Will Triple Zero Roulette Continue?

I noticed that Resorts World has all three current variations of roulette wheels, single, double, and triple zero. When and where did triple zero come about and do you think this is a trend that will continue or even get worse? Quadruple zero?

Yes, triple-zero roulette is most certainly real and has been for several years. And it's already begun replacing traditional double-zero roulette wheels on the Strip.

The Venetian introduced it in a “new game” called Sands Roulette in October 2016. The only difference from traditional roulette was the third green zero, which raises the casino advantage from 5.26% to 7.69%.

The Venetian in essence snuck in the third zero by adding the green square on the layout with an “S” for Sands. They introduced one table, giving it a $10 minimum, compared to the $15 minimum for double-zero. A lot like 6-5 blackjack on lower-limit or single- and double-deck games, it seemed to be the cost of the lower table minimum — bets for $5 less, though a 2.43% worse house advantage.

It was still the only triple-zero roulette game in Vegas, and perhaps the world, six months later. At that time, the minimum bet had gone up to $15 and there was a double-zero game with the same $15 minimum right next to it. When we were there right after the juxtaposition of the tables, the Sands (triple-zero) game had three players and the standard game had two.

Making single $15 bets at a pace of 30 rounds per hour, a player is up against an hourly expected loss of $34.62, almost $11 more than playing a standard wheel.

In the April 2018 LVA, we reported that two new triple-zero wheels had been spotted on the Strip, one at Planet Hollywood, the other at New York-New York. This means, as we wrote, “... that both Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts have joined in the roulette gouge that previously had been the sole province of the Venetian.”

As for the Venetian, the last time we checked, two triple-zeroes were in action and no double zeroes — the first time we’d been there without both being offered. Why should they offer double-zero? Both triple-zero tables were busy.

Our comment in the Advisor, “When players are that oblivious, you can’t fault the casino for offering the ripoff variation.”

Our friends at VitalVegas.com, however, had the last word on the subject. “The Venetian seems to be saying, let’s continue to do this until we see what the pain point is.”

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?

Have a Question?

Tomorrow's Question

Has Clark County ever considered legalizing prostitution?

Comments

rokgpsman Oct-06-2021

PT Barnum indeed!

There doesn't seem to be any limit to what the uninformed masses of casino visitors will fall for these days. It's hard to fault the casino when players are so unwilling to educate themselves about the game choices they have. Let them be fleeced. Maybe all the corporate profits will result in better wages and benefits for casino/hotel staff, but I wouldn't *bet* on it.

Dave_Miller_DJTB Oct-06-2021

Value?

If you work out the math, betting the $10 minimum on a triple zero table is a *slightly* option than betting the $15 minimum on double zero. 

The problem with this logic is, nobody bets the minimum. And even if they did, as pointed out, it’s getting harder to find a $10 triple zero table.

David Miller Oct-06-2021

More Gouging

 You can bet that the "triple zero" gouge will widely permeate Vegas as time goes forth.

KennyA Oct-06-2021

A good reason

To just not play Roulette. It was never a very good game to play. The casinos will never be satisfied with their profit on the game until they chase everyone away from playing. Not a good philosophy for a successful business.

jay Oct-06-2021

Not always the Casino

You also need to look at this from the gaming manufacturers perspective. IGT went from the S+ to S2000 on the basis that the S2000 could use TITO (ticket in Ticket out). Then their Vision platform (combined slot and video) then to their AVP platform and so on. These changes were not being demanded by the casinos but they were being sold on the advantages by the game manufacturers.   Then there are all the themes that change month to month.

Game manufacturers answer to a board of directors. Investors want  profits, do they invest in IGT who are selling a ton of machines or do they invest in John Huxley (wheel maker) who only sells 100 wheels a year ? 

A Roulette wheel is a true piece of craftsmanship - nice hard woods, fine inlaying, excellent bearings. If the manufacturer would not push change they would not generate another sale. How many wheels does a casino need ? if they already had 10 and a spare ?

jay Oct-06-2021

Continued

It has been theorized that a dealer could introduce bias into the game by controlling the spin of the wheel and the ball and subsequently drop the ball reliably into any section of the wheel. If true (never proven) the punter could cover every number in the other 2/3rds of the board and make a killing. How could you prove a crooked dealer in this circumstance ?? 

The manufacturers have been pushing this theory and many wheels are now upgraded to be motor drive. The motor varies the spin speed of the wheel ever so slightly (and randomly) as to take away any possible dealer bias. 

Sell the story to the casino about lost profits, build the business case and they buy a new wheel, the usual sales were not so much the wheel but rather the signage and meter heads that read the ball. Better attractants more players... 

Now they can go sell triple 0 wheels to the casinos saying hey the guy next store is making 3% more bling than you are. Got to keep up with the Jones'es.

Kevin Lewis Oct-06-2021

Zero reason to play

Anyone who plays roulette at all is a real double zero.

gaattc2001 Oct-06-2021

Kevin is spot on, as usual...

not to mention picturesque. 
In a previous incarnation, I sometimes played a spin or two at roulette with a coupon that gave me a temporary advantage--but not triple-zero, and not in this century.
The less said about triple-zero roulette and six-to-five blackjack, the better.

Roy Furukawa Oct-06-2021

Circa

I think for the young  gamblers wanting that Strip hotel feel, they will end up finding the Circa downtown. Crazy that one triple zero roulette wheel survived, but for it to spread to other properties you have to have a lot of bad gamblers to make that work.

AL Oct-07-2021

Survey the players

I wish that someone would survey (interrogate) the people who play triple-zero roulette, asking them why they are playing that game instead of double-zero roulette.  Their answers might be fascinating or funny in addition to being informative.  I expect that many responses would be brainless or don't-have-a-clue, reflecting the fact that they don't understand that the triple-zero game has a higher house edge, and thus that they the players will wind up with less money over time.  But I'm sure that some of them will give responses that we haven't thought of, answers that will fill us in while making us smile and shake our heads from side to side.  One thing I'm curious about:  Do triple-zero players bet on the zeros more than double-zero players do (sort of like a "Don't Bettor" in craps)?  I can imagine one of them saying "With 3 zeroes, I've got a better chance of winning if I bet on ZERO."  And I would expect other irrational or "interesting" thoughts to come out of their heads.

R Geoffrey Oct-07-2021

Bad math happens in burgers too

The 1/3 pound burger was a better deal than the 1/4 pound burger...

https://culinarylore.com/food-history:aw-1-3-pound-burger-failure-fact-check-are-americans-really-that-bad-at-fractions/

Question of the Day - 06 October 2021

Comments