October 27, 2007

Gambling vs Women ? Some stats

The passion to gamblings which recently has turned in the general hobby quite often leading sad consequences for players. The desire to grow rich, not putting to it of any efforts, consumes millions young men worldwide. Having given in to temptation of an instant prize, they forget about all - and already neither alcohol, nor women, other pleasures are not capable to tear off them from a roulette, a slot machine or a tote.

The data received by the British sociologists as a result of some researches, show, that 90 % of young men in the United Kingdom on a regular basis conclude a bet or do rates. Some people do it for the sake of interest or to try happiness. However many so addict to gamblings that the money prefer to stake instead of to spend them for a sit-round gathering with friends or appointment to the girl. And every year every possible rates take more and more strong place in their budget. The most hazardous have appeared Scots: 48 % from them constantly put on the average 40 pounds sterling.

One of the main reasons of distribution of this "epidemic" is the Internet which opens before players the broadest opportunities to spend money and often it is good to earn. The computer replaces to many modern players a roulette and a card table. The statistics shows, that annually in the Network fans of gamblings spend 5 billion pounds sterling. Most of all money - 1,65 billion pounds - are spent for a lottery, 1 billion is made with football rates, 935 million pounds is received

It is necessary to note, that slot machines do not enjoy in world such big popularity, as in Russia. But there less people plays a casino where to remain without copeck and to lose for last shirt much easier. In the West already speak about a so-called phenomenon of " extreme risk " when in hope to break a big roll people meaningly stake everything, that have. The case with 33-years Eshly Revell from London is known, which, sell all property for 76840 pounds sterling and has gone to Las Vegas to put this money on red. To it has carried: it has left a casino with a double prize and continues to play. Revell names passion culture and approves, that today it " experiences sharp rise ".

"It is possible to explain explosion of interest to a bet the spirit of rivalry inherent in men, - Fil Hilton, the editor of magazine Nuts whom carried out similar research the Great Britain speaks. - recently gamblings as are accepted, as sports or a hobby, and that people win money, does them only more attractively. Times when rates were done by gawks, have sunk into the past. And though the desire to win often leads absolutely to a boomerang effect, players prefer to not think of it." In ours time this explanation for beginners, the pro of gamblings think on another :)

October 25, 2007

Infallible roulette systems ?

Every day we come across more and more sites that purport to share the biggest gambling secret of all: the infallible roulette system that guarantees you limitless winning opportunities at the roulette wheel. Not to mention the spam that falls in my inbox every week that follows a similar message.

So lets blow away some of these myths. The first question you need to ask yourself is this: if there really was a watertight method of beating the wheel, would the casinos still offer roulette? Of course not. The bottom line is that the casino has an advantage in roulette (between 2.6% and 5.2% depending on whether you play European Roulette or American Roulette).

What this means is that over the long term, and averaging out many players, the casino rakes in more that it pays out. Of course individuals win (much like they do at the lottery). The difference is that the casino always wins over the long term. Call it a tax that they charge for operating an entertainment service if you like.

Now if you see a system that asks you to pay up front for a guaranteed system, avoid it like the plague! Generally speaking (and not just in roulette), is something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

What we do like about roulette systems, is the fact that they are systems. By that we mean that they encourage you to play more methodically which is always a good thing. Playing roulette with your head is ALWAYS better than playing with your heart. Play rationally and not emotionally!

Some of the more famous systems are the Martingale, the D´Alemebert, The Labouchere (as used by James Bond- but remember it was in a movie!) and the Fibonacci Sequence.

So, in summary.

Roulette systems don´t change your odds at roulette.They can help you play methodically Always play with your thinking hat on rather than betting with your gut! Given the choice, play European Roulette over American Roulette. The odds are better.

As with all forms of casino entertainment, my advice is to treat it as such: entertainment. Set yourself a budget with which you are prepared to spend to enjoy yourself. Then if you happen to win, it´s an added bonus!

October 23, 2007

History of combinatorial math

Gambling games have always had their share of individuals who spend gobs of time finding ways to turn a chance game into one of skill. Though completely fair, often these practices are at odds with the interests of casinos.

Sometime in the 1960s a few savvy math geniuses and statisticians began applying combinatorial mathematics to decks of cards. They wanted to know how many times a deck would have to be shuffled to consistently create a random array of cards. The information they culled, of interest to gamblers, was the fact that a casino’s card decks were never shuffled to the point of randomness, not even close.

Out of these mathematical findings, various strategies were developed that led to the skills of card counting and shuffle tracking. Card counters are able to track the high and low cards during a game, both those that have already been dealt and those that have yet to be dealt. With that information, expert advantage players know almost exactly when and where high and low cards will occur and how to use this knowledge to their betting advantage. These skills take serious mental dexterity, combined with a keen attention to detail.

Tommy Hyland became an expert Blackjack player during the 1970s by using the methods of card counting and shuffle tracking combined with betting expertise. In the late 70s he assembled a group of expert Blackjack players so skilled in what were being termed “advantage skills” that they were summarily able to win millions over the next decade by applying their skills, in teams, to casino Blackjack games. Hyland’s team became so renowned that they are simply known as the Hyland Team.

