Feeding Frenzy - roulette question

From reading another thread, it appears that Casinos have the following legal options in an attempt to change the probability outcome of the wheel -

Ball - size, speed and direction.

Wheel - speed and direction.

How many variables are involved if, not to complicate things too much, speed is defined as fast or slow only?
And, would these actions actually influence the probability of the game?

Quote: teeth1

And, would these actions actually influence the probability of the game?

No.
As long as the wheel is true, all ball and speed variables are effectively irrelevant.

I have seen different ball sizes used within the same casino, some even have more than one ball per table. The "spare" ball can sometimes be seen sitting in a little indentation at the top and centre of the wheel. The ball is sometimes swapped after a mis-spin when the dealer accidentally sends the current ball flying off the wheel.

Quote: teeth1

From reading another thread, it appears that Casinos have the following legal options in an attempt to change the probability outcome of the wheel -

No, the casino has no legal options to change the probability of the wheel. Using different wheels, balls, or other equipment should not alter the long-run probability of each roulette number appearing 1 in 38 (or 37) times. If that changes, so does the house edge, and at least one of the bets will become more favorable to the player than it currently is. That opens the door to players having an edge over the house, something the casino doesn't want.

What a casino may do, however, is use different equipment to speed up the game, thereby achieving more spins per hour and higher revenues. But that's due to volume, not any change of probabilities.

Quote: teeth1

How many variables are involved if, not to complicate things too much, speed is defined as fast or slow only?
And, would these actions actually influence the probability of the game?

In one of my casinos, they have 4 different sized balls. Somebody comes back from a break, grabs a different ball and speeds up or slows down the wheel. It effects the outcome not a whit. I have 3 roulette wheels. An expensive 24" wheel thats a smaller version of a casino wheel. An antique 16" wooden wheel, and a plastic 12" wheel. I use all 3 periodically and can't tell the difference in the outcomes. I do equally well on all 3, there seems to be no difference at all.

alternating the little white ball size is simply a game protection technique which also keeps the game moving if there are any errant spins. Most people don't even notice that a different sized ball is often switched in and out.

If these actions don't alter the overall result, except the frequency, then why bother using them?

Quote: teeth1

If these actions don't alter the overall result, except the frequency, then why bother using them?

Dealers have told me the size of their hands effects the size of the ball they're comfortable throwing. Big hands like bigger balls, smaller hands smaller balls. There isn't any more to it than that.

Quote: EvenBob

Dealers have told me the size of their hands effects the size of the ball they're comfortable throwing. Big hands like bigger balls, smaller hands smaller balls. There isn't any more to it than that.

That still leaves the different directions, perhaps it depends on whether the spinner is right or left handed.

It's easier to predict where the ball will land if the ball and wheel spin in the same direction. (Note: That doesn't mean it's easy, just easier.) Therefore, it's always opposite.

Our member Croupier is a Roulette Croupier in the UK. He has mentioned that there, they change directions every spin. Or maybe that's every couple spins. Whatever...

I think a smaller ball and faster spinning roulette table would only help increase randomness. A large ball in a slow spinning wheel is just asking to be taken advantage of.