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When it comes to roulette is black luckier than red?
So, do you think you have mastered the art of predicting the outcome of roulette games and slots? I hate to burst your bubble but these two casino favourites are based purely on random chance and luck.
Mathematically speaking
Devoted maths geniuses are guaranteed to be left scratching their heads over the 'logic' of the roulette wheel. The fact is there is no consistent pattern to roulette and certainly no magical formula to determine when the ball will land on red or a black.
It's like flipping a coin and guessing whether it will come down heads or tails. The chance of the coin coming down heads is 50 per cent, as is the probability of it coming down tails. On a roulette wheel with 38 spots (an American wheel), the odds of the ball landing on red or black are 49 per cent per spin as there are 36 numbers in total, including zero and double zero. On a roulette wheel with only a single zero (a European wheel), the odds are slightly better at 49.5 per cent for each spin.
The Gamblers' fallacy
Unlike other casino games like blackjack and poker, you can't control or improve your chances of winning by playing roulette with a specific game plan. If you've been wheel tracking and noticed that the ball has been landing on red slots for the last 12 spins it doesn't mean the ball is due to stop on a black next.
The wheel isn't 'obliged' to land on colours and numbers a set number of times in one day. Anything is possible with this guessing game; the ball might not even land on a certain colour for more than 20 spins!
Superstition
People from some countries believe certain numbers and colours are lucky. This could affect the way they bet as they avoid certain numbers in favour of others.
For example, number eight is preferred in Asian countries such as China, because when spoken out loud it sounds like the words for growth and prosperity. However, the Chinese often avoid the number four, as it sounds similar to their word for death.
In many countries, like Britain, the number 13 is associated with bad luck. There are a number of reasons for this including claims that at the Last Supper there were 13 people, the 12 disciples and Jesus himself.
Red is a lucky colour in China because the Chinese believe it helps to ward off misfortune and evil spirits. However, in Egypt red is associated with the evil and the unlucky god, Set.
Foul play
Some people believe that roulette croupiers often manipulate where the ball will land to cheat players of their chips. Professional dealers with years of experience under their belts may claim to have developed the ability to spin the ball and make it land in a predetermined place, although this is yet to be conclusively proven and in online games such manipulation is not possible anyway.
Others have claimed that roulette wheels may be tampered with by being heavier on one side than the other to work in favour of the casino. Again, this has yet to be proven as modern roulette wheels are constantly tested to ensure they are not biased.
Spin that wheel
The fact that roulette has a high house edge and low odds doesn't stop fans flocking to the table to try their luck. There is nothing quite as exhilarating and liberating as watching that wheel spin and having no idea where it will stop.
There is so much more to roulette than meets the eye. The game isn't just about choosing between black and red; you can place straight bets, spilt bets (two individual colours next to each other on the table layout), even or odd, corner bets (placing your chips on the corners of four numbers) and many more.
As long as players recognise that it's a game based on luck, this much loved casino favourite can provide hours of fun and entertainment. Remember that roulette is a game to be enjoyed and gamble responsibly.
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