Imagine deciding on a high-stakes bet on an empty stomach. Surprisingly, the outcome might not just hinge on luck or strategy but also on the state of your gut. The brain’s role in gambling addiction has been well studied, but recent studies suggest a fascinating link between our gut health—specifically, the hormones and bacteria within—and our gambling behaviours.

One hormone, ghrelin, known for signalling hunger, may also fuel our risk-taking impulses, potentially leading us to gamble more persistently. Meanwhile, the balance of our gut microbiome, influenced by probiotics, might sway our decision-making towards caution. This post delves into the emerging science behind the gut-brain-gambling connection, exploring how what’s in our gut could impact what’s in our wallet.

The Hunger Game: Ghrelin and Gambling

The intricate relationship between our physiological states and gambling behaviour is compellingly illustrated in the study conducted by Sztainert et al. (2018). This research delves into how ghrelin, a hormone that signals hunger, influences gambling decisions, particularly under conditions of loss. By examining individuals in a fasting state, which naturally elevates ghrelin levels, the study sheds light on the biological factors that may exacerbate gambling persistence.

Key findings from the study reveal that fasting not only increases ghrelin levels but also significantly impacts an individual’s propensity to continue gambling despite facing continuous losses. This correlation between elevated ghrelin levels and increased gambling persistence suggests a biological basis for risk-taking behaviour, with hunger signals potentially driving individuals toward making more daring decisions in gambling scenarios.

The study’s methodology involved exposing participants to gambling cues and measuring their ghrelin levels before and after the exposure. The results indicated a clear increase in ghrelin following gambling cues, especially among those who had fasted. Importantly, these elevated ghrelin levels were directly associated with a greater tendency to persist in gambling, underscoring the hormone’s role as a critical predictor of gambling behaviour in adverse conditions.

Through this research, Sztainert et al. (2018) contribute significantly to our understanding of the physiological influences on gambling behaviour. The findings highlight the complex interplay between biological signals like hunger and decision-making processes in gambling, suggesting that factors such as the timing of meals could influence gambling behaviours. This insight opens new avenues for exploring interventions and strategies to mitigate problematic gambling, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach that considers both psychological and physiological aspects.

By presenting these findings, the study not only advances our knowledge of the biological underpinnings of gambling addiction but also prompts a re-evaluation of how we approach gambling behaviour interventions, recognizing the role of basic physiological states in influencing complex behaviours.

Probiotics and Decision-Making: Unveiling the Gut’s Influence on Gambling

The 2022 study by Aline M. Dantas et al. offers compelling evidence on how our gut microbiota, particularly through the administration of probiotics, can influence decision-making processes. This research underscores a significant link between probiotics and a decrease in risk-taking behaviour, alongside an enhanced capacity for future-oriented thinking. Such findings highlight the gut’s profound role in affecting cognitive functions that are crucial in gambling scenarios.

By focusing on the behavioural changes observed in participants consuming probiotics, the study sheds light on the intricate ways our gut health can sway our psychological tendencies. Instead of suggesting probiotics as a direct treatment for gambling disorders, the research points to a broader implication: our decision-making, especially in contexts involving risk and reward, like gambling, can be influenced by the state of our gut microbiota.

This connection aligns with previous findings on ghrelin’s role in gambling behaviour, further reinforcing the concept that both our dietary habits and the health of our gut microbiome can impact our cognitive biases and decision-making patterns. The study by Dantas et al. provides additional evidence that the gut-brain axis plays a crucial role in the complex interplay between physiological states and psychological behaviours.

In essence, the research enriches the ongoing discussion about the potential links between gut health and gambling, emphasizing the importance of considering the influence of our internal biological environment on behaviours traditionally viewed through a psychological lens. This perspective invites a more integrated approach to understanding the factors that drive gambling tendencies, suggesting that the pathway to influencing such behaviours may also lie within our gut.

A Gut Feeling: The Broad Impact of Gut Health

The comprehensive meta-analysis by Duvallet et al. offers a pivotal insight into the gut microbiome’s role in human health, underscoring its influence across a spectrum of diseases. Analysing data from 28 case-control studies covering ten diseases, the study reveals how gut microbiome dysbiosis is intricately linked with both specific and general health outcomes. This finding significantly broadens our understanding of gut health’s impact, illustrating that microbial imbalances can be associated with a wide array of conditions, from metabolic disorders and inflammatory diseases to neurological conditions.

This broader perspective on the gut microbiome’s systemic influence complements and deepens the discussion initiated by earlier sections of our article. The connection between specific hormones like ghrelin, as explored by Sztainert et al., and the behavioural impacts of probiotics, as discussed by Dantas et al., are contextualized within a larger framework of gut health. Duvallet et al.’s work underscores the microbiome’s potential role in influencing not just physical health but also complex behaviours and decision-making processes, offering a comprehensive view of how internal biological environments might influence our actions and choices.

