In the early frontier gambling saloons, the house would set the odds on roulette tables at 27 for 1. This meant that on a $1 bet you would get $27 and the house would keep your initial dollar. Today most casino odds are set by law, and they have to be either 34 to 1 or 35 to 1. This is roughly a third of all possible outcomes, a little less because of the zero and double zero slots. You can bet on the first, second, or third dozens of numbers (1-12, 13-24, 25-36), or on the first, second, or third column. The winning odds for those bets is 32.43% in European Roulette.
What are the roulette odds of the ball landing in the same colour ten times in a row? What about landing on the same number twice? Let´s take a look, and then we´ll explain how this relates to the Gambler´s Fallacy, or the Monte Carlo Fallacy- the belief that the odds of a black number coming in increase, the more times you see red.
Well, the probability is easy to work out. Se below for details.
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Let´s look at a European Roulette wheel. Over a single spin, the odds of a red number coming up are 18/37, or 1 in 2.06. Over 2 spins, the odds of 2 reds coming in are 1 in 2.06x2.06, or 4.24.
The odds of seeing 10 reds in succession are 1 in (2.06)10 = 1 in 1376.
Pretty low odds that you´ll ever see this, in other words. But that doesn´t mean it isn´t going to happen. In fact, the longest number of reds in a row was recorded in an American Casino in 1943 when 32 came up in a row. Now imagine that you were betting the Martingale that day! The odds of seeing that are 1 in 11 million, or thereabouts by the way.
Another huge streak (this time on black) was seen by the players at the Casino in Monte Carlo who saw 26 blacks in a row on the table on 18 August 1913. The odds of this happening? A mere 1 in 145,000.
And this gave name to the Monte Carlo Fallacy, otherwise known as the Gambler´s Fallacy, as the longer the streak went on, more and more people started piling their chips on to red. And they lost a lot of money.
So what happened?
Gambler´s Fallacy
The important thing to understand and to get your head around, is that these are odds over multiple spins. And here´s the thing. In roulette, you can´t bet on what is going to happen over 10 spins, you can only bet on the next spin. And thus the odds are always the same - 18/37, whether the red came in 10 times previously or not. The wheel has no memory from spin to spin. It is not a living thing.
When you are betting on one spin, the odds are for one spin, and for one spin only.
One things for sure about the Gambler´s Falllacy- the casinos love it! Don´t get sucked in, keep your thinking hat on.
One thing's for sure- there are plenty of people who have worked out that the odds are with the casino on roulette, and have opted to scam the casinos instead, like the roulette scam in Ohio. Just be warned- that's illegal. They got busted.
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Roulette offers a bewildering number of betting options, but the bets are actually straightforward enough. In order to make sure you get the correct payout, you’ll want to make sure that you put your chips in exactly the right place on the table. Missing a payout because your chip isn’t in the right spot is a drag.
Roulette payouts work like this. The odds are stated in the form of x to 1, which means you’ll win x dollars for every dollar you’ve bet. For example, the single number bet offers a payout of 35 to 1. If you win, you’ll get your dollar back plus the $35 for the win.
Payouts on the Outside Bets
On the edge of the table are a series of bets which are “outside” the 38 numbers on the table. Each of these bets refers to a specific set of numbers or colors. If the ball lands on 0 or 00, you’ll lose on any of the outside bets.
The outside bets include:
Red or Black – This bet pays out even odds (1 to 1) if the ball lands on the color you chose.
Odd or Even – This bet pays out even odds (1 to 1) if the ball lands on odd or even, depending on which you chose.
Low or High – This bet pays out even money (1 to 1) if the ball lands on 1-18 if you bet low, or if the ball lands on 19-36 if you bet high.
Columns – The numbers on the layout are organized into three columns of twelve numbers each. A “columns” bet wins if the ball lands on one of the numbers in the column you chose. This bet pays out 2 to 1 when you win.
Dozens – There are 36 numbers on the table, so you can bet on the first dozen (1-12), the second dozen (13-24), or the third dozen (25-36). This bet also pays out 2 to 1.
Payouts on the Inside Bets
You can also bet on specific numbers and sets of numbers on the inside of the layout. These bets win less often, but they pay out more when you do win. The house edge on the inside bets is the same as the house edge on the outside bets.
Roulette Odds Chart
The inside bets include:
Straight-up – This is a bet on a single number. It pays off at 35 to 1.
Split bet – This is a bet on any two adjacent numbers. You place the chip on the line between the two numbers in order to make this wager. This bet pays out at 17 to 1.
Street bet – This bet covers three numbers. You place your bet on the line outside of the three numbers in the row where you want to win. This bet pays out at 11 to 1.
Corner bet – Some people call this a square bet or a quarter bet. It’s a bet on a corner that makes a square, and it’s a bet on four numbers. A win on this type of bet pays out at 8 to 1.
Five-number bet – You can only make one five-number bet, and it’s the only inside bet that offers different odds from all the others. The problem is that it has a higher house edge, making it the worst bet on the table. This bet is on the numbers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3, and you place the chip on the outside corner line between the 1 and the 0. This bet pays out 6 to 1, but only masochists place this bet.
Six-number bet – Some people call this a line bet. It covers two adjoining rows of numbers. It pays out at 5 to 1.
How Roulette Payouts Give the Casino an Edge
These payouts all have one thing in common—they pay out less than the true odds of hitting a win. That’s why the casino enjoys a house edge of 5.26% on roulette. Your odds of winning are always less than the payout amounts.
For example, the odds of winning a straight-up bet are 37 to 1. There are 37 numbers on the wheel that lose, and 1 bet on the wheel that will win. But the bet only pays out 35 to 1, not 37 to 1, so the house wins more often than it loses.
A split bet offers you odds of winning of 18 to 1, but it pays off at 17 to 1.
I could list all of them, but you get the idea by now. The casino has an unassailable mathematical advantage on every bet. No betting system or strategy can overcome this advantage.
What Are My Odds On Roulette
Of course, in the short run, anything can (and often will) happen. This is called “standard deviation”, and it explains why some people walk away from the roulette table as winners. The mathematically true results only come around the closer you get to an infinite number of spins.
What Are The Odds On Winning Roulette
So the best way to approach roulette is as a lark. It’s a fun game. You can relax and socialize while you play. But don’t expect to win, because the odds are against you. And if you do win, walk away and smile, because you beat the odds.