Introduction

In both online and land-based casinos the wagering options a player has are numerous. There is a core set of games that are easily recognized and understood by the player.  Consequently, players more readily gravitate to those types of games. Some of these games favor the player more while other games favor the casino more. However, in the casinos’ ongoing attempt to extract more and more money from the player they offer variations of a commonly known game. This is done most often in the game of 21. 

The axiom of any advantage player is: “Given the right circumstances, any game is beatable.” And this holds true for the blackjack variations, where it is easy to keep track of what cards have been played.  One such blackjack variation is the Blazing 7s Blackjack game. Here we will be taking a closer look at the Blazing 7s Blackjack game and discuss its vulnerabilities’.

Playing Blazing 7s

Before we get into the Blazing 7s vulnerabilities we have to know what the objectives and rules of the game are.  Blazing 7s Blackjack is a new take on the traditional game of 21. It’s played just like traditional blackjack; the game offers an additional side bet that has some astonishingly high payouts.

The Blazing 7 side bet pays out based on the number of sevens in the player's first three cards. If you place your bet and draw a seven, you're a winner. Payouts start with just one seven in the players’ first two cards, and increase all the way up to a progressive jackpot that hits when three suited sevens or three sevens in diamonds are dealt to the player.

A payout is also incurred when a 6,7,8 is dealt to the player.  What payouts are had depends on what version of the game is being played. In some cases the games are linked across multiple casinos and the progressive jackpots can get quite high.   

Bonuses come in a 1-unit bonus or a 5-unit bonus, depending on which version you are playing.  The following chart shows the value in units of the payouts. It’s important to remember that these payouts are rare events and the percentages are over the lifetime of the game. The short-term payouts are much greater as we will see below. This means when you actually hit one of the payable bonuses in your playing session.

Blazing 7s Rules

There are two versions of the Blazing 7s side bet. Each one has slightly different nuances but the objective remains the same. They variations are as follows:

• Version 1: Wins are based on the first three player cards. Wins for one or two sevens are based on the first two cards only. If the player hits, the first additional card shall count as the third card. If the player splits, then the first card dealt to the first hand shall count as the third card. If the dealer has a blackjack, then the player is capped at two cards. 
• Version 2: Wins are based on the first two player cards and the dealer up card. Wins for one or two sevens are based on the player cards only. 

Further complicating things, there are two pay tables as well. Pay table 1 below is for version 1 and pay table 2 is for version 2. 

Pay Table 1

• Three suited sevens: 100% of jackpot.
• Three sevens of the same color: 10% of jackpot. 
• Three sevens 200 for 1. 
• Two sevens 25 for 1. 
• One seven 2 for 1. 

Pay Table 2 

• Three sevens in diamonds: 100% of jackpot.
• Three suited sevens: 10% of jackpot.
• Three sevens of the same color: 500 for 1. 
• Three sevens 200 for 1. 
• Two sevens 25 for 1. 
• One seven 2 for 1.

 

 

Probability and Percentages 

There are four permutations of the game when you consider the two versions and two pay tables. Here we assume that we are using a six-deck shoe for all variations. For all payouts the player does not get his original bet back on a win. Bets can range from $1 to $5, but for simplicity we use a $1 side wager. The player can easily multiply the results by 2,3,4 or 5 to get those values. 

The following table is the return table is for Version 1 and Pay Table 1. 

Version 1 Pay-Table 1

The following insights on the Version 1 pay table 1 are from Mike Shackelford and the Wizard of Odds website.

• Fixed wins = 47.77% 
• Return per $1000 in meter ($1) = 2.20% 
• Return per $1000 in meter ($5) = 2.44% 
• 1% in meter ($1) = $454.17 
• 1% in meter ($5) = $2,270.86 
• Break-even ($1) = $23,722.09 
• Break-even ($5) = $118,610.45

The following return table is for Version 1 and Pay Table 2.

Version 1 Pay Table 2 

The following insights on the Version 1 pay table 2 are from Mike Shackelford and the Wizard of Odds website.

• Fixed wins = 51.75% 
• Return per $1000 in meter ($1) = 0.49% 
• Return per $1000 in meter ($5) = 0.10% 
• 1% in meter ($1) = $2,026.33 
• 1% in meter ($5) = $10,131.66 
• Break-even ($1) = $97,762.40 
• Break-even ($5) = $488,812.02 

The following table is the return table for Version 2 and Pay Table 1.

Version 2 Pay Table 1

The following insights on the Version 2 pay table 1 are from Mike Shackelford and the Wizard of Odds website.

• Fixed wins = 48.03% 
• Return per $1000 in meter ($1) = 2.31% 
• Return per $1000 in meter ($5) = 0.46% 
• 1% in meter ($1) = $432.18 
• 1% in meter ($5) = $2,160.91 
• Break-even ($1) = $22,462.41 
• Break-even ($5) = $112,312.07

The following return table is for Version 2 and Pay Table 2.

Version 2 Pay Table 2

  
The following insights on the Version 2 pay table 1 are from Mike Shackelford and the Wizard of Odds website.

• Fixed wins = 48.03% 
• Return per $1000 in meter ($1) = 0.52% 
• Return per $1000 in meter ($5) = 0.10% 
• 1% in meter ($1) = $1,928.20 
• 1% in meter ($5) = $9,641.00 
• Break-even ($1) = $100,216.92 
• Break-even ($5) = $501,084.62 

Vulnerability

Because 21 is a game with memory and we have direct knowledge of what cards have been removed from the deck, it is reasonable to determine that the Blazing 7s game is beatable. Mostly because the effect of removal can be calculated for each card, which is why card counting is so effective.

Because there are six decks per shoe there are a total of 24 7s in the shoe. If we keep track of the 7s in the shoe that have been played and normalize the number of remaining 7s into the number of decks that remain to be played we can get a value.

Consider that no 7s have been played and there are four shoes that are still to be played, we will get a normalized value of 1.5 (24/4 = 6, this means there are 6 7s per remaining deck and then 6/4 decks remaining = 1.5).

At this value, it is a positive game for the player. 1.5 would be the minimum normalized value I would play for this game.  The higher the normalized number the greater the advantage for the player.  

Conclusion

The Blazing 7s side bet is beatable for the player. At normalizations of values of 7s greater than 1.5, it gives a positive expectation for the player. It takes exceptional patience for the player to get to the 1.5 value. When it does arrive you should max bet the side bet and hope for the best.  Sooner or later it will hit and you will get paid off in a big way.

Introduction

This article explains the popular variations of blackjack offered in land-based and online casinos and the many ways that blackjack games can differ.

Table of Contents

• Different Versions of Blackjack
  1. American Blackjack
  2. European Blackjack
  3. Stadium Blackjack
  4. Spanish 21
  5. Blackjack Switch
  6. Super Fun 21
  7. Multi-Hand Blackjack
  8. Tournament Blackjack

Different Versions of Blackjack

The following popular variations of blackjack involve players competing against a dealer with this objective: having your hand total higher than the dealer’s hand without busting.   

1. American Blackjack

2. European Blackjack

3. Stadium Blackjack

4. Spanish 21 (also known as Pontoon)

5. Blackjack Switch

You must play two hands with equal bets in each round, and you have the choice of keeping the hands that you were dealt or switching the second card in each hand. This switching option gives players a big advantage because you can convert one or two bad hands into two very good hands. To offset the player-favorable switching options:

6. Super Fun 21

This game features a host of liberal rules such as:

1. Doubling is allowed on any number of cards.
2. Surrendering is allowed on any number of cards.
3. Player blackjack beats dealer blackjack.
4. Player blackjack in diamonds pays 2 to 1.

There are also several additional liberal rules; however, here is the catch:

7. Multi-Hand Blackjack

This is a popular variant of blackjack offered in online casinos that allows a player to play multiple hands in the same round. A player can wager the same or different amounts on each hand, and each hand is played independently. (Note: In American blackjack games, most casinos require a player who plays more than one hand to wager at least double the table minimum on each hand.)

