Brit to Bet Life Savings (Everything) on a Roulette Spin

[WSUCougar]

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- A British man who has sold all his possessions, including his clothes, will stand in a rented tuxedo on Sunday and bet everything on a single spin of the roulette wheel.

If he wins, he doubles his money. If he loses, he will be left with only the television crew documenting his every move.

Ashley Revell, a 32-year-old Londoner, said he was worth about 75,000 pounds ($138,000) after he sold everything in March.

"I thought I was worth at least 100,000 pounds," he said in a telephone interview from Las Vegas, where he is putting in a week gambling about $3,000 in a bid to raise his pot.

By Wednesday, he was down $1,000.

Revell said he had planned to have a friend videotape his bet-it-all spin, but Britain's Sky One television decided it was worth a short reality series, called "Double or Nothing."

Sky will not pay him, he says, but a crew has followed his preparation and will cover the spin live on Sunday at the Hard Rock casino in Las Vegas. It also plans to follow him for a month afterward, win or lose.

Revell, recently a professional gambler, said he decided to take a big plunge while he was still young and raised the stakes as high as possible, including selling his clothes.

"I like to do things properly," he said.

He had not decided yet whether to place his money or red or black on Sunday afternoon.

"I don't know, man," he said. "One of them is going to be the right thing to say and one is going to be the wrong thing."

He added that if he won he would probably take his winnings rather than spin again.

[rkmsuf]

moron

but an interesting moron

[JAG]

I love the "He added that if he won he would probably take his winnings rather than spin again."

Really? You mean you wouldn't take a <25% chance that you would lose everything you have in order to win $400,000+?

[Subby]

This would be interesting if he had a wife, kids and a mortgage...

[Hurst2112]

what a loser.

[TredWel]

I'm calling it now: The wheel will land on 0.

[sachmo71]

Someone needs to brush up on his probability. What an painful, boring show this will be.

[Butter]

I was thinking 00, but yeah.

[bbor]

Once you go black.......:D

[tucker342]

wow... what an idiot.

I hope he doesn't mind living in a cardboard box....

[Logan]

This guy is an idiot for allowing a TV station to film this, AND follow him around for a month, without getting any money.

[panerd]

Roulette has about the worst odds of any game at the casino. He should at least put all of his money on blackjack or craps and not on that game. Does Vegas has two green numbers?

[sabotai]

Everyone is talking about what an idiot this guy is...you know what's going to happen. He's going to double up.

And the casinos will get huge profits from other idiots who go there to bet large sums of money on a single spin. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if the casino rigged it so that it landed on what he picked. It wouldn't be very good advertising for the casino if the guy lost his money. It'd be great advertising if he won.

[rkmsuf]

"Yeah baby, yeah!!! That would be shagadelic!!!"

[Yossarian]

Call me sceptical but i say its rigged.

We (brits) recently had to withstand an overwhelming quantity of hype regarding Derrin Brown and his alleged 'REAL!!!!!' Russian Rullette game LIVE ON CHANNEL 4!!!!

Of course the whole thing was fake....

But all we heard for over a month previous is how dangerous this is etc...

[rkmsuf]

If the guy isn't getting money from TV how was the British press apprised of this guys bet?

[QuikSand]

Someone needs to brush up on his probability.

Especially if (as I understand it) he's a European who decides to make his "big spin" in Las Vegas, where he will suffer twice the house percentage than Euro roulette tables. (Theirs only have the 0, no 00)

[Z²+]

If I'm not mistaken, most casinos only collect half of even money wagers on a double green (0,00) roulette wheel when a green comes up. Even if this is the case everywhere, it's a poor, poor choice. Since he claims to be a former "professional gambler", I'm surprised he would choose this type of bet. Maybe someone should convince him to go bet on Big Red ;)

[Samdari]

what a loser.

How far in did you have to read to figure that out?

I had it at "A British Man.."

[QuikSand]

If I'm not mistaken, most casinos only collect half of even money wagers on a double green (0,00) roulette wheel when a green comes up.

True. My mistake. They take the full amount on "inside" wagers, but most take only half on the greens for the binary "outside" wagers. (I'm not sure about the 2:1 bets... I assume they take the full amount there) I don't play roulette, and forgot about that, which is obviously relevant here.

[Alf]

I love the "He added that if he won he would probably take his winnings rather than spin again."

Really? You mean you wouldn't take a <25% chance that you would lose everything you have in order to win $400,000+?
Well, if he won the first ime, the probability to win another time should be 50% again, no ?

[rkmsuf]

Quiksand in 3...2...1....

[Vegas Vic]

I thought about betting my entire bankroll on last year's Superbowl cointoss. The fact that I had to lay -1.05 deterred me from getting involved.

[Vegas Vic]

He should at least put all of his money on blackjack or craps and not on that game.


There's the ticket. Maybe he'll Wong in on a six-deck shoe when the true count hits +5.

