Roulette on Double-Zero Wheel

CINDY: I think we should take a close look at roulette right now as a new roulette game has been introduced and maybe we can help some roulette players work their way through this new version of the game. Also, maybe the old versions too.

ABBY: You mean the new triple-zero games don’t you?

CINDY: Yes.

ABBY: Roulette has been a favorite game in the casinos or saloons / salons. Even though the American game…

CINDY: The double-zero (0, 00) game that has a house edge of 5.26 percent. That’s a big house edge.

ABBY: Which is a big house edge but on the other hand, the game of roulette can be somewhat leisurely especially if the table is full of players.

CINDY: It is important to note that how many decisions a player faces, say in an hour, is a key ingredient in how the house edge can hurt players. Many decisions is bad for the player; fewer decisions are better for the player.

ABBY: Correct. If you are playing roulette and it is just you against the dealer, you will be playing many decisions. This is not at all good for the player. But if you are at a full table, each player will drain the time somewhat from how many actual decisions you face.

CINDY: Take a look at the American double-zero game. With a house edge of 5.26 percent, if you face 80 decisions an hour you can expect to lose 5.26 percent of all the money you wagered. So, a $50 player will expect to lose a little over $210 in an hour. But if he or she only faces 40 decisions then the result will be only half that. Number of decisions in a game is a key variable. That will be important to consider as we get along in these articles.

ABBY: Now, I think we have to take a close look at how the casinos get their edges at the game. The roulette game called the American game has 36 numbers 1-36 and the 0 and 00. That makes 38 pockets in the wheel for the ball to fall into. One pocket will capture the ball and that will be the winning number. The pockets are balanced between red and black with the zeroes usually green in color. If a player picks one number to bet on then he or she has a one in 38 chance of a winning hit.

CINDY: The casinos do not change the one in 38 chance for the player to win but – and here is a big BUT – to make money the casino has to shorten the amount it pays a winning hit. A true payoff of a winning number should be 37-to-one. If the casino paid that the game would be a tie and the casino would not win any money. If the casino can’t win money at its games then that casino will close its doors.

ABBY: The casino shortens the payout to 35-to-one. It keeps two units of the player’s winning bet for itself. That creates the 5.26 percent edge. Just divide 38 into 2 and you get 5.26 percent.

CINDY: So, shortchanging the player on his or her wins is the how the casino makes money. Obviously, the players who lose will lose their entire bet.

ABBY: Next issue we’ll take a look at the bets a player can make.

This article is provided by the Frank Scoblete Network. Melissa A. Kaplan is the network's managing editor. If you would like to use this article on your website, please contact Casino City Press, the exclusive web syndication outlet for the Frank Scoblete Network. To contact Frank, please e-mail him at fscobe@optonline.net.