Not all Roulette table games are created equal

Okay, buckle up folks. We are about to dive headfirst into the chaotic, spinning world of Roulette. This game can be thrilling and utterly baffling at the same time.

Roulette is a sophisticated game of "Where will this tiny ball decide to land and completely ruin my carefully laid financial plans?" Step one: Don’t do that.

Little Old Me

I’ve been writing this blog for over 10 years, covering various topics (aviation, industry, government, space, stocks). It’s time to try something a little different, I’m taking a gamble, and it’s just for fun.

I’ve been covering the gambling “industry” for quite a while. But I’d say this is the first time I’m stepping into the “how to” arena and talking from my personal experience.

So truly, you really should look at the world of gambling as just fun. It’s not a way to make money or get rich. Years ago, a dealer at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races said, “Not one game in this casino is designed for you to win.” Which is true. But you can get lucky, right?

So, it’s time for a night on the town and a visit to your local casino. How much money should you bring to a casino? That’s usually the first question a person asks if they have never been to a casino before or gambled. The simple answer, bring money that you are willing to lose with no negative impact on you. We all know people can get carried away.

We all spend money, and we all spend it in different places. But I challenge you to visit a local sporting event, music concert, grocery store, or winery, and walk away with an extra $100 in your pocket after a complimentary dinner.

Gambling is for fun and entertainment, not a way to make money or get rich. About Roulette, it's a mesmerizing ballet of chance, performed by a spinning wheel and a tiny defiant sphere. You, the hopeful participant, are left to wager bets on which pocket, or number, this rebellious little marble will choose as its temporary landing pad. Just pick a number or a group of numbers. Where is this ball going to land? There are so many options, it's like trying to choose what to have for dinner in a supermarket the size of Texas.

You can bet on a color, red, black, or green. Even or odd numbers. Or a specific number that, for some reason, you feel is lucky. Or you could just go completely rogue and play the corners – because, why not? How about playing it safe?

What if I told you a player can cover 32 out of 37 numbers on the wheel with only eight chips? That’s covering over 80% of the wheel. Ok, too early for that. I was never good at math either. More on that later.

The best part about roulette? The suspense, of course. That moment when the ball slows down, bounces around like it's playing hopscotch, and you hold your breath, convinced you’ve finally cracked the code, only to have it land on the one number you didn’t bet on. Ah, the sweet taste of defeat. It's a humbling experience. But let's not get all negative. People do win playing Roulette.

How To Play

So how do you play Roulette? Before you start playing let's go over bankroll management. Your bankroll is the money you have with you to gamble. Again, just make sure it's money you are willing to lose.

So, let's say you have $500 with you. Each Roulette table will have limits on how much you can bet, known as a minimum and maximum. Minimum bets can start anywhere from $1 to $25, and maximums can reach $100 to $300.

You will exchange your money for chips at the table. Always put the money down on the table. Do not hand it directly to the dealer. Your transaction is with the casino, not the dealer. They can’t take it from your hand. Make sense?

Time to play. Pick a number, any number, pick two, pick three, or a group of numbers. When the little defiant sphere, also known as the Roulette ball, drops into one of your numbers on the wheel, you win. You are picking numbers in hopes the ball lands on the one you picked.

The Dreaded Betting System

There are a million ways to play Roulette. Don't even get me started on the betting "systems." The Martingale, the Fibonacci, or the guy that says, "Trust me, I've seen this work before.” All gamblers have a betting system. Name one that doesn’t.

Do I use a betting system? Sure, I do. And you will too. Most so-called “professional gamblers” say betting systems don’t work. They will claim they don’t use betting systems. Sorry, everyone has a system. They just don’t agree with your system, but we all use them. Think about it.

Betting systems all sound so promising on paper. In practice, they tend to drain your wallet faster than a toddler with a juice box. But hey, who am I to judge? Chasing a win is part of the fun, isn’t it? It’s like a beautiful (and sometimes expensive) train wreck in slow motion. But yes, you can be a winner at Roulette.