In light of these findings, the gut microbiome emerges as a central player in the intricate web of factors that govern our health and behaviour. The meta-analysis not only reinforces the connection between gut health and various diseases but also suggests the microbiome’s significant, albeit complex, role in behavioural phenomena. This deepens our appreciation of the gut-brain axis and its implications for understanding human behaviour, setting the stage for further exploration of how this relationship might be leveraged to enhance both physical and psychological well-being.

The research presented thus far illuminates a complex relationship between gut health and gambling behaviours, highlighting how hormones like ghrelin and the balance of our gut microbiome could influence our decision-making processes. This understanding opens up innovative avenues for promoting safer gambling habits through a holistic lens.

Making Safer Bets: Gut Health and Safer Gambling Habits

At present, the best online casinos in the UK have robust safer gambling policies, but through research, they could always improve. By integrating gut health into gambling behaviour management, we can explore targeted interventions that not only address psychological factors but also physiological ones. For instance, dietary changes that promote a healthy gut microbiome could potentially temper risk-taking behaviours, making individuals more resistant to the lure of persistent gambling in the face of losses. Similarly, the use of probiotics might not only improve gut health but also support better decision-making, thereby reducing impulsivity associated with gambling.

Furthermore, these insights encourage a multidisciplinary approach to safer gambling initiatives, incorporating nutritional guidance, psychological support, and perhaps even lifestyle changes aimed at enhancing overall well-being. Such strategies could offer a more comprehensive support system for individuals, helping them to make safer choices not just in gambling, but in their broader lives.

Reflecting on the broad impact of gut health, as discussed in the earlier sections, it’s clear that the gut-brain axis plays a crucial role in our behaviour. Acknowledging this connection, safer gambling strategies could benefit from a deeper understanding of this relationship, promoting practices that support gut health as part of a wider approach to managing gambling habits. This holistic perspective not only expands our toolkit for addressing gambling issues but also aligns with a growing recognition of the interconnectivity between our physical health, mental health, and behavioural choices.

Conclusion:

Our exploration into the nexus between gut health and gambling behaviours unveils a fascinating landscape where biology intersects with decision-making. Researchers have been searching for a scientific explanation of gambling addiction for years, but the involvement of the gut has only been explored recently.

The studies discussed suggest a significant, though speculative, link between gut microbiome imbalances and heightened risk-taking behaviours. This connection not only enriches our understanding of gambling habits but also opens the door to innovative, holistic approaches for promoting safer gambling practices. Encouraging a multidisciplinary exploration, this dialogue highlights the importance of further research into the gut-brain axis to fully unravel its potential in influencing behaviour.

As we continue to delve into this intricate relationship, the prospect of integrating dietary and probiotic interventions offers a promising pathway to enhancing decision-making processes, underscoring the critical role of gut health in our overall well-being and the choices we make.

References:

• Sztainert, T., Hay, R., Wohl, M.J.A. and Abizaid, A. (2018). Hungry to gamble? Ghrelin as a predictor of persistent gambling in the face of loss. Biological Psychology, 139, pp.115–123. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2018.10.011.
• Dantas, A.M., Sack, A.T., Bruggen, E., Jiao, P. and Schuhmann, T. (2022). The effects of probiotics on risk and time preferences. Scientific Reports, [online] 12(1), p.12152. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-16251-x.
• Duvallet, C., Gibbons, S.M., Gurry, T., Irizarry, R.A. and Alm, E.J. (2017). Meta-analysis of gut microbiome studies identifies disease-specific and shared responses. Nature Communications, 8(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-01973-8.

Understanding the Different Types of Horse Racing

Canadians who don’t watch a lot of horse racing might not realize that there are different types of horse races. Some include jumps, some include carts, and the length of races/type of surface varies as well. Let’s take a look at the three most popular forms of horse racing, and what they entail.

Thoroughbred Racing

Thoroughbred racing is by far the most popular type of the bunch. It’s the prototypical kind of horse race in the minds of many, which is in large part due to the ‘Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing’ (more on that later on).

Only certified Thoroughbred horses can take part in this race form, each partnered with a ‘jockey’ which is a term used specifically to describe someone who rides on horseback during horse racing or ‘steeplechase’ racing (more on that below).

All Thoroughbred races take place on dirt or grass racetracks and is a test of pure speed as there aren’t any ‘hurdles’ – a word used to describe an obstacle which is typically some kind of fence. The distance of each race ranges from around half a mile to as long as a mile-and-a-half. When a race is less than a mile, it’s typically measured in what’s called a ‘furlong’. For example, half a mile is roughly four furlongs.

Jump Racing

Jump racing is commonly referred to as a steeplechase and bears a lot of similarities to Thoroughbred racing. The main difference is that jump racing takes things a step further, as it’s more of an elaborate obstacle course as opposed to a flat out sprint.

This is where hurdles come into play, as each obstacle requires the horse to jump and land in a poised manner so as to not break speed. Some hurdles can be challenging, as they could be surrounded by water among other things. Most jump races are around two miles in length, with varying degrees of elevation and terrain that can be wet, muddy, or whatever else the elements may bring.

Harness Racing

Harness racing is wildly different from both Thoroughbred racing and jump racing. In fact, only ‘Standardbred’ horses can compete and they pull a cart with two wheels behind them throughout the race – known as either a ‘spider’ or a ‘sulky’. Harness races are usually about a mile or so in length, and unsurprisingly only take place on dirt terrain – given the cart in tow. While not as common as other race forms, it’s very fun to watch for those who have the opportunity.

Popular Ways to Bet on Horse Racing

Many Canadians, like others around the world, enjoy the thrill of horse racing. Since most events are Thoroughbred races, they’re over quite quickly and several can occur at one track over the course of a single day (or multiple). Many bets placed on horse racing simply pick a potential winner, but there are other unique varieties that keep things interesting. We’ll cover the most popular types of horse racing betting below.

Straight Bets

The prototypical ‘straight bet’ is what most people imagine horse racing betting to primarily be – and they would be right. It’s called a ‘win bet’ and is as it sounds. Pick a horse to finish in first place and if they win, you win. Other variations of straight betting include a ‘place bet’, where you can choose a horse to finish in either first or second place.

Lastly, there’s a ‘show bet’, which allows you to predict whether or not a horse will finish in first, second, or third. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that the lower the place, the lower the payout. For example, placing a ‘win bet’ is typically more profitable than placing a ‘show bet’.

Exotic Bets

‘Exotic bets’ are essentially the same as parlay bets, in that you’re wagering on multiple horses to finish in different places. A ‘vertical exotic bet’ is a type of exotic bet you can only place on one race, akin to a ‘same-game parlay’ in other sports.

The number of horses you bet on is entirely up to you, ranging from the top two finishers down to predicting the outcome of every single horse. A ‘horizontal exotic bet’ is more like a traditional parlay bet, in that you can bet on multiple horses from several races at once. Remember, if even one prediction is wrong, the entire bet falls apart and you will not profit.

Quinella

A ‘quinella’ is a more modern version of horse racing betting, combining elements of straight bets as well as exotic bets. Most of the previous rules apply, except a quinella wager is more lenient since you don’t have to be exact. For example, you can bet on three different horses finishing within the top three of a given race, but you don’t need to go the extra step and predict where exactly the horses will place. If all three of your picks were to finish in the top three, you would win regardless of their specific order.

Most Popular Horse Racing Betting Events

There are popular horse racing events all over the world, with several dating back as early as the 1800s. In fact, Canada has a race like that of its own currently called the ‘King’s Plate’, with ‘currently’ being the operative as the race title switches back and forth between that and the ‘Queen’s Plate’. But why is that? Let’s dive into the most popular races amongst Canadian horse racing bettors.

Triple Crown Races

The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing is the ultimate display of the best three-year-old horses and jockeys – spread across three different races at various locations in the United States. It all begins with the ‘Kentucky Derby’, which takes place on the first Saturday of May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The second leg is called the ‘Preakness Stakes’, held two weeks later on the third Saturday of May in Baltimore, Maryland.

Lastly, there’s the ‘Belmont Stakes’, also known as the ‘Test of the Champion’ since several of the sport’s most thrilling moments have come during this final leg. If a horse wins all three races, they are declared the ‘Triple Crown Champion’. This incredible feat has only occurred thirteen times since a horse named ‘Sir Barton’ first won it all back in 1919. In fact, it’s only happened twice since the turn of the millennium, with ‘Justify’ last capturing Triple Crown honours in 2018.

The King’s Plate (formerly the Queen’s Plate)

As previously mentioned, the name of this race fluctuates between the ‘King’s Plate’ and the ‘Queen’s Plate’. This all depends on whether a king or queen currently sits on the throne. From 1952-2022, Queen Elizabeth reigned thus entitling the race as the Queen’s Plate, but that changed upon her death and King Charles III’s accession in late 2022.

The race first took place in 1860, and is annually held in Toronto, Ontario at Woodbine Racetrack. The purse totals over $1 million, and only three-year-old horses bred in Canada can participate. If you live anywhere near the area, it would be well worth attending if you’re able to swing it. Best of luck in your horse racing betting endeavours!

Sources

‘Me time’: those increasingly elusive minutes we try and grab throughout the day, where the rules and the precious seconds are all yours.

Unwinding. Exercising. There are so many ways to enjoy those spare moments. Unfortunately, on any given day, whether we’ll actually get to spend some attention on ourselves can feel all too uncertain.

‘Me time’ can be essential – but with modern life seemingly busier than ever, how much do people really have?

888 Casino commissioned a survey of 2,000 people to answer this very question – and shed a light on some other fascinating details.

To continue reading this article, please visit: https://www.888casino.com/blog/others/how-much-me-time-do-we-actually-get

Withdrawing Winnings from Casino Sites

Most of the time, players should have no problems withdrawing winnings from online casinos. The process is usually straightforward and can be done in a few minutes within the cashier. Players can choose from a range of different payment methods to process a withdrawal from their preferred fast payout casinos.

However, sometimes casino users can experience issues when they are trying to withdraw their money. There are myriad reasons behind online casino withdrawal problems, so let’s take a look at the top five.

1. Delays in Processing Casino Withdrawals

The most typical casino withdrawal issues are simply due to delays in the transaction being processed.

It is recommended to check the casino site’s time period for payouts in their terms and conditions. The same information is also often detailed on a payments page, or within the casino cashier itself.

Some payment methods are slower than others to pay out. For example, using an e-wallet like PayPal is likely to result in faster payouts than choosing a bank transfer at the casino cashier.

Most of the time, players who choose an e-wallet to withdraw winnings will get their money within just a few hours.

Unless it has been more than a week since attempting to withdraw winnings, it might be best to sit tight and wait a while to see if the money comes through.

However, an option is to get in touch with the casino site’s customer service department as they will often be able to provide details of any delays with withdrawals that are ongoing.

2. Wrong Payment Method Selected

Players do not always get a free choice over which payment method to use for casino withdrawals.

Many online casino withdrawal problems are therefore as a result of players picking the wrong payment method at the casino cashier. Some sites only allow certain payment methods from some countries too.

As an example, casinos typically require their players to make a withdrawal via the same payment method that was selected by them to add funds.

For example, players who used a Visa debit card to make a deposit into their preferred online casino site are unlikely to be able to withdraw winnings to a different MasterCard debit card.

On a similar note, it is also possible that players have made an error when inputting payment details.

It is easy to mistype a debit card number or bank account details, and that can lead to a casino withdrawal failure. Make sure to always double and triple-check any payment method information.

Payment methods are also subject to minimum and maximum withdrawal limits at most online casino sites as well. Another reason for a casino withdrawal failure may, therefore, just be that a player has attempted to take funds out of their account via a transaction that does not fit between these limits.

As well as limits for a single transaction, casino sites may have a set amount they will pay out to the same user each day, week or month.

Exceeding these limits can result in withdrawal problems, so it is best to check these figures in advance.

For a particularly large withdrawal – for example, if a player has been fortunate enough to win a jackpot when playing slots – it may be necessary to contact customer service.

3. Casino Bonus Conditions Haven’t Been Met

A common reason for casino withdrawal issues is that the terms and conditions of a site’s bonuses have not been completed by the player.

Users need to make sure that they have finished the wagering requirements of bonuses before they try to attempt a withdrawal, otherwise it is likely to fail.

There is usually a way to check the progress of wagering requirements so that players can make sure they have finished them before trying to withdraw winnings.

Another linked reason for a casino withdrawal failure could be that the attempted transaction is in excess of the maximum win limit for a bonus. Anything above that cap is likely to be rejected by the site.

Sites normally have this limit in place to protect themselves from losing a large amount of money from the casino bonuses that they offer.

As a result, it is always recommended to closely check the small print for bonus T&Cs before deciding whether or not to go for them.

4. Verification Documents or ID Checks Required

Casinos are required to verify the identity of players as part of their anti-money laundering checks and their know-your-customer (KYC) procedure. This can often lead to problems with withdrawals.

When users sign up for a casino account they will undergo some checks as standard automatically, but further measures are normally required when players are ready to withdraw winnings.

It is common for casino sites to require players to provide a form of ID, for example, a copy of their passport, before a withdrawal can be processed.

Most sites have an area where documents can be safely uploaded, or it is also often possible to send them as an attachment in an email.

Check closely what verification documents or ID forms are accepted before taking this step. Providing unclear images or an incorrect document is likely to lead to a casino withdrawal failure. To avoid casino withdrawal problems, it can be a good idea to provide the ID soon after signing up. That way, the site already has everything that it should need to process the withdrawal swiftly.

5. The Casino Site is not Legitimate

In very rare cases, players can experience a casino withdrawal problem due to signing up for an account with an operator that is unlicensed and unverified.

It is for this reason that it is recommended to only play with fully licensed and legal online casinos.

Players should also take care to read reviews of online casinos – from both experts and users – in order to assess whether a casino withdrawal failure is likely to be a problem.

Unscrupulous operators are unfortunately not uncommon in the world of online casino sites. Only ever sign up with an online casino site that has been thoroughly checked out and recommended properly.

What Should Players Do About a Casino Withdrawal Failure?

The very first thing players who are struggling with casino withdrawal problems should do is get in contact with the site’s customer service team.

Most online casinos have a live chat option that is staffed on a 24/7 basis these days. This is a strong first port of call for those who are trying to withdraw winnings out of the cashier without success.

Some sites also provide telephone or email customer support, or even help via social media channels on sites such as Facebook or X, which used to be known as Twitter.

Players can decide which customer support option suits them the best, but live chat is usually the best way to go due to the speedy responses provided.

When asking customer service agents about a casino withdrawal failure, users should be firm but friendly and ensure they have all the necessary details about the transaction to hand.

For example, it is crucial to know exactly when the casino withdrawal problems have occurred and how much the failed transaction was for.

The agent should be able to check on the casino site’s system to see the status of the withdrawal. It might be something as simple as a technical glitch behind the scenes causing delays to payments.

Sometimes, customer service will not help users with a casino withdrawal failure. The next step is therefore to consider raising a complaint.

Sites always have a customer complaint policy in place, and the opening step is normally to send an email with details of the problem.

The casino should aim to resolve the complaint within a few weeks, but players still have another option to go for in the event of them not being satisfied with the outcome.

In the UK, for example, players can make a complaint via Resolver if they are finding it difficult to withdraw money from an online casino.

The process for making a complaint about an online casino site can be different in each country.

A good step is always to check where a casino site has received its licence from and check that out.

However, most of the time, a casino withdrawal failure is due to one of the five reasons detailed above.

Understanding the Roulette Wheel

Before we have a look at the maths behind roulette, we’ll give you a summary of the roulette wheel. This is important because the wheel can vary; it can also affect your odds of winning.

There are two main versions of the roulette wheel: European and American. Both of them have 36 numbered pockets of which half are black and half are red.

The European wheel has 0 (zero) pocket coloured green. This means that in European versions of roulette, there are 37 numbered pockets in total.

American roulette games have a 00 (double zero) pocket that’s green in addition to the 0 pocket. Therefore, American versions of roulette have 38 pockets altogether.

What this means is that if you play European roulette, each numbered pocket has a 1/37 chance of winning. When you play an American version, the odds are slightly lower at 1/38.

It should come as no surprise that many players prefer European roulette because of its slightly better winning chances. However, you’ll still find plenty of American roulette games available to play.

Most roulette sites have both versions of the game available to play. The best ones have live versions of these games too. They also let you play non-live roulette games for free.

If you want to try the two different versions of roulette yourself, play free demos. With these, you can practise as much as you want without having to pay.

House Edge and RTP

House edge and RTP are two terms that you’ll come across a lot when gambling, especially online. They’re opposites and they’re both to do with payout percentages.

If a roulette game has a house edge of 4%, this means that the house (i.e. the casino) takes 4% of your money on average over long-term play.

Spend $100 on a roulette game whose house edge is 4% and, statistically speaking, you should lose 4% of this, i.e. $4. This would leave you with $96. The casino would keep the $4.

It’s important to point out that house edge is a long-term average. If you play just a few games of roulette, the casino could end up taking a lot more of your money.

On the other hand, the casino could end up owing you money if you’re lucky. The more you play, the closer your average loss per game gets to the house edge.

As for RTP, which stands for ‘return to player’, this is the exact opposite of house edge. It’s a measure of how much of your bet you should in theory keep over long-term play.

The house edge and RTP always add up to 100. Going back to the roulette game with a 4% house edge, its RTP would therefore be 96%.

If you’re serious about trying to make money from roulette, you should focus on games with a low house edge or high RTP. Online European roulette games typically have an RTP of 97.3% or a house edge of 2.7%.

As for American roulette games, the RTP is lower because of the extra 00 pocket. The RTP for a standard American roulette game is 94.74%, which makes its house edge 5.26%.

How House Edge and RTP Are Calculated

Before an online casino game is released, it undergoes a significant amount of testing. This involves simulating a large number of rounds, usually in the millions. The purpose of this is to determine the house edge and RTP.

For example, let’s say developers simulate a million rounds of a new roulette game. Each round has a $1 bet placed on a random number. That’s a total of $1 million spent.

If the game returned $970,000, the game’s house edge would be 3% because exactly 3% of the $1 million has been lost. Its RTP would, therefore, be 97%.

Online casino games typically have a lower house edge or higher RTP than their real-life counterparts. This is because physical casinos have more costs than online ones. Therefore, their games have to pay out less money.

If you want to make money from roulette, you’re more likely to do so with online versions of the game. Just remember that even if the house edge or RTP is favourable, you’re still likely to make a loss overall.

Randomness

When you play a real-life version of roulette with physical props, gravity and luck determine which numbered pocket the ball lands in. The outcome is completely random. In online games, something else makes sure outcomes are random.

This something is an RNG or random number generator. It’s a piece of software that generates complex sequences of numbers. A game then uses these to determine outcomes such as the pocket the ball lands in.

With an RNG in place, each pocket on the wheel has an equal chance of being the winning one. Also, no outcome from past rounds can affect any future outcomes.

In other words, if a particular number has won a lot of times recently, this doesn’t mean the number will keep coming up. Likewise, it also doesn’t mean the number won’t come up again for a while.

Any patterns that you might see when looking at results are coincidental. All outcomes are random and independent of one another. Every time you play, each pocket has the same, equal chance of winning no matter what.

Some people believe that numbers can be ‘hot’ or ‘cold’. Hot numbers have won recently, cold numbers haven’t. They use this information to decide what numbered pockets to bet on.

However, the idea that numbers can be ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ is a misconception. Again, patterns are just random, and they don’t mean anything. Every spin’s result is unaffected by all previous results.

Calculating Odds

One of the best aspects of roulette is that it has multiple betting options. You can bet on a single number if you like or include multiple numbers in your bet.

We mentioned earlier that when you play European roulette, each number has a 1/37 chance of winning; and for American roulette, the odds are 1/38.

But what about if you’re betting on more than one number? When you play a typical game of roulette, you’ll have lots of betting options available.

These are displayed in the betting table. It arranges all the numbers on the wheel into three columns and a dozen rows with extra spaces for the 0 and 00 bets.

The bets in roulette can be grouped into two categories: inside and outside. Inside bets have large payouts with low chances of winning; betting on a single number counts as an inside bet.

As for outside bets, these involve a large selection of numbers. They’re more likely to win and so the payouts they give are lower.

The list below shows the main bets for roulette, starting with inside bets.

The outside bets are as follows.

Calculating the odds for a roulette bet is simple. The odds depend on two factors: the type of roulette you’re playing and how many numbers the bet covers.

The table below shows the odds for roulette’s inside bets.

The next table is the same but for the outside bets.

It’s also worth looking at the payouts for roulette bets. Generally speaking, the fewer numbers a bet covers, the bigger its payout. The table below shows the payouts for inside bets.

And the same for outside bets.

If you want to play it safe, stick with outside bets. If you want to take a risk and go for a large payout, place inside bets.

Roulette Strategies

Many people who play roulette for real money want to make a profit. Like other casino games, there’s no guarantee you’ll win. There are some strategies but none of them can definitely produce a win for you.

There’s one in particular that many players use for roulette and it’s called the Martingale strategy. The way it works is straightforward: double your bet after a loss.

If you do this, your next win will recoup all the money you’ve spent. Plus, you’ll end up with a profit equal to your initial bet.

The Martingale strategy isn’t just for roulette. It can be used for any sort of game where there are two main outcomes and they both have a near 50% chance of happening.

In roulette, the presence of the 0 (and 00) pocket reduces the odds of the winning ball being red or black to slightly below 50%. Even so, roulette is still suitable for the Martingale strategy.

There’s also the reverse Martingale strategy which has you halve your bet after a loss and double it after a win. The problem with this is that it relies on winning streaks to be successful.

Another roulette math strategy is the Labouchere system. It’s more complicated than the Martingale strategy but has a key difference: whereas Martingale recovers your losses with a single win, Labouchere does this with multiple wins.

It involves writing down a sequence of numbers that add up to determine your profit. Your bet is the first and last numbers in the sequences added together.

If you win, you cross off the first and last numbers. If you lose, you add the sum of the first and last numbers to the end of the sequence.

Whenever you have just one number, that’s how much you bet. If you win, you start the cycle again with a new sequence of numbers.

The Labouchere system can be complicated when you have lots of losses and your sequence of numbers grows bigger as a result.

We mentioned playing free versions of roulette earlier. This is ideal for anyone who wants to practise strategies and see how they work. With demo games, you can play as much as you like with no risk to your budget.

Summary

Now you should have a better understanding of the math behind roulette. The next time you play the game, think carefully about what bets you’ll place and how likely each one is to win.

With any casino game, knowing the math can help you both in the long run. When you’re aware of how the game works and what the odds are for different bets, you’ll make better betting decisions.

A small percentage of players within the NBA, MLB, and NFL are Canadian, but there are still some noteworthy stars such as 2023 NBA Champion Jamal Murray of Mississauga, ON. Canada is also well-represented in many other sports including soccer, golf, tennis, and swimming. Keep reading to learn about some of the best Canadian athletes, and where you can watch them compete in 2024.

Masters Tournament

Many Canadians enjoy watching the Masters Tournament. Like the Super Bowl, it’s an event big enough to transcend the sporting world – meaning it’s the only golf most Canadians will watch, if any at all. This year, the festivities will be held from April 11-14 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

Past Masters tournaments have kept Canadians on the edge of their seats, with Mike Weir donning the ‘Green Jacket’ (given to the winner) back in 2003. This is the only time a Canadian golfer has ever won a major tournament, which includes the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the Open Championship, and the U.S. Open.

That said, there are a couple of Canadian golfers having great years with a lot to prove. Adam Hadwin of Moose Jaw, Alberta is set to appear in his fourth Masters – his first since 2020. He has three top-six finishes in 2024, and his best finish at the Masters came in 2018 – where he finished tied for 24th.

Another golfer to watch is Nick Taylor of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The final day of this year’s tournament (April 14th) is Taylor’s 36th birthday, and the respected veteran will be looking to get himself the sweetest gift of all. It will be Taylor’s second Masters appearance, with his first coming in 2020 when he finished tied for 29th.

Many Canadians will remember Taylor from last year’s Canadian Open, when he drained a 72-foot eagle putt to win it all during a nail-biting playoff against Tommy Fleetwood. It was the first time a Canadian had won a national open on home soil since Pat Fletcher last did it in 1954. Can he pull off that same magic at Augusta?

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

The NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs are always centre stage north of the border, and 2024 will be no different. This season has been a special one for both Canadian teams and Canadian players. Markham, Ontario’s Mitch Marner has been leading the Toronto Maple Leafs in the East, while Connor McDavid hopes to captain the Edmonton Oilers to a Stanley Cup in the West.

McDavid is on pace to record 100 or more assists, which hasn’t been done since Wayne Gretzky had 122 assists during the 1990-1991 season – which was incredibly his 10th consecutive season with 100+ assists. McDavid’s linemate Zach Hyman of Toronto, Ontario has been making some history of his own, becoming one of the oldest players (age 31) to ever score 50 goals in a season for the first time.

In the East, Marner and the Leafs also have Stanley Cup aspirations. The 26-year-old winger was well on his way to eclipsing 100 points for the first time in his career before being sidelined by an ankle sprain. The 100-point threshold has been an elusive one for Marner, who had 99 points last year and point totals of 97 and 94 in other previous seasons. Nothing a Stanley Cup can’t fix!

The NHL playoffs are set to begin on Monday April 22nd, 2024, with another pair of Canadian teams set to compete for a championship as well – the Vancouver Canucks and the Winnipeg Jets. The Canucks comfortably sit atop the Pacific Division, but the second-place Oilers still have an outside shot of catching them.

The Jets sit third in the Central Division, which is more a testament to the division’s strength than it is an indictment of Winnipeg’s talent. In the Pacific, the Jets would be closer to the Canucks than the Oilers. The last Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup was the 1993 Montreal Canadiens. Will this be the year the drought is broken?

NBA Playoffs

The NBA playoffs are more popular in Canada when the Toronto Raptors are a part of the picture; however, that isn’t the case this year. On the other hand, there are some Canadian players on American teams that are gearing up for a shot at the title.

As previously mentioned, Canadian point guard Jamal Murray was a key cog in helping the Denver Nuggets win the 2023 NBA Championship. This year has been business as usual for the 27-year-old, who has been a large part of why the Nuggets have spent most of this year atop the Western Conference. A championship repeat is certainly not out of the question.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have been neck-and-neck with Denver in the standings all season long, thanks to their own point guard from Ontario in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) of Hamilton, Ontario. Like Murray, SGA is a product of the Kentucky basketball program and has been an absolute force over the last handful of seasons.

Still just 25 years old, SGA naturally has a bright future with the Thunder (or wherever he decides to play). Can he bring OKC their first championship since 1979?

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A Brief History of Casino Slots

The history of slots is a long and storied one which starts all the way back in 1891 in New York City, New York when Sittman and Pitt designed a machine that would revolutionise casino gambling landscape forever.

Their machine consisted of five drums holding a total of 50 cards and the game was very much based on poker, a popular card game at the time. The aim was to get the best “hand” by spinning the drums.

