CSE87-A/E: The Science of Casino Games (Winter 06)

Section A: Mon 4:00-4:50, EBU3B 3109
Section E: Wed 4:00-4:50, EBU3B 3109

Course Instructor: Joseph Pasquale

This is a freshman seminar on optimal play in casino games, or "How to gamble, if you must" (from the title of the 1965 classic book on stochastic processes by Lester Dubins and Leonard Savage). We will survey some of the most popular casino games, and consider questions such as: Where are the best bets in a casino? What factors determine how much you should bet? How large should your stake be given a minimal bet? What are the chances that ultimately, you will be "ruined," and how long will it take? Do "betting systems" work?

Message of the Day

During our last meeting, we discussed roulette and how the house edge may be theoretically reduced by "timing" the wheel. Here is the reference I mentioned, which is worthwhile reading: Mathematics of Gambling, by Thorp . See Part Two, Chapter 4.

References

Simplified Basic Strategy for Blackjack
A Blackjack game on the web
A Craps game on the web
Galileo on Dice
FAQ on Craps
How to figure out odds

Administrative Matters 

Instructor:	Joseph Pasquale

Books:		MENSA Guide to Casino Gambling Winning Ways
		Andrew Brisman
		Sterling Publishing, 1999

		Bringing Down the House
		Ben Mezrich
		Free Press, 2002