The idea is to bet on the game that has the least Vigorish attached to it. Look at Roulette.

Since there are 36 numbers on the lay out, plus 0 and 00, that means you have 37 ways to lose as opposed to the single chance that 15 will show. They pay you 35 to 1 on a number straight up. The true payoff would be 37 1.

The difference between what they should pay and what they do pay is called "vig." In this case it is 5.26% against you. This isn't rotten, but it is an uphill grind.

In Roulette every single bet   whether it is straight up, streets, columns, or quads   has a built in house vig of 5.26% with only one single solitary exception. The exception is the 5 number grouping of 0 00 1 2 3. You get 5 numbers and the payoff is 6 to 1. Here the vig is 7.38%.

Before some of you sharpies choke on your knowledge, let me ease the discomfort by telling you that there are bets that are lower than the 5.26% and they are the outside bets of Black, Red, High, Low, Odd or Even.

If you play on a wheel that has only a single zero, like many wheels in Europe, all of the bets have a house edge of only 2.63%.

In Atlantic City there is a house rule whereby the 0 and 00 apply to the inside bets thru 36, but that the rules change on the "outside" bets.

Let's say you bet $5 on "Even" and zero shows. You only lose half your bet or $2.50. This automatically cuts the vig down to 2.63% on all those "Outside" bets. The house still keeps 0 and 00 on the wheel and layout to apply against the "Inside" bets.

Naturally, it is in your best interest to find a table with one zero. Since most of these are in Europe, you'll miss quite a few suppers making the daily trip overseas.

Next move would be to find and play at the tables where the house takes only half your bet on the "Out¬side" plays, when the 0 or 00 shows.

You get an idea of what Vigorish is, but before you form an opinion on it, digest the message in the next chapter.

PART I

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