Gambling Quiz, need your help

I am making a gambling quiz similar to the one on the Odds site. I'm having trouble with two of the questions.

5. If your goal is to improve your chances of winning money, which betting system should you choose?

A The Martingale: After every loss, double the bet size of your next wager until you win
B
C
D
E None of the above. All betting systems are equally worthless

Can anyone give some examples of other betting systems? Ones that could be explained in a line or two? I saw the cancellation betting system on the Odds site but it looks too complicated to explain in such a limited space.


6. When playing slot machines, what is the most important thing to consider?

A The location of the machine
B If it’s hot and spitting out money
C If it hasn’t hit in a while and is due
D The age of the machine
E None of the above

I don't know a lot about slots. And I'm worried about the wording of this question.

What if one slot game has a house edge of 5% and another one was 10%? Would it matter if the hot one was the 5% machine and the cold was 10%, given that you should expect to lose less money/win more money on the 5% machine to begin with?

Would the age of the machine matter? I assume not, but just checking.

And the location of the machine, that's an urban myth too right? It doesn't matter where it is?

Anyway, any help or suggestions will be appreciated.

Thank you

5.) All Betting Systems are Equally Worthless

How many examples of other betting systems would you like? Here are three examples, and they can be modified.

Cancellation (Labouchere') Betting System: Select five (or more, or less) numbers such as 1, 1, 1, 1, 1: Add the first number to the last (2) and bet that amount, if you win, cross out the first and last numbers and repeat, if you lose, add 2 to the end of the list and repeat. (The next bet would be three) When all numbers are crossed out (and, if you only have one number left, bet that and cross out on a win) the system succeeds that trial. In the 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 example, the system would win five units.

(Like the Martingale, trades somewhat frequent successes with occasional, but staggering, losses.)

Reverse Labouchere' Betting System: Select five (or more, or less) numbers such as 1, 1, 1, 1, 1. Select an arbitrary win goal OR bet amount not to exceed. Add the first number to the last (2) and bet that amount, if you win, add 2 to the end of the list and bet three next time, if you lose, cross out the first and last 1. If all numbers are crossed out, the system fails and you lose five units...the system succeeds when you either meet your win goal or have exceeded your Max bet amount. In the 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 example, the system loses five units if all numbers are crossed out.

(Like Reverse Martingale, Loses Very Frequently, Occasionally Wins Big)

Reverse Martingale: Select an initial bet and arbitrary win goal and starting bet amount. Let your winnings ride until the win goal is met or until you finally lose.

(Loses Extremely Frequently, Higher the Win Goal More Frequently You Lose, Occasionally Wins Big, Frequency Depends on Win Goal)

6.) None of the Above

Obviously the the answer was is E
But, I might slightly consider the age of the machine, newer machines tend to have worst paybacks.

About 14% on most new VS 1%(rare) to 10%.

Quote: MaShuai

6. When playing slot machines, what is the most important thing to consider?

A The location of the machine
B If it’s hot and spitting out money
C If it hasn’t hit in a while and is due
D The age of the machine
E None of the above

I don't know a lot about slots. And I'm worried about the wording of this question.

What if one slot game has a house edge of 5% and another one was 10%? Would it matter if the hot one was the 5% machine and the cold was 10%, given that you should expect to lose less money/win more money on the 5% machine to begin with?

You are still trying to focus on recent behavior and derive some significant meaning from it. Slot machines do not remember their recent behavior and try to keep things "even".

>>>Would the age of the machine matter? I assume not, but just checking.
Not one whit. As long as its below fifty years and gets some oil and soap and water every now and then.

>>>And the location of the machine, that's an urban myth too right? It doesn't matter where it is?
Heck, even some slot manager started out with a "plan" they keep changing the machines around for crowd flow and new gimmick purposes that there is no consistency ever. You spill a drink, the machine can get taken out of service, someone gets caught with a wire coathanger or slim jim up a slot machine, it gets taken out of service but a new machine goes in its place promptly. Nothing stays static with slot machines. They practically dance around the floor by themselves.

>>>>Anyway, any help or suggestions will be appreciated.
Why develop your own quiz? Why not ask the "powers that be" for permission to copy the quiz verbatim?
They won't charge you an arm and a leg, it was done as a public service in the first place.

Quote: FleaStiff

Why develop your own quiz? Why not ask the "powers that be" for permission to copy the quiz verbatim?
They won't charge you an arm and a leg, it was done as a public service in the first place.

I got to work a few angles that aren't on the quiz.

Thank you for your response. And the other two posters as well

akaik the only real AP move on slot machines is what the wizard calls the mystery progressives ; He has a page on them

I do not count possible overcompensation on comps

not sure if that can be put in a quiz

It takes years of experience to spot the slot machines with the winning streak. People who hit jackpots played'em for many years. You develop a feel, there is no other way to beat'em.

Quote: odiousgambit

akaik the only real AP move on slot machines is what the wizard calls the mystery progressives ; He has a page on them

I do not count possible overcompensation on comps

not sure if that can be put in a quiz

No because that's not true. There's regular progressive slots that have no mysterious JP that become positive.

Theres tons of bonus banking slots. Mickey calls the Accumulators.

There are linked bonus slots.

I wouldn't count on what Dicenor33 said, it's Rob Singer type of stuff.

Quote: MaShuai

I am making a gambling quiz similar to the one on the Odds site. I'm having trouble with two of the questions.

5. If your goal is to improve your chances of winning money, which betting system should you choose?

A The Martingale: After every loss, double the bet size of your next wager until you win
B
C
D
E None of the above. All betting systems are equally worthless

Can anyone give some examples of other betting systems? Ones that could be explained in a line or two? I saw the cancellation betting system on the Odds site but it looks too complicated to explain in such a limited space.

There's D'Alembert: start with 1, increase by 1 after each loss, decrease by 1 after each win

However, this one might cause a problem because of the wording. How do you define "improve your chances of winning money"? Martingale increases your chances of making a profit since a particular point, but you pay for that with losing far more money when you lose than the amount you win when you win.

Quote: AxelWolf

Obviously the the answer was is E

That's not true. A martingale system is not expected to win money, but it has a very high probability of winning money.

Quote: Actuarial

That's not true. A martingale system is not expected to win money, but it has a very high probability of winning money.

Are you so eager to point that out, that you missed that I was referring to the SLOT question? I thought that was obvious by the content of my post. Perhaps I used bad writing etiquette and you thought I meant it's obvious the first questions answer is E, but then talked about the 2nd question.

Anyways as for the betting systems question, I'm not sure how the Wizard posed the original question. I'm not sure what the OP's intentions are, but how the question is posed from the OP doesn't fit the answers IMO.

Betting systems are worthless was the point of the original question.

I have nothing against a 4 or 5 step Marty, its less boring than flat betting. I have used it for online bonuses during wagering requirements and it worked well.

Quote: Actuarial

That's not true. A martingale system is not expected to win money, but it has a very high probability of winning money.

I would say the question assumes long run.

Quote: MaShuai

Can anyone give some examples of other betting systems? Ones that could be explained in a line or two? I saw the cancellation betting system on the Odds site but it looks too complicated to explain in such a limited space.

"Hit and down." Place six and eight at craps; take one hit on either, then come down until the next shooter.

"Regression." Place six and eight at craps; bet two (or more) units each. When one hits, regress each number by (at least) one unit.

Quote: ThatDonGuy

There's D'Alembert: start with 1, increase by 1 after each loss, decrease by 1 after each win

However, this one might cause a problem because of the wording. How do you define "improve your chances of winning money"? Martingale increases your chances of making a profit since a particular point, but you pay for that with losing far more money when you lose than the amount you win when you win.

Yes, I am talking long run.

Talking short run is irrelevant. Anything can work one time.

I've changed the question to: If your goal is to win money over the long run, which betting system should you choose?

Quote: MrV

"Hit and down." Place six and eight at craps; take one hit on either, then come down until the next shooter.

"Regression." Place six and eight at craps; bet two (or more) units each. When one hits, regress each number by (at least) one unit.

That is the way John Patrick says to play.

Quote:

That is the way John Patrick says to play.

The OP asked: "Can anyone give some examples of other betting systems? Ones that could be explained in a line or two?"

I answered his question.

Neither system is better than the other, they are merely different approaches to the game, and of course neither reverses the negative expectation inherent in casino craps.

Yeah, I first heard about them from JP: that doesn't mean they're chopped liver.