Ukulele JJ

It's called a negative progression.

Also pretty close to the good ol' Martingale, which as been around for donkey's years.

It doesn't change the house edge of 5.26%, of course. No betting system can.

What postive progressions do do is increase the chances of you having a winning "run", at the expense of increasing the amount you lose when you have that bankroll-exhausting (or table-limit-hitting) streak. The two things balance out perfectly, such that there's really no long-term advantage.

JJ

I've been on exactly one cruise so far, and it was back in the '90s on the now non-existent Norway. :(

JJ

I do that by watching the number history board and betting accordingly. I am well aware that the wheel has no memory, but I have seen time and time again the same numbers come up numerous times over the course of the night and I take advantage of that.

When people say "the wheel has no memory", what they mean is that spins that happen in the past have no effect on any spin that comes later. In other words, the chances of any given number coming up are always 1-in-38. Numbers are not more or less likely to appear, based on a pattern of past appearances (or lack of appearances).

So if you say you're aware that the wheel has no memory, and at the same time you feel that the history of numbers on a roulette wheel is something that can be taken "advantage" of, then I'm afraid you're contradicting yourself. You can't have it both ways.

All that said, I do agree with you wholeheartedly that, no matter what you believe, the point of roulette (or any gambling game) is to have fun. If you can get a good night's entertainment out of $20 at the wheel, then you're way ahead of most folks.

You're also correct in your distrust of people who claim to know the "correct" way to play roulette. With only one exception, every single bet or combination of bets has the same house edge. It's not a game of skill, it's a game of luck. As such, there's no more a "best" way to play roulette than there is a "best" way to play Candyland. :D

JJ

OK, i'm playing the outside......1-12 13-24 and 25-36 these bets pay 2/1.

I place bets on 1-12 and 13-24. I now have 2/3 of the numbers covered

Actually, you'll have 12/19 of the numbers covered (assuming a double-zero wheel) which is slightly less than 2/3.

So 12 out of 19 times, on average, you'll win one unit. That accounts for an average win of 12 per 19 spins.

7 out of 19 times, you'll lose two units. That accounts for an average loss of 14 per 19 spins.

Put the two outcomes together, and you get a net loss of 2 units per 19 spins (12 - 14).

Since your total bet during those 19 spins is 38 units (2 units each time), you can see that the house will win an average of 2 out of every 38 units wagered when you use that method. In percentage terms, that's a house edge of 5.26%... same as nearly every other bet or combination of bets in roulette.

Which isn't to say you shouldn't play that way. If it's an enjoyable time at the tables, and if it's worth the expected loss, then go for it! That's what vacation is all about.

JJ