Single Zero, Double Zero, Triple Zero

As mentioned earlier, not one casino game is designed for you to win, and not all roulette tables are created equal. You can still win, and people do, occasionally, but the casino always has the advantage, properly referred to as the “house edge.”

There are three variations of the Roulette table in casinos. Once you do find a table, check and see if the wheel has a single green zero, a double green zero, or a triple green zero. Each table has a different house edge. The best one to play is a single zero table; it has the lowest house edge. They are becoming increasingly difficult to find these days.

Single Zero Roulette – House Edge 2.7%

Double Zero Roulette – House Edge 5.3%

Triple Zero Roulette – House Edge 7.69%

Five Street Bet

Let's talk about a few wagers you can try with the best chance of winning. I’m just going to call this first one Five Street Bet. With this bet, you are covering 30 numbers on a single zero wheel with five chips (See image below).

One chip covers 4 through 9, one covers 10 through 15, one covers 16 through 21, one covers 22 through 27, and the last covers 28 through 31.

Betting a total of $5.00 will win 6.00 ($1.00 profit). Of course, bet more you win more. You can also play this bet on double zero and triple zero tables unless it’s an Electronic Table Game (ETG) or online. Some ETGs and online casinos won’t even allow this bet.

The 8 Chip Bet

We’ll call this The 8 Chip Bet. This is the wager I mentioned earlier. The 8 Chip Bet will cover 32 numbers on a single zero wheel with eight chips. Three chips in the 13-24 second dozen, three chips in the 25-36 third dozen, and one chip on the 7, 8, 10, 11 corner, and one on the 2, 3, 5, and 6 corner (see image below).

Betting a total of $8.00 will win $9.00 ($1.00 profit). Again, bet more win more. Once again, some ETGs and online casinos won’t even allow this bet.

These are just some easy bets to have fun with while playing Roulette. Experiment with different bets yourself.

Roulette Spy

So, the next time you find yourself near a Roulette table, go ahead and look (single zero wheel? double zero?), then take a spin.

Always remember the odds are stacked against you. There is still that chance for a win, big or small. Just enjoy the dizzying spectacle of chance, the nail-biting anticipation, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll walk away with a great story to tell.

Northern Jet strengthens operations with Part 145 Repair Station acquisition

Following a year of significant fleet expansion with the addition of seven charter jets in 2024, Northern Jet has further solidified its commitment to the industry by acquiring a Part 145 Repair Station. The move allows the private jet travel company to perform in-house aircraft maintenance, inspections, and alterations.

The Part 145 certification signifies that Northern Jet's maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) practices meet the rigorous standards set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding personnel qualifications and facility requirements. This acquisition not only enhances Northern Jet's internal maintenance capacity but also fosters a transparent relationship with the FAA.

By internalizing more maintenance operations, Northern Jet is poised to streamline processes, further improving service delivery. The reduced dependence on external MRO facilities will enable faster response times, greater efficiency, and enhanced control over maintenance quality.

WestJet adds seasonal Calgary-LaGuardia flights, boosting New York options

Great news for travelers planning a summer escape. WestJet has announced a new seasonal route connecting Calgary International Airport (YYC) directly to New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA), expanding options for flights to the Big Apple.

This new service complements WestJet's existing year-round flights between Calgary and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), providing even more flexibility for travel plans.

Starting May 24, you can enjoy a direct flight from Calgary to LaGuardia, making it easier than ever to experience the magic of New York City. Whether you're dreaming of catching a Broadway show, exploring Central Park, or cheering on the Yankees, this new route offers a convenient gateway to all the city has to offer.

"There is a significant appetite for flights to New York, either for visiting the city itself to watch a Broadway show, concert, catch a Yankees game, visit Central Park, or just to connect onward," said Daniel Fajardo, WestJet vice-president of Network and Schedule Planning. "The addition of this route boosts our ability to meet this demand and provide guests with more options."

