. 

What is the difference between a betting system and betting strategy? 

Replacing the word "system" with "strategy," helps a little because strategies don’t seem to hold the full connotation that they fail to generate profits when applied to casino games.

Talking about a strategy rather than a betting system can mean more about why:

• a particular bet selection in roulette, 
• or decision in a card game like blackjack is made. 

Is there a difference between a strategy and betting system? 

To understand the strategy/betting system connection it’s important to divide a player’s wagering decisions into three parts:

• What the bet is or what has been bet on.
• Why some games are skipped. 
• The bet size for games and/or decisions within games like blackjack. 

But the words, system and strategy are interchangeable — they relate to a betting structure. 

We must identify what each method entails to understand betting structures proper. Otherwise, we’re likely to reach conclusions based on stereotype, e.g. "Casino betting strategies simply don’t work because of the house edge." But there are gamblers who can’t accept the conclusions of such a statement. 

It’s a bit like wanting to understand more about quantum physics to advance further knowledge. You know, you want to tackle the difficult to understand aspects as well as the unknown, and undiscovered things.

So, moving forward, I aim to guide you about betting strategies for casino games, to try and reach a reasonable conclusion. 

To do this, I’m going to focus on Blackjack, one of the most popular casino games, often played live in online casinos these days.

Does the house always win against blackjack players?

When it comes to casino games, the mathematical conclusion to betting structures is that they don’t work. This is because the house edge can’t be changed in the player’s favor. 

The house edge is designed with fixed odds on casino games where the sequence of outcomes are random.

It begs the questions: 

1. If ‘the house always wins’ at least over the long-term, does this belief (even if fact) render structured ways of betting futile in terms of players generating long-term profits?
2. And have betting systems and strategies received negative press of the back of this belief thus the subject not fully explored? 

If you’re even a little bit, NO and YES in answers to questions one and two respectively, then as to whether betting systems and strategies work on casino games, such as blackjack might be as fascinating to you as the subject is to me. 

If you agree with the following statement you clearly have some faith in – at least the idea of – there being an effective betting strategy. 

"A new betting strategy or improvements to existing ones could be developed to work better for players gambling on casino games like blackjack."

For instance, consider the following betting systems. The Martingale and the Paroli systems. The Paroli is a positive progression method whereas the Martingale a negative progression method. 

For all sorts of reasons both are not perfect betting systems. But the Paroli system is better than the Martingale because it seeks to maximise gains on winning streaks. 

But of course, no betting strategy used on fixed odds casino games, including blackjack can guarantee a high success rate of winning. This includes over the short-term or long-term. 

Do betting strategies work on blackjack?

When it comes to applying betting strategies to blackjack games we need to take apart the different components in play.

1. Although the outcomes of hands in blackjack are random, the decisions players make have a bearing on the results based on what cards have been dealt:

Depending on the blackjack rules a casino makes, a player using perfect basic strategy can experience a reduction of the house edge to just under 0.5%.

2. Blackjack advantage play mostly relies on card counting, but other tactics such as spotting the dealer’s hole card can be used in land-based casinos:

The advantage percentages for a player using the tactics can range from 1% to as much as 13% respectively. However, hole card spotting is rare in land-based casinos and impossible to spot playing live online blackjack because of the camera angle. 

3. When players can double down in blackjack (and correct calls are made) substantial profits can be gained.

4. Blackjack players can also raise wagers when the circumstances are conducive such as in the following instances:

• When there’re slightly more wins over losses e.g. (Player = 55% vs. Dealer = 45% to P=60%/D=40% on average) and/or:
• When there’re minimal losses between wins (2 to 4 on average) and the same range of wins on winning streaks, are the ideal conditions to use a betting strategy such as the Paroli system or a modified, better version of it. 

When you reassemble the parts that form a greater blackjack strategy, it’s worth noting the following: the larger the bet size being risked, the higher the probability that short-term profitable returns can be gained. 

Of course, larger bet sizes increase the risk of losing more money. But a savvy blackjack advantage player will mitigate by adjusting his method of wagering based on the circumstances.

As to the long-term viability of profiting from casinos when playing blackjack, you should consider the following:

• Casinos increase the house edge in blackjack by changing the rules such as allowing dealers to hit on soft-17s and blackjack payout odds of = 6:5 instead of 3:2. 

Other factors such as playing blackjack on an eight-deck shoe, or games that have a continuous shuffle machine in use, can negatively impact the player’s ability to overcome the casinos house edge. 

