Roulette software comes in a variety of types with various features. Here we'll take a look at the different styles of software you may encounter, what features to look for, and how to know what is best for you. The first thing you need to decide is if you want to download roulette software to your home PC, or if you want to play through the Internet using a browser plug-in such as Shockwave or Flash. Downloadable roulette software lets you play offline, a bonus for those of us without high-speed Internet access or an unlimited account. In-browser games offer other unique features, such as the ability to play with other people, or to accumulate points and trade them in for prizes. When looking at browser based roulette software, try to find one that offers a bankroll that stays with you across sessions. This style of software is your smartest choice, as it will let you improve your game with practice. Without a real bankroll you can't truly tell if your strategy is working for you. Real money roulette software is a newer and very different form of the game. This software is most often a download package, but one which you need to be online to play, as the game connects to a central casino server when it starts up. This software is actually just a gateway into the game, which takes place on the server computer of the online casino. Real money roulette software allows you to play and win real cash from your home, so if you are a roulette fan and can't get enough, you should try playing online.

Cycle

The predicted average number of hands between similar winning hands such as a royal flush. You should remember however that this is only a prediction since the games are random and the exact time between wins will vary.

Expected Return

The average amount of money paid back based on a particular play for a particular bet. The Expected Return "ER" is determined by taking the Expected Value "EV" of a play multiplied by the amount bet.

Expected Value

EV is the average value of all of the possible outcomes for a particular play or game. In other words the predicted average payback per unit that was bet of a specific play.

Full Pay

A full pay video poker machine will offer the best payout schedule for that particular game type. For instance, the 9/6 Jacks or Better machine is full pay while the 9/5 or 8/5 versions of the game are not.

Inside Straight

Needing one card to achieve a straight and the card needed is one of the middle cards between the top and bottom of the straight. For instance, with a 3, 5, 6, 7 in your hand you would need a 4 to complete the straight. Also referred to as a gut shot draw.

Long Run

A period of time or game play where the presented odds equal predicted probability.

Open Ended Straight

Four consecutive cards requiring one at either end to make a straight. For instance, with a 4, 5, 6, 7 in your hand you would need a 3 or an 8 to complete the straight.

Optimal Play

Using a strategy designed to give you the most advantageous opportunity to win the most money for a particular game, yet not necessarily be considered perfect play.

Pat Hand

A winning hand dealt from the beginning of a hand such as a flush or straight. A hand where you should keep all five cards as no other card will improve the hand.

Payback

Often referred to as the Expected Value "EV" of a particular game. It is the return expected over the long term expressed as a percent.

Payoff

The amount of coins or credits paid for a winning hand often expressed on a per coin basis. For instance a full house might pay 45 coins on a 5 coin bet; so the payoff is 9:1 or 9 coins won for the 1 originally bet.

Payoff Schedule

The table posted on each machine showing the number of coins paid for each possible hand for each possible coin bet. Also referred to as the payout schedule or a paytable.

Payout

The amount of coins or credits paid for any given win.

Perfect Play

Playing a hand according to that particular hands highest Expected Value. Doing so over a period of time can give the player the advantage over the house. Playing perfectly is easier to do on certain games, while in others its almost impossible.

Secondary Payoff

A winning hand achieved as a result of going for a different winning hand. For instance you select to draw 2 cards to a royal flush and get dealt three of a kind; that would be a secondary non-intended goal or secondary payoff win.

Short Run

A period of time or game play where the predicted probability of a game will vary due to normal streaks and fluctuations.

Strategy Card

Is nothing more than an instruction sheet providing hints as to the best way to play a particular game and/or hand.

Zilch or Zip

Nada, nothing, a garbage hand; a hand after the deal which contains no cards worth holding.

The Gaming Club is somewhat of a trend-setter, they were the first casino to grace the internet and they have been leading the field since 1997. With a stock of games that is only just short of being the most we have ever seen available at an online casino, there is somethiing for everyone at the Gaming Club. It is very easy to go on and on about this casino, they have an impeccable record with fast payouts and a security system to rival Fort Knox!!

However, although the Gaming Club is undoubtedly a very good casino, we found that we were unable to get particularly excited about it. For such an established casino we thought that it was a bit cheap of them to use the standard Microgaming graphics, interface and sounds. When a casino has as good a pedigree as the Gaming Club we like to see them strive to take it further. To some extent they have done this by offering an increadible amount of games and providing a back-office that is always able to deliver the goods, so you never have to worry about whether you'll ever see your withdrawal. we just hoped that the Gaming Club would come up with something a bit sexier, an innovation to drive the industry along.

It might be unfair of us to expect so much from them and it is probably true that we are using a higher benchmark for the Gaming Club than we do for most casinos. In relation to its rivals the Gaming Club really is in front. We only grumble because we have come to expect so much from this casino, we don't want to see it go stagnant! For this reason the gaming club can not receive a rating of 10, but rest assured as soon as they announce their big step forward (which we're sure they will), they'll go straight to the top of the class.