The seasonal service will operate once weekly, with flights departing Calgary at 8:15 a.m. and arriving at LaGuardia at 3:05 p.m. Return flights leave LaGuardia at 4:00 p.m. and arrive in Calgary at 7:35 p.m. This route is available for travel between May 24 and Aug. 30. Don't forget, WestJet's year-round service from Calgary to JFK remains in place, offering even more travel flexibility.

Tickets for the Calgary-LaGuardia route go on sale starting Jan. 20. Be sure to book early to secure your spot on this popular route for the summer months.

Now with over 180 aircraft and 100 destinations, WestJet continues to be a leading choice for air travel.

Two lunar landers on their way to the moon

Like turning back in time, before the Apollo missions, two robotic lunar landers were sent into space on Wednesday to land on the moon before NASA sends astronauts.  Have you heard this story before?

A Falcon 9 rocket, developed by SpaceX, was successfully launched on Wednesday at 1:11 a.m. EST from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The vehicle carried Blue Ghost, a lander developed by Texas-based Firefly Aerospace, and Resilience, a lander developed by Japan-based company ispace. The mission will also carry out experiments for NASA.

Firefly’s Blue Ghost commercial lander is designed to carry customer experiments to the Moon. For this first mission, the lander is carrying out 10 NASA science and technology investigations as part of the agency's CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative.

Now in space after a successful launch, Resilience and Blue Ghost will spend approximately 45 days in transit to the Moon before landing on the surface.

The Blue Ghost lander will test and demonstrate lunar subsurface drilling technology, regolith sample collection capabilities, global navigation satellite system abilities, radiation tolerant computing, and lunar dust mitigation methods.

The approximately 60-day mission for Blue Ghost will be operated from Firefly’s Mission Operations Center in Cedar Park, Texas. The mission will land near a volcanic feature called Mons Latreille within Mare Crisium, a more than 300-mile-wide basin located in the northeast quadrant of the Moon's near side.

From Japan, the Resilience lander carries a micro rover named Tenacious that will travel to the surface of the moon.

The NASA scientific investigations and technology demonstrations aboard Blue Ghost will provide insights into the Moon's environment that will support future astronaut landings.

Firefly is targeting a lunar landing on March 2 for Blue Ghost.

Following the launch, NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy said each scientific instrument and technology demonstration on these missions brings the agency closer to its vision.

"Each flight we're part of is vital step in the larger blueprint to establish a responsible, sustained human presence at the Moon, Mars, and beyond,” Melroy said.

Ten NASA payloads are flying on this mission under the CLPS program:

• Lunar Instrumentation for Subsurface Thermal Exploration with Rapidity will characterize heat flow from the interior of the Moon by measuring the thermal gradient and conductivity of the lunar subsurface. It will take several measurements to about a 10-foot final depth using pneumatic drilling technology with a custom heat flow needle instrument at its tip. Lead organization: Texas Tech University
• Lunar PlanetVac is designed to collect regolith samples from the lunar surface using a burst of compressed gas to drive the regolith into a sample chamber for collection and analysis by various instruments. Additional instrumentation will then transmit the results back to Earth. Lead organization: Honeybee Robotics
• Next Generation Lunar Retroreflector serves as a target for lasers on Earth to precisely measure the distance between Earth and the Moon. The retroreflector that will fly on this mission could also collect data to understand various aspects of the lunar interior and address fundamental physics questions. Lead organization: University of Maryland
• Regolith Adherence Characterization (RAC) will determine how lunar regolith sticks to a range of materials exposed to the Moon's environment throughout the lunar day. The RAC instrument will measure accumulation rates of lunar regolith on the surfaces of several materials including solar cells, optical systems, coatings, and sensors through imaging to determine their ability to repel or shed lunar dust. The data captured will allow the industry to test, improve, and protect spacecraft, spacesuits, and habitats from abrasive regolith. Lead organization: Aegis Aerospace
• Radiation Tolerant Computer (RadPC) will demonstrate a computer that can recover from faults caused by ionizing radiation. Several RadPC prototypes have been tested aboard the International Space Station and Earth-orbiting satellites but now will demonstrate the computer's ability to withstand space radiation as it passes through Earth's radiation belts, while in transit to the Moon, and on the lunar surface. Lead organization: Montana State University
• Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS) is an active dust mitigation technology that uses electric fields to move and prevent hazardous lunar dust accumulation on surfaces. The EDS technology is designed to lift, transport, and remove particles from surfaces with no moving parts. Multiple tests will demonstrate the feasibility of the self-cleaning glasses and thermal radiator surfaces on the Moon. In the event the surfaces do not receive dust during landing, EDS can re-dust itself using the same technology. Lead organization: NASA's Kennedy Space Center
• Lunar Environment heliospheric X-ray Imager will capture a series of X-ray images to study the interaction of solar wind and the Earth's magnetic field that drives geomagnetic disturbances and storms. Deployed and operated on the lunar surface, this instrument will provide the first global images showing the edge of Earth's magnetic field for critical insights into how space weather and other cosmic forces surrounding our planet impact it. Lead organizations: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Boston University, and Johns Hopkins University
• Lunar Magnetotelluric Sounder will characterize the structure and composition of the Moon's mantle by measuring electric and magnetic fields. This investigation will help determine the Moon's temperature structure and thermal evolution to understand how the Moon has cooled and chemically differentiated since it formed. Lead organization: Southwest Research Institute
• Lunar GNSS Receiver Experiment (LuGRE) will demonstrate the possibility of acquiring and tracking signals from Global Navigation Satellite System constellations, specifically GPS and Galileo, during transit to the Moon, during lunar orbit, and on the lunar surface. If successful, LuGRE will be the first pathfinder for future lunar spacecraft to use existing Earth-based navigation constellations to autonomously and accurately estimate their position, velocity, and time. Lead organizations: NASA Goddard, Italian Space Agency
• Stereo Camera for Lunar Plume-Surface Studies will use stereo imaging photogrammetry to capture the impact of rocket plume on lunar regolith as the lander descends on the Moon's surface. The high-resolution stereo images will aid in creating models to predict lunar regolith erosion, which is an important task as bigger, heavier payloads are delivered to the Moon near each other. This instrument also flew on Intuitive Machine's first CLPS delivery. Lead organization: NASA's Langley Research Center

NASA has already awarded 11 CLPS deliveries and plans to continue to select two more flights per year.

Condor airline selects new terminal at JFK for service in 2026

JFK Millennium Partners, the company chosen by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey to build and operate the new Terminal 6 (T6) at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), announced on Monday that Condor airline has selected the new facility for its future operations.

Condor joins a growing list of award-winning, international carriers who have chosen to make the new T6 their future home at JFK, including Air Canada, Aer Lingus, ANA, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Cathay Pacific, JetBlue, Lufthansa, Norse Atlantic Airways and SWISS.

Terminal 6 is a key component of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's $19 billion transformation of JFK Airport into a world-class gateway, with two new terminals, two expanded and modernized terminals, a new ground transportation center, and an entirely new, simplified roadway network.

Condor, which has been serving the JFK market since 2014, operates year-round service from JFK Terminal 7 to Frankfurt, Germany using its Airbus A330neo aircraft in a three-cabin configuration.

"Condor has been an excellent partner at T7, and we are thrilled that they've put their trust in our JMP team once again by joining us in the new T6," said Steve Thody, CEO, JFK Millennium Partners.

The plan is to have the first T6 gates open in early 2026.

"As New York/JFK is one of our most important North American gateways, we are extremely thrilled to be moving into the new, state-of-the art T6," said Mikko Turtiainen, director of sales, The Americas, Condor. "Condor passengers will also enjoy seamless connections to our partner JetBlue's Terminal 5 operations, located just a short walk from T6 gates."