Should you try to count cards playing blackjack when casinos use continuous shuffle machines?

Continuous shuffle machines ensure cards are dealt randomly, thus card counters find it extremely difficult – if not impossible – to keep track of the cards already played as well as cards remaining in the deck and make a noticeable profit. 

Blackjack players will only get to see a limited number of cards before those cards are placed back into the machine. Therefore, the player’s expected value is low.

Can using a near perfect betting strategy on blackjack increase your chances of winning? 

Advantage play on blackjack alone is only going to give a player an opportunity to increase winnings by a limited percentage of their bankroll. 

The best near perfect betting strategy for blackjack involves trying to work out when a winning streak is about to start or has just started. 

Then take advantage of those limited winning outcomes (increasing value of wagers). But remembering to go into defensive mode when it’s clear the winning streak is about to end or has just ended (decreasing wagers).

As the outcomes of games progress, if you’re not hitting your higher value hands at blackjack, and the dealer is beating you, it’s more difficult to recover losses relying on advantage play alone. 

It will cost at least three times more to move from flat betting, and/or some form of defensive mode to a full on weak offensive i.e. chasing your losses.

A near perfect blackjack betting strategy will control the bet size of your wagers. This will save you from entering the blackhole of losing more of your playing chips. 

Conclusion – whether betting strategies work on blackjack

Betting strategies used on blackjack are not just wagering strategies such as like using the Martingale or Paroli systems. 

A blackjack betting strategy involves advantage play first. It then uses the power of money to lay it on thick when wins are running rich.

Betting strategies work on blackjack because the house edge can be reduced and in some circumstances even negated with a player experiencing a percentage advantage. 

But because outcomes of hands are still subject to randomness, there’s still no guarantee that a blackjack betting strategy (that also uses advantage play) can maintain even short-term success.

And where the result of short-term success generates profits, there’s no telling what the long-term picture might look like for any individual blackjack advantage play gambler using a good strategy.
 

888casino is the brainchild of tech ingenuity, with operations officially kicking off in 1997. But the history of casino games spans millennia. Indeed, mankind's history is peppered with evidence of gambling. This inextricable connection goes back thousands of years, with abundant evidence of gambling activity across cultures.

A fondness for risk and reward is innately human. Whenever groups of people gather in numbers, there's always the chance that a gambling-style game may get top billing. This has been going on for aeons. Today, we will explore the origin of casino games, from ancient times to modern-day marvels. 

Of course, this is as broad a topic as one might imagine. It's peppered with the brushstrokes of creative genius, ingenuity, and a penchant for good old-fashioned fun.

Perhaps 2300 BC is an excellent place to start. We have already established that gambling-style activity dates back to the inception of mankind. Funnily enough, Adam and Eve took a gamble when they picked the forbidden fruit from the tree in the Garden of Eden. Let’s see what’s happened since!

2300 BC – Gambling Kicks off in Earnest

And so, it begins! Evidence of gambling activity emanates from ancient Chinese lands, where historic artifacts reveal references to gambling in the form of wood drawings.

This was showcased in the Chinese Book of Songs. The Chinese have a long history with lottery-style games, the bedrock of modern-day gambling games. Hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus Christ, evidence of Keno slips were found, ostensibly also used for funding construction of the Great Wall of China.

500 BC – Ancient Rome With Its Penny on the Plate

It is said that mythological characters invented dice games during the siege of Troy. Writings from around 500 BC mentioned dice games as part of Greek history. However, archaeological evidence suggests that dice games existed many hundreds of years, perhaps even thousands of years before this. Rumor has it that the ancient Egyptians buried a pair of dice in the tombs of the Pharaohs around 3000 BC.

We know with absolute certainty that gambling games were forbidden in ancient Rome, and it is said that the penalty for being caught with gambling games was 400% of the stake.

Aggressive gambling laws gave rise to the much-vaunted casino chip. If caught, gamblers would simply present casino chips with no cash value as evidence of non-gambling activity. Naturally, casino chips have a real cash value in gambling establishments the world over today.

800 A.D. Card Games in China

The Chinese are fabulous gamblers and have been for thousands of years. Gambling experts concur that the first playing cards materialized in mainland China during the ninth century.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain specific rules of play used at the time, but evidence suggests that the Chinese played paper-style domino games. The standard 52-car deck we know and love today was certainly worlds apart from one the Chinese players of yesteryear were using.