Because of its size and complexity, it was practically impossible to set the machine up in a way that would award an automatic pay out. Being mainly played in bars, prizes tended to include free drinks in lieu of cash.

Spotting an opportunity, Charles Fey of San Francisco, California created a much simpler machine that contained an automatic mechanism that spun three reels. Instead of cards, the reels had five symbols; horseshoes, diamonds, spades, hearts and a Liberty Bell.

It was the final symbol that lent its name to the machine and, by creating a more simplistic mechanism, it was possible for Fey to create an automatic payout on winning spins. This truly was the birth of slots as we know them today.

Traditional casino slots

Despite gambling being banned in California, Fey could not keep up the demand for his newly popular gambling machine and others took advantage by creating near identical copies. By the early 20th century, there wasn’t a casino in the US that didn’t have a Liberty Bell machine.

By this point, other symbols had been introduced into the designs such as fruit symbols and what would eventually become the BAR symbol. The machines also had a mechanical lever at the side that players would pull to spin the reels.

It was these developments that gave the machines their more modern nickname of ‘fruit machines’. However, the more commonly used nickname for some time was ‘one-armed bandits’ due to the lever, or ‘arm’, that needed to be pulled.

The one-armed bandits ruled casinos all over the world for decades, until they began being replaced by more modern, electronic-based slot machines that could payout easier and accept different forms of payment like banknotes.

These days, you’ll still see hundreds of traditional slots and some even feature the nostalgic ‘arm’ on the side. However, they will also be completely electronic in their mechanisms and the vast majority will be video slots.

The fact that these machines are still massively prevalent in modern day casinos is a testament to the thrill that they provide players. Clearly there is still a place for them moving forward, even just to appeal to nostalgia.

The online slots revolution

The 21st century saw the beginning of the online slots revolution. Online gambling was becoming more and more prevalent and casinos had to adapt with the times.

Now, you’ll find the best online slot sites offer a whole host of slots games to choose from. They even come in categories because there are that many!

Online slots gaming also received a massive boost in the 2010s, as owning a smartphone became the new norm. Now, everyone had access to the internet at their fingertips and this presented a golden opportunity for casinos.

With the development of apps and optimised mobile websites, online casinos were able to capitalise on this new technology. This resulted in gaming developers investing more into their games too and the choice of games increased exponentially.

All of this helped to create a shift in how players gamble. Those who used to visit their local casino to play slots now simply load up their favourite games online from the comfort of their own home.

Online slots vs offline slots

It’s an argument that is likely to rage on for some time, as offline slots still very much have a place in this modern, technological era. But are their days numbered?

The answer could be found by taking a closer look at modern society as a whole. Convenience is valued above all else these days and the inconvenience of having to physically go to a casino is off putting.

However, when it comes to online slots v real slots, both provide their own very unique thrill and this is arguably why traditional slot machines are still in existence. How long that lasts is anyone’s guess.

Online slots pros and cons

When it comes to online slots there are, of course, plenty of pros and also some cons. These can affect the kind of experience players have and whether or not they will return to the relevant online casino in future.

We already know that, according to the UK Gambling Commission, there has been a steady trend of online gamblers going up and retail/casino gamblers going down. But what could be causing that?

Firstly, let’s look at some of the pros:

You can’t have the good without the bad though. There are many reasons that people do not enjoy the online slots experience. Here are some of the cons of playing slot games online:

Traditional slots pros and cons

Bricks and mortar casinos, which tend to offer players the chance to play a variety of slot machines at a physical location, are still going strong. Some places, like Las Vegas, benefit massively from the traditional casino experience.

But when it comes to online slots v offline slots, you must also look at the pros and cons of a physical slot machine. This allows you to better understand the experience for players.

The pros of traditional slots include:

Some of the cons include:

Online slots vs real slots conclusion

Having taken a look at the history of slots and their deserved place in the worlds of both physical and online casinos and the pros and cons of each, it seems the “best experience” is very much subjective.

It’s true that online slots provide players with slightly more benefits than traditional slots. However, the risks and downsides are also a bit more severe, so really it’s down to the individual player’s preference.

It can be said without doubt that, when looking at online slots v slot machines more closely, that both provide entertainment in their own right. However the needs of modern day players are different to 20 years ago.

Players place much more value on the bonuses and promotions element of playing slots these days. This is something that online slots excel at, while traditional slots struggle to match up and provide what’s expected.

The social aspect of real slots is one that is still attractive to players. However, the live casino products are getting closer and closer to matching that experience, especially with recent developments in virtual and augmented reality.

This is why we’ve concluded that, while both offer benefits and their own unique experience, it’s online slots that will prosper long term.