... or pigs fly?

Doing the math on the payouts in Steve's chart, it looks like the casino folks very cleverly made the payout the same for EVERY bet except the five number bet, which is somewhat lower. The average payout for most bets is 94.73%, meaning the house keeps 5.27%. The payout on the five number bet is 92.11%, giving the house 7.89% on that one.

So, it looks to me as if, no matter how you bet, you can't improve on the house edge of 5.27%. Which seems to mean that if you play long enough, your money will flow toward the house as inexorably as water flows downhill.

Which also means that no system can possibly produce consistent winnings. Over the long haul, the casino will take your money, 5.27% at a time. Well, an average of 5.27%, though if you're unlucky, they could take it a lot faster.

Am I wrong, Gene?

I think I'll stick to poker, where it is possible to make up for the relatively small house rake or time charge by exercising skill. ----- jim o\-S