[mbcobretti]

Hi all,

This is my first post here so a quick "hello".

I've been having a number of arguments with my girlfriend recently regarding the nature of where the ball falls in casino roulette.

Her opinion: There is a program that determines where the ball falls. She can't say the nature by which the ball/wheel combination is physically controlled but she has stated that an experienced dealer can influence where the ball ends up. She says that a good strategy to predict the numbers will ultimately give a good player the edge. Apparently it's not the same as throwing a 37/38-sided dice in that past results can influence future results (according to her).

My opinion: There are no pre-determined numbers, either in the heads of the casino bosses or the dealer. The way the ball and wheel interact is so chaotic that even miniscule differences in initial speed/position of the ball/wheel can result in completey different results. I agree that devices exist that could improve a players odds by analysing ball/wheel speed to guess roughly where the ball will end up. And yes, a poorly-maintained wheel may give slightly skewed results or, in rare cases, muscle memory might mean a seasoned dealer throws the ball at nearly exactly the same speed every time, but it's unintentional and non-deterministic.

So, who's right? Interested in opinions from experienced gamblers and/or specifically roulette players (I'm a poker player myself so have little experience of roulette).

Thanks in advance