8. Tournament Blackjack

If you play in a blackjack tournament, you will be competing against other players rather than the casino dealer. You and your opponents start with the same bankroll and play the same number of hands. The player with the most chips at the end of the round (which consists of a designated number of hands) wins and advances to play other table winners. The initial large field of players is eventually whittled down to a final table of six (or seven) players who play a final round to determine the overall tournament champion.

There is a unique set of tournament skills that often determines whether or not a player will succeed in tournament play. Some of them involve keeping track of your opponents’ bankrolls and, depending on whether you are betting first or last in a round, knowing:

1. how much to bet
2. how to play your hand, especially in the latter hands of a tournament round

EIGHT VERSIONS OF BLACKJACK GAMES

Ways Blackjack Games Differ

There are several ways blackjack games can differ from one another. They include the following.

1. Dealer’s Hand

8. Shuffling the Cards

Casinos shuffle the cards in three ways: manual shuffling by the dealer; off-line using an automatic shuffling machine; or using a continuous shuffling machine (or CSM). With a CSM, cards from each round (or two) are placed back into the CSM where they are randomly shuffled with five or six decks of cards. The latter results in more hands per hour, and a higher theoretical loss per hour. Virtually all online casinos shuffle the cards after each round. (Note: The use of a CSM, or shuffling of the cards after each round, negates the technique of card counting.)

EIGHT WAYS BLACKJACK GAMES CAN DIFFER

Summary

There are different versions of blackjack in land-based and online casinos, and different ways that games can vary. You must understand these differences before you play any blackjack game.
 

I like watching documentaries that reveal the “secrets” behind various things. Sometimes these are “secrets” from the past. Sometimes these are current or contemporary “secrets.” The key word is always “secret” or “secrets” because don’t we all love secrets? 

I am sure that these “secrets” are known to a lot of people but they aren’t known to me. I just found out how the Taj Mahal was built and why it might be sinking. Yikes! Also, why it was built, rather for whose burial. And who else ultimately was buried there. These were all secrets to me.

So, this article might contain “secrets” you know about roulette or “secrets” that are new to you. I hope at least some of them are indeed new for you. 

The Meaning of the Game

Roulette means “little wheel” and the game was often credited to Blaise Pascal, the great mathematician. It seems to be a borrowing of some type from the Italian game of Biribi which was a board game. I don’t exactly know how that was done but I can tell you this: California Roulette does not allow a ball or a spinning wheel as a part of their roulette game. It uses cards. 

The American game of roulette is believed to have started in the wild, wild West (guns blazing, players and the house cheating, a wild, wild time was had by all) but the European game started in the salons of the wealthy and the aristocrats. 

James Bond’s favorite game was roulette, which he often played in Monte Carlo. He’d introduce himself this way: “Bond, James Bond.” His favorite number was 17 and it is believed that 17 is the most selected number in the game. The truth of this you will discover later in this article.

[Please note: As a high school kid I loved the Bond books and the Bond movies. I would swagger and introduce myself as “Scoblete, Frank Scoblete.” I didn’t impress a single girl by doing that so I ultimately dropped it from my pick-up-line repertoire. The stuff I substituted didn’t work either.]

Russian Roulette is not a game you want to play. It first appears in the short story "The Fatalist" in 1840, which was in “A Hero of Our Time” by Mikhail Lermontov. Sad to say there are actually people who play the game in today’s world. Maybe these folks think other people will respect them for being so daring. What do you think?

Teaming Up with the Casino

The casino is your partner in roulette.  How can that be? It’s simple really. Instead of paying you the true value of a winning bet, the casino taxes you a percentage of your win for themselves. With 38 possible pockets for the ball to fall into, the odds of a hit are 37 to one. You win one, you lose 37.

But for the casinos to make a profit, they can’t do that. If they paid 37 to one, they would go out of business because they would just be breaking even. Therefore, they pay back 35 to one, which means they are keeping two units for themselves. Thus, that makes them the winning player’s partner. The casino uses this technique in other games as well, most notably craps.

To be precise: The American game of roulette has two green pockets (0, 00) and 36 numbers. It is often referred to as the “double-zero game.”

The European game has only one green pocket (0) and is often referred to as the single-zero game.

Here is the kicker: The American game was developed in Europe and the European game was developed in America. It’s a strange, strange world. Well, not as strange as someone who enjoys playing Russian Roulette.

A Global Game

The 19th century saw roulette span the globe. It seems that players just loved the “little wheel” and couldn’t get enough of it. Today roulette is played all over the world except in countries dominated by religions that believe gambling is a dastardly sin. 

Some religions actually have casino nights or Las Vegas nights as fundraisers. The games offered are usually a far cry from the casino versions of those games. For example, in roulette they offer games that have three green zeros (0, 00, 000). These are awful games but I guess to support one’s religion that is okay.

Roulette is found on the Internet too. Players are often given the choice of playing the double-zero wheel or a single-zero wheel. What is the difference between them? The difference is BIG.

The single-zero wheel has a house edge of 2.7 percent. The double-zero wheel has a house edge of 5.26 percent. Let’s translate that into money. You lose $2.70 for every $100 you wager on the single-zero wheel. You lose $5.26 for every $100 you wager on the double-zero wheel. 

So, should you play the single-zero wheel if you get the chance? Yes … and no. If everything is the same in terms of betting levels, then yes. However, if you need to bet more to play single-zero, then you must see if your possible losses will be greater at that wheel than on the double-zero wheel.

Sometimes we have to do the math. Sometimes a better game is not always a better game if you have to increase how much you wager.

Devil Wheel

Uh-oh. Is the devil involved in roulette? Some alarmists think so. If you add up the actual numbers of 1 through 36 it comes to 666 which is the Biblical number of the beast. Do the churches that offer Vegas nights know this? If they do, why do they continue to offer the game? Does that scare you? I think this would make a good movie.

If you are looking for a biased wheel, meaning a wheel that is off and landing the same number or numbers out of all proportion to their probability, then settle down. In the good old days, the wheels were handcrafted and some of the pockets were deeper than others, allowing the ball to be captured more easily. This could cause a biased wheel to exist.

Are there biased wheels today? I doubt it. Today’s wheels are finely tuned. The pockets are shallow and the wheels are constantly being checked. Although many players hope for these wheels to exist and hope to find these wheels to take advantage of them, the probability is close to zero. Sorry.

[Please note: My wife the Beautiful AP and I actually did play a biased wheel in the early 1990’s in Las Vegas. It was totally by accident that we discovered it but it wasn’t by accident that we played it starting at $5 on each of three numbers and going up and up until the pit boss closed the table. The table was almost full and no one was betting the three biased numbers but us! That was a “wow!” moment in our gambling careers. It seems nobody noticed how often one of these three numbers came up. That’s the only time we ever experienced this.]

Cutting the House Edge

Can you reduce the house edge at all? The answer would usually be “no” for most casino games but there are two possible options available at some casinos; one at double-zero games and one at single-zero games. These options are absolutely terrific.

On the double-zero games the option is called surrender. On the even-money bets of red/black, odd/even or high/low, if the result is either 0 or 00, the casino will only take half your bet. That reduces the house edge in half to 2.63 percent. Not too bad.

On the single-zero wheel if those even-money wagers land, only one-half of the bet is taken by their option called en prison. The casino just let’s that bet ride for the next spin. That also reduces the house edge in half to 1.35 percent. Amazingly good for a casino wager!  One of the best in all of the casino.

Beating the game for life? Has that been done by anyone? Yes, maybe. That is certainly the dream of many roulette players, isn’t it?

There could be players who win on their first game, or their first bet, and quit forever. They will never play again. Would that count? I doubt it. I think we all think that the amount won should be somewhat substantial. Not a $10 even-money wager. But there is one big winner in the next paragraph who won big on one bet and retired!

Charles Wells won 2 million Francs in 1881 in Monte Carlo. Dr. Richard Jarecki won $1.25 million in various casinos. Chris Boyd won $440,000 in 1994 in Las Vegas. Ashley Revell won $270,000 in 2004 in Las Vegas on one bet and then he retired. Sir Philip Green won $2 million in 2004 in London. Pedro Bartelle won $3.5 million in 2017 in Rio de Janeiro. There have been a few others as well.

