Hoyle's Games, Improved And Enlarged - online book

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	LA ROULETTE.	51



	When, however, the numbers are all filled up, as the bank only pays the winner thirty-five times his stake, it clears three; thus, supposing thirty-eight sovereigns to be staked, and that the ball is thrown twice in a minute, the gain of the bank, without incurring the slightest risk, would be six sovereigns per minute, or three hundred and sixty per hour. Although, in whatever way you play, the chances are always in favour of the bank, still its risk varies in ratio to the number of chances which are not filled up; for instance, were only ten numbers filled up, and that the ball were to enter one of them, the bank would in that case lose thirty-four, and only win eight; whereas, when all the numbers are filled up, it wins three without risking a farthing.