in roulette why don't you just double your bet on red until you win?

Answer 1

Because most people have a finite gambling budget at most casinos have a table limit. This can be as low as $500 or $1000. So pretty soon if you keep losing you are betting a lot just to get back to where you started. Once you get too high you would not be allowed to place a big enough bet to win your money back. Then you need to find a high stakes table and keep going.

Keep in mind that while you are paid even money if you win, the odds of winning are 18/38, which is about 47.36%.

Also keep in mind that the minimum bet for evens bets is usually $5 or $10. So here's how a losing streak could look:

$10, $20, $40, $80, $160, $320, $640, $1280, $2560.

If you lose five times in a row, that's $310. Seven times you are now risking $1,270. Nine losses in a row and you've just blown $5,110.

Now sure the odds are you are not going to lose 9 times in a row, but it is possible. The scary thing is if you win your ninth bet you are ahead about $10 from where you started. So you were risking $5,110 to win $10.

Answer 2

Actually, you'll lose nine in a row more often than you'd think - about three times in a thousand, if my math is right.

As indicated, you will either run up against house limits or your bank balance eventually, and when you do, the house will come out ahead.

Answer 3

If you have a bottomless bucket of money that you don't mind risking and if you quit after you are ahead, that will win. Most gamblers don't have the cash or the willpower to get ahead that way.

Answer 4

You can but your odds still wont improve.
Remember their is a 0 & usually a 00. House advantage

Answer 5

Play Craps,that is the only game that is not tilted so far for the house that we can't come out ahead.

Answer 6

That works until you have to cough up the money first.