The New Math of Gambling

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The New Math of Gambling

The article "The New Math of Gambling" in Discover Magazine May 2000 was an article that shows the use of software, math and a few hours of time to beat the house when gambling. These life stories and achievements the individuals have are truly remarkable and real.

The article begins with Anthony Curtis who is a blackjack conqueror. He is a regular gambler at the Binion's Horseshoe tables in Las Vegas. He was once a rugby player turned publishing guru of the Huntington Press. He states right off that the dealers are crabby and tough in Vegas but this doesn't stop his science towards blackjack and his flirting with a cute dealer. He won the Match-Play Blackjack Championship in 1987 by card counting and having the ability to track many events going on at once.

"When an ace came up, he put his heel down…second ace, foot to the left…third ace, up on his toe and forth ace, foot to the right." Anthony then counted 2's and 8's as +1, 3's 4's 6's and 7's as +2, 5's +3, 9's --1, and 10's and face cards as --3. Whenever his count went positive he boosted his average bets and winnings.

Curtis found his gambling spirit after reading "How to win at Blackjack" and has read many other mathematical scientific techniques on winning in Vegas. The Baldwin Group, four army mathematicians, taught how to win and play each hand efficiently. This made blackjack the most profitable game in gambling. Other novels and even giving up a wrestling scholarship has led Curtis to win 101.1% return during his off hours.

Over the long haul of a normal gambling night, the house will win anywhere from 1 to 60 percent return on gambler's money. Americans lost $55 billion in 1998, and extreme losses have increased in recent years. Gambling is legal in all states but Hawaii, Utah and Tennessee.

The second success story comes from a video poker player named Jean Scott. Jean is the queen of Video Poker having been a blackjack counter for many years. An average hour for Scott is to play 600 hands and cycles going through $3000 like candy.

Scott is a minister's daughter who is "taking the money to God away from those evil casinos." She plays at the Orleans, a casino that attracts locals who prefer advantageous games.

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