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.

Roulette offers a wide variety of bets and betting options. The process of roulette betting is not a complicated one, and fortunately, unlike craps, you are given a good length of time at the table to choose where you want to lay your money down. Two types of betting you can practice at the wheel are called the outside bets and the inside bets. You are required to play the table minimum at least on each of your outside bets; on inside roulette betting the total of all of your bets must meet or exceed the table minimum. This bit of information is all you need to know in order to delve right into some roulette betting action. Lets start by describing each bet and how/where you play it. Roulette betting - outside bets
The outside bets on a roulette board are simply the bets that reside 'outside' of the main playing area of 38 numbers. There are no winning outside bets for 0 or 00 results. Different types of outside bets: Red or Black - you can choose to bet on the outcome either being a red number, or a black number. Place this bet right in the area with the words 'red' or 'black' in them, which should be easy to reach from beside the table. This is a very common form of roulette betting, as it is easy to understand that you have almost half a chance of winning. People often make the bet making the incorrect assumption that if 5 blacks were spun, there is a better than 50% chance the sixth spin will be red. This is not logical and the reason why is described in more detail on our

This is a short list of simple to remember, and easy to follow roulette tips. The fact is, there are no roulette tips that will make you a bundle, but there are some that may keep you from losing one. Tip 1 - Never follow anybody's system. Even reputable names in the online gambling industry recommend you spread your bets around with a 'system' that makes no sense. Umm, ok let me just place the black and third column, so that if I win on one I will most likely lose the other. I'm sure they've convinced a million people to play though, because look at how few numbers could cause you to lose completely! That was sarcasm, subtle, but sarcasm. Spurious logic spouters, never listen to them.Tip 2 - Look hard for a single zero roulette wheel. This will cut the house edge much more than any other option in the game of roulette.Tip 3 - No matter how appealing a new and sexy bet might feel, never bet the five number bet, it has the worst odds on the table.Tip 4 - Search for casinos that offer the surrender rule. This will cut the house edge almost as much as a single zero roulette wheel will, but only on even-money outside bets.Tip 5 - No really, no systems.Tip 6 - Don't spend your time looking for a biased roulette wheel. Although this may have been a valid methodology a couple of decades ago, any casino worth it's chandeliers checks it's own roulette wheels for biases.