Going Streaking

Streaks happen in roulette as they happen in all casino games. The longest streak of one color was 32 reds coming up in a row. I can’t prove this happened but it makes for a good story nevertheless. Poor black, it only came up 17 times. True or false? I don’t really know for sure. I’d hate to be playing the Martingale if I was at the table when either of those two streaks occurred.

The zeroes were often colored blue at roulette and in some casinos they still might be. Why were most changed to green? Green seems to be a more pleasant color to designers who work for the casinos. If you look around your favorite casino you might very well see the hand and the artistry of the designers. They work in color while the bosses of the casinos work in math and money.

Those roulette zeroes used to be called “casino numbers” as some early games had the zeroes automatically beat all the other numbers. These zeroes were not numbers on which the players could bet. As time passed casinos allowed every number to be bet by reducing the payouts on winning wagers. Yes, that is why they are now the partners of the winners.

In 1963 James Bond, meaning the actor Sean Connery, actually won a load of money by betting on the number 17 and winning. Perhaps this is what started the number 17 craze that seems to still be with us today. He bet the number 17 three times in a row before it hit. This is a little-known fact and probably created the greatest roulette streak of all time – players betting 17. 

What is the most annoying thing to happen at a roulette table according to roulette players? Someone winning a lot of money? No. Someone not talking the proper language of the game? No. Someone moaning because they lost some money? No. It is this: Someone knocking over your chips when they are making their bets. This can enrage other players. Hey, it annoys me and I am very mellow when I gamble.

Roulette is tied for second place with craps as the players’ favorite casino table game. Can you guess the number one game? Yes, of course, it’s blackjack. That came about in the early 1960s with the publication of the book “Beat the Casino” by Ed Thorp. Players thought they could beat blackjack and they therefore played it. (Actually, some few could actually beat the game.)

How loyal are the players who follow roulette? When you go to a roulette table you often have new players but you more often have players who have played the game for years and perhaps decades. 

In many ways roulette seems to be the quintessential casino game. It is colorful. It offers many different bets. The payouts on some bets are large. The payouts on other bets make the game’s pattern a close contest between players and casinos. Yes, the house edge remains the same but the pattern of wins and losses changes with how the players choose to make their bets.

Oh, and don’t tell these secrets to anyone else. They are between us.

All the best in and out of the casinos!
 

I am not the be-all and end-all of roulette strategies. Many roulette players have developed their own strategies that they enjoy playing and at times these players swear by them. 

As my readers know, I am a conservative player, looking first to protect my money while simultaneously having a good time when I play casino games. I enjoy going to the casinos – a lot – and I have gone over 130 days some years. Writing and playing? Not a bad life.

Some players aren’t interested in approaching the games as I do, or spending as much time in the temples of Dame Fortune as I desire, but when they do play they might prefer to let it all hang out. Frenzy can sometimes be a part of the thrill, I understand that. I just don’t share that.

So, I have marshalled some of the methods of play and also theories of roulette that players have and I think you might find these as interesting. I did.

Full Speed Ahead

William: “I need constant action. That means I want some good hits and some good streaks. I don’t want to plod along with one inside bet or two. You can wait forever to get into the action. It can be one losing decision after another playing that way. If I went every day to the casinos then long losing streaks wouldn’t kill me if I could come out of it with some big hits. That doesn’t always happen, does it?

“My first way of betting after I learned the game was to bet half the inside numbers at one shot. That’s nineteen numbers giving me a fifty-fifty chance to win on every spin. [William plays the American double-zero wheel.] If I got a hit, which I did many times, I’d be paid thirty-five to one. I would make $350, say, if I were betting ten dollars (I actually bet more!) but I would lose $180 on all the numbers I bet that didn’t come in. I am ahead $170!

“You get a couple of those and you are in. You could be substantially ahead with just a small streak. I like that because then I am totally in the game. 

“Now if the same number hits twice, I will parlay the bet to see if I can take advantage of that. I’ll give that number maybe 10 spins of the wheel to see if it hits again. If it does hit again I might parlay the bet a second time. 

“The question is this: If another number doubles up do I parley that number too? Yes, I do.

“If I find that one color is dominating the scoreboard, I will bet a small bet on the red or black. That’s to take advantage of the colors of roulette. Whoever came up with the colors was a genius.”

[Please note: Speaking of colors, read this next one!]

Gender Dynamics

Cheryl: “I am a woman who enjoys being a woman and I always look for the dichotomy of male and female in all things where it could show itself. Did you ever think of why roulette has red and black as the colors? We can dismiss the green as those two were put in – I think – to confuse the players or get more of an edge over the players. I am not sure of those.

“Black is the color of men. It is a strong color and a dominating one. It is not a happy color either. Black is always the color of villainy. The dead of night. That kind of thing.

“Red is the color of women – a monthly flow and a color of interest and warmth. The male color is looking to control things and the female color has more sympathy to it from what I see. It is a more universal color.

“I enjoy betting red at all times. I will bet red on the even-money bets and if I choose inside numbers, they must be red as well. I will never put any chips on black or on inside black numbers. When it comes to roulette, I have a choice and this is how I make my choice. I prefer to bet the female side of things.

“If you ask me how I am doing betting my way, I can tell you honestly that I am behind in my play but I have been playing over 10 years. I enjoy the game and I enjoy how I bet at the game. And, for your information, I use red chips too!”

Covering All the Bases

Henry: “Roulette is really two games in one as I see it. You have all those inside numbers with a big payout on the hit of a number. If a player just bets one number and hits that number then that is a big win. I mean thirty-five to one is as large as some slot machine lines. Maybe not like a big jackpot but at least a substantial win. 

“Or you can go with those bets around the layout. Some pay even-money, some two-to-one and like that. I like to bet both areas of the game. I feel I am really into the game if I play that way. 

“I will put a small bet, table minimum or thereabouts, directly on a number and I will also place a much larger bet on one of the proposition bets on the outside of the layout.

“I am covering all bases as you can see. I prefer the two-to-one payouts and I will use a double-up after a loss three times but that is all. I once played that way for the entire string and lost my shirt. Three times double-up after a loss I will do but that is it. You have to be very careful using that type of betting system.

“What if I hit a big one on the inside? I will spread some of that win on other inside numbers, maybe four, all near the hit on the wheel itself. I am always conscious that some wheels may be biased even if I have never seen a biased wheel in my fifteen years of playing the game. But who knows?

“I am open to suggestions about how to play the game from other players. I am not stubborn but I do like how I play. It engages me.”

Good Vibrations

Dinah: “I used to do a magic act with a friend Denise. We were Denise and Dinah, ladies of fortune. That’s when we were in high school. We had a whole act worked out too. 

“I do believe I have some psychic powers. Not a lot but enough to see things sometimes in the future. I have had enough times of having a sense of things to come that I truly believe I have some kind of insight about the future.

“I try to pick the wheel I am going to play by sending out mental feelers. I play midweek so there are usually open spots at all the tables. I walk through the areas with tables and send out vibrations. It might take me two or three times to pick out where I will play. There have actually been times when no thoughts entered my head and I didn’t just sit down and play. I waited to get the future feelings. After a while I do and then I play the game.

“Once I have picked my lucky wheel. I then send out my mind to discover which bets I should make. I like to make several bets. These bets come to me slowly. At first, I might just put a little bet to get warmed up. But slowly I get into my rhythm of play.

“My betting is not limited to any one kind of bet. I can bet straight up on a number, or numbers, or I can do some of the proposition bets as well. I will play these bets for the whole session. My aim is to allow my psychic feelings to dominate the game for me. No thinking; just feelings.

“How long do I play for? I don’t know. Sometimes it can be short because my feelings are not playing out the way they should. Sometimes it can be a long session because I am hitting enough to make some inroads in the game. It can also be everything in between. 

