Ever since 3 gamblers beat roulette and won over US$2M at the Ritz Casino with an electronic device [roulette computer], such technology has been the source of much debate and controversy.

At what is believed to be the World’s first conference regarding casino game prediction devices, several roulette computers will be demonstrated to a live audience. The 3-day conference is being hosted by Stefano Hourmouzis, an Australian gambling consultant. Several other gambling consultants are expected to attend, and will demonstrate various other devices to beat casinos including card-counting computers.

The first known wearable roulette computer was designed in the 1970’s by a group named the Eudemons. It consisted of a CMOS 6502 microprocessor with a modest 5K RAM, and was fitted into a shoe. However for it to be effective, it required a tilted wheel. A tilted wheel is literally a wheel that is not perfectly level, the result of which is the ball will tend to fall in one particular area more than others. This in turn makes predicting the outcome of spins far easier and more accurate.

The UK National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) recently conducted a study into the effectiveness of one particular roulette computer, and concluded the wheel must be tilted for predictions to be sufficiently accurate. Without the tilt [level wheels], NWML determined predictions may not be accurate; at least with the particular device tested. While computers that can accurately predict spins of tilted [biased] wheels are quite common, devices that are accurate on non-biased [level] wheels are rare, and require a far greater level of sophistication. Such devices are expected to be demonstrated at the conference.

To generate a prediction with most computers, typically a toe operated button is clicked when the wheel and ball complete a revolution. Once the timings of rotations are calculated, the computer can determine where the ball is most likely to fall, and will then relay where to bet to the player. In the case of the Eudemons, two operators were required - one took timings from the wheel, and wirelessly transmitted where the bet to another players that made the winning bets. The two operators appeared to have no connection. This way, the winner never needed to look at the wheel and was therefore not suspected of cheating. Similar methods are employed by roulette computers today, although the accuracy of predictions still rely on the operator taking accurate timings - namely clicking a button which is often a difficult task in the real casino environment over extended periods.

Although roulette computer application is clearly illegal in many jurisdictions, it is permitted by law in many others. That is not to say a casino would not eject suspected users of such devices. Although laws vary between jurisdictions, it is usually the right of the establishment to refuse entry to any player. Therefore successful application of electronic game prediction technology relies on covert technology.

Stefano Hourmouzis is an energy researcher and gambling consultant. See http://www.roulettecomputers.com for details of his various roulette computer devices.