So where's the new crop of gaming mathematicians?

I'll admit, as I start to begin the slow march towards my emeritus years, I'm wondering where on earth the people are who were like I once was -- a generation younger, keenly interested in gambling, computer programming, and the related math?

I mean like actually doing this yourself, not trying to get ChatGPT to 'vibe code' for you :P

I've tried a few times to get recommendations from the UNLV's programs in game design, and it never seems to find a match for all three. Don't get me wrong, there are brilliant minds who are doing just fine in programming, but like.. the love and the passion for the industry, where you can see yourself doing this for your whole life

Basically, anyone with the passion for all three seems to get into advantage play, I suspect for obvious reasons.

Who out there should I be looking towards for the next crop of gaming mathematicians? Anyone on this forum even? Surely our art doesn't die with my generation?

I have been doing my own game math for the last several years as an independent table game designer (although you did the math for some of my first games). I got into this industry as a pandemic hobby and really liked it, and have been working for more opportunities to do it full time (hence the game design). In short, I would probably slot myself into this category, although still have a day job in software to pay the bills. I see a few members in this forum who might qualify as well, look for the recent thread on 5-card Pai Gow for instance, but not sure where they fit on the younger generation spectrum.
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/gambling/other-games/39973-5-card-pai-gow-poker/2/#post960828

Ironically, I have also asked ChatGPT to solve game math, for the most part it is horrible at it. Even some relatively simple dice math wasn't close to right (or maybe my prompts just suck....), so I stick to excel algebra and computer sims.

Well we have MDawg who has a mystery baccarat system that almost never loses for him until a certain point in time, then he started listing significant losses after somebody counted up all his posted winnings and determined something, that poster disappeared immediately after completing the task. Winning over 95% of your sessions seems a bit unlikely. I lose to 250 hands behind in BJ in one night on the home game. But one winning session can bring me back from that.

I can’t afford to hire a math guy, so I’ve been doing my own math, even though it often gives me headaches.

Of course, the headaches have convinced me that I can’t trust my math.

On the other hand, if my math is wrong, how wrong could it be? If I ever get a distributor who is serious about my games, then I’ll have the math done professionally. And if my math is off, it ain’t gonna be off by much. At most, all I need to do is tweak the pay tables a little bit.

Quote: zbrownson

Ironically, I have also asked ChatGPT to solve game math, for the most part it is horrible at it. Even some relatively simple dice math wasn't close to right (or maybe my prompts just suck....), so I stick to excel algebra and computer sims.
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ChatGPT sucks at math.

I discussed it in this thread:
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/gaming-business/game-inventors/40060-three-card-joker-poker/

That is me, I am right here :)

I joined this forum a couple months ago, and since then I have been making demos for games, inventing games / calculating house edges, and finding optimal strategies for games (I might be the only one with a complete optimal strategy for Crazy 4 Poker). And I do not use ChatGPT for coding, I only trust it with planning roadtrips.

I am 25 years old so I might be one of the youngest people on this forum, but I am hoping I can get into a career in gambling mathematics and be part of the next generation.

By the way DJTeddyBear, I can do the math for you for all your games in less than a day because they don't involve too many cards at once.

I posted this question here a few days ago but haven’t got any response yet. Math help!

I recently played a Spanish 21 game. Different from any other casinos, this place pays a 3:2 bonus upon a five-card 21, even after doubling or splitting. Normally, doubling down voids these bonus 3:2, 2:1, and 3:1 pays for five, six, and seven-card hands respectively, but this place does not. It was a 6-deck continuous shuffling machine, Stand-17, no-redoubling game.

If I have a three-card 11 vs. 10, should I double or hit?
If I have a four-card 11 vs. 10, should I double or hit?

I Have a close to optimal strategy for Four card Poker, including taking into account the wagers of others at the table as well as cards you see in other hands by peeking. Same for Mississippi Stud (wagers reveal the kind of hands they have)

Several factors have depressed the market for gaming math passion
- the existence of the WOO site
- the looping codes technique (takes all the intelligence and insight out of the analysis)

I Have a close to optimal strategy for Four card Poker, including taking into account the wagers of others at the table as well as cards you see in other hands by peeking. Same for Mississippi Stud (wagers reveal the kind of hands they have)

Several factors have depressed the market for gaming math passion
- the existence of the WOO site
- the looping codes technique (takes all the intelligence and insight out of the analysis)

If you can really do it an an hour, please give me the perfect optimal strategy to Heads Up Hold’Em :)

Personally I don’t actually think AI is capable of this but it would be really cool if I was proven wrong

Quote: tandworth

It takes about an hour to calculate strategy for anything with decent ai. There is just no need for that stuff any more.

I am sure you are going to respond with something along the lines of "oh but the beauty of magical thought" or something. No. it is dead. Get over it. People only ever cared about the output.

Personally I am very happy gambling forums will now be devoted towards people who want to make actual money from AP rather than gaze at their navels endlessly.
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I will never give any of my information or ideas to those spybots.

All my math I do myself, and I recommend all APs do the same. It puts you in a better position psychologically to endure the variance.

Quote: harris

By the way DJTeddyBear, I can do the math for you for all your games in less than a day because they don't involve too many cards at once.
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I have no doubt about that statement. It sounds like boasting, but in the short time that I've gotten to know you and your work, yeah, you're just stating facts.

Are you going to G2E? Seems to me like you should. And while there, I'd like to sit down with you for a bit, buy you a beer, etc...

https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/gaming-business/game-inventors/41492-g2e-2025-expo-passes/

Quote: harris

That is me, I am right here :)

I joined this forum a couple months ago, and since then I have been making demos for games, inventing games / calculating house edges, and finding optimal strategies for games (I might be the only one with a complete optimal strategy for Crazy 4 Poker). And I do not use ChatGPT for coding, I only trust it with planning roadtrips.

I am 25 years old so I might be one of the youngest people on this forum, but I am hoping I can get into a career in gambling mathematics and be part of the next generation.

By the way DJTeddyBear, I can do the math for you for all your games in less than a day because they don't involve too many cards at once.
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Alright, this is me, check your DMs.