Dear Mark, Thank you for the advice on playing the single-zero roulette game at the Monte Carlo. My wife broke even and I actually won $200. I do have a question regarding the single zero game. Is the game I played at the Monte Carlo in Las Vegas an exact duplicate in rules as a roulette table at the real Monte Carlo in Europe? Paul L.

Not quite, Paul. A true European single-zero wheel offers a rule called "en prison." If you make an even money bet and the ball lands on zero, the croupier doesn't rake in your wager. Instead, your bet is "imprisoned" or held hostage, and you are forced to let it ride until the next spin. If your bet wins, you can remove it from the table. What is exciting about this wager is that it cuts the house edge on even money bets in half, down to a very respectable 1.35%. This makes it one of the better bets in European casinos.

Dear Mark, You answered a question by stating that the most popular number played on a roulette wheel was 17 and reasoned that this was so because it was located in the center of the layout and everyone could reach it. I guess my point is that it is likely that other factors add to the "appeal" of 17 for the masses. I suggest that its popularity is based somewhat on the James Bond films where he bets "17 Black." Just a hunch, but I know many players who bet this way. Jimmy H.

Correct you are, Jimmy. Bond did enjoy both baccarat and roulette as a way to relax and unwind after saving the world. And yes, players drinking martinis, shaken not stirred, tend to follow his pattern of play. Besides birthday and anniversary dates, many players choose numbers used in the movies, from record LPs (the Beatles; number 9, number 9, number 9), even after a player's favorite athlete. Popular in northern Nevada when I dealt the game was 16 Red, Joe Montana's jersey number and color.

Getting back to Her Majesty's favorite secret agent: The most popular number in the movies is not 17, even if it was a favorite of Ian Fleming's Bond, but 22. You'll see it played at pivotal points in "Casablanca," "The Sting" and "Lost in America." Also of little note, 22, my personal favorite, was the first number called at Bill's Casino at south Lake Tahoe when it officially opened on July 1, 1987 at 7:01 p.m. And who (brag mode ON) called that first number? Yours truly (brag mode OFF). One player had a $25 chip on it and won $875.

Dear Mark, What was the largest amount ever won in roulette? Jason C.

In January, 1994, a computer programmer from London, England, wagered $220,000 on a single spin at the Horseshoe Club in Las Vegas. Placing the whole amount on red, he watched as the ball found the red 7. Picking up his one-roll winnings, he quickly deposited $440,000 in the cashier's cage. The tuxedo-clad gentleman was knowledgeable enough to play on the Horseshoe's single zero roulette table, cutting the house edge from 5.26 to 2.7%.

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Dear Mark, What are the chances of any one number showing up four times in a row on a roulette table? Anita G.

On a double-zero game, once every 2,085,136 spins. As a matter of fact, Anita, I saw it happen once, not with one croupier, but with three separate dealers. I was a pit boss at Bill's Lake Tahoe Casino when dealer A spun the number 25. After making his payoffs he went on his break and dealer B stepped in to spin 25 twice consecutively. She was relieved to go home for the evening, then dealer C immediately twirled 25 again. A sleuth roulette player would have immediately jumped on this game, figuring it was a biased wheel in need of repair. In this instance it was hardly worth mortgaging the house. Single-zero never appeared again over the next seven hours of my shift, nor were any of the numbers in its wheel section coming up with abnormal frequency.

Dear Mark, After reading a recent column of yours, I've realized that I've been making the worst possible bet on the roulette table. Furthermore, you also educated me on looking for a single zero roulette wheel on my next trip to Las Vegas. But how much was I giving away to the casino on the five number bet before you helped me see the light? Wrongdoer

Dear Wrongdoer (Lessons Learned would be a nicer name): The five number bet you were placing, 0/00/1/2/3 pays 7 for 1, with a return of .9211 on the dollar, or a house edge of 7.89%. Glad I could help you see the light.

Dear Mark, I've heard from other individuals and read from you about the "house edge" when it comes to certain casino games. So, if you wouldn't mind, can you explain to me how the house advantage on a roulette table is determined? Michael K.

The casino's edge or advantage is different from game to game and from the distinct wagers on those games. The best way to understand the concept of the casino advantage is to think of it as a hidden tax when you win a bet, NOT when you lose your wager. Yes, Michael, you are reading this correctly! It is when you win that the casino reaches for your wallet. By not receiving a fair payout for a winning wager, you are charged this secret levy that you probably don't realize you're paying. In roulette, a fair payout on a $1 winning number is $37. However, the casino only pays you $35. It retains the extra $2, giving the house its 5.26% advantage. It is that $2 into the casino's coffers that gives the casino its profits.

Your goal as a smart casino player is to lessen this concealed charge. By reducing the casino advantage with bets that carry a low house edge, you will minimize your losses and have a much better chance of winning.