For instance, the process of detecting and then exploiting biased wheels has been something that roulette pioneers have been exploring for well over a hundred years. Modern roulette wheel manufacturers have tried very hard to produce totally random wheels but even these very high quality pieces of equipment are often left un-serviced for long periods of time.

I spent a good few years in the gaming industry in England until I finally left in 1998 so I am aware of just how lethargic casinos can be when it comes to properly maintaining their roulette wheels. Biases can start at any time for a multitude of reasons, the most common of which is normal wear and tear. Biases can be spotted if one pays careful attention but often the biases can be subtle and difficult to spot if you are not actually looking for them.

But then even if you are, unless you have access to mathematical models that detect bias then noticing that a certain number is arriving at say once every 34 spins instead of the usual once in every 37 spins will be difficult to spot. Detecting true bias from imaginary patterns is a problem that can be overcome simply by using certain mathematical solutions.

But even if you detect a biased wheel then exploiting this bias is another matter. This will obviously mean betting substantial amounts of money. Once you start to do that then this will obviously arouse the attention of the casino who will then probably look more closely at that wheel and especially if it is losing money. Irrespective of just how you go about trying to make money from gambling, you always have to look at what you earn rate is or try to ascertain what it is likely to be.

Detecting biased wheels is a long drawn out and incredibly boring process. This obviously takes time…..a lot of time. This is all time where you are not earning money. So unless you detect a biased wheel very quickly and are left to use that wheel for a substantial period of time then even if you are successful in locating one, your total win when divided by the number or hours that it took you to get that money could and probably would leave you with a very low hourly rate of pay.

In most cases you would be better off putting those hours into getting proficient at another form of gambling like online poker for instance where you are far more likely to encounter losing players who will provide you with an earn rate. Casinos can and will change wheels if they suspect that something is amiss so your career as a roulette biased wheel player would be a very short one indeed.
However there are ways to beat roulette and there always have been and probably always will be. But as usual, just don’t expect to get rich from this source of gambling and don even think about packing in the day job.

This article was written by Carl “The Dean” Sampson