And I think the appeal of this bet, (or the even money bet in roulette) is that the player has no chance of making an 'incorrect' choice, and leaves everything to luck.

Blackjack was mentioned earlier which, if played according to strict mathematical strategy, will be among the best bets in the casino. However, imagine being dealt a 16 vs. the dealer's 10 on your one and only shot with your money? You hit, and bust, only for the house to then reveal that the 10 was backed up by a 6? Or conversely, you decide not to bust (like most people who play and lose more than win) and stand vs. the dealer's 10, at which point the house turns up a 20, and you lose it all, wondering forever if the next card would have been a 5. Or finally, you hit your 16 and bust, only to see the dealer turn over a 20, so that you didn't have any way of winning from the outset?

I think that's what the allure of Baccarat or Roulette would be in an 'all or nothing' scenario. You know that one side is going to win (well, except for the tie in Baccarat, or the 0 and 00), and you can choose which side to play. In the short run (i.e., one spin) that would give me the most comfort of having a 'fair' shot.

Of course, I was in a casino in New Orleans the other night, where there were 2 blackjack tables that played single deck, dealer stands on soft 17, and double down after split allowed. Those of you who care about such things realize that this is a game where playing strict mathematical strategy will yield a positive expectation for the player of about .15%. And that's before you take into account any card counting. Closest I've ever seen a casino come to giving away money for free .

Brent J. Jensen
R-6335
orbis non sufficit