This is what my gambling page looked like when it was born on June 19, 1997. The title was changed about a year later to Wizard of Odds. Here is what it looked like on 1999, and of course today. Do not try to reach me with the e-mail address listed, I stopped using it the year 2000, because of excessive spam.


Mike's Gambling Page

Introduction

Welcome! It is June 1997 as I begin construction of my web page on gambling. I know there are already numerous other web pages on the subject and I questioned myself over the need for another one. The reason I'm taking the time is that many of the other web pages wet your lips with some information but then seek to sell you something to learn more. There is also a lack of cold hard facts on what are the pros and cons of each game. I'm here to try to help give you the best possible advantage when you play.

About me

I was born in 1965 and have been gambling since I understood the meaning of the word. During my youth I eagerly awaited the day I turned 21 and could gamble legally in Las Vegas. Since then I have made taken about 30 vacations to the casinos in Las Vegas, Reno, Laughlin, Lake Tahoe, Atlantic City, Foxwoods, Niagara Falls, and the Bahamas.

In 1988 I graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in math and economics. Personally I use my knowledge of mathematics to understand the rules and expected returns of the various games. This web page is designed to give you the benefit of my knowledge and experience.

Generalizations about gambling

As a rule of thumb the harder a game is to understand the better your odds of winning if you do understand it. By understanding the more complicated games such as blackjack, baccarat, and craps you can have an expected return of at least 99 cents per dollar bet. There is no easy way to beat the casinos consistently but it isn't hard to have almost a break even chance. If you consider the value of the fun and free drinks you will be coming out ahead by playing the right games in an intelligent manner over the long run.

Table of contents:

Money management

Betting systems

Baccarat

Blackjack

Craps

Keno

Roulette

Video Poker


My home page

Visit my web page of math and logic problems.

Visit my web page of baby names.

Send e-mail to shack@charm.net

Michael Shackleford, A.S.A.