About JFK Terminal 6

Currently under construction at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Terminal 6 is being developed in two phases, with the first six gates opening in 2026 and construction completion expected by 2028. Terminal 6 features include:

• 10 gates, of which nine will accommodate widebody aircraft
• State-of-the-art automated baggage system, customs/border control facilities, and the latest TSA screening technologies
• One of the longest departures curbs at JFK, with airline-branded passenger drop-off zones
• Multiple airline lounges, in addition to a new arrivals lounge
• A new ground transportation center
• A curated collection of New York City-inspired artwork featuring local and international artists, curated by the Public Art Fund in partnership with JMP and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
• Sustainably sourced building materials, rooftop solar power, and energy-efficient systems and operating practices throughout the terminal
• Sustainability certifications for LEED (silver or gold), Envision, and SITES underway

Starship Flight 7 will attempt satellite deployment test

The seventh flight test of SpaceX’s Starship is scheduled for Wednesday (Jan. 15). The launch window will open at 5:00 p.m. EST. The upcoming flight will launch a new generation Starship with significant upgrades.

The highlight of the mission will be Starship's first attempt to deploy test satellites in space. The vehicle will also carry multiple reentry experiments geared towards ship catch and reuse. The mission will also include the recovery of the Super Heavy booster after liftoff.

Vehicle Upgrades

The Starship upper stage will debut a series of upgrades on this flight test, “bringing major improvements to reliability and performance,” SpaceX said in a mission update.

“The vehicle’s forward flaps have been reduced in size and shifted towards the vehicle tip and away from the heat shield, significantly reducing their exposure to reentry heating while simplifying the underlying mechanisms and protective tiling.”

Redesigns to the propulsion system include a 25% increase in propellant volume.

The ship’s heat shield will also use the latest generation tiles and includes a backup layer for protection from missing or damaged tiles.

The vehicle’s avionics underwent a complete redesign, adding additional capability and redundancy for increasingly complex missions like propellant transfer and ship return to the launch site. Avionics upgrades included a more powerful flight computer.

Video During Flight

With a link to the company’s Starlink satellite network, Starship is capable of streaming real-time high-definition video and telemetry in every phase of flight.

While in space, Starship will deploy 10 Starlink simulators, similar in size and weight to next-generation satellites for the network. This will be the first exercise of a test satellite deployment mission. The Starlink simulators will be on the same suborbital trajectory as Starship, with splashdown targeted in the Indian Ocean.

Starship will also attempt to refire a single Raptor engine while in space.

The ship’s reentry profile is being designed to intentionally stress the structural limits of the flaps while at the point of maximum entry dynamic pressure.

Super Heavy Booster Upgrades

The launch system will continue to demonstrate its reusability. The Super Heavy booster for Flight Test 7 will reuse a Raptor engine from the booster launched on Flight Test 5.

Hardware upgrades to the launch tower will increase the reliability of catching the Super Heavy booster when it returns to the launch site. During the last Super Heavy Booster mission, sensors on the tower were damaged at launch resulting in the booster performing a landing in the Gulf of Mexico.

“Distinct vehicle and pad criteria must be met prior to a return and catch of the Super Heavy booster, requiring healthy systems on the booster and tower and a final manual command from the mission’s Flight Director,” SpaceX said. “If this command is not sent prior to the completion of the boostback burn, or if automated health checks show unacceptable conditions with Super Heavy or the tower, the booster will default to a trajectory that takes it to a landing burn and soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.”

The returning booster will be slowing down from supersonic speeds, resulting in audible sonic booms in the area around the landing zone.

Law firms line up to investigate Southwest Airlines for shareholders

Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announced this week that it is investigating potential breaches of fiduciary duties by Southwest Airlines' directors and officers regarding its information technology infrastructure, which impacts the company's business, operations, and stock price. The law firm invites investors to contact them through their website.

“If you purchased Southwest Airlines Co. securities and would like to receive information about our investigation concerning the class action to recover your losses in Southwest Airlines Co. securities, please provide us the information in the form below.”

The firm made its announcement following a series of shakeups within the airline recently:

• Longtime leaders at Southwest Airlines are out
• Southwest Airlines sells and leasebacks 36 aircraft to raise cash

In December, Los Angeles-based Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, said that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Southwest Airlines for violations of the securities laws.

The investigation focuses on whether the company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors.