229 pages
List Price: $13.95
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Get the Edge at Roulette: How to Predict Where the Ball Will Land!
by Christopher Pawlicki, Frank Scoblete
Customer Reviews
Well researched book with honest advice, March 10, 2002
Reviewer: Wolfram Arnold (San Mateo, CA United States)
Pawlicki's style stands out for its scientific approach and honesty. Yet it is entertaining thanks to anecdotes and historical primers sprinkled throughout the text.
He is faithful to the scientific principle of theory and verification. He delves in a fair bit of statistics to develop expectation values for winnings and confidence levels for a given strategy. With all theory, his text is not a theoretical one, he gives very practical advice. He's not trying to play psychological games with the reader, but is honest in explaining the skill level required for the various strategies he presents. As any well researched, scientific text, he cites relevant literature and gives references.
The author understands the kinematics of the game of roulette, although readers with a college-level background of mechanics may notice the author's imprecise use of terminology. That does not deter from the author's argument though.
The book starts off with a review of the historical origins of roulette and goes quickly into the wheel layout and betting baize. He teaches how to find your way around the wheel and how to cover sectors with a minimum number of chips, "sector slicing." He picks up this topic again later in connection with dealer signatures and presents an easy-to-learn but powerful way to cover quickly every quadrant of the wheel.
His discussion on "mathematical" playing systems and why they fail is elucidating yet not really novel as the fact that the house enjoys a negative edge when the player bets on random outcomes is common knowledge.
The guts of Pawlicki's book center on "physical" aspects of the game--a variety of factors that can produce non-random outcomes or give a predictive edge to the player. The power of its message lies not in any single technique but in a toolbox of strategies that each can apply to different conditions, such as wheel watching, biased wheel play, or dealer signatures. He carefully gauges each technique by the skill level required to apply it, by the edge it provides to the player and by the assumptions underlying it. A little bit of player and casino psychology will come handy in the heat of the battle.
This book has something for everyone: the aspiring professional player, the occasional system player or the recreational player.
My first reading on roulette was a chapter in Jerry Patterson's "Casino Gambling." While interesting and a useful overview of strategies in various casino games, Patterson frequently baits the reader with information that is consistent but incomplete and then refers to his (probably expensive) gambling classes. In this, Patterson's book remains ultimately dissatisfying. If your interest is in roulette, buy Pawlicki's book. You get much more information and without the rhetoric.
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237 pages
List Price: $12.95
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The Casino Answer Book
by John Grochowski
Customer Reviews
Informative AND easy to read, September 21, 1998
Reviewer: A reader
This is an amazing book. It's so entertaining and easy to read you don't even realize how much you're learning. The author asks questions I'd never even thought of, then he answers them so clearly and logically that I had no trouble absorbing the information. I've read a lot of blackjack books and was never really clear on the whys behind some of the recommendations. With this book, now I know what all the others were talking about.
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336 pages
List Price: $24.95
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American Roulette: How I Turned the Odds Upside Down---My Wild Twenty-Five-Year Ride Ripping Off the World's Casinos
by Richard Marcus
Customer Reviews
Entertaining autobiography of a casino cheater, January 18, 2005
Reviewer: James J. Lippard "skeptic" (Phoenix, AZ USA)
This book tells the author's story of how he lost everything he had gambling, took a crappy job as shill--promoted to baccarat dealer--at the Four Queens in Las Vegas, and then had the opportunity to join a group of gambling cheaters and thieves. The cheating moves described in the book are mostly "pastposting"--placing high bets after the outcome is known by swapping in a new stack of chips for the ones previously bet. The trick is that high-value chips are concealed underneath low-value chips, and the cheater often has to issue a "claim" by pointing out to the dealer that he's been underpaid for the bet. The book begins and ends with a move he calls the "Savannah" which is an opposite maneuver--a high bet is placed, with the high-value chips concealed by lower-value chips, and if the bet loses, the high-value chips are pulled off. With that move, the winning bets are legitimate and surveillance tapes show that the high-value chips were there all along.
The group also would occasionally make money with other scams, like "railing"--stealing directly out of the chip racks of their fellow players. They also narrowly avoid getting involved in a card-marking scheme, violating their own rules of not using any specialized equipment that could be incriminating.
The book is most interesting for the characters involved and how they dealt with "steam" from the casinos when they caught on to what was happening.
The author appears to have no guilt or remorse for his actions on the grounds that casinos are regularly "stealing" from people every day (though that certainly doesn't justify the thefts directly from other gamblers, and ignores that gamblers are willing participants who know the odds are stacked against them).
I read _Bringing Down the House_ about the MIT Blackjack Team about a year and a half ago, and the comparison between the teams is interesting--the MIT team's methodology was far more sophisticated (and wasn't technically cheating), but both had to use similar psychological techniques.
It's surprising that the casinos didn't come up with better countermeasures quickly (a rule that there are no payouts for high-value chips not announced in advance, for example), but I find Marcus' overall tale quite plausible, in part because of the factors he points out in the last few pages of the book--"practically all casino jobs are monotonous" (p. 369). The boredom results in lack of attention and the jobs' high turnover results in inexperienced people up against very experienced cheaters.
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272 pages
List Price: $12.95
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Casino Gambling : A Winner's Guide to Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Baccarat, and Casino Poker
by Jerry Patterson, Eric Nielsen, "Sharpshooter", Christopher Pawlicki, Sharpshooter
Customer Reviews
An excellent handbook, February 1, 2004
Reviewer: "cperry2" (Brisbane, Australia)
I found this a delightful book. It's very easy to read, covers all the major games, and contains lots of practical, useful advice.
And at less than $20, it's excellent value for money.
My only criticism (a very minor one) is that the Roulette section focuses mainly the "double-zero" wheel, used in the USA. The "single zero" wheel used in Europe and in Australia, doesn't get much coverage.
However, this is a minor issue. Overall I found this an excellent book, containing a wealth of useful advice.
Honestly Good advice, July 9, 2003
Reviewer: Keith M. Allen (Vincent, Ohio United States)
This book gives good advice. For most table games I find it nearly impossible to get the odds in my favor. However, this book gives you some hints for doing just that. I especially thought that the Roulette theory was good. Give this a try if you are new to gambling like I am.
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90 pages
List Price: $39.95
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Roulette Secrets Revealed
by John C. Steele
Customer Reviews
You can win with this system but you have to modify it, August 11, 2002
Reviewer: A reader
IF LUCK IS ON YOUR SIDE you can win using this system (in my case, making $10 starter bets, up to about $400/hr.
(up to $200 making the minimum required $5 bet). However, he doesn't talk about the the fact that if you stay blindly committed to betting the same dozen (which he recommends) even if it hasn't hit for as many as 15 spins, you'll lose your shirt because it's a progressive betting system. If he were to adapt the system a bit, for example, changing your bet and betting the remaining 2 dozens after yours hasn't showed in, let's say, 5 or 6 spins, you'd go a long way to cutting your potential losses. This system CAN'T be played the way he recommends it because of 1) table bet limits and 2) limits to the size of your bankroll. However, if you adapt it a bit and luck is running your way, you CAN win. What you should do is chart the table and pick a table that is not trending toward any particular dozen, but instead, frequently switching between the 3 different dozens. In that instance, you'll do well with this system.
This is by Far the Best Dam System for Winning at Roulette !, November 21, 2001
Reviewer: Wij Siva (Toronto, Canada)
I've been playing roulette for the past 4 years and I have tried numerous systems (7 in total, 4 of the roulette systems I've tried are from other books I bought from Amazon.com) that give you an advantage but nothing compares to the consistent winnings I've had with John C. Steele's Roulette system. This system really WORKS !!!!! If you have tried other systems and have been disappointed like me, I can pretty much bet your search is over. I love his straight, no nonsense approach to winning at roulette, the book guides thru his easy to learn system, his basic system alone his worth the price of the book, his advance system is bonus money maker.
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208 pages
List Price: $16.95
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Secrets Of Winning Roulette
by Marten Jensen
Customer Reviews
Secrets of Winning Roulette, August 24, 2001
Reviewer: A reader
I give the book 4 stars because even though it was good reading it did'nt exactly reveal any real exciting secrets.Overall it could be used by the novice gambler to learn roulette and the best & safest ways to bet. It also gives some history on the roulette wheel and the different types used in the U.S. & abroad.
An excellent addition and referance, August 11, 2001
Reviewer: A reader
The book covers the game from all aspects and is easy to follow. It covers the game basics, and basic betting systems, and from there goes into some spin offs and playabe variations of those betting systems. It also covers other topics like biased wheels, numerical concepts that are important to playing the game, and technichal information about wheel construction and cheating (It does not teach you how to cheat). I consider the book an excellent referance for all Roulette players, and and a great addition to any library.
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229 pages
List Price: $14.95
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Spin Roulette Gold
by Frank Scoblete
Customer Reviews
Best Book on Roulette, December 26, 2003
Reviewer: A reader
I've read eight books so far on roulette and this is the best. Scoblete clearly lays out all you need to know about the game, including why systems that have been touted for years just don't work. He demonstrates clearly how to get the edge using certain techniques and how to reduce your exposure to the edge using other techniques. The writing style is very good.
If It's Random You Can't Win, But If It Isn't You Can, March 3, 2002
Reviewer: A reader
The reviewer from Malaysia didn't understand a fundamental princple of roulette. If the wheel is random there are NO WINNING SYSTEMS. Scoblete explains that in the book and takes a look at all the most popular betting systems that have been developed to beat the game. None work in the long run on random wheels as he shows clearly. However, this book does have winning strategies in it; and it does show how to maximize comps as well. You just have to realize that no reputable author is going to sell pie-in-the-sky winning systems for a random wheel. But Scoblete does the next best thing. He shows you techniques for discovering biases, dealer signatures, big numbers, sector shooters and the like. This is a really well written book and it has thousands of actual-roulette spins recorded so you can play your system without actually risking money. This is a great book.
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260 pages
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Gamble to Win: Roulette
by R. D. Ellison
Customer Reviews
The Ultimate Book on Trading, January 17, 2004
Reviewer: A reader
I know this book was written for gambling, specifically the game of Roulette. However, the methodology, discipline and logic that Mr. Ellison uses is equally applicable to trading, and more importantly, his techniques are what being a good trader is all about.
Whether you gamble at the Casino or in the Financial Markets, it's all the same. Good luck to you, and read this book before you put your money down. The principles and theories are being given away for a pittance!
Not bad, but you're still a guinea pig, January 9, 2004
Reviewer: A reader
I was hoping to get something out of this book. The man has interesting concepts but I do not want to be an experimenter and I want to have a real winner in my hand. His 3Q/a is not bad, but I lost $600 with it on the long run in an online casino. There is only one game that I play and it is playing outside the table. Let me tell you, just as yourself, I bought many books on gambling, my collection on gambling is over $300 worth) and right now I can tell you that I have only one real winner in my hand and I bought it over the net for $29.95. You can Paypal (www.paypal.com) [email protected] for $29.95 and you will promptly receive the winning strategy by email. Not a long story on what you could do, and how this also could be an interesting game to play: NO it is only one system that is easy to play and the only one you need to know. Try it!
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116 pages
List Price: $13.95
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Roulette Fortune Bookie
by Serena Lee Ng
Customer Reviews
An interesting insight to the roulette game, April 6, 2004
Reviewer: Keith Cooke (Charlotte, North Carolina USA)
Serena Lee Ng has put some very interesting research into her book, the Roulette Fortune Bookie. I have begun testing it against a variety of different databases and casinos. The system that she presents, the 14-number approach in particular, is amazing. I have found, that like most roulette systems, you should only plan to play in the short-term at best, as the house edge in roulette will grind you down over an extended playing session. The recommendations that Serena present are right on the money.
Although each spin of the roulette wheel will yield mutually independent results, patterns do form in the game. Serena's analysis allows you to prey on these patterns and get the maximum profit from the game, or in the worst case scenario, allows your bankroll to last much longer than it would have if you were playing "on the fly".
The book provides real insight, and great advice, and that, coupled with her website and excellent customer service make this book a MUST HAVE.
Good luck, although you may not need luck with the information provided in Roulette Fortune Bookie!
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257 pages
List Price: $16.95
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John Patrick's Roulette: A Pro's Guide to Managing Your Money and Beating the Wheel
by John Patrick
Customer Reviews
A Common Sense Way to Play, February 1, 2000
Reviewer: Nicholas W. Dedi (Philadelphia, PA)
Patrick's book has helped me in a major way to quit throwing money around the layout, and play in a controlled manner that's still fun -- because I've won 7 of 9 casino visits since! I don't break the bank -- but I don't lose my usual $300-$400 anymore either. This book is far superior to Scoblete's, offering actual inside numbers to play in order to spread numbers around the wheel, excellent suggestions on outside bets, pros and cons of betting systems, regression bets, money management, discipline -- highly recommended for those who see that Scoblete's riff -- "biased" wheels -- is something only those looking for a ridiculous "angle" will believe.
Become a winner if you want to, May 16, 1999
Reviewer: A reader
Roulette, contrary to popular belief, is a game that offers various opportunities to win despite the house edge of (ugh) at least 5%. There are two reasons for this. One, the number of options for betting open to the customer offer great hedge opportunities and two, it is a streaky game. Furthermore, if you can find a wheel with just one zero (and there are some in both Reno and Vegas), you cut that house edge in half on the outside bets. Learn to beat this game with the Regression system in conjunction with hedges or with the Action-Number system, a system that spreads your money around the entire wheel, giving you the best chance to win. This knowledge alone is great, but it is Patrick's philosophy that is the real meat and potatoes of being competitive. There is simply the most logical approach to beating this game written in this book. There are critcisms that this book is redundant in terms of the philosophy that Mr. Patrick teaches. I have a reply to these silly criticisms. Winning isn't complicated,
it's just real hard to do. Get this book and open up another opportunity for yourself to be a winner during your next trip to the casinos.
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