1400s– 1600s – Baccarat & Blackjack

As far as casino games go, baccarat reigns supreme. Here is an age-old game relished among players as much today as it was 600 years ago.

Baccarat is a rudimentary game with fascinating rules. Players can effectively bet on three potential outcomes – The Player, Banker, or Tie bet. It's impossible to bust in baccarat since any value over nine automatically has the 10s digit removed. A game of choice for high rollers, this casino card game originated in Italy and France, dating back to the 1400s.

The baccarat of the 1400s was markedly different from the games we play at casinos and online casinos today. A significant evolution took place with the game, ultimately creating a modern-day marvel that casual players and high rollers alike now enjoy.

Rumor has it that today's baccarat games originated in Cuba, Great Britain, and the United States. Incidentally, there is minimal engagement between players and their cards in baccarat. It's simply placing a bet on one of the three options – no touching necessary.

Blackjack routinely trumps the opposition in terms of casino card games. As one of the world's great casino card games, blackjack is a fusion of strategy-based play and chance.

The objective of this centuries-old game is to craft a winning hand total. This is done by beating the dealer's hand without exceeding 21. It is said that blackjack originates from the Spanish game Ventiuni, which literally translates to 21. As far back as 1601, the legendary game was referenced by Don Quixote – the fictional character.

But among blackjack historians, there remains a great debate. The origins of this ancient game can be traced back to the Spanish and the French, although no clarity exists. Historical records indicate that the modern-day game of blackjack has roots in the French game Vingt-et-un.

As mass migration from Europe to the Americas started, various groups brought Blackjack-style casino card games to the United States. Of course, the name is attributed to Nevada-based casinos offering special promotions for players hitting a Black Jack (clubs or spades) plus the Ace of Spades.

1638 – The Ridotto Casino Opens in Venice

The 17th century was a time of change across Europe, particularly Italy. Around 1638, the first casino opened in Venice, a.k.a. the Ridotto Casino.

It wasn't long before casinos started popping up in cities across Europe. The United States was a lot more conservative in this regard. There were unofficial gambling dens – gambling houses – at saloons, and places of ill repute.

The casinos of yore gave rise to the sprawling mega-casinos that festoon the Las Vegas Strip and surrounds today.

1796 - The Birth of Roulette

Unlike blackjack, which has doubtful origins, Roulette is unabashedly French. Known as the little wheel, the game of Roulette is fascinating beyond compare. It originated in Paris – thanks to Blaise Pascal - but took half a century before it boldly traversed the Atlantic into the American heartland.

Several versions of Roulette have appeared over the years, notably European Roulette, with a house edge of 2.7%; French Roulette, with a house edge as low as 1.35%; and American Roulette, with a house edge of 5.26%. Of course, these notable differences are attributed to the rules and the 00 in American Roulette.

Over the past 200-plus years, Roulette's star began burning brightly. It was revered at the world-famous casino in Monaco, the Monte Carlo, where the single-zero roulette version was played. The European roulette version dominated the scene for many years and still does to a large degree.

American Roulette is a hot favorite in the United States and Canada, although the house edge routinely gives players pause. Nonetheless, there has been a dramatic and unprecedented sea of change with Roulette. With scores of variants readily available to players, each version offers something exciting to fans.

The 1800s Onward – Poker and Slots Arrive on the Scene

No history of casino games is complete without at least a passing reference to the fabulous game of poker. Around 1829, mention was made of a poker-style French game known as Poque. There remains significant debate about the origins of poker, but evidence suggests that it was played around 1829 in New Orleans.

It wasn't until top-tier poker tournaments emerged that the game was taken seriously. Today, there are scores of incredible poker tournaments such as the WSOP (World Series of Poker), WPT (World Poker Tour), and the ANZPT (Australia New Zealand Poker Tour), to name but a few. Thanks to legends like Doyle Brunson, Stu Ungar, and Chris Moneymaker – poker is here to stay. 

It remains the ranking strategy-based casino card game – neck and neck with blackjack – among players. An explosion of interest in the game catapulted it into the stratosphere with online poker, but that's a story for another time.

And now, it's time to introduce the most famous casino games of all – slots. The veritable slot machine game was invented by Charles August Fey in San Francisco in 1894. Known as the Liberty Bell, this rudimentary slot was years ahead of its time. These mechanical devices – one-armed bandits – were revered by players across the region.

Old-school slot machine games featured a limited number of reels and symbols. These were known as classic slots, with fruit symbols. Other symbols on old-school slot games include bars, bells, cherries, and other delicious attractions.

There have been dramatic strides in the development of slot machine games over the years, as evidenced by the rapid shift from mechanical to video slots, and now online slots are governed fully by sophisticated algorithms and digital artistry.

Recall that the Liberty Bell was the very first slots ever created. Nowadays, there are very few – if any - one-arm bandits, except at museums or in limited supply at premier casinos around the world today. Everything is digital, replete with jingling-jangling sounds, hyperactive visuals, and the intensity and appeal of an energised Las Vegas casino.

The Birth of Online Gaming – A Giant in Our Midst

Few would argue that online casino games are growing at a rate of knots. Nowhere is this more evident than right here at 888 Casino UK. With thousands of games from scores of suppliers, it's a veritable Candy Land of adult casino entertainment.

However, it certainly wasn't always that way. Our own story kicked off in 1997 but it had been years in the making before then. The birth of the Internet gave wings to virtual gaming, or online gaming. However, you prefer.

The Internet is quite literally the game changer in this equation. It allows players, operators and casino game suppliers to function smoothly in a realm where no physical presence is required. The first casino kicked off in the 1990s, and scores more followed suit quickly. Dial-up Internet became broadband Internet, and now it's 5G telecommunications capabilities. 

Ultimately, there is no limit to the levels of connectivity and instant-play gaming satisfaction available to players. Among the player favourites, online slot games dominate, followed closely by video poker, Blackjack, Baccarat, Roulette, Pai Gow, Teen Patti, live dealer games, and more.

We can thank many world-class casino game suppliers for the online gaming boom. Among them are Microgaming, Playtech, Dragonfish (Section8 Studio), Play' N GO, NetEnt, and scores of others. It’s because of these game providers, players at home and on the go are able to enjoy a deluge of world-class casino games. This includes every conceivable themed slot game imaginable, card games, table games, and other games. At 888, we constantly push the boundaries, bringing new gaming sensations directly to your screen.

Slots dominate the scene with an overwhelming 60%-plus market share of all games played online and in person. And this is likely thanks to the rollicking success of mobile casino games. New Jersey was the first US state to legalize online casino gambling. It didn't take long for Android and iPhone players to take their casino games on the go. 

Thanks to generous bonuses and promotional offers, many more players are enticed to start playing than ever before. Online casino games are boosted by cutting-edge technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). These frontiers are only in their infancy stages. Watch this space, there’s a lot more in store. 

The Casino World Is Growing Rapidly!

In 2023, we witnessed an extraordinary event in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was the inaugural F-1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. An entire race track was constructed on the Las Vegas Strip. Thousands of fans flocked to Las Vegas, populated the hotels on the Strip, and spent the dollars during the F1 meet. 

This is the nature of gambling-related activity in the United States, and globally. Naturally, virtual gaming comes with cybersecurity challenges, and players routinely tweak their accounts to ensure safe gaming with their preferred operator. 

Every virtual session, and every digital creation is a brushstroke of genius. We have exceptional talent working hard behind the scenes to ensure that the audiovisual entertainment before your eyes is nothing short of a tour de force in casino fun. Enjoy responsibly and relish the opportunities ahead. 

When analyzing roulette outcomes in 2013, I discovered an interesting reoccurring pattern. Ever since, I’ve been observing how 1 of just three roulette numbers link-up as a winning outcome. 

And so, in this exclusive article for 888casino, I’m going to reveal how to play my new roulette strategy where I bet on just 3 numbers.

I call my new roulette strategy: three numbers link-up (Roulette 3NL)

Amazed at how consistent the pattern is, I spent 10 years developing my new roulette strategy. This included gathering extensive data from live roulette outcomes. 

In trying to profit from the pattern, I evaluated Roulette 3NL on many diverse types of live roulette wheels and in lots of different casinos. I modified when and where bets are to be placed. 

Can Betting on Just 3 Roulette Numbers Really Work? 

Roulette 3NL does work. However due to the house edge on roulette (single zero 2.7%) and the randomness of games, I can’t guarantee that it’s a money-making machine. 

No roulette betting system is a magic money tree experience 100% of the time. Your bet selections still rely on random outcomes. But the pattern on Roulette 3NL is real — it does exist.

I can suggest a stop loss and bet again trigger to minimize losses when link-up occurrences are not as frequent. 

I’m not saying I’ve cracked it with my new roulette strategy. Its super advanced in a narrow field within the game for roulette advantage players. And it adds value to the problem of trying to profit from playing roulette games.

Like a lot of roulette betting strategies: increase your wagers when wins are hitting, and the strategy is golden. But remember to go easy when winning occurrences aren’t as frequent. 

Introduction to My New Roulette Strategy – Roulette 3NL

As a roulette player, have you tried loads of roulette strategies – including your own ways to play – yet never really found value in those betting methods? 

Is this because your roulette numbers didn’t hit when you needed them to?

This can lead you getting into the habit of betting on more than 18 numbers. But only because you want to experience your numbers hitting more frequently. Yet the more roulette numbers you bet on, the less likely you’re going to profit from those wagers. 

This is because although the 35 to 1 payout seems generous, when you bet on 18 numbers, you’re only getting roulette payout odds based on 1:1 even-money chances. 

And the more roulette numbers you bet on, there’s a higher probability the stack of chips you’ve got in your bankroll will begin to disappear. Since when you do win, you’re only receiving odds-on payouts:

E.g. Assuming games are played on a single green zero roulette wheel: (37 numbers including zero) You bet on 24 roulette numbers, leaving 13 numbers uncovered. When you win, the casino pays you 35, plus you get to keep the 1 chip you staked on the winning number. 

So, you’ve risked 24 chips to win just 12 (11 plus 1 stake), that is: 

• Bet selection layout 24 chips.
• Return 35 chips.
• Plus 1 chip stake = 36 chips.
• And so, 36 minus 24 = 12. You’ve placed a 2 to 1 odds-on bet. 

You’re laying out 2 to win 1 on a roulette outcome. On the face of it that’s crazy. I’d rather place a bet on a 2 to 1 odds-on favorite horse, in a race where there are only two to 10 runners. 

Over the long-term, the probability of me winning more times could be higher. Thereby my chances of making a profit by betting on 2 to 1 odds-on horses are higher than if I were to continue placing 2 to 1 odds-on bets on roulette. 

Yes, on roulette, with 24 numbers covered, you’ve just under two thirds of the wheel covered. But outcomes are still random. Whereas a horse is an odds-on favorite because of its form and skill of the jockey. 

As a creator of casino games, I look for a winning edge. Some of these include:

• The advantage of discovering new reoccurring pattens generated by the formation of random outcomes.
• Boosting profits using bet size increases on roulette games. 

With “Roulette 3NL” my new roulette strategy, I believe it to be a decent tool when working on the problem of trying to win betting on random outcomes. In this article I intend to prove the following about my new roulette strategy:

I’m going to demonstrate what my three number link-up roulette betting strategy is and how to play it. I will prove two things:

1. Identifiable patterns involving three numbers do form in random live roulette games.
2. It’s possible to profit from such occurrences. 

Patterns in Roulette Games (Part 1): How to Play My New Roulette Strategy

Before I get into explaining how the three numbers work in my new roulette strategy, I’ll begin with the basics including the background.

My new roulette strategy can get some getting used to at first. But its rules are easy to follow. The points below are a clear guide to understanding how Roulette 3NL works. 

1. There are nine Significant Roulette Numbers and these are KEY to understanding my new roulette strategy. But you only need to bet on three numbers. And on most games you bet on, those three numbers will change.

2. Look at the LAST THREE roulette outcomes on a scoreboard AND/OR make a note of outcomes as the roulette games progress. It’s important to write down results so you can make link-ups on your notepad. 

3. I bet on my new roulette strategy in a casino recently and noted the following outcomes. 

4. The following outcomes represent typical random outcomes. I played on a land-based casino games terminal which was connected to a live single zero wheel with a croupier.

5. First set of outcomes: 

15-2-11-31-22-30-14-7-5-11-22-23-25-20-18-10-8-20-33-20-20-0-36-10-11-34-5-15-18-6-13-34-27-15-4-4-24-26-23-27-29-6-8-14-11-0-32-28-26-29-31-8

6. Second set of outcomes: 

6-3-24-2-21-27-34-2-4-34-16-8-11-28-8-10-2-6-11-12-31-12-6-16-17-20-27-31

7. RULES of Roulette 3NL:

First Rule: Relate any number with; 

1. repeat of that number 
2. with the number lower than it AND 
3. the number higher than it

For instance, if 17, then related numbers are 16 and 18 and the repeat of 17. So, if 17 = 16-17-18

Second Rule: If 0 (zero) then the related numbers are 1 and 36: so, 1-0-36

Third Rule: If you’re playing on Double Zero, American Roulette, then the single zero (0) will relate to 1 and 00 AND when 00 is the number, it relates to 0 and 36. So, 0-1-00 AND 0-00-36

8. So, as in point two above, take note of the LAST THREE ROULETTE OUTCOMES and apply the rules as in point 7. 

E.g., look at the first set of outcomes above: the sixth number from the start, is 30. From 30, we’re only interested in the PREVIOUS THREE OUTCOMES. These are 11-31-22 after which is 30. 

9. When the rules are applied, the last three outcomes and the numbers they relate to = a total of nine numbers. So, from the 30 outcome, we count three outcomes back and consider the relations of those numbers.

We see that 30 links up with 31. The 30 could only link with 29 or 30 (a repeat number) or 31. And we also see that the link-up is x2 previous outcomes back. We’re looking for a x1, x2 or x3 back link-up. 

You get the idea. Though at this stage, I should let you know that although betting all 3 previous numbers and connected relations = x9 numbers, does work at times ... the frequency is too spaced out. You’ll get some outcomes clustering – but not enough to turn any significant profit.

Remember, if you play roulette betting on x9 numbers, you’ve got to win one in four games just to break even. Layout:

• X1 9 = 9 
• X2 9s = 18
• X3 9s = 27
• X4 9s = 36 

On the First set of outcomes, there’re x12 wins, and 12x36 (including winning stakes) = 432. Versus the total layout over x52 games, 9x52 = 468. You can see the x9 numbers strategy holds its own. It's not too much behind and had been profitable at some stages. 

Also, ordinarily, I only begin betting following a trigger. Thereby overall, I seldom bet the first three outcomes. Therefore, you can deduct at least 27 chips from that 468 which gives us = 441, almost break even. 

If I deduct the x6 games up to the first trigger, that’s -54 fewer chips from 468 = 414, which at the end of the outcomes = 18+. Thus, a small profit. Notwithstanding a lot more profit by only flat betting following a cluster of wins. 

And please look at the second set of outcomes. You can see the results are a lot better, with x8 wins following a trigger. Total outlay following the trigger at 2, is 24x9=216 And the return on x8 wins = 288. So, a 72+ profit. And as in the above example, a lot more if the wagers were increased when wins occurred within the clusters. 

An argument could be made to bet on x9 numbers if you could work out when wins are going to occur within clusters. I almost worked it out, but the randomness of the results was too sporadic to profit from it. 

Because betting on 6 numbers, i.e. any combination, x1 AND x2 back / x1 AND x3 back  / x2 AND x3 back doesn’t work (since you can never know what the most frequent x6 numbers will occur), I’ve slimmed it down to betting on just three numbers. And in a sequential way.

Stick with me. If you like roulette strategies, I know you’re loving this!

3 Numbers in Sequential Order (Part 2): How to Play My New Roulette Strategy

10. To follow the sequential order, when the last link-up was x1 back, you keep betting the x1 back. And x1 back will be the latest previous outcome. If you look back at the first set of outcomes above, the latest previous outcome is 8 and it’s 31 on the second set of outcomes.

E.g., if you’re betting on x1 back, and x3 back occurs, start betting on x3 back. Whatever it changes to then follow it, whether x1, x2 or x3 back.

When you win, there’ll be a link-up i.e. x1 is what you’re betting for, and the result is x1 back. Same with x2 back/x2 back and x3 back/x3 back. 

The only problem is, when any two appear together, i.e. x1 and x3, Or x2 and x3, etc., (any combination involving x1/x2/x3 As you can see in my outcomes did occur on two occasions) you’ll need to choose one of them to continue. 

Or bet on both, which will involve you betting on x6 numbers. Though this is breaking away from my betting on only three numbers rule. 

It’s a tricky dilemma. 

You could also bet on the x back which isn’t showing, but only if you think it’s due. Or you could stop betting and wait for a single sequential link-up to reset – and use this as your trigger to bet again. 

Sometimes too, all three x backs appear, i.e. x1/x2 & x3. When this occurs, I implement a rule that allows me to x9 bet, where I bet on all x backs. Because a narrow cluster of wins could run on.