Again in the 1990s, a group of math whizzes from MIT spent their off-study hours training themselves at expert advantage skills, like card counting and shuffle tracking. The millions they won en masse at American casinos have made them famous throughout the Blackjack world. Angry casinos spent great deals of time trying to evade them and restrict them. And in the meantime, mainstream media ate up the story.

The controversy over the practice of card counting and shuffle tracking is that casinos claim to offer games of chance, not games of skill. Games of skill can be won, they can be learned. The Hyland Team and the MIT Team learned skills that allowed them to consistently beat a game that the casinos intended to be unbeatable, at least with any regularity. And court cases have ensued over the issue.

October 18, 2007

Mathematical principles

One myth surrounding the world of gambling is that winning a game is based completely on luck. Most people may base their bets around this concept and hope that luck will remain on their side long enough for them to win.

But the mistake in this chain of thinking is that gambling is certainly not just about luck. In fact, simple mathematics can be applied to all gambling games and can clearly demonstrate that gambling is much more than a game of chance.

Applying Math
Simple mathematics does play a large part in all major casino games. These mathematical principles help to ensure that the gambler will always lose to the house in the long run. This is because the house has an advantage over each gambler who takes part in the game.
The house must have a slight advantage on each casino game in order to make money to keep the business operating. There would be no other way for the casino to afford to keep running without this edge.

House Percentage

Each and every casino game has what is called a house percentage. This means that theoretically for every $100 bet that a gambler places, he will lose whatever percentage the casino has as its house advantage. Having this advantage over players means the house can thrive on as little as less than a 1 percent advantage.
The casino does not need to have a huge house percentage in place in order to make money. Casinos can make large profits on 5 percent and even 3 percent house advantages. This is because once again, players will always lose to the house over a certain period of time.

Keno Example

A good example to study is the game of keno. In keno, a player has to guess which 20 numbers between one and 80 the house will pick during the game. Since the player has a one-in-four chance of winning, one would think that on a $1 winning bet, the payout would be $4. But most casinos only pay out about $3, which enables the casino to make a profit even on winning bets.

P.S. You also can check "History of combinatorial math development" and "Roulette systems"

October 17, 2007

How myths are born?

The most popular origin for most gambling myths, of course, comes from the games themselves. The most frequent myth-producing games are slots, poker, and blackjack. With these games, the myths typically consist of the benefits of betting strategies and systems.

These systems are usually hawked by the people who have created them, and who attempt to sell them to would-be players. But players should be aware that these systems are often part of the many gambling myths that exist.

The most frequently circulated myths surrounding casino games from blackjack to poker originate in the betting systems advertised by their creators. The creators of these systems claim that the systems can help the players to beat the house and to win consistently. But the truth of the matter is that there is no system that can guarantee – despite what its creators say — a consistent advantage over the house in the long run. Even the best designed betting systems will not offer a player a definitive advantage over the casino over a long period of time.

The reason behind this advantage can be determined through simple mathematics. These mathematical principles ensure that the house has a certain percentage of winning over the gambler. Although following certain systems may result in a couple of wins, it is mathematically impossible to overcome the house edge no matter what system a gambler uses. This is one myth that can be dispelled using simple common sense.

The one exception to this rule is card counting.Players can use card counting in blackjack to determine when the best time to hit or stand would be, but knowing how to accurately card count and place a bet takes hours of consistent playing and practice. Most people just do not have the time or skill to take advantage of this system.

The best way to determine a chance of winning is not by using a scheme, as myth has suggested, but by determining the odds of the game. By participating in a game with the greatest odds for the player, a gambler can up his changes of winning.

Introduction in gambling myths

In the world of gambling, there are several popular myths that continue to swirl and disseminate among more experienced gamblers and newcomers alike. These myths and rumors range from how to beat a particular game to the dark stories surrounding a certain gaming table. Yet they all have one thing in common -- they are usually not true. Most gambling myths can be dispelled with a few concrete facts.

There are myths and rumors surrounding every type of gambling game available. They range from what it takes to win the game -- for example that all gambling is based on luck – to betting systems, why people are compensated, and other interesting subjects.

There are also several fascinating and sometimes humorous stories that surround the world of gambling. These stories may be based on a few facts from a case or instance that happened years before. The facts then get distorted and the story grows into a myth or legend that is repeated in different ways each year.

One humorous story is based on a case that happened many years before it grew into legend. The legend now consists of a foreign businessman who travels to a casino in the United States each year with a briefcase full of $1 million. According to the current legend, the businessman places a bet at the craps table. Regardless of whether he wins or loses, the man returns to the same casino to place his bet each year. This is just one story that continues to grow and repeat itself with each new set of gamblers.

Myths may have a kernel of truth, or they may be based on complete speculation. However, it is up to the gambler to educate oneself on what is fact and what is fiction. Most of the myths can be dispelled with simple common sense, but sometimes a little research is needed to delve to the truth. While many of these myths can be entertaining, it is important not to take them too seriously. Doing so can cause more harm than good and can detract from the gaming experience.

In this blog I would like to share with you interesting strategy in game, funny stories and myths, my experience, so ALL what can be connected with "LUCK".