Is a Ferrari always going to be out of reach?

Everyone can dream! When we gamble, we play for fun and the thrill of winning some money, but in the back of our minds there’s always some element of the fantasy of really hitting it big – like buying a Ferrari big!

Of course that’s not really that realistic, but . . . . anything is possible . . . Hence the fun of gambling!

When you think of casino gambling, the type of game dictates the mentality you have towards winning. Some games like blackjack favor grinders who play the rules and look to make consistent games. Other games offer big payouts with big risk.

Roulette has a long history and as such there are lots of myths that have grown up around it. It’s even been said that the Magician of Monte Carlo – Francois Blanc – sold his soul to the devil in order to have good luck at roulette. How much truth there is in this, no-one can say, but it is true that if you add up the numbers on a roulette wheel you do get the grand total of 666! Another fact about roulette that non-French speakers might not be aware of is how accurately the name describes this game of chance – roulette means ‘little wheel’ in French. So maybe online roulette is a great option.

The question remains though, can that little wheel bring you a big win? Depending on which version of roulette you play, there’s a possible return of up to 38-1, making it one of the most rewarding casino games. But the simple answer is that you can’t count on casino games as a way to make money. However, if you have some spare cash available that you don’t mind risking, then you might want to give it a try. Bear in mind, though, that there are no guaranteed wins when it comes to playing casino games.

Different games, different odds

Roulette – a perennial favorite among casino games

It’s certainly true that table games offer the best odds when compared with other types of casino games, such as slots. In land-based casinos, some players might feel intimidated playing a table game, where they have to face a dealer and other players and so tend not to try them out. Online, however, it’s a different story. At a site such as 32red, Roxy Palace or Red Flush, you have a huge choice of table games such as roulette, blackjack and poker that you can play in the comfort of your own front room. There’s no sense of anyone watching you, questioning why you made one decision over another. That lack of pressure in itself will make you a more confident player, and along with luck, confidence is what you need when playing casino games like roulette.

• Roulette is one of the first table games that many people want to play. It’s an iconic casino classic and even for a beginner, it’s easy to play. At the simplest level, you bet on your favourite numbers, watch the dealer spin the wheel and hope one of your numbers comes up. The majority of casinos have a house edge of 2.7% for French or European roulette and 5.26% for American roulette (the wheels with a double zero).

• Blackjack offers players one of the best odds of winning in a casino game. The house edge varies from site to site. It can be 1% or as as low as 0.13% for some online casinos. As in roulette, you’re playing the dealer and not going up against professional gamblers who might know more than you (as often happens in poker games).

• Craps is a game that looks a little complicated at first glance due to the variety of bets that can be placed. However, a few practice rounds will allow you to see how the game works. On average, the house edge is 1.2%, but some casinos offer a lower house edge of about 0.60%. A good bet to start with in craps is the pass line bet – even beginners often make a small return with this bet. And as you gain experience, you can widen your betting repertoire, just as you can with a roulette game.

So, of these three games, blackjack offers the best payout odds , followed by craps and then roulette. But alongside the odds, you’ve got to weigh up what game you’re going to get the most enjoyment out of playing – you want to have some fun while you play. For many casino gamers, roulette can’t be beaten. And with the amazing gaming graphics there are now playing the online version can be just as thrilling as playing at a land-based casino roulette table. There’s a huge thrill as you place your bets and watch the ball clatter around the wheel, gradually coming to a halt on one of the pockets. Online roulette offers that huge sense of excitement and anticipation, every time you press spin.

The ultimate roulette gamble

One man who put all his eggs in one basket when it came to a roulette game managed to pull it off. Ashley Revell, from the UK, sold everything he owned, including all his clothes and put a $135,300 bet on red at a roulette wheel in the Plaza Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas. There was no betting strategy to his gamble – he simply chose red over black and went for it. Luckily for Revell, the bet paid off and the ball landed on 7 red, allowing him to walk away from the table with $270,000. He gave the other $600 to the dealer as a tip. But did it change his life? In an interview a couple of years ago, Revell said the win was an amazing experience, but that he’d settled down into normal life again fairly soon afterwards.

Over to you

It’s fair to say that people do have some amazing casino wins – we hear about them in the media often enough. But it’s not realistic to assume it will happen to you, even though it could happen to any one of us on any particular game. The safest option is to have a go at roulette and other casino games to see if you are one of the lucky ones, but only ever with money you can afford to lose. Maybe you’ll get on a roll and be able to afford some of those luxuries that you desire. At the same time, keep that day job going, making the best impression in order to keep moving onwards and upwards the old-fashioned way!