Also, I do tend to bet on two x backs when they occur, because I think that a streak of wins could be forming within a winning cluster. Sometimes it happens. 

***** [illustration to go here, place the picture of 2 sets of outcomes and my hand written link-ups] *****

How Much Profit is Enough? (Part 3): When to End a Session Playing My New Roulette Strategy

I stop betting on my new roulette strategy when I double my bankroll. But I have won a lot more than double. I try to bet conservatively looking for about 100% profit. But I have won a lot more playing with a smaller bankroll, i.e. betting low stakes. 

The main aim of Roulette 3NL is to increase wagers JUST BEFORE a cluster of wins. AND/OR just before a win is due. 

I try to avoid increasing wagers following each loss, because this could get costly if a win doesn’t occur within a certain number of games in a row. 

But the advantage of only betting on three numbers on roulette games, is that you’ll have x12 attempts at flat betting and will breakeven if you win on your 12TH attempt. If you increase wagers following each loss or every few losses and you get a win within 12 games then you’ll Make Bank.

Following a link-up, I tend to increase my bet size for a limited number of games, about x7 games. If I’m lucky and wins form in clusters I can clean up and make some serious money.

The larger my bankroll, the more careful I am about trying to make a profit.

How Dependable is Roulette 3NL? (Part 4): Does 1 of 3 Numbers Link-up on My New Roulette Strategy? 

I’ve followed one of the other two sets, i.e. x1 then x3, or x1 then x2 etc vs. the same set, x3 then x3 etc and a repetition of the same set occurs more frequently. 

I’ve also compared just selecting any three random numbers, e.g. 8-21-34 over X number of games to see how frequently the numbers occur. I have found that any three random numbers could all be cold numbers for more than x100 games. 

And it’s not that common for Roulette 3NL not to link-up within x50 games. It is more common for Roulette 3NL to link-up on average within x20 games. And a lot more frequent when clusters form, i.e. one win on average every 7-12 games.

As I wrote above, I tend to wait it out. When wins haven’t been hitting for many games and/or there hasn’t been any clusters, I get ready to increase my wagers in anticipation of a winning cluster about to form.

Forming Clusters on Roulette 3NL (Part 5): How Frequent Clusters Form on My New Roulette Strategy

Looking at the two sets of outcomes above, you can see that on the First, there’re FOUR wins, but only one cluster, i.e. a follow-on win within seven to 12 games. This is seen in the circled “x1” at outcome 11. Where the x1 back was 10, the previous outcome before the win. 

Compare this to the second set of outcomes, there are two wins following the last x3 back win on 8. These are a win on 10 and win on 11. 

How to Protect Your Bankroll Playing Roulette 3NL (Part 6): Protecting Your Bankroll Using My New Roulette Strategy

Within x100 games at the roulette table, you should be able to see enough link-ups to generate a profit. But the real increase in profits is going to come if you increase wagers when clusters occur. 

The thing to remember is, when link-ups are NOT occurring, you need to stop betting and wait for a TRIGGER (a link-up you haven’t bet on) before starting to bet again. Or decrease your bet sizes significantly to protect your bankroll. 

I reduce the size of my wagers after x10 games with no link-ups, unless – based on the results of previous outcomes – I have a powerful sense that one is due. 

My New Roulette Strategy Betting on Just 3 Numbers – Conclusion 

Yes, it’s daring to bet on only three numbers in roulette. Most roulette betting systems select a lot more numbers. I’m sure you’ll agree that my new roulette strategy, betting on just three numbers, has some merit in the hall of fame of roulette strategies. But the results of random outcomes will determine its viability.

The aim of my new roulette strategy formulates a betting system that takes advantage of the knowledge of the patterns. And knowing (or trying to work out) when to bet and how much to bet. 

Knowing when to bet also means knowing when not to bet. Roulette 3NL is designed to inform you when to stop betting on the three numbers – at the stages when none occur.

The patterns of winning clusters occur in hot and cold waves. We want to be betting on the three number link-up sequential patterns when they’re resulting frequently. 

When they stop occurring for X number of games, my new roulette strategy gives an indication of the cut-off point. We can then stop betting and wait for the trigger to start betting again.

In this article, I believe that in writing about my new roulette strategy “Roulette 3NL” I’ve dispelled the myth that: there are no patterns in randomness – that roulette bettors can profit from – because randomness doesn’t form identifiable patterns.