[VPI97]

There's the ticket. Maybe he'll Wong in on a six-deck shoe when the true count hits +5.The whatsit whosits now?

[NoMyths]

There's the ticket. Maybe he'll Wong in on a six-deck shoe when the true count hits +5.Just when I think my blackjack days are in the dead and distant past, Vic posts this and I get a half-stock. :D

[Primal]

So wheres the link so we can see if he wins or not?

[RPI-Fan]

There's the ticket. Maybe he'll Wong in on a six-deck shoe when the true count hits +5.

Honestly, why wouldn't he just have someone count to an insane count in blackjack and do this? If you get caught, so what? After that one hand, you're done anyways.

[Vegas Vic]

Just when I think my blackjack days are in the dead and distant past, Vic posts this and I get a half-stock. :D

I'm officially retired from blackjack, but not voluntarily, if ya know what I mean. ;)

[Honolulu Blue]

If you want to place a double-or-nothing bet, blackjack is NOT one of the better games for it. The player only wins about 42% of the time, loses 49%, and pushes 9%. The player gets near even thanks to being paid 3-to-2 for blackjacks, and the ability to double and/or split in favorable situations. I'm not sure how high the count has to be to win 50% of the time, but I would guess that it occurs extremely rarely.

Roulette (double zero, no en prison or surrender) is better, with the player winning about 47% of the time.

If you really wanted to do this, the best bets would be:

1. The odds bet at craps, if (1) if someone is betting high enough on the pass/don't pass line, and (2) is willing to let you do it.
2. Player or banker at baccarat (banker is a little better).
3. Even money bet on a single-zero roulette wheel with en prison or surrender.
4. Pass or don't pass line at craps.

All of which will double your money with a house edge of 1.5% or less.

[RPI-Fan]

If you want to place a double-or-nothing bet, blackjack is NOT one of the better games for it. The player only wins about 42% of the time, loses 49%, and pushes 9%. The player gets near even thanks to being paid 3-to-2 for blackjacks, and the ability to double and/or split in favorable situations. I'm not sure how high the count has to be to win 50% of the time, but I would guess that it occurs extremely rarely.

Roulette (double zero, no en prison or surrender) is better, with the player winning about 47% of the time.

If you really wanted to do this, the best bets would be:

1. The odds bet at craps, if (1) if someone is betting high enough on the pass/don't pass line, and (2) is willing to let you do it.
2. Player or banker at baccarat (banker is a little better).
3. Even money bet on a single-zero roulette wheel with en prison or surrender.
4. Pass or don't pass line at craps.

All of which will double your money with a house edge of 1.5% or less.

Yea', but in blackjack, you can have someone call you in to a very, very positive deck, and throw all your money down and have a 55%+ advantage.

[Vegas Vic]

Yea', but in blackjack, you can have someone call you in to a very, very positive deck, and throw all your money down and have a 55%+ advantage.

You can do it with two people. One guy sits in the game, and just flat bets the table minimum (while counting down the shoe, of course). When the true count hits the magic number, he'll give some discreet signal (like scratching the back of his head, or stretching, etc.) His buddy will then saunter up to the table, act like a typical happy-go-lucky high roller, and start betting the table maximum. As long as the count stays positive, he'll continue to max bet. When the count takes a dive, his buddy will give him another discreet signal. He will then leave the table.

Most of the joints have ruined the fun, to a certain extent. They now have rules that limit the amount that someone can bet if they come in mid-round.

[sterlingice]

This is like the MIT group that ended up getting banned from the casinos because they worked out a nice system with quite a few people to make big money.

SI

[Honolulu Blue]

Yea', but in blackjack, you can have someone call you in to a very, very positive deck, and throw all your money down and have a 55%+ advantage.

You can do it with two people. One guy sits in the game, and just flat bets the table minimum (while counting down the shoe, of course). When the true count hits the magic number, he'll give some discreet signal (like scratching the back of his head, or stretching, etc.) His buddy will then saunter up to the table, act like a typical happy-go-lucky high roller, and start betting the table maximum. As long as the count stays positive, he'll continue to max bet. When the count takes a dive, his buddy will give him another discreet signal. He will then leave the table.

Most of the joints have ruined the fun, to a certain extent. They now have rules that limit the amount that someone can bet if they come in mid-round.

This strategy would work for the ordinary gambler, who wants to extract money from the house with the least house edge - or, in this case, the biggest advantage. A 55% advantage would be unprecedented, and even a 5% player edge would occur rarely. The usual advantage is around 1-2%. But still, with a 2% advantage, over the long term, you can get rich.

Bringing us back to the original topic (our British friend who wants to double his money), I still assert that blackjack is one of the worst games in the house to double up on, even with a positive deck. The deck would have to be SO FAR in the plus range that the optimal strategy would be radically different from basic strategy. Plus he'd have to change strategies anyway because he wouldn't be able to split or double down, and doing so would certainly reduce his edge. The baccarat table offers the same opportunity with about 1% of the hassle.

