Logout

Question of the Day - 17 January 2020

Q:

My question pertains to the mechanical roulette machines usually made by Interblock. Are these considered an actual roulette table with American 5.26% house edge or is it a slot machine where the house can change its win percentage? Or even steer the ball away from large bets on the board? Any information on them would be appreciated.

A:

[Editor's Note: For this answer, we turned to Michael "Wizard of Odds" Shackleford. The new edition of his book Gambling 102 is now available.]

Although I've heard conspiracy theories many times that such games use magnets or blow air on the ball to alter the outcome, I firmly believe they play fairly. 

In other words, regardless of what players bet on, the ball has a 1/38 chance of landing in each number and the house edge is 5.26% on all bets, except the dreaded five-number bet (0-00-1-2-3 at 7.89%). 

In other words, for mathematical purposes, they can be considered a table game.

 

 

Is electronic roulette a table game or a slot machine?
No part of this answer may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the publisher.

Have a question that hasn't been answered? Email us with your suggestion.

Missed a Question of the Day?
OR
Have a Question?
Tomorrow's Question
Has Clark County ever considered legalizing prostitution?

Comments

Log In to rate or comment.
  • Adam Cohen Jan-17-2020
    Fun and how are the rated
    I assume then that a casino treats it as a table game for raising the plater.  I have not understood the fun of these. I usually am with a group and there is just something about 5 or 6 of us around craps or a BJ table playing.  (I Know the question is about roulette but I assume it is all the same.)

  • Pat Higgins Jan-17-2020
    Big Tex
    I would assume the same can be said for the similar games at BJ where the beautiful young lady "deals" the cards as well as the dice game where the large rubber dice bounce all over the place.Bro  Any comments on this any one?  Probably not worth the time to play them.

  • Mark Bashore Jan-17-2020
    Bubble Craps
    The nice thing about electronic Bubble craps is you can play the Don't and no one gets upset. I enjoy a live game when the table has that 'hot streak" , but if you want to make some $, play the Don't by yourself and enjoy. 

  • jay Jan-17-2020
    Tax
    So is this taxed as a table game or a subject to the 1199 limit like a slot (dreaded W2G) as I presume this is ticket out.

  • Jeffrey Small Jan-17-2020
    Not a table game here...
    In Florida the electronic Craps and Roulette games are allowed--but live Craps and Roulette are prohibited under the compact that the Seminoles have with the state.  In fact, the Seminoles have offered to give the state billions of projected income from the live games if they are authorized.  The state legislature can not agree on any changes to the compact so live games have not been authorized.  Thus, here in Florida the electronic games are allowed but not considered table games.

  • O2bnVegas Jan-17-2020
    what is the question?
    Electronic or mechanical?  I Googled Interblock, it shows electronic (no dealer) roulette machines with five or six seats.  I thought that was the question.

  • Roy Furukawa Jan-17-2020
    BJ (appropriately)
    I would think the craps and roulette machines are legit and random like their live table counterparts, but in electrionic blackjack with the scantily clad video dealers (or worse the ones that aren't scantily clad!), those I would think can be manipulated to a certain hold and win percentage like a slot machine since the cards are simply video.

  • Ray Jan-17-2020
    about some comments
    As far as the FL question, the electronic games might be considered "table" games, but not "live" games. And to the question about BJ, the fact that the cards are video doesn't make them manipulated. VP cards are also video and still comply with what would happen with a real deck. I assume that to be the same with BJ cards.

  • That Don Guy Jan-17-2020
    In Nevada, at least...
    Nevada gaming regulations require that electronic roulette plays like regular roulette - each number has an equal chance of coming up on each spin.
    
    Whether it is considered a "table game" or a "slot machine" may depend on where you are. In California, a tribal casino whose compact bans roulette (that is to say, "card roulette," as roulette with just a wheel is banned in all of them) also bans electronic roulette - but one that bans table craps and bubble craps does not ban electronic craps (only games with "phyiscal dice").

  • David Sabo Jan-20-2020
    Hey Mark!
    I love playing Aruze "Shoot To Win" bubble craps. Call me Darth Vader but I love small betting the don't against a table full of house shooters. I give the Golden Nugget and Four Queens high marks due to their close proximity to the cocktail waitress station. At Four Queens you actually can earn slot points. The Interblock bubble craps game sucks though.