“If I am having a good session, I will increase my bets to try to take advantage of the good things that are happening. I have no trouble betting-it-up as they say. I am not afraid of going-for-the-gusto as they say. That is part of the enjoyment; trying to take the casino down.

“All right, all right. Am I ahead of the game? No, I am not. There, that is the truth of the matter. I think that is more because my psychic abilities are not that well-honed. Maybe if I kept doing the stuff with Denise, I might have gotten stronger in the psychic department. I’ll never know for sure.

“Maybe when I retire from my job, I can work out the psychic stuff better than it is now. That is my hope. I know that once I start winning consistently at roulette, I will know that my psychic self is in full swing.”

 

 

Playing it Straight(Up)

Carlton: “Don’t talk to me about roulette. It is the favorite activity I have other than being with my girl. In fact, I like to bring my girl to the casino with me but she prefers staying at home watching movies and reality shows. Go figure that one. She doesn’t have that adventurous feeling as I do. I think of myself as a lion, stalking my prey and pouncing. Roulette is my prey. The casino is my jungle.

“I am a straight-up bettor at the game. Six to eight numbers at once. I have a good shot of hitting one of those and if I can get a few hits in a row then it usually turns out to be a good session. 

“I do not like to lose. I guess no casino gambler likes to lose. But I really hate it. Why should I lose? What have I done wrong in my life that I should lose a simple game like roulette? 

“I take the idea of reward and punishment seriously. If I win that means I have been doing the right things. If I lose then I have not been doing the right things. I think human life is based that way. Good is rewarded; bad is punished. I was brought up with that idea and I think it is true.

“I do sometimes go all out by increasing my bets to get back money I have lost. I think that is probably not a good thing to do but I do it sometimes. Should I be ashamed to admit that? Is that a wrong thing to do? Could that be causing me to lose overall?

“I really don’t have definite answers to the big things in life. How many people actually do? Not many I would say. But I just can’t sit in my apartment watching reality shows. I am in a reality show and that show is my life, isn’t it?

“I don’t live too far from the casinos so I can go once a week if I want. If I am having a hot streak over several visits, I will increase how often I go. If things slow down, I go back down to a couple of times a month. I do not want to just throw away my money.

“I am not a big socializer. I am not into going to movies or shows or any of that. Fancy dinners? Nah. Maybe MMA or boxing, mostly on television for those.

“I find that playing roulette is my thing and why shouldn’t I do my thing?”

*****

Okay, my readers, there were some roulette players giving their opinions about the game.

All the best in and out of the casinos!
 

Introduction

Free Bet Blackjack is a variation of the traditional game of blackjack. The “twist” in this game is this: the casino will pay the player to split and double down in certain hands. 

Table of Contents

1.0 Basic Playing Rules

The game is offered in many land-based and online casinos. Most casinos use six decks although it is available in single-, double-, and eight-deck games. Rules can vary (more shortly) but the most popular version is a six-deck game with these rules:

2.0 So What Is Free?

3.0 Free Doubles

When you are dealt a hard  9, 10, or 11 and you want to double down, you indicate this to the dealer. Instead of your making the additional wager for the double down, the dealer will place a plastic, free bet lamer as your secondary wager. (Essentially, the casino makes the bet for you.) If you win the hand, your original wager will win even money and she will take the lammer and replace it with a real casino chip that is equal in value to the original wager.

Here’s an example of how this works.

Suppose you wager $10 and are dealt a hard 11. You want to double down so you indicate this to the dealer. She will place a lammer next to your original $10 wager. 

4.0 Free Splits

In addition to the Free Doubles, there are also Free Splits where the casino will pay for the secondary bet on splits, meaning the dealer will place a Free Bet lammer on the second hand of a split.

Here’s an example.

Suppose you wager $10 and are dealt a pair of 8s. You indicate to the dealer that you want to split. She will separate your pair of 8s into two hands, each starting with a count of 8. Your original $10 wager stays with your first split hand, and the dealer will place the free bet lammer on the second hand. You must play each hand one at a time. 

Several scenarios could occur.

• If either of the two split hands receives a card of the same rank, you have the option to split again, and the dealer will place a free bet lammer on the third hand. (You can split up to a total of four hands, including aces. Three of them will have a free bet lammer and only one hand will be at risk with “real” money.)
• You can also double down after splitting. Each double can also have a free bet lamer. 
• With pair splitting up to four hands and doubling, it’s possible to have eight hands, seven with free bets, and only one at risk.
• For winning hands, each free bet lammer is replaced with a real casino chip equal to the original wager.
• On hands resulting in a push or loss, the dealer will take back the free bet lammer.

Free Splits are available on all pairs except ten-value cards. In addition, if your split results in a soft hand and you want to double, you can’t ask for a free double (but you can double down with real casino chips).

 

 

5.0 The Effect of Free Double and Splits

If just free doubles and free splits were allowed in a traditional six-deck blackjack game, according to Geoff Hall,  the inventor of Free Bet Blackjack, the player would have about a 6% advantage. Since the casinos could not offer a game with this much advantage to the player, there is an important “catch” to Free Bet Blackjack (see next section).

6.0 The Catch

To compensate for the Free Doubles and Splits, there is a “Push 22” rule, which is this:

• A dealer’s “bust” hand of 22 will push (or tie) all unbusted player’s hands rather than paying them. (Except an untied player’s blackjack, which is paid at 3 to 2.)

7.0 Playing Strategy

The most important playing strategy for Free Bet Blackjack is this:

• Always accept all free splits and doubles even if it seems counterintuitive (like doubling 9 against a dealer’s ace).

You must know the basic playing strategy for this game since a dealer bust of 22 reverting to a push reduces how often you will double down on soft hands and you’ll be more aggressive in your hitting, doubling, and pair splitting strategy than you normally would be in a traditional game. Moreover, when you play this game, some of the time you will use be using the traditional basic playing strategy (for example, doubling on soft hands), while on other hands with free bets and splits you will be using the Free Bet playing strategy.

There is a published basic playing strategy for Free Bet Blackjack. If you want to play this game, I strongly encourage you to study and use this strategy. You will find it on wizardofodds.com.

8.0 House Edge

The house edge is dependent on the playing rules. For the standard six-deck game with the rules above, the house edge against a basic strategy player is 1.04%. If late surrender is allowed, the house edge decreases by 0.21% to 0.83%. If the dealer must also stand on soft 17, the house edge decreases by another 0.31% to 0.52%.

9.0 Card Counting

10.0 Summary

• Free bets on doubling hard 9, 10, and 11, where the casino makes the secondary bet for the player.
• Free bets on splits (except on 10s and picture cards), where the casino makes the secondary split bet for the player.
• To compensate for the above, when a dealer gets exactly a 22, it pushes all player hands (except a player’s blackjack).
• The basic playing strategy is different for hands with free doubles or splits vs. hands that have money at risk.
• By playing a six-deck game with the best playing rules, it’s possible to reduce the house edge to as low as 0.52%, about the same house edge as many traditional six-deck games.
• With a mix of favorable playing rules, it’s possible to gain an edge by card counting.

Introduction

Video poker is among the most popular casino games – both online and in a real casino. This is because the games have a very low house edge. In fact, sometimes the player has the edge. 

It is also one of the very few electronic casino games where the player has an impact on the results. However, in order to achieve the low house edge (or player edge) the video poker player must use the proper playing strategy. Strategy charts can help a player play perfectly.

Table of Contents

1. What is Video Poker Playing Strategy?

Simply put, video poker playing strategy is a set of rules determining which cards to hold and which to discard from the originally dealt hand to maximize the return.

2. How the Optimal Video Poker Strategy is Determined

Determining video poker playing strategy is a complex process. It is very difficult to do without the aid of computers.

In order to determine the optimal video poker playing strategy:

• Each possible initial hand is examined. There are 2,598,960 possible initially dealt hands.
• Each possible hold for that hand is determined. There are 32 possible holds.
  • No cards – 1 possible hold
  • One card – 5 possible holds
  • Two cards – 10 possible holds
  • Three cards – 10 possible holds
  • Four cards – 5 possible holds
  • All five cards – 1 possible hold 

3. Video Poker Strategy Charts

A strategy chart is simply a list of the specific cards to hold (if any) from the initially dealt hand starting with the hold having the highest return.

A chart is a printed summary of all the information gathered by the computer program. It can be used by the player to help determine the hold that produces the maximum average return.

Strategy charts can be found in books, online, and in computer- and smartphone-based video poker apps. Strategy charts are sometimes sold in casino gift shops.

4. Using Strategy Charts

Using a video poker strategy chart is straightforward. Here’s how they work.

5. Is Using a Strategy Chart Illegal?

If you’re playing video poker online, you could play perfectly without using a strategy chart. However, to do so would require a video poker strategy app on your computer or smartphone.

Here is how it could work.

• From the online video poker site, deal a hand.
• Switch to the video poker strategy app and enter the hand that was dealt.
• Have the app calculate the best hold.
• Return to the online video poker site.
• Hold the cards specified by the video poker strategy app.
• Move on to the next hand.

Obviously, this would dramatically slow the playing speed, but it would produce the highest possible return.

After a while many of the proper holds for certain hands (royal flush, straight flush queen high or lower, etc.) become obvious. The app would only need to be referenced for the less obvious hands. To be absolutely certain, however, the app should be referenced for each hand played.

Playing in a casino is quite a different matter. Devices that are used as an aid in playing casino games are highly illegal in almost all gaming jurisdictions. Making use of such a device while playing in a casino could very likely mean arrest and possibly jail time.

In virtually all gaming jurisdictions, a strategy chart is not considered a “device.” That classification is reserved for mechanical (before the advent of electronics) or electronic devices such as computers or smartphones.

There is a difference between using a device and using a strategy chart. 

Casinos consider the “use of a device” when the player inputs the hand that was dealt into a device. The device also determines the proper play and a player holds the cards specified by the device.

However, when using a strategy chart a player looks at the cards that are dealt and simply scans the strategy chart looking for the line that defines the dealt hand.

Do you see the difference? A player has to use his or her skills to find the proper line on the strategy chart. The chart does not automatically give you the proper hold and players can, and will, make mistakes while a device does not.

It’s not illegal for a player to use his or her skills in casino play. For example, card counters playing blackjack are despised by casino management. It is not illegal, however.

Casino management can eject them and ban them from ever re-entering their casino. They cannot have them arrested simply for counting cards, however.

Taking the blackjack example a bit further, most casino gift shops actually sell blackjack strategy cards. They allow players to openly use them while playing blackjack.

The reason this is allowed is because even though the players are using a card to keep the casino edge lower, the casino still gets their share. Card counters can get an edge over the casino, strategy card users do not.

The same thing is true for video poker strategy charts. The player can get no more than the machine’s programming allows. The pay table determines the house edge.

Some casino gift shops even sell video poker strategy charts for certain games. Would they do that if using them was illegal? For more on the legality of video poker strategy charts, go here:
Strategy Chart: Video Poker Cheat Sheets are Legal (888casino.com)

6. Why You Should Avoid Using a Strategy Chart

If it's not illegal to use a strategy chart, is there any reason to avoid using one? That is a rather rhetorical question. Of course, there are reasons. No, they are not illegal.

Yes, most casinos allow blackjack players to use strategy cards while playing blackjack. Yes, some casinos sell video poker strategy charts for some video poker games. All these statements are true. 

Like all businesses, casinos are in business to make money. In fact, if they did not make money, there would be no casinos.

Casinos may like an occasional big winner so they can sell the public that their casino is a great place to win. They have little patience, however, for a consistent winner.

We all know that casinos monitor the casino floor at all times. The famous quote by Sam “Ace” Rothstein from the movie Casino is true.

“In Vegas, everybody's gotta watch everybody else. Since the players are looking to beat the casino, the dealers are watching the players. The box men are watching the dealers. The floor men are watching the box men. The pit bosses are watching the floor men. The shift bosses are watching the pit bosses. The casino manager is watching the shift bosses. I'm watching the casino manager. And the eye-in-the-sky is watching us all.”

Casinos watch blackjack players for signs that they are counting cards. Out of the ordinary acts like drastically changing bet sizes or playing the same hand differently at different times, are strong indications the player is a card counter.

There are no inherent indications of a skilled video poker player. More specifically, there are no indications if the player does not use a strategy chart.

Casinos that have programmed the video poker pay tables to produce a house edge of around two percent or higher, probably don’t care that much about skilled players. The house edge is similar to other casino games where the player has no control over the game.

7. Summary

• Video poker strategy charts allow the player to determine the hold cards that will maximize the return on their play. 
• Developing a strategy chart is a very complex process that requires the use of a computer.
• To use a strategy chart: 
  • Compare the dealt hand on the game to the lines on the chart starting from the top.
  • When you come to the line the contains the cards in the dealt hand, hold those specified cards
  • If the dealt hand is not described in the chart, discard the entire hand.
• Using a strategy chart is not illegal because it is not a mechanical or electronic device.
• Even though strategy charts are legal, it is a good idea to forego using them in a casino.

The use of video poker strategy charts in a casino is a controversial topic. It is best to memorize the chart and practice playing at home. Practice until your play is perfect – or nearly so. 

By following the advice given here, you will make the most of your casino video poker play. Isn’t that what you really want?

Updated on March 18, 2025

What Are Blackjack Side Bets?

Blackjack side bets are additional wagers you can make while playing traditional blackjack in a land-based or online casino. These optional bets typically require a small stake and generally offer payoffs exceeding customary even-money blackjack payouts. Unlike the main game, where blackjack strategy plays a crucial role, most side bets don't involve skill, one of the reasons for their growing popularity.

The most player-friendly blackjack side bet options have a relatively modest house edge (less than 5%). While new side bets are constantly being developed to attract players, only the best make it to the casino floor. This article explains the three most advantageous side bets blackjack players should consider.

Blackjack Side Bets Explained: How to Place Them

Many blackjack players enjoy side bets blackjack options for three main reasons:

1. The cost to make a side bet is low (usually just $1)
2. There's no skill involved
3. The payouts exceed standard even-money blackjack returns

There is usually signage on a blackjack layout or on a placard that sits on the blackjack table, which specifies what side bet is being offered. You don’t have to make a side bet. It’s an optional bet in addition to the bet that you would make on your hand in the main game.

To place a blackjack side bet, simply position your chips in the designated betting spot on the layout after making your main wager. Most casinos require players to bet on their hand in the main game before placing any side bet. Betting limits for side bets are typically posted on the table. If not, just ask the dealer.

While side bets blackjack options generally have a higher house edge than the main game (which can be less than 1% with proper strategy), if you want to try your luck at a larger payout, I recommend you wager on the side bets that have the lowest house edge.

What follows is a list of the best side bets, specifically the ones with the lowest house edge.

Top 3 Blackjack Side Bets Worth Considering

1. 21+3: Combining Blackjack and Poker

This popular blackjack side bet combines elements of blackjack and three-card poker. It involves the player’s initial two cards and the dealer’s upcard, which combined, make a three-card poker hand. 

In the original version, if the three cards form a flush, straight, three of a kind, or straight flush, the player wins with a 9-1 payout, yielding a modest 3.24% house edge in a six-deck game (2.74% with eight decks).

Modern versions of this blackjack side bet offer varied pay tables, such as:

(Note: Unlike a five-card poker hand, a straight pays more than a flush in three-card poker.)

With the above pay table in a six-deck game, the house edge is 4.14% (If fewer decks are used, the house edge increases to 7.76% for three-deck game. If the game uses eight decks, the house edge is only 3.18%).

For players familiar with lay bets craps options who want to try something different, the 21+3 blackjack side bet offers an exciting alternative with reasonable odds.

(Note: I would also recommend the article written by Eliot Jacobson on counting systems for 21+3 that target flushes.)

2. Perfect Pairs: Matching Your Initial Cards

The Perfect Pairs blackjack side bet focuses solely on your initial two cards and wins if they form a pair. The bet automatically loses if your first two cards don't match in rank.

There are three pair types with different payouts:

1. Mixed Pair – Two cards of the same rank but different colours. For example, Queen of clubs and Queen of diamonds.
2. Coloured Pair – Two cards of the same rank and colour. For example, Queen of hearts and Queen of diamonds.
3. Perfect Pair – Two identical cards, such as two Queens of spades.

The payouts vary from one casino to another, but common structures for an eigh-deck game include:

As shown, the house edge varies from 2.17% to 4.09%, making this one of the more favourable side bets blackjack players can choose.

3. Royal Match: Suited Cards With Royal Potential

This blackjack side bet is based on the player’s initial two cards’ being suited. Different casinos offer various payout schedules depending on the number of decks used.

The two most common Royal Match structures found in casinos are:

Another version uses six decks of cards with a 25 to 1 payout for Royal Match, 5 to 1 for Suited Blackjack, and 5 to 2 for all other matches. This variation has a respectable house edge of 3.70%.

Note: There is a card-counting system for the Royal Match in these two books: Beyond Counting by James Grosjean, and The Big Book of Blackjack by Arnold Snyder.

Is Any Blackjack Side Bet Worth It?

The three blackjack side bets highlighted above represent the best options due to their lower house edge compared to other side bet alternatives. While the main blackjack game remains superior in terms of expected return, these side bets offer entertainment value and the potential for larger payouts.

For advanced players, it's worth noting that published counting systems exist for some higher house edge side bets (specifically Over/Under 13, Super Sevens, and Lucky Ladies) that could significantly reduce the house advantage or even give players an edge under the right conditions.

Whether you're playing in an online casino or at a physical table, understanding these blackjack side bet options can enhance your overall gaming experience while keeping the house edge at a reasonable level.

Originally published on October 19, 2021

I have written about some of the wild streaks that have happened at the game of roulette in my book Spin Roulette Gold and in articles for this website. Roulette has had amazing events happen over the centuries and many roulette players have been privileged or, yes, cursed to be at the game when such events happen.

I decided to ask inveterate roulette players what were some of the outstandingly weird, wild, wacky and turbulent things that have happened at the table when they played. 

Betting System Gone Bad

Theresa:  You know the idea that is called the Martingale betting system? Well, I saw the same guy one three-day weekend, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, use it twice and both times he got to the end of it and lost. The losses were gigantic. He was a $25 player and he just kept doubling up after his losses.

He was at the roulette table every time I went there so he was an avid player. The casino floor person and pit boss knew him well and so did most of the dealers. He used that Martingale all the time and most times he would win that $25 but his wins could not approach how much he lost when he got to the end and couldn’t bet any higher.

I felt sorry for him because he tried to pretend that the losses meant nothing to him but I could see he was upset. I don’t think the players who use the Martingale realize that they are asking to get hurt really bad if it doesn’t work out for them.

Martingale Madness

Melvin:  Martingale? Martingale? Tell me about it. This was about 10 years ago and this one guy was playing it but he wasn’t just betting the same bet, you know like “high-low” or something like that. He would jump around. He’d bet $10 on say the “red” and if he lost, he’d bet $20 on the “odd” so he would bet different wagers but he kept losing during one session and he was getting angry because he kept losing.  

And when he bet “red” and lost and then he’d bet, you know, “high” and then “red” would hit and he’d get furious. He started to say that the dealers had it against him. He even complained to the supervisor and asked if they had fixed the wheel so he could lose tonight because he beat them yesterday. One time he did this and on the next spin he won his bet. He took that as confirmation that they were fixing the wheel against him because as soon as he complained he won his bet.

I would say this guy was the most obnoxious roulette player I ever saw at a table. Usually roulette players don’t blame the casino when they lose. They just groan. Roulette players know the game is random. Or they better.

This guy had a persecution complex. I think he thought he was in a movie or something. When I would come to the roulette tables the next few days, I avoided every table that he was playing at. He made the game miserable. He never stopped complaining even on the times he was winning.

Doubling Up

Joseph: This happened just two years ago, just before COVID-19. It was a young man and his girlfriend. He bet $10 on a number, I think it might have been the number 30, and he hit. That paid him $350. 

He parlayed the bet. He now had $360 on the number 30. Of course, everyone at the table was now rooting for him to hit his number again. When the dealer called “no more bets,” we all waited with excitement. I’d never seen anyone parlay a straight bet on a number, although a couple of times I have seen a number hit twice in a row. But this was a whole new ballgame.

The ball spun and spun then landed and bounced a few times and settled in a pocket. It hit! The number hit a second time! The table went berserk. It was as if we all won that bet. 

Now the kid said, “I’m going to parley again!” Everyone at the table was shocked. Could the same number hit three times in a row? The floor person came over and said, “You’d be over the table maximum, sir.”

One idiot yelled out, “Let him bet! Let him bet!” The rest of us at the table thought going for a third hit was nuts. 

The kid laughed, “I’m not going for a third time. What do you think, am I crazy? Nope. I’m taking my winnings. I just wanted to see how everyone would react.” Everyone did react – we all applauded. And that’s what he did. He took his winnings and left the table.

Name a Number Game

Peggy: I called the man “name a number” because when he came to the table, he asked us what number we’d like to play. There were five of us, and him, at the table. We each said a number and he put $50 on the numbers we had chosen. He also put a $50 bet on each of our numbers and then on one of his own.

Now you would think the guy was drunk, right? No, he wasn’t. He was this happy fellow. I don’t know why he did that but when we all lost, and we did all lose, he asked us for another number and he did the same thing. 

One of our numbers hit. He was on the number too. We all cheered. Heck, we were playing for bigger stakes than we normally would and it wasn’t even our money. But after that win, that was that. He left the table and I didn’t see him again for the rest of my trip. 

Those of us at the table asked if any of us had ever seen the guy before. None of us had. What about the dealers? None of them had. The floor person and pit boss? Neither had ever seen him before. 

The “name a number” man will never be forgotten by those of us who were at the table with him. Why he did what he did, I have no idea, but it was fun being part of it.

Five Times the Fun

Karen: In a scoreboard of twenty numbers, I saw the same number hit five times. Not back-to-back but five times in total. What did everybody do? Everyone bet the number. It didn’t hit again for the next twenty spins and everyone was kind of down. We all thought we had found a biased wheel and what we found was essentially nothing.

I asked the dealer if she had ever seen anything like that and she said, “When you are at the game every day you see a lot of strange things. Had it gone six times it would be the most I ever saw.”

Well, I never saw anything like that before or after this. But I am not at a wheel every day so who knows what happens.

Causing a Major Scene

Laura: Roulette players are not usually the angry types. You lose, you just kind of take it. That’s part of the game. You win some, you lose some. Until this one time, I had never seen anyone go crazy at a table.

I like roulette players for their temperament. This man, with a heavy accent from who knows where, was drinking a little too much and every time he lost, he cursed under his breath. At first the curse was a whisper but it slowly got louder and louder.

I was uncomfortable and some other players were too but all the roulette tables were packed with players so we stayed at this one. That was in retrospect a big mistake.

The man was betting a bunch of inside numbers. A couple of times he did win but his losses were really mounting and he kept increasing his bets too. I would say the man was taking a hammering.

Then he started yelling at the dealer and asked that she be removed from the table. The pit boss came over and told him that the dealer was doing her shift and that the man could write a letter of complaint if he wanted to. He smiled at the rest of us, and we smiled at his joke, but his joke did not hit the, shall I call him the gentleman, as funny.

No, it did not. The man then started saying that he didn’t like people to make fun of him. He wouldn’t take that from anyone. 

The pit boss saw that this was getting out of hand and he immediately apologized to the man and asked the man if he’d like a comp to the buffet. The man got even angrier. “The buffet? The buffet? You dog! You pig!” 

“It’s okay, sir. It is okay, calm down,” said the pit boss.

The man then threw his drink at the pit boss. He didn’t just throw the liquid out of the glass but the whole glass, which got a bunch of us wet at the table. The glass hit the pit boss and then the man swept his arm right over the layout knocking over the piles of chips, sending most of them flying off the table.

We all jumped up and the man leapt onto the layout. Then the security arrived and these weren’t the old folks you see in uniforms standing around and acting like security, but they were younger men and women. They grabbed the man, who was thrashing to get to the pit boss, and dragged him off the table. 

The man thought he’d fight the security people. That was stupid. They had him on the floor in about a second and he was then handcuffed. A little while later the man threw up and they took him to wherever they take people like him. 

The pit boss said that they would give us our bets when they looked at the tape and we gave him our room numbers, those of us who were staying there, and we departed the area.

The roulette table was closed and we all made our way to other tables or to some place else, as the casino was crowded and there weren’t many spots at other tables available. I went to the bar and ordered a drink. And gave all of this some thought.

Roulette is a great game and this man was unique in my experience. Okay, people don’t like to lose. That’s a given. But that behavior is totally unacceptable at a game. If you can’t handle playing then don’t play. He should take up knitting.

Lucky Numbers For a Great Night

Doris: Let’s talk about a great night at the table; the greatest night I’ve ever had. I bet three numbers straight up. They are 7, 22, and 28. I was 7 when my father died. I was 22 when I got married. I was 28 when I had my only child.

Are these my lucky numbers? Not more or less than any other numbers would be. I know the game is random as is the lottery where I play these numbers too. Occasionally I’ll win something, more often I lose. I think that is everyone’s experience at games of chance. You win a few and you lose a few more.

But this one night, my numbers were on fire. They didn’t hit every spin but they hit enough that I was piling up the chips. 

I felt as if I was in another world. It didn’t seem real after a time. I thought I was in a dream but it wasn’t a dream; it was real life. The dealer would congratulate me every time I won. 

Other players started to bet my numbers and they won too. How could all of this be real? But it was. It was real.

I won’t tell you how much I won but it was the most I have ever won in my life at anything. I can say that it was a glorious evening at the roulette table.

All the best in and out of the casinos!
 

You may have tried sundry systems and many methods for playing roulette. I think a good percentage of roulette players have at least flirted with the classic ones before settling on how they now play.

Casino playing is a step-by-step learning process for many of us before we settle in. I guess that is how it should be. Sample the dining offerings before giving the waiter your order.

Visual Tracking

I have tried many approaches to the game. I did the Martingale doubling up after a loss system to be devastated by it. 

I once played a visual tracking system where I followed the ball around the wheel in order to predict where it would land. I got nauseous and almost threw up on the layout. Throwing up doesn’t appeal to me.

I’m sure it wouldn’t have appealed to the other players at that table either. I can’t see how anyone can actually do this but there are a few people who claim that ability. Not me, that’s for sure.

The Biased Wheel

My wife, the Beautiful AP and I played a biased wheel in the early 1990s in Las Vegas until the pit boss closed the table. No one bet our numbers (there were three of them together) even as they saw us winning consistently. 

I doubt any of these biased wheels actually exist now on the modern roulette table. The wheels are almost as perfect as almost-perfect can get. Shallow pockets make those roulette balls bounce and bounce and bounce some more.

Dealer Signatures

I even privately interviewed dealers to find out if they could land the ball in given areas or if they knew of any dealers who could do this or who might have claimed they could do this. That was over three decades ago. 

The technique is called “dealer signatures.” Did it exist in the real world? Did it ever exist? I don’t really know.

I talked to the old timers because the few new ones I talked to had no idea of what I was talking about. “Dealers controlling where the ball will land? You gotta be kidding me,” laughed one young dealer.

Another said, “Someone is bending your ear bub. That is impossible. I’ve been dealing for years and no way is it possible.”

A couple of old timers said they knew a dealer, maybe two, from the past (the distant past!) who might have had that ability. Today? “Nahhh,” answered one. “Nahhh,” answered the other. “Nahhh,” I figured.

The Bottom Line

Of course, I have spoken to an assortment of players and other gambling writers about roulette and most of the other games. That world goes from the sublime to the somewhat stupid. 

[Please note: Not all casino gambling writers are brilliant. Some writers told me they believed roulette was a 50-50 game. It isn’t. I have no idea how they could say that or, worse, write that. Some believe that knowing the math of roulette is a waste of time and that man’s “logic” can defeat the game. Not so. As for players? They come in all intellectual shapes and sizes.]

How Do You Play the Game?

I think it is fairly obvious that there are four basic ways to play the game of roulette:

• Play straight-up bets either as singles or as combinations 
• Play one or more proposition bets such as the “even-money” bets or the “columns” and such
• Play a combination of straight-up bets and proposition bets
• Let it all hang out wildly

Danger! Danger! Danger!

The biggest danger for any casino player is not being in control of his or her emotions and thereby allowing the game to play them instead of them playing the game. That is a truly dangerous situation.

Money management is the most important aspect of a relaxed style of play. By “relaxed” I mean simply not having to worry about losses. We should always keep in mind that the casino has the edge and that edge will prevail. If trips to the casino end with you kicking yourself in the posterior, then what is the purpose of going? Casino play should be fun, whether you win or lose.

You should never bet more than you can afford to lose, nor should you pretend, as many players do, that you can afford a lot more in playing money. Think smaller. Losses hurt even if you pretend they don’t.

People who are looking to invest money in this or that stock sometimes think they are more able to handle larger losses than they actually can. If losses subsequently hit them, they become rattled, sometimes severely rattled.

So don’t overestimate your ability to handle high betting levels unless you enjoy being rattled from time to time. In short, stay relaxed. Stay controlled and contained in your money management philosophy.

Dangers in Various Playing Methods

Despite the fact that the casino’s edge on roulette is stable, no matter which ways you wager, the patterns of wins and losses can be radically different. On a single, straight-up bet on a number, a player has 37 chances of losing and only one chance of winning on the double-zero wheel. The player has a better chance with 36 ways of winning and one way of losing on the single-zero wheel.

[Please note: The house edge on roulette is easily figured. On the double-zero wheel the payout is 35-to-one but the real odds are 37-to-one. The casino shorts the player by not paying the true odds when the player wins. It shorts the player by two units. The house edge is therefore 5.26 percent. On the single-zero wheel, the casino also pays 35-to-one but the true payment would be 36-to-one, thus shorting the player by one. The house edge is therefore 2.7 percent.]

Those straight-up bets on one number can create somewhat long losing streaks, but rarely do they create long winning streaks. With so many losses as opposed to so few wins, you can see why this happens. Of course, a hit brings in 35 units for every one unit wagered (meaning $35 for every $1 wagered and won). That certainly takes the sting out of a losing streak if it pushes the player over the top.

If a player bets two numbers, the losing streaks will be shorter but the amounts won will be less. Single-bet players must be ready to experience such losing streaks. The fact that the wins are large brings the house edge to 5.26 percent and 2.7 percent on the double-zero and the single-zero wheels respectively. Yes, the same as on all the bets at the game.

Bankroll Size for Straight-Up Bets

You must factor in the potential for somewhat long losing streaks if you are betting straight-up on a single number. You will face the same house edge, as I’ve stated as any other roulette player, but you have to be able to ride a losing streak to a possible win. Thus, you need to bring sufficient funds to last if things turn against you – and they can turn against you from the very beginning.

Assuming you are a $10 player then you need at least $1,200 with you for a session. Don’t blanche. The good news is that a 35-to-1 payout will catapult you up financially. I’m hoping – and you should be hoping along with me – to get that 35-to-1 hit sooner rather than later. Although your bankroll for a session is quite high, early or almost early hits will see you in decent shape. I doubt that you’ll find many losing streaks where your number never hits and you lose that $1,200.

[Please note: Yes, you have noticed that I am always aware of the possible ways to lose. I wish to win but I dread to lose. So, I always want more money behind me than less; that also means money I can afford to lose without losing my cool.]

Multiple Straight-Up Numbers

You can wager multiple straight-up numbers with a single bet. If you choose to do two numbers per decision, you can reduce your session bankroll in half – to $600. If you are betting four numbers, then your bankroll can go down to $300.

 

Proposition Bets  

The game has a host of proposition bets that allow you to bet many numbers with a single bet without having to face monstrously long losing streaks. On the “even-money” bets, you are betting 18 numbers or colors.

You lose on 20 numbers or colors or on the zero and double zero. So, 18 chances to win and 20 chances to lose. You don’t need a ton of a session bankroll to play the even-money bets. How does $200 sound? That would mean you would have to lose 20 more decisions than you win. 

On the single-zero wheel you would win on 18 decisions and lose on 19 decisions. I prefer the “even-money” bets in my roulette play, especially in casinos that allow surrender or en prison which allows you to keep half of a losing bet if the 0 or 00 is the decision. The house edge is then reduced in half on both the double-zero and single-zero games.

You also have proposition bets that pay back 2-to-1 such as the columns bets and the dozens bets. Here you have 12 ways to win with 26 ways to lose on the double-zero wheel and 12 ways to win and 25 ways to lose on the single-zero wheel. You can go with $200 on these as well.

What I find likeable on the proposition bets is that you only need to make one wager to cover many numbers. I prefer to avoid long losing streaks than win large amounts. I once lost my entire bankroll on my third visit to Atlantic City and that burned me. I was, as the song says, “All shook up!” I became quite cautious after that. You have to decide whether you wish to follow my cautions. 

[Please note: My bankroll requirements are merely an opinion. You must decide how much you wish to bring to the table for a session. If you really have a high tolerance for long losing streaks or big losses in exchange for possibly large wins then go for it. You are the arbiter of your money.]

The Wild Style of Play

Now there is a small percentage of roulette players who like to let it all hang out at the table. They are wild to say the least.

They will bet every type of bet; straight-up bets, many straight-up bets, proposition bets of each type. Some will cover the layout with so many bets that the dealers have to expressly tell these individuals personally “no more bets, sir or madam” after they have already told all the other players “no more bets” because these wild players can’t seem to stop wagering.

All these types of bets are placed during one round. Yikes!

It is “crazy time” when such players descend on a table. Many of them are joyous players too. They are having a ball, a blast, and the money just seems of secondary importance. Maybe they have their own printing press.

What type of bankroll for them? I have no idea. They are going to get hits, perhaps hits galore, even on losing decisions so – beats me what to recommend. I can’t see how they win when the house is wresting from each and every bet that they make. The house edge is relentless. 

Inconvenient Truth

Keep in mind that the total bet a player makes at the game is subject to that edge – there is no getting around that. You can’t escape no matter how you bet. Even if you bet every single number straight-up, you will lose every time you do that because the house is keeping one or two units with each decision at the single- or double-zero games.

That’s the true inconvenient truth. I think every roulette player has to make his or her decision based on the above criteria. 

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Immersive Roulette is an online live casino game played on a single zero roulette wheel. The house edge is 2.70%, the same percentage as any other roulette games using one green zero.  

The fully-regulated software company Evolution Gaming developed the game. The company films live roulette games from studio casinos based in European countries and livestream high-definition footage to the customers of top online licensed casino sites such as 888casino. 

Playing Immersive Roulette 

In 3D cinematic style, Immersive Roulette draws players into the action of live European roulette games. Whether on the move or in the comfort of your home or office, Immersive Roulette use HD-quality video so you can livestream a real-life casino experience. The game is even optimized for various operating systems and screen sizes for:

• Smartphones
• Tablets
• Laptops
• Desktop
• Smart TV

When logged in to this roulette game, you can ven adjust the video quality depending on the speed of your internet service. 

How Good of an Experience is Immersive Roulette?

Casino industry experts regard Immersive Roulette as being the best online live roulette game there is. Read on to discover if Immersive Roulette really does deliver an excellent user experience.

To know how good of a live roulette experience Immersive Roulette is, I’m going to compare it to live roulette in land-based casinos and standard online live roulette games. When I play roulette in a casino I can:

• View the winning number and previous numbers on the billboard display.
• Interact with a croupier.
• Watch a dealer’s facial expressions and how hard they flick the ball into the ball track.
• Look at the ball spinning and slowing then falling onto the wheel and coming to rest in one of the numbered pockets. 
• See the amounts players win.

With Immersive Roulette, not only can you view previous outcomes on the billboard display, but you also have access to detailed statistics based on 500 previous outcomes. These include the percentage occurrences of:

• The green zero
• Outside chances such as the Low and High, Even and Odd, Red and Black
• Columns
• Dozens
• Tiers, Orphelins, Voisins Du Zero, Jeu Zero (accessed on the racetrack betting area)
• Hot and cold numbers (ideal for when using the Andrucci roulette betting system)

 

 

 

Interaction and Viewing the Action

You can interact in real time with the friendly croupiers by typing messages. The croupiers do speak comments to players who message them. You can also use the live chat function to communicate with other players. You can switch to other roulette games and choose your favourite croupiers.

Evolution Gaming uses high-quality cameras shooting footage in 200 frames per second. When playing Immersive Roulette, you can get the impression you’re in a brick-and-mortar casino and watching an action movie of the game at the same time.

Immersive Roulette uses multiple cameras to show you most of the wheel with the croupier and billboard of previous roulette outcomes clearly visible in the background.

Players can also view the roulette betting table layout in front of the wheel and also get an overview looking down onto the wheel so you can see all the numbers.

The numbered pocket the ball had landed in and about four pockets on each side are also easily visible. Players have the option of three viewing angles in high-quality slow-motion replay of the ball landing in the winning pocket.

You just can’t get this experience in a land-based casino. You may recall the last few seconds of how the ball came to land in a pocket, but you’ll never get to see closeup slow motion replays of the event. Immersive Roulette also displays the winner’s usernames and the amount each player received.

Despite the number of speedy transitioning viewpoints, the pace of the game is just right, and this translates into casino experience. There is ample time to place your bets and all normal roulette rules apply including the time allotted to place bets before the start of a new game.

There are three text alerts above the roulette betting layout that replace the dealer’s announcements. These include:

1. “Place your bets”
2. “Bets closing” (meaning to finish betting)
3. “Bets closed” (meaning no more bets)

After you have placed your bets the text alert will read “Bets accepted.”

Immersive Roulette Features

There are features you can use when playing Immersive Roulette you’re not able to find in land-based casinos or in online games. Some of those are:

• Choosing from standard tables and exclusive roulette games. The smallest bet size is £1 and the maximum is £10,000.
• Immersive Roulette has a structure for complex bet and wagering selections for advanced betting system players. This includes saving up to 15 betting selections, which is ideal when using different roulette strategies. 
• There’s a direct game launch. 
• You can select side-bet options. 
• Multi-game play is a useful feature.
• You’re able to control the sound effects.
• And you can change camera angles.  

Conclusion

Given the rules are the same as standard online live roulette games it’s a no-brainer to choose to play on Immersive Roulette because of all the extra features and the high-class atmosphere. 

Most other roulette games are boring because there are limited camera viewpoints. The dealers often talk too much about their lives and all sorts of topics from holidays to shopping to relationships. I can just hear players screaming at their screens: “Just get on with it ... spin the ball.”

If you switch games and choose to try Immersive Roulette, you leave behind dealers in other roulette games and encounter dealers who’ve been transformed into croupiers like Cinderella – and they dress like princesses too. But more importantly than their looks, they’re sophisticated and behave in a professional, dignified manner. They add to the tranquil, relaxing atmosphere Immersive roulette creates for you to enjoy.  

I like the atmosphere of brick and mortar casinos, moreover high-class ones, but playing roulette online is so much easier. You avoid the hassle of changing money at the tables and handling chips. You also avoid other players getting in your way when you’re trying to place bets. 

By playing Immersive Roulette, I feel like an important customer in the comfort of my own environment. All I need to do is launch a game, deposit funds, and place my bets.