[NoMyths]

I'm officially retired from blackjack, but not voluntarily, if ya know what I mean. ;)Hehe. :)

These days I don't suppose it matters much...poor games mostly. Poker's where the good money's at, as you know.

[JeeberD]

That's why I never win any money when I gamble. Too much damn math involved...

[Sharpieman]

I thought you were talking about Brit Hume.
I gambled a 2 nights ago with a few of my buddies. We played straight poker, Blackjack and no limit Texas Hold'em. The 4 of us played for about 6 hours. We each put in $50, and at the end. I went all in on the flop. I hade an ace of spades and queen of clubs. there were 3 of us left. And everyone called. (I had the biggest pot at the point, so I was playing for $200. Here's my buddies hands (we just threw them down and waited for the cards.)
Buddy #1 A 7 of hearts and I think a 5 of spades or 6 or something
Buddy #2 2 Kings.
Buddy #3 a 9 and a 10 I think.
It was basically between me and buddy #2
On the flop...a 7 of spades, 3 or 4, Ace of clubs

On the river... a King
It was hopeless. It was over, but at least I still had some chips for the next hands.




On the turn...An ace of diamonds!!!...$200 for the 3 aces. Sweet.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Does anyone else want to tell Sharpieman, or should I?

[Malificent]

Heh. 2 Kings in hand plus a king and 2 aces on board equals a full house, Kings over Aces. Sharpie, you only had 3 of a kind with the 3 aces. Your buddy with the kings should've won. :)

[KWhit]

Does anyone else want to tell Sharpieman, or should I?
That a full house beats three aces?


Heh heh.

[Sharpieman]

LOL well that will be a little secret then between you and I

[Sharpieman]

dola we were pretty tired so I guess everyone didn't notice. Well I guess that means I'll be giving their money back to them.

[Sharpieman]

dola, f*ck that I'm keeping the cash

[Samdari]

Honestly, why wouldn't he just have someone count to an insane count in blackjack and do this? If you get caught, so what? After that one hand, you're done anyways.

I was just in Vegas and most of the mult-deck blackjack tables had a "Maxumum XXX$ mid-shoe buy in." warning in fine print right below the table max/mins.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Actually, I was referring to when the cards showed up in Sharpieman's game. Am I the only one who noticed that he said the river came before the turn?

[cthomer5000]

Hey, Sharpie... can I get in on your next game? I like the sound of it.

[WSUCougar]

He won.

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (Reuters) -- A British man who sold all his possessions, including his clothes, stood in a rented tuxedo on Sunday surrounded by family and friends and bet everything on a single spin of the roulette wheel.

He won't go home empty handed.

Ashley Revell, a 32-year-old Londoner, sold all his possessions in March, took $135,300 to the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas, did some low stakes gambling and then placed everything he had left on "Red."

The wheel was spun, a crowd of supporters including his Mum and Dad from London went wild, the ball bobbled over the slots and landed on Red '7' -- and Revell walked away with $270,600.

"It all happened so quickly, it was spinning before I knew it," Revell said, adding he did not intend to try to double it again. He gave a $600 tip to the croupier and plans to party -- and buy some clothes.

"It's really down to my friends and family and Mum and Dad," he told Reuters Television. "I knew even if I lost I'd always have a home to go to."

"I'm still against it," said his Dad. "He shouldn't have done it. He's a naughty boy. I tell my kids they shouldn't gamble. I've got four others and they're all going to want to go the same way."

"It's just brilliant," said Ashley Hames, a friend from London in Las Vegas for the occasion. "He's put his neck on the line and got away with it. It's absolutely great."

"It bobbled for a second and I just thought, 'Oh no, it's not going to do it,'" said another friend, James Frederick. "But it did and I'm made up for him. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy."

Asked if he wanted to try his luck again, Revell said: "No that's it for me. I think he'd like me to do it again, but no that's it," gesturing to a casino host. "I don't want to ride my luck," he said as the champagne began to flow.

This week, the gambling spirits had seemed against him. He put in a week gambling about $3,000 in a bid to raise his pot.

Revell, recently a professional gambler, said he decided to take a big plunge while he was still young and had raised the stakes as high as possible, including selling his clothes.

"I like to do things properly," he said.

Revell said he had planned to have a friend videotape his bet-it-all spin, but Britain's Sky One television decided it was worth a short reality series, called "Double or Nothing."

Sky will not pay him, he says, but a crew from Dai4 Films has followed his preparations and covered the spin at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. It also plans to follow him for a month afterward.

[rkmsuf]

lucky bastard...

[druez]

First thing I do when I goto a casino is take half of the money I brought go to whatever roulete table has the longest streak and bet against it :)

[rkmsuf]

Those little scoreboards listing the previous spins are marketing